"JESUS IS THE LIGHT"

3 o|
JAN. 2 5 1387
Have you ever stepped out of your house on a dark night and felt
something "brush against your leg or foot? And you know it is not your
dog or cat. ^^Vhat can it "be? You have no light to switch on, for you
have no electricity. So, you begin to imagine what it may have been.
This happened to Stephen who works for Don and Marianne Baughman
in Nigeria. Stephen is a mason, or sometimes called a bricklayer. That
means that he knows how to stack concrete blocks into the correct position
and put mortar betv/een them to make a house. Stephen also operates the
lawn mower and helps us to do v/hatever needs to be done,
Stephen lives in a small house down near the chapel. About twelve
feet away from the front door of his little house stands the thick, lush,
rain forest, Stephen could only think of one thing that could have come
out of the forest. You know what that is, don't you? Yes, a snake.
Stephen hollered at the top of his lungs. He made such noises that
one of us thought he was yelling, "Fire;" iUiother thought he v/as saying
"Baba Baba" (father). Don and all the other men jumped up. Don grabbed
snake sticks and all ran to Stephen,
Soon all the men returned to our house with Stephen, He sat down
on the floor in the light of the aladdin lamp and began to inspect his leg
and foot. He could find no marks of any kind but he was certain that a
snake had bitten him, Ne told him that if something had bitten him, he
would know it. But you know how strong one's imagination is! He had no
pain. We kept him in our house until he fell asleep in his chair.
Finally, v;e roused him from his sleep. He woke up laughing and went down
to his house,
But, you know, even when he came to work in the morning he was not
convinced that a snake had not bitten him. He said that his foot felt
lighter!
This is how it is for those who do not know Ylho the Light of the
World is. We need Jesus to be our Light to show us the way each day of
our lives or we will imagine many things. Some of them may even happen
to us if we do not follow the Light. Be sure and tell your friends that
Jesus is the Light and there is no need for anyone to stumble around in
the darkness.
THE BAUGHMANS
DON and MARIANNE
MISSIONARIES TO NIGERIA
West Atrica Christian Mission
Nigeria, West Africa
FURLOUGH ADDRESS:
354 Nozth South Street
Wilmington, Ohio 45177
Phone; 513-382-.6699
Marianne Baughman
NIGERIA, West Africa
"NATIVE DOCTOR"
This is the true account of a native doctor a priest of
idols who confessed to the truth of the gospel on his death-bed
but failed to repent.
Near the coastal forest swamp in southern Nigeria a small
village nestles. Palm trees surround the church and the houses,
towering over the inhabitants. V/ithin the half circle of mud dwellings
opposite the church lives the native doctor, and his flourishing idol
temple is there. \Vhen trials come upon the people, it is the native
doctor to v/hom they flee.
But today all was quiet in the idol house. The witch doctor lay
dying. He lay on a mat on the mud floor in the dark room. The last
rays of sunlight crept through the open doorway into the room. Men
and women hovered over the sick man. In and out of the house they went
shaking their heads. He asked someone to send for Edun, the preacher
at the only church in the village.
Edun knelt down beside the man. "My sons...," the old man said,
"you teach them." Edun had to listen carefully. "You speak the truth."
"You believe?" Edun asked him, and the man nodded. "There is
time..." Edun began. The native doctor shook his head,
"My life is over. You must teach ... my sons."
"I will do it," Edun told him.
"I have helped no one. You will help them to do right." One
son came into the room, glanced at his father and slipped his hand
under some clothing.
"You take the moneyl" a woman screamed at him. His hand came out
from under the clothing empty. He hurriedly left the room.
Edun and the old man sorrowfully watched the son leavq the setting
sun cast the young man's shadow across the floor.
"My sons..." The old man turned his face to the wall and died.
Today, one son is following in his father's footsteps the idol
temple is again flourishing. The yoimgest son accepted the teaching of
God's V/ord, the Bible. He is a leader and choir director in the church.
Marianne Baughman
NIGERIA, West Africa
"DAY OF DECISION"
_
One of the loveliest happenings one can v/itness is when a person
decides to give his life to Jesus. They not only know WHO GOD IS, but
they make Jesus Lord of their life. They turn away from all of the bad
things they have been doing and turn to God and begin to do good helpful
things. They no longer pray to the clay pot, tree or make offerings to
their idols, but they ask God to deliver them from their old way of life.
