Report from the Field

Dear Team,

After seven trips to the Department of Home Affairs in Cape Town, spread over as many weeks, we finally have our 4-year, multiple-entry resident visa for South Africa. This specific answer to prayer is cause for great rejoicing and peace of mind. Thanks for your part in prayer.

Please be sure to read Mateusz’s testimony (opposite on p. 2), as told to Brooke Nungesser. It’s very well written and a powerful, heart-moving story of what God can do. ITMI is currently processing his application to work in Poznan, with Nungessers in the Bread of Life Ministry to the homeless. We invite you to help this young couple with prayer and practical support.

Last month Harriett and I were both involved in the “Summit” Biblical Worldview Conference that attracted a record number of young people from various parts of Africa. I spoke at several of the training sessions and Harriett helped to feed the hungry masses during the Week of Outreach that followed. We also stayed with our grandchildren at the Hammond home so Peter and Lenora could attend a Pastor’s Conference together.

Several have asked if we have any ministry in South Africa to abused children, some of whom have HIV. Recently Steve Evers and I visited Graham and Jene’ Des Fountain at their residence near Cape Town to see the wonderful work they are doing to provide a Christian home for just such children. Harriett and I visited again and discussed their urgent need for a larger facility to accommodate the growing number of children. The Des Fountains have submitted their application to ITMI. Stay Tuned!

Perhaps the most significant ITMI project underway just now is the Polish Bible translation undertaken by Rev. Piotr Zaremba. He completed the New Testament right on schedule and several of the books have already been printed and are being widely used in evangelism. This is the first time in Poland’s history that the Bible has been translated directly from Greek and Hebrew into Polish. Pray for God’s Word to bear fruit.

By the time you receive this several team members will be on African field trips up north. Let me encourage you to remember Lawren and Tim especially as they face many difficulties both along the way and in their target countries.

We never cease to be amazed at how the Lord works in answer to your specific prayers. Johan and Walda’s daughter, Kina was really very ill this time last month with a severe respiratory illness. Several wrote to us that they were praying. The family was at Church last Sunday and 7-month old Kina was just beaming. Another testimony that God answers knee-mail.

Yours in His grip,





Bill Bathman