Linda Beard, Ministry Partner

     Meet Linda Beard.  Cancer  survivor for the last 20 years and still fighting through 4 separate cancers, tens of cycles of treatments, hundreds of scans and test.  Linda and Roland Beard will tell you that there is nothing special about who they are or what they do.
 
The Beards head up a ministry called Christ Works Ministries in Crozet, Virginia.  The ministry grew out of their love for the Lord and their gift of hospitality.  The Beards simply saw a need and filled it.  Their philosophy is start where you are, with what you have and God will multiply your outreach.  Linda says, "The message is simple:  any believer can do this because it only depends on a person's willingness and God's strength.  With this in view, we continue our projects and practical helps, but we especially seek to encourage others to do the same thing."


   In the last few weeks Linda has purchased teaching materials, teaching models, and charts for a nursing school in the Philippines.  ETS donated 14 sets of bunk beds as well as 312 pounds of hospital linens, and 536 pounds of over the counter medications and medical supplies.  The picture on the right shows some of her recent purchases (solar panel, sound system, kitchenware, as well as laboratory glassware.)
 
What a privilege to work with this couple.  For more information about them and their ministry go to  christworksministries.org.

ETS on the Move

No, ETS isn't moving but we did move out over 36,000 pounds of clothing, books, beds and medical supplies last month with the help of the Liberty Christian Boys Brigade of Maryland. The boys and their leaders drove down Friday night and we started loading the 53 foot tractor trailer at 9 AM Saturday Morning.

The tractor trailer was provided by Jezreel International, a faith based 501 C humanitarian aid organization based in New York. Jezreel International was started in 1996 as a response to seeing the dire straits of the poor in the former Soviet Union.

Currently they have shipped desperately needed medical and hospital supplies, food, clothing, personal care and hygiene products, toys, new shoes and sneakers to Israel and over 30 nations in need. In addition, they also have been a resource for area rescue shelters for battered women, drug addicts and alcoholics, pro-life pregnancy centers, inner-city ministries and veterans relief organizations. To find out more information about this ministry check out their website http//www.jezreelinternational.org/.

We wish to thank all the many groups of volunteers that gave so freely of their time to sort, box, and move the 1177 boxes of clothing and coats that were donated to this ministry. It was wonderful to see them loaded and then to have the opportunity to pray over the container and its contents before it was driven away.

We rely on our volunteers to help us meet the needs of missionaries world wide. If your youth group, small group, Bible study, civic group, church group or families are interested in volunteering for a Saturday or on a regular basis we would welcome your call to set up a specific time. Thank you for your time, prayers, and funding.

The ETS Staff

Long awaited Gloria3 arrives

Have you ever arrived at church hurting, depressed, wounded in spirit and been transported to the foot of the cross by the music or by the words of a hymn? Do the words and music of your favorite hymn sustain you when you are afraid, lonely, or overwhelmed? Victor Hugo says "Music expresses that which cannot be side and on which it is impossible to be silent."

What if you arrived at church and there was no choir, piano, or any music? Would you break out in spontaneous song? Or would you feel self conscious and just skip praise and worship altogether? Many small churches have no musicians and many of our fellow believers worldwide meet in homes or under a shade tree. Now it is possible to have the resources of a compact orchestra that can play any of the songs in the hymnal, in any key, at any tempo.

Gloria3 is totally self-contained and about the size of a hymnal. It runs on four D size flashlight batteries, an AC adapter, or a solar charged battery' and it has a built-in speaker and 5 watt amplifier. The sound volume is adequate for a group of 10 to 20 people. For use in larger churches, a sound system, keyboard amplifier, or guitar amplifier can be plugged into the external audio jack. Gloria 3 is a completely new model of the Gloria compact Digital Orchestra hymn player, redesigned from the bottom up to be easy to use and flexible. We would encourage you to check out their web site at www.gloriamusic.com for more information on this breakthrough instrument.

ETS has several units in stock. Each sells for $386.95 . Gloria 3 is an answer to any group of believers that want to add music to their worship service. We have been waiting for this new revision for many years and would love to see them in the hands of your missionaries. Please help us get the word out, or think of investing in one for a missionary you support.

"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord"

The ETS Staff

Still Equipping With Your Help

Twenty years ago, Equipping The Saints was started by Keith Jones as a way of meeting the needs of missionaries and national church leaders for equipment, materials and supplies. The need still exists and we are so thankful for your help.

This past year you have helped us send hand cranked sewing machines to Haiti, as well as supplement the cost of vitamins (shipped to Cuba, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti , Honduras, India, Mexico, Nepal, Northern Vietnam, Peru, Philippines, and Vietnam).

In March ETS was able to send the Digital Bible Society a check for $10,000 to help with the production of Arabic Treasures. Arabic Treasures is a computer "Chip" that contains 300 hours of video, 1000 hours of audio as well as printed materials (Bibles, books and commentaries in Arabic or Farsi). You made that happen with your giving.

In April you helped ETS buy 1440 Bibles to send Ohene Kumi (one of our ministry partners in Ghana). We were able to buy brand new Easy Reader Bibles with soft covers for about 2 dollars apiece . Ohene has a Bible discipleship ministry to thousands of school age children in Ghana, Togo, and Liberia.