They want to be buried in water just as Jesus was buried in the grave
leave all of their sinsand rise up out of the water to walk as Jesus
walked.
It was a cloudy day when some Sango people made decisions for Jesus.
Many times 1 have been to the river, so today 1 stopped at my home to
change my shoes and put do^^ the heaviest books. 1 then hurried along
the path. It was heavy with weeds and undergrowth and pineapple leaves
scratched my legs. Already 1 could hear the people singing, and children
crashing on ahead to be first at the waterside but 1 couldn't see them.
1 was thinking of the happy occasion and enjoying the cool of the overcast
sky.
Suddenly, weaving in and around trees, banana groves, kola forest and
tall weeds that grew over my head, I realized that I must have made a wrong
turn. The forest is strewn v;ith paths to local farms, to the old road,
and to different branches to various spots along the river. I could still
hear singing in the distance, but I knew I was farther away from them
instead of closer. Sure enough I reached a cliff side above the water and
looked down and sav/ the group. The forest was so thick that they couldn't
see me.
The evangelist had entered the water. 1 thought I could still make it
and stumbled down an old overgrown path and was soon lost on a new, unsown
farm. Gradually I made my way back to the sandy cliff and got my bearings
set towards home. By now the baptisms were taking place. I made my way
back to the house. Even if 1 could reach them now they would be starting
back. They would all laugh at "Mommy" which they promptly did when they
reached the house,
I was first at the house, but because I had neglected to take note
of the nev/ paths and thought I was on the old, I missed the happy birthday
party of the new Christians. 1 learned not to take for granted things
that I already know, but to check up and bQ/feure that the way I am taking
is the right one!
There are many paths in this life and if we don't watch the one we
are on, it is easy to end up in the v/rong place. V/e need to look at the
path every day and make sure we are on the right one!
Marianne Baughman
NIGERIA, West Africa
"HEAL THE SICK"
Deep in the rain forest of southern Nigeria where the tall trees
mass in a lush green canopy there is a small village. The square shaped
mud houses are arranged in a circle making the center of the village the
front yard for most of the houses. The idol temple has a prominent
place among them.
Here lives one old Baba (father) who believes that Jesus is God's
only Son,^ His daughter Dorcas, the only living child of ten children,
lay very ill on her mat on the floor. The old man attempted to feed
her. She could not eat the food. He prayed and tried to help her, but
she only grew worse. All of the women worried the man about the girl,
"Call the witch doctor," they said, "Buy a goat and we will kill it for
a sacrifice." They believed that if they offered this sacrifice that
the devil would heal the girl.
On the Lord's day a young man arrived in the village to hold
services in the church. He went to the house of the Baba followed by
many of the people. Dorcas saw the young man enter the house and she
tried to rise. But she fainted and fell back, and everybody ran away.
All but her father and the young man. They tended her gently,
"Is there no one to whom we can go?" the old father asked,
"There is a missionary who has helped us before. But he is
several miles away. 1 will go for the missionary," the young man decided.
"Send someone with me." Boreas'" mother made ready to go. Under the
blazing tropical sim they walked the three miles,
"Ekasan" (Good afternoon) they were greeted by Don and Marianne
Baughman. Mama smiled and the yoimg man introduced her,
"The daughter of Baba is ill,"
"Can she walk?" Don asked,
"No, She fainted when she tried to stand,"
"1 will come," Don told them. We gave them food and drink and
Don drove them to the village over the badly shredded road. He brought
Dorcas back home v/ith him and took her to a doctor the next morning.
The medicines sent back with her were for dysentery, infection, malaria,
and malnutrition. Her mother stayed with her, and for one week she was
able to drink an egg nog three times a day and take the required medication,
As she steadily improved many prayers of thanlcs were offered to God.
Her father came to visit regularly.
The old man went happily back to his village to harvest his crops
telling everyone that his daughter is getting well. The people just
laughed at him. Had he not refused to sacrifice to the idols?
Now they are no longer laughing, for Dorcas is walking among them.
