SUMMER-1994

8/19/94

ITALIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

CHARLES/IVIA PHIPPS
PQ

JOPLIN

BOX

717

MO 64802-0717

Mission Services

Editorial
PO

Box

KNOXVL

0W!

Office

2427

TN 37901-2427

a month of wrklng in July!

to be praised I Charles had the pleasure o teaching Bible School

classes seven times while teachers were on vacation or on
business missions. Of course, it is nothing new for Charles to be a

missionary, but he was the VBS missionary, not representing oitt ^

mission, but teaching the children about the mission

ccmralttee; ICM International, Inc. There was

f
ones Nursery through the sixth grade. In addition to what
learned about the needs in Eastern Europe, it was
^aching

they

to

sing "God Is So Good" in Polish^ Roiianian and Macedonian, not to

mention a little Russian. ...What! No Italian?
The "small group" wliiit!

leads gacli

name he suggested for them; "La Familia". The group has grown fr^

two to fifteen and is developing that sense of intimacy that speaks of

true family spirit as we share in study, service and fellowshipAnother "Praise the Lord!" - Charles' health tests all came out well

and he is so thankful to be able to be busy.

Time marches on - nothing new there! - but because it do^, Ivi^ n^

has her l^icare card. Her birthday comes later in October, but the
card is vdLid-f-rom "the-flrst of Uie-monfch-^which means that as_^n
as-d;tr^n be arranged, we are praying that she will have her rigl

lSee replaced and have the cataract removed from her eye.

tour

prayers will help and we thank you for them.

And once more this year, we'd like to say "thank tou to Ray Downen,
our good and faithful Forwarding Agent in Joplin, MD. Thank you, Ray,
for the vital work you do! And also to Linda Slaughter, for her good
work in Neosho, MD that is so important.

Mission incone is down at the time we are writing. Vacation

may

be the cause, but we will appreciate your prayigg with us fop ^

"up-turn". In the meantime, we want you to know that we deeply
appreciate both the material and the spiritual underglrding you
provide so faithfully!

News fron Italy is good - more about that next time.

As together we serve Him in His love and grace,
The Phipps' - Charles and Ivia
Missionaries in Residence,
Blvd. Churclt of Christ

Sylvania, Ohio

gioi^
CHARLES & IVIA PHIPPS
The ITALIAN CHRISTIAN MISSION

P.O. Box 717 * Joplin, MO 64802-0717

Also working with

Fonanfim Anil:

BOin.EVARD CHUURCH OF CHRIST

Ray Downsn

SYLVANIA, OH 43560

Mission Services
Editorial Office

PG Box

2427

KNGXVL

TN 37901-2427

JGY TO THE mRLD

Greetings in the name of the Lord, who saves us to bring others to Himi
1994 has - as are all years - been a season of both joy and problems...with the
Lord right there to see that all things worked together for goodl
It seems to have been Ivia's season in a special way this year.

In March, she

had major gall bladder surgery. At the same time, further exploratory surgery
for suspected cancer, but resulted in finding no cancer at all, praise the Lord!
She is scheduled for cataract surgery the week following Christmas. Our plans
for wintering in South Texas are still in the hands of the Lord, and He has not
let us in on v4iat He knows about that so far.

Some of you know that Ivia had a total knee replacement (right knee_ on November
7. We are glad to report that she is doing-very well>-ihanks to all your many^
prayers cuid a wonderful surgeon.

Charles* tests have all come back "stamped" NO PROBLEM, too, so much thanksgiving
and praises for this as well.

FROM ITALY - Giuseppe 's letters mention the names of several people whom we have
never met personally. This, of course, means that the work is growing and that
the influence of the church is widening in the Terracina and the surrounding

area. The baptism of Alfredo brought great joy, not only to thej^EB^tro^in Heaven

and to us, but to the church there, especially since these victories are not
easily come by.

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The church in Cianpino (Roma) came dowh to Terracina in force.

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jV< n\

They were there

on the beach of our "baptistery" - tie Mediterranean Sea - with the church of

Terracina and many onlookers to witness Alfredo's baptism.

The custcxn among our Italian brothers and sisters is to celebrate - and we mean

celebrate - when one is buried with Christ in baptism to walk in newness of life.
So afterwards, they returned to the chui'ch's meeting place there in Terracina and
had what we might call a "reception" - a real time of rejoicing - genuine party1
And v^y not! What better offering of praise to the One who made it possible and of encouragement to Alfredo, as die arms of the family of God are thrown
around himl
From all appearances, i will not be long before there will be a
4
repeat of this beautiful situation. We will keep you up-to-date.
IT'S A BOYl

December
the telephone rang and we heard, "It 's a boyl" To report our fourth
gr^at-grarrahild.. .and another due in larch.
Until now, among the 13 grand-

aiid great's, there have been just tljibee boys,

course, no one will spoil this latest airival'

Now there are four.

But, of

We thank our wonderful Savior for givin.< us you and your continuing encouragement

in so many ways, both tangible and intah"gible and for the beauty of life with you
in the Family of God!
May His Spir it of love and joy fill your hearts in
loveliness of Christmas-time and throuq:hout the coming yearl

yeth^ we ^gwe Him, your missionairies,

5s and ivia Phipps