INTERNATIONAL MINERS’MISSION THE SAFETY LAMP “Introducing Miners to the Master” CHILE In 1917 Mr and Mrs H H Pulling were appointed work as missionaries amongst miners in Chile. Ten years later ill health meant they had to retire, but in 1929 work was begun in the El Teniente mine at Rancagua - the largest underground copper mine in the world. It is here that Chilean evangelist Victor Varas has been faithfully witnessing for many years. He supports outreach to miners and their families in two large miner housing estates in Rancagua, at La Braden and El Teniente, carrying out door-to-door ministry and regularly holding open air meetings on Sundays at the entrance to the main hospital. Victor works with churches in Rancagua, helping with teaching of children and teenagers - most of whom are from local miners’ homes. He retires at the end of 2010. Together Victor and his wife Ana, have given 40 years in service amongst miners in Rancagua, the largest copper mine in the world. ETHIOPIA In 1999 Vicky Yorke, IMM UK Trustee was part of a team of 5 from Toddington Baptist Church, Bedfordshire, visiting Ethiopia to provide encouragement and support to various projects in and around Addis. The aim for IMM UK was to establish whether IMM could work with the Arat Kilo Addis Kidan Baptist Church to evangelise workers in the remote gold mining town of Shakisso near Jima just above the Kenya border, some 500 miles south west of Addis and . It was a journey of a lifetime for Vicky, a visit never to be forgotten. It gave her a new perspective on life and hope for the future for the people of Shakisso. The fruit is still being reaped today. Pastors and evangelists supported by IMM UK have snowballed from one to 10! They are: Fakiru Abebe, Ayele Bululita, Nigusse Denibla, Godana Ensabe, Qelebesa Geleta, Gobena Gossay, Gobna Gumi, Haile Waqo, Girma Wordofa and Ermias, supported by advisers, John Massink and Kifle Shibre, Addis Kidan Church. ROMANIA In 1989 during the dying days of the communist regime of Nicolae Ceaucescu, the coal miners of Jiu Valley, located in Southwest Romania, were bussed into Bucharest in a vain effort to support the tottering rule of the dictator. God laid on the heart of Cornel Hudulin, a Baptist evangelist and pastor, the need to reach these men and their families with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He started visiting the many coal mines round about preaching the Gospel news to men as they came off their shifts. During the 1990s Cornel carried out this work almost single-handed. Miners and their family members came to Christ in numbers. Churches began to be established in the mining villages. IMM heard of this vibrant ministry work through long-standing friend and supporter, the late Rev Dr Eric Hayden, himself an ex-Bevan boy working in the mines in the 1940s. As a result, some 10 years ago tentative contacts IMM UK began its support. Several church groups have been established in quite a wide area. As a result, IMM now supports Vali Bereznicu, Daniel Gheorghitan, Viorel Ghita, Marian Popescu and Aurel Tulpan under the watchful eye of IMM advisers, Pastor Cornel and Mrs Sanda Hudulin. SIERRA LEONE Tongo Field is a centre for diamond mining. It has an estimated population of 20,000 and is 'over- populated' with housing difficult to find. It is the main town in a chiefdom. Many work as miners. Diamonds seem to be the main attraction. Until recently there were no evangelical churches. The miners in Sierra Leone believe that diamonds Issue 305 CELEBRATING THE WORK OF IMM WORLDWIDE October 2010 IMM UK SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES AND PROJECTS, 2010 The International Miners’ Mission (Glynn-Vivian Miners’ Mission Incorporated 1906) is company limited by guarantee 90484 and registered charity 221853 Registered office: 53 High Street ~ Kimpton ~ Hitchin ~ Hertfordshire ~ SG4 8PU belong to the demons. Many are involved in cultish devil activities in order to 'get rich' by finding diamonds. The area is Muslim-dominated but underneath the even more influential traditional religion holds sway. Diamond miners are forced to work Sundays but to take Fridays off. IMM UK works alongside the local church in Sierra Leone supporting the programme of church planting in this needy area. Local UFM missionaries, Mike and Vi Webb act as advisers to IMM UK and provide oversight to Pastor Dennis Manneh who heads up outreach in the Tongo Field mining area. Initially the work was based at Buima where, in October 2005, the church opened. Subsequently daughter churches have been established in 4 nearby villages. UKRAINE Before the demise of the Soviet Union, Donbas in the east, was the major source of coal and steel for the whole bloc. However, the market for these products shrank when Ukraine achieved independence and the early 1990s were harsh years for the whole country particularly the eastern areas. Many coal mines closed. Those still open were not well maintained. Mining accidents are a constant concern. Since 2005 IMM UK has supported local churches in the Donetsk region, an area badly polluted and scarred by industrial activity, centred on the town of Enakievo. Here a local Baptist church pastored by a former miner, has a very active young people's work among active and former mining families. IMM also sponsors the summer camps. The young people's meetings are always busy and enthusiastic. North of Enakievo, there are active salt mines and another church has been started in Artyomovsk, together with outreach to the community of Golma. IMM works here with the local pastor and again sponsors summer camps for local children giving them what is often the only holiday they have in a year. The camps are well attended and the children and young people always hear the good news about Jesus as well as having a fun time with their friends. IMM UK sponsors: Vasily Dmitriev & Ivan Gartvig. IMM’s adviser is Pastor Alexander Nagirnyak and Alex Balakhon acts as interpreter. THE OTHER IMM COMMITTEES IMM SWITZERLAND sponsors outreach to miners in Zimbabwe led by Rev. Pardon Chingovo, who co-ordinates the outreach tomen and women in mines in various parts of the country with the help of Rev Weston Fanazdo and Evangelists Alias Katiyo, Farai Mukana and Shingai Vhukani. IMM USA sponsors outreach the mines in Bolovia (currently two missionaries, Nicolas Ajhuacho and Florentino Apaza) and Peru (currently eight evangelists, Juan Caurcasto, Aurelio Castro, Rene Churata, Roberto Masca, Cesar Cordova, Juan Tolentino, Rufo Roque Ricra and Juan Cueva). They also provide scholarships at three Bible Colleges (two scholarships in Eastern Kentucky, USA and twelve students are assisted at two Colleges in mining areas of Peru). IMM AUSTRALIA sponsors six pastors who visit mines in the Philippines (Myrna Gianchand, Jupiter Sevilla, Cartier Padullon, Roland Ormandac, Wenceslao Manila and Salvador Espante). They also provide pastoral and evangelism training each year for a large group of pastors from various churches in the Philippines. IMM SOUTH AFRICA has established contacts with the many gold mines of the West Rand with the aim of establishing Christian cell groups and churches. Three pastors (Faki Bodibe, Phillip Dungulu and Elijah Dube) provide training and engage in regular visits to the mines and mine hospitals. In Rustenburg and the area around there are many platinum mines. Three pastors (Patrick Langa, Mohau Mofokeng and Andrew Mayathula) evangelise in the various mine hostels and mine camps that are found there. Visit IMM’s website at www.minersmission.com email David at [email protected] PLEASE USE THIS COPY OF SAFETY LAMP FOR YOUR PRAYERS Or why not pin up the picture side on your church notice board? The next 'Safety Lamp' will report fully on the Conference taking place in Romania at the end of September.