Tim Foster
Author's posts
Oct 12
Summer 2017
Democratic Republic of Congo
Our annual Congo Bible Camp was a great success, with over 100 people from 15 different deaf churches coming to Bukavu. Three people who were very interested in our conference came in from as far away as Kisangani, a 2-day trip. Due to the low literacy rates among the deaf Congolese, most churches focus on Bible stories at the expense of doctrine. Our camps work to fill the gap, emphasizing sound doctrine as a basis for our faith and works. This year, we taught through the book of Ephesians. While the content of chapters 5 and 6 were familiar territory for many of them, the first 4 chapters were new. So far, we’ve had excellent feedback from many of the attendees. Perhaps the most bittersweet comment was from Joceyln, a lady from Kigali, Rwanda. She said that she was sad that the week was over because she was learning so much, and felt frustrated because her church doesn’t teach doctrine like this. Unfortunately, comments like hers are not unusual. Pray with us that our teaching will be greatly used by God to equip them for the good works they have been ordained to do (Eph 2:10).
A hearing couple, Miriam and Bartholomew Toto, came to our
camp to see what we were doing and to learn more about us. As it turns out, they were missionaries with YWAM in Uganda for seven years, and during that time had to raise their own support from local believers. Now that they’ve returned to the Congo, their aim is to work with the deaf in Bukavu, teaching Biblical living, while modeling a Biblically-based work ethic. Truly, this is a great need, particularly among the deaf leadership. It’s not uncommon for deaf evangelists in the Congo to believe that they have to sit and wait for a foreign benefactor to sponsor their evangelism work. For these evangelists, Paul’s teaching on finances in 1 Cor 9 (“worker is worthy of his wages”, tent-making, etc) is counter-cultural, and the Totos are making an impact both in their teaching and in their living example. Pray that God will continue to bless them and provide for their daily needs.
Ramazani Hertier, one of the graduates from our Uvira school, is now the director of his own school for the deaf in Fizi, in the Baraka Province. His school is now starting its 3rd year with over 50 deaf students enrolled. In a recent exploration trip through villages in the province, Ramazani was able to find another 15 students. Since most of the parents do not have the funds to support their children’s education, the growth in enrollment creates an additional financial burden. Although Ramazani’s spiritual training is not extensive, he’s the de-facto pastor for the deaf in Fizi. We’re excited that the Lord is using his ambition for his fellow deaf Congolese, and praying for ways to improve and strengthen their faith. We’d like to get several of these men into the Timothy School at the Kigobe Mission Station in Burundi (Some of you may know Jesse and Joy Johnson in Burundi. The Timothy School operates out of their facility).
Pray for us as we look to God for solutions to these unique challenges.
Chad
Director Yves Besso reports that repairs from the recent storm damage in N’Djamena have been completed. We thank God for your willingness to financially support this need. Yves’ son has recently passed Secondary school exams, and we’re looking at sponsorship options to send him to Bible college in Nigeria. His Biblical education will further quip him to be a great asset in his work with the deaf in Chad.
Due to a lack of funds, construction at the new property in Toukera has come to a standstill. Some poachers are encroaching on the property, so additional legal measures need to be taken in order to remove them. Pray for wisdom and provision.
In the city of Mondou, two deaf ladies have passed away after battling a lengthy illness. Pray for their families and church as they cope with the loss.
Nigeria
The Andrew Jackson Foster Scholarship Memorial Fund has raised funds to bring a promising candidate, John Linus, to Texas to further his formal and spiritual education. Unfortunately he has run into difficulties with obtaining a student visa, and will not be able to enroll this fall at the Southwest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf. Pray that he will be able to receive his visa soon and begin his college education.
Home
After our July conference in the Congo, Aaron Kuglin (a seminary student from Fort Worth who helped teach at the conference), Yves Beosso and I accompanied PhD candidate Joel Runnels to visit my father’s gravesite and attempt to find the site of his 1987 plane crash.
Joel has worked with various secular NGOs in East Africa for 20 years, and everywhere he went, he kept hearing stories about a deaf man named Andrew Foster, and all the amazing things he had done. After being unable to find much printed information about him, Joel decided to do his dissertation on my father’s life and work among the deaf in Africa. Pray with us that Joel’s research into my father’s earthly good works will not be an occasion to celebrate the accomplishments of a man, but rather, be a call to glorify our Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)
Please keep Mother Berta in your prayers. She’s usually in good spirits, but her mobility continues to decline.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Sep 30
September, 2017
September, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
During our recent Congo Bible Camp, we had the pleasure of meeting Bartholomew and Miriam Toto, a Congolese couple living in Bukavu. They had just returned from a 7-year mission with YWAM in Uganda. Upon returning to Bukavu, the Lord laid on their heart a desire to work with the deaf churches in the area, providing vocational training and teaching them to pursue self-employment options. Most of the Toto’s life lessons were hard learned by “tent-making” while on the mission field in Uganda. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with them, helping them explore marketing options for their wares here in the USA. Pray that God will grant them success in this endeavor.