Marianne Baughman
NIGERIA, West Africa
"MAGIC CHARMS"
behind our house thick rain forest stretches up into a
illiant blue sky. Small farms surround our ten acres of trees. Farmers
f?" '='^ vegetation during the dry season before
weeding!^" digging, hoeing, planting and
On day a young man came running through the forest to our house.
A snake." he exclaimed when he saw Don.
v/here?" Don asked as he reached for the snake sticks.
. . father's farm. Come." We all followed down the narrow
winding path, through the lush vegetation that covers the forest floor,
imder a flourishing kola forest, into a small clearing.
The hoy's father stood guarding the snake. A Gaboon Viper, thoueh
deadly^when it strikes, is a docile snake. It lay under the leaves
beautifully camouflaged unaware of the turmoil going on around it. It was
a simple matter for Don to lay the stick on the snake's head and pick it up.
"V^here is your magic?" the farmer asked Don.
"I have no magic." The man laughed, not believing. "It is true.
Come to my house and see."
"V/hy does it not bite you?"
I am^holding its head. It can't bite anyone. It is a docile snake
and only bites v/hen it is hungry or trapped."
"\7here is^your magic?" Don asked the farmer knowing that he usually
carried a special chaimi when going to his farm.
"I left it at home'.' Everybody laughed at this.
"V^hy do you come to your farm without your charm? Won't the snake
bite you?
"It no bite me because I have charm."
"You bring your charm and come to my house. I vdll turn the snake
loose and we will see what your charm can do,"
The farmer laughed. "Don't turn it loose," he said. We all laughed
and began to leave.
"Come tomorrow," Don said. "Don't forget your charm. It is a
mighty charm that can protect you when you leave it at home?"
The farmer never came.
Marianne Baughman
NIGERIA, West Africa
NIGERIA
WEST AFRICA
WEST AFRICA CHRISTIAN MISSION
3>oi
March 1, 1987
Dearest Friends,
Greetings in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
New Year's Eve: Don fell playing tennis with Marc in
Lexington, NE, No, he didn't break a leg. He received a
"football pointer" in his good leg. Since that time the pointer
seems to have healed, but pain returned to the right leg. He is
presently under a doctor's care.
In January we reported to the Linden and Beechwold Churches of
Christ in Columbus, Ohio; Fairfield in Lancaster, and the church
at Pickerington, Ohio. Don also reported to the Young at Heart
at Jamestown, Ohio, spoke in chapel at Johnson Bible College,
and at a Ved. eve service at the church in Wilmington.
We were also in Ohio in February: the Fifth Ave. church in
Lancaster, Ohio; Vesthill in Columbus; the Edgerton, Ohio
church; Grove City; and Lockland church in Cincinnati. Don
attended Hissions Emphasis Week at Cincinnati Bible College and
presented a workshop, "The Changing World In Which We Live."
March 5-8 First Christian Church,Frederick,Md., Faith Promise
March 11-15 East Tulsa Christian Church, Okla. " "
March 22 First Christian Church, Derby, KS
March 24 Lincoln Christian College chapel
March 28,29 Church of Christ, Waterford, Ohio " "
April 1 Dallas Christian College chapel
April 5 Church of Christ, Wilmington, Ohio " "
We must leave for Nigeria on April 7th to renew our Residence
Permits. Please pray our permits will be renewed easily and
speedily. The Lord willing, we will return to the States in
May.
We are looking forward to being in DVBS' this summer and being
with you at the NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION in Memphis, Sept.
20-23. "...all that God does endures forever...Ecc 3.14.
Yours,
Don and Marianne Baughman
West Africa Christian Mission
354 North South Street
Wilmington, Ohio 45177
West Africa Christian Mission
354 North South Street
Wxlmington, Ohio 45177
/
June 1, 1987
Dear Friends in Christ,
We are thankful to report that our journey to Nigeria and back
was successful. We were granted Residence Permits for two more
years in Nigeria. We know that this is the result of the
prayers of all of you concerned friends. Thank you! Also, Don's
back and legs are much improvedanother result of your prayers.
He continues treatments with a doctor in Cincinnati.