We rejoice to report that ETS was able to send Ragaee A. Danial $8,612 to purchase a Daewoo Lanos. The vehicle will be used to transport children to his evangelism festivals and to transport teachers to the villages. Thank you for your generous giving .

Throughout the year you have given countless hours of your time in volunteer labor. We have seen thousands of pounds of clothing boxed up and sent worldwide. With your help we have been able to reach out, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of the these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it Me." Matthew 25:40

Thank you for giving to the Lord!

The ETS Staff

Celebrating 21 years of ministry

Dear Ministry Partners,

As Equipping The Saints completes 21 years of ministry, we thank God for His faithful direction and provision. Your encouragement through your prayers and gifts has played a vital role in making this work possible. Thank you!

Over the years we have seen many changes in both expressed needs and available resources. We are traveling farther to auctions and finding fewer items that can be used in ministry. This past year we have seen increased interest in our Spanish literature ( over 1700 titles), in vitamin sales to 14 countries, in technology ( computers, video projectors, etc.) as well as in the Missionary Resource Directory (installed on the ETS website), and in our used clothing (sent to countries such as Nicaragua and North Korea).

ETS sponsored several projects this past year. We were able to send Ragaee A. Danial $8,612 to purchase a 2004 Daewoo Lanos in Egypt. Ragaee has been able to start 5 new "Good News" Clubs in 5 small villages that have never heard the gospel message. The vehicle helps him to bring teachers into these villages each week.

We rejoice that over $4,500 has been raised for the Christian Worker's Personal Manual, to be printed and distributed in Cuba. This is enough for over 2250 church leaders to each receive his own copy.

ETS bought and sent 1440 Bibles to Ohene Kumi (one of ministry partners in Ghana). Ohene has a Bible discipleship ministry to thousands of school age children in Ghana, Togo, and Liberia.

What a joy to serve our Lord by serving His people!

Keith Jones

ETS Christmas Project

When you hear the word Cuba does this picture come to mind? do you think of Caribbean breezes, Cuban cigars, sugar plantations? Or do you think of economic collapse with the Soviet meltdown, US trade embargo, devastating hurricanes, corruption, poor productivity and a repressive centralized communist government?

1. 
   

Challenges for Prayer for Cuba according to 2010 Operation World are:

A) Bible distribution -the need remains urgent as church growth outstrips supply. Over 1 million copies of Scripture have been printed in-county on the Cuban Bible Society Press, and many thousands are imported every year.

B) Christian literature has been extremely hard to acquire for years and is an intense need. As the church and its leaders grow, more materials are needed. More can now be imported, but permission for local printing is difficult to obtain.

Did you know that for $1.94 you can have this book printed in Cuba and distributed to a Cuban pastor?
"The Christian Worker's Personal Manual" teaches what the Bible says to church leaders.

It has 272 pages taken directly from Scripture, in combination with the experience and wisdom of Godly men and women of Christian history.


It features both subject and scripture reference indices.



List Price (USA) $10.99

Printed in Cuba $1.94


The Cuban Government has given permission to print 10,000 copies. We invite you to join with Titus International, The Cuban Church and Editorial Portavoz to make this happen.
What can you buy for $1.94?

Can you make a better buy?

This $1.94 Christmas gift can change a life.

The books will be printed as paper and supplies are available throughout the year. The Manuals (published by Editorial Portavoz) will be distributed to Cuban pastors and workers at conferences sponsored by Titus International.

Equipping The Saints delights in teaming up with ministries that share our desired to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. We believe that discipleship is the key to growing fully committed Christians and we endorse the ministries of Titus International and Editorial Portavoz.

Give Thanks to the Lord!

November is traditionally the month for us, as a nation, to stop and give thanks for the bounty of the harvest. As Christians it is a time to stop and reflect on God's goodness and to give God the honor and glory He deserves. We have been blessed at ETS with 20 years of serving missionaries worldwide. From the humble start of an overfilled basement in Keith Jones' home, to our current buildings and storage buildings in Weyers Cave, God has always been faithful to provide for His children.

We rejoice to report that ETS was able to send Ragaee A. Danial $8,612 to purchase a 2004 Daewoo Lanos. The vehicle will be used to transport children to his evangelism festivals and to help transport teachers to the villages. ETS has never been able to raise this large amount before and we praise the Lord for each of you who gave so generously.

We also rejoice to report that the Missionary Resource Directory has been updated and installed on the ETS website. Many hours of research went into the Directory as 90% of it had changed since its last updating. Many thanks to Margaret and Jerry Baron from Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach, Florida for their endless persistence and tenacity in seeing to its completion. It is our hope that the ministries represented will be able to assist countless missionaries and ministries in proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We were also blessed by a group from Savannah Christian "Late Church". They helped us fill a container of summer clothing for Nicaragua as well as loading a truck for a container going to Liberia. While the boys loaded the 992 boxes of clothing, the girls were feverishly packing them for loading.

We are a staff of 5 people so our volunteers are our life blood and enable us to accomplish the things we do for our missionaries. We want to thank you, whether you have volunteered your time, your talent, your money or your prayers, they are greatly appreciated and we have been blessed. Thank you. The ETS Staff