Shukuru Hertier, a graduate from our Uvira school, has shown himself to be a remarkably faithful young man in the way he has directed the school he opened two years ago. Enrollment is up drastically this year, so pray for wisdom as he manages resources with a shoe-string budget.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Sep 16
August, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
John Linus is a deaf Nigerian we are trying to get to the USA for Bible school. We had run into complications with his visa, resulting in missing the fall 2017 semester. He recently received his visa. Meanwhile, in Chad, director Yves Besso’s oldest son has just graduated from secondary school. Yves is looking to get his son into Bible school in Nigeria before he continues his education in the medical field.
Pray for wisdom as Emmanuel Ilabor (director of our Nigerian school) and Jim Walterhouse (founder of the Andrew Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund) begin preparing Linus’ trip to the USA, and for the Beosso family as they seek financial support for their son’s Bible training.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Aug 01
July, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
After red tape delays, we finally received our visas and were able to arrive in the Congo in time for our annual Congo Bible Camp. . We had a little over 100 leaders from 15 different deaf churches studying the book of Ephesians. It’s bittersweet to hear so many say “Thank you for providing such excellent deep teaching”, only to be followed by “we don’t get this kind of teaching at our church.” Pray that as these church leaders grow in their faith, they will continue to lead their congregations in solid teaching “so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” Eph 4:14.
As a result of kidney failure, my brother John is now adjusting to life on dialysis 3 times a week. Keep him in your prayers as his doctors explore options for a permanent remedy.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Jun 24
June, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners
The visa process for our trip to the DR Congo this year has been fraught with red tape and delays. We leave on July 11, Lord willing, and the Congolese missionary family we partner with (Tom and Kathy Lindquist) are leaving a week before we do. If we don’t get our passports and visas in time, it will be very expensive to reschedule everything. Pray for a quick resolution to the process.
John, my older brother, has been a faithful CMD office staffer since 1988. Last week, I took him into the hospital for what turned out to be appendicitis. While in the emergency room, he had a seizure and his heart and breathing stopped. He was resuscitated in short order, but due to complications in the appendectomy, he’s still in the hospital. He’s feeling much better, and will soon be released. Keep him in your prayers.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
May 29
May, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
The Congolese government has dramatically changed the visa preparation process, adding layers of bureaucracy and cost. Pray that these issues will be resolved quickly so we can depart on time. Unfortunately, Cliff and Sherri Bodiford are not able to join us this year for our Congo Bible Camp. They’re eager to go next year, so pray that the Lord will work that out.
As construction on our new Nigerian campus continues to take shape, ambitious plans to establish a university are being set forward by some deaf alumni. Clement Abonyi is working with our director, Emmanuel Ilabor, to bring this vision to reality. Pray with us that God’s wisdom and glory will prevail on this ambitious project.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Apr 27
CBC 2017
Some essentials for the 2017 Congo Bible Camp
Logistics document:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19BN2hpacoLfR8gpKfBKeQ6Va818_voWQ_7ilUvJ0hBU/edit?usp=sharing
Map of relevant places:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1A9YlgxuJ1geSTrnXQFRKNnoBlao&usp=sharing
Agenda
2017 Agenda – (PDF, 78k)
Tri-lingual Book of Ephesians
Ephesians(EFS) – (PDF, 360k)
More coming soon
Apr 22
April, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
We’re excited to announce that John Linus, an aspiring Nigerian deaf pastor, is the 2017 recipient of the Andrew Foster Memorial Scholarship Fund. In August, he begins his college and Bible training at SouthWest Collegiate Institute for the Deaf in Big Spring, Texas. The fund was started by Jim Walterhouse and Danny Campbell, faculty members at SWCID. After his studies, Linus will return to Nigeria to help lead the deaf churches. We thank God for this wonderful scholarship and pray that God will use Brother Linus to serve Him well. For more information about the fund, please visit http://afmsf.cmdeaf.org. Pray that we can raise the funds for his travel needs.
Lord willing, our annual Congo Bible Conference will be joined by newcomers Cliff and Sherri Bodiford, both of whom are deaf. Cliff is an elder at New Life Deaf Fellowship, in Fort Worth, TX, and has a passion for deaf missions. Pray that God will meet their financial needs for this upcoming trip.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Director
Mar 24
March, 2017
Dear Prayer Partners,
We’re saddened to hear of the unexpected death of Madam Machozi in Bukavu, DR Congo. She has been instrumental in securing the facilities we’ve used for our annual Congo Bible Camp. Pray for her family as they adjust to this sudden loss. At this point, our plans for our 2017 summer camp are a bit uncertain.
In Chad, our teacher Deborah continues to recover from her motorcycle accident, and now has about 70% use of her right arm. It’s slow progress, but much better than the amputation that the doctors originally recommended. Continue to pray for her full recovery.
In Him,
Tim Foster
Mar 11
A Video Introduction to CMD
We’ve prepared a brief video to introduce you to CMD, our history, and the work we do, and some of the challenges ahead of us in our near future.
To download the files to your computer, right-click and select “Save link as…”
Introduction to CMD – SD (44M)
Introduction to CMD – HD (98M)
God bless!
Tim Foster
Director