We are sorry to tell you that Arthur Merkle, minister of the ^
Church of Christ here in Wilmington, had a heart attack on April
7th. On May 4th he underwent triple by-pass surgery at
Kettering Medical Center. He is presently at home at 395 Curtis
Drive,Wilmington,Ohio 45177, and the doctors are optoraistic.
Please keep Arthur in your prayers, and drop him a line of
encouragement.
Our summer
J une 7
J une 8-19
J une 11-26
J une 28
July 3-11
July 14-17
July 19
July 26-31
Aug. 2
Aug. 3
Aug. 9
Aug. 12
Aug. 16
Aug. 21
is as follows:
Southwood Church of Christ, Columbus, Ohio
Marianne at DVBS, Wilmington, Ohio
Don will be on a Bible Land Tour
Nicholson Christian Church, Independence,Ky.
DVBS at Christian Church in Weiner,Ark.
North American Christian Covention, Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma
Bella Vista Christian Church,Garland, Texas
Missions Week at Lake James Christian Assembly,
Angola, Indiana
Huber Heights Christian Church, Vandalia, Ohio
Flight to Portland, Oregon
First Christian Church, Newport, Oregon
Flight to Lincoln, Nebraska
First Christian Church, Lexington, Nebraska
Flight to Dayton, Ohio
Please keep the National Missionary Convention in your prayers,
The dates are September 20-23, Memphis, Tennessee. "This is
eternal life, that they may know Thee...and Jesus Christ..."
In Christian love,
Don and Marianne Baughman
HOUSING
Some excellent accomodatlons are
available In Memphis hotels and motels.
The convention has room blocks at five
of these facilities, Including:
Holiday inn CROWIME plaza, a brand
ne\y, beautiful hotel, which will serve as
the convention Headquarters Hotel. It is
connected to the convention center.
Cost Is $67.00 a night, plus tax, for a room
with one to four persons.
Sheraton Memphis Hotel, Is one block
from the convention center. Prices are:
$55.00 for one or two
$60.00 for three or four (plus tax)
Ramada Hotel, is six blocks from the
convention center. Prices are:
$50.00 for one or two
$58.00 for three or four (plus tax)
Coach House is about one mile from
the convention center. Prices are:
$28.00 for one person
$53.00 for two (plus tax)
Coach and Four is about one mile
from the convention center. Prices are:
$25.00 for one person
$28.00 for two (plus tax)
Children under 18 are free in room with
parents. The room tax is almost 13 per
cent. Free parking except at Crowne
Plaza. Plenty of parking at the conven
tion center for a small charge.
To make your reservation you need
to get a housing form from the Mis
sionary convention. To do that write:
NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION, BOX
11, COPELAND, KS 67837, or call 316/
668-5259.
EXHIBIT SPACE
A huge exhibit area is available In
Memphis. The exhibit area will be located
right next to the main session area. There
will be a sound wall between but it Is
easily accessible to people attending.
Some meal functions will also take place
In the exhibit area.
Exhibit contracts will be sent out
about January 1, 1987. If you want a
contract, and you are not on the Mis
sionary Convention mailing list, send
your request to the address below.
-StarS,^_
sometning
INFORMATION
For information about any aspect of
the Memphis convention or future Mis
sionary Convention write:
NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION
BOX 11, COPELAND, KS 67837
or call: 316/668-5259
HIGH PlAINS PUeuSHERS. INC,DODGE CITY
YOU CAN'T
AFFORD
TO MISS
THE
40TH
NATIONAL
MISSIONARY
CONVENTION
SEPTEMBER
20-23,1987
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Don Baughman will be President of
the Memphis convention. He grew up in
Columbus, Ohio, graduating from Cin
cinnati Bible Seminary in 1954. He also
took graduate work there and attended
the Summer institute of Linguistics in
Norman, Oklahoma. Don and his wife,
Marianne, became a part of the west
Africa Christian Mission in 1955 and went
out to Nigeria on the s.s. African Dawn in
1956. They are the parents of four
daughters, ail born in the I950's: Ruthie,
Judy, Lisa, and Jane. Ruthie died in Africa
of an unknown disease when she was
sixteen. The Baughmans, along with their
fellow workers, have been endeavoring
to pioneer the establishment of "mis
sionary" churches in Africa's most pop
ulous nationchurches reaching out
through love into their communities to
save the lost, reaching out into
neighboring nations, and into the ut
termost parts of the earth.
Twenty-four other overseas mis
sionaries, twelve North American mis
sionaries, twelve USA ministers, and six
Bible College Mission Professors will be
working with Don on the convention's
Continuation Committee to plan the
Memphis convention.
A CALL TO WORLD
EVANGELIZATION
IN OUR
GENERATION
We now have opportunity to reach
more people with the Gospel than ever
before in the history of the world.
Whether we do reach them or not is
going to depend on how serious we are
about obeying the Great commission.
Nearly two and a half billion people
have never had a chance to hear the
Gospel. Over 17,000 people groups are
virtually untouched in nations ail over
the world. Churches in the Western world
spend 95% of their funds (and personnel)
on domestic purposes, 4V2% on estab
lished mission work in other countries
and Vi of 1% on unreached peoples
groups.
But there is a growing concern, in
some places a rapidly growing concern,
to get on with the job. At the Missionary
Convention in Memphis this will be one
of the featured highlights, and, hopefully
it will continue to be at other future
Missionary Conventions. How can you be
more effective in reaching those who
have never heard? How can your church
become involved in reaching an
unreached peoples group? What are
other individuals, churches, and groups
doing?
You will make the difference!! You
can help evangelize the world in this
generation!!
40th National Missionary Convention
September 20'23, (Sunday Through Wednesday), 1987
Memphis, Tennessee Convention Center Complex
Theme: "The Christianityofthe Here and iYoiv"
DON BAUGHNAN, President national
Missionary Conv. Missionary to Nigeria.
Sunday evening speaker 6:00 p.m.
message on "The Christianity of the Here
and Now"
JAMES STRAUSS. Lincoln Christian
College, Lincoln, 111. Monday Eve. Message
"The Profound Darkness of the Here and
Now"
ROGER THOMAS, Minister Dekalb, Il
linois. Morning Bible Exposition Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday from The Sermon on
the Mount, "The Pursuit Of The Kingdom:
'Life in Two Worlds' "
GERALD GIBSON. Mid-south Christian
college, Senatobia, MS. Tues. aft message
'Shining Like Stars in the Present Uni
verse"
ART MORRIS, Mis
sionary, India. Wed
nesday afternoon
message "All These
Things for the Present
Age."
DAVID EUBANKS.
Johnson Bible College,
Knoxviiie, TN. Wed.
evening message "The
Eternal Kingdom of the
Here and Now."
DAVID FILBECK, Missionary, Thailand
Monday afternoon message "The Treasure
and Pearl for the Present Age "
MICHAEL STANELY. Missionary, South
Africa. Tuesday evening message 'The
Great Light in the Here and Now"
/
The view from a far country
The Changing Times in Which We Live
By DONBAUGHMAN
SINCE leaving for West Africa as a missionary
more than thirty years ago, one of the most important
and frequently asked questions I have had when on
leave has been, "How have things changed?" I think,
understandably, those who ask expect a good and
pleasant answer. But I suspect that the answer is
really not a simple one, and not always good and
pleasant.
Illusion of progress Some years ago, a certain
rather remote village in Africa had a paved road. It
gave the village an appearance of progress and well-
being. I was not really acquainted with life in this
village. Then one day the government put a paved
road through a village I was very familiar with. It
gave it the same appearance of progress and well-
being the other village had. But I knew there was
little progress and not much well-being among the
people here. They were illiterate, poor, and miserable
and still worshiping the same idols those before them
had worshiped. For me, the road in the village I was
unacquainted with had created an illusion.
In America today there is much to create such an
illusion. We see so much progress in so many different
areas that we tend to think things are really going
quite nicely. We do not dream that in any sense things
could be going backwards. But we must look beyond
outward appearances and seek a fuller picture of
things in order to see the makeup of the society in
which we live. With prayer and shared love for all we
can work for good changes to come in the America we
love.
The history we are makingWe Christians today
need a sense of where the world is and where we are
in the world. I use the term, "the world," in the Bibli
cal sense. I mean men and women on their own with
out God, and their ways and means. We need to know
where that world is, and what is believed and what is
happening in that world-and not just what is happen
ing in the kingdom of God. This may give us an idea of
what is likely to happen to us and to our children
within the world of men. These are our times, and to
live in them we need a little sense of history.
Our times are revolutionary-times of fundamental
Don Baughman, missionary with West Africa Christian
Mission, served as president of the 1987 National Missionary
Convention.
Page Four (884)
change within society. The winds of change are sweep
ing the inhabited world-sometimes good, sometimes
bad, sometimes a mixed blessing.
Foundations of materialism: industry and agricul
tureTwo extremely important changes bringing
mixed blessings have been the industrial and agricul
tural revolutions. By the 1850's the industrial revolu
tion had become widespread in the northeastern
United States. Historically speaking, the industrial
revolution is of recent origin. From the standpoint of
our lives it is ever accelerating.
In the year 1900 there were virtually no automo
biles in America and no roads as we know roads today.
Now we live in a totally automobile-oriented society.
Industry recently got a giant assist from technology
in the form of the computer. And the computer even
more recently got a similar lift through the develop
ment of the micro-chip-which revolutionized the
computer itself. At the beginning of the industrial
revolution machines took over the work of our hands.
In fact, machines did more than that. Much more.
For machines began to do things hands never did.
And machines did, and do today, things that hands
could never do, more efficiently and in the twinkling
of an eye. Recently, machines through the computer,
took over much of the work of our minds. Even though
a computer cannot think, it does massive work on
behalf of the human brain. Men could not have gone
to the moon without the work the computer did.
In the 1890's, 90 percent of the people in the United
States lived in rural communities and on farms.
When I was growing up as a boy, if a farmer raised 20
to 30 bushels of corn per acre on his farm, he could get
along. Today 120 to 130 bushels of corn per acre would
not be exceptional. In the America of today, less than
4 percent of the people live on farms. The rest, begin
ning in the 1890's have come into the urban centers.
This has contributed to important sociological
changes in American life.
Farming recently came to the point of "zero tillage."
Most of the beautiful corn grown around the town
where we live when on leave is grown without tilling
the soil! The farmers of even the 1930's lived on farms
of another age. They did not live and produce on farms
of the present age.
The increasing industrial and agricultural change
and advance in America have established the founda
tion for a society that goes far beyond mere thinking
CHRISTIAN STANDARD
p
u
and dreaming about materialism. This foundation
has made it possible, for the first time in history, for a
vast society to practice a materialistic way of life. It is
a society increasingly uninterested in God and spiri
tual values.
In Africa today, in contrast, there is no agricultural
revolution. It takes a very high percentage of the peo
ple (including all family members) to raise the needed
food. Often, there is not enough.
Scientific and technical changeOne of the impor
tant ideas in science today is the theory of evolution.
In 1925, in the famous Scopes' Monkey Trial, John
Scopes, a public school teacher, was arrested and later
fined for teaching the theory of evolution in Tbnnessee
public schools contrary to state law. John Scopes, the
evolutionist, lost his trial, but today Christians are
struggling to gain the right to have creationism
taught alongside the theory of evolution in public
schools.
Darwin
Science now teaches that living beings have come
from non-living matter by abiogenesis (spontaneous
generation). Abiogenesis is not true. It cannot be dem
onstrated. Nevertheless, all life is said to have pro
ceeded from one point. Viruses, bacteria, plants, and
animals are all interrelated and come from exactly
the same point. Fish were the first backboned animals
to develop. Amphibians came from the fish, reptiles
from the amphibians, and both the birds and the
mammals (this includes you and me) developed from
the reptiles. You may not like my friends the reptiles,
but what modern science is telling us is that our for
bears werereptiles. The theory of evolution attempts
to explain the creation of man without the necessity
for God. This is the "science" being taught in our
schools today. There could have been no more signifi
cant change in so short a time.
for September 27. 1987
The Moon, 1969
I was born in the 1920's. We lived in the time then
when only the cows went to the moon. Men go to the
moon today, but back in the '20's it was only the cows
that knew how to do it! Men did not! Now we are in
the age of space. We live in the age of man on the
moon. And the incredible thing about it is: when man
went to the moon, millions sat in the comfort of their
living rooms and watched him put his foot on the
moon.
The Tower
Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a
tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a
name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the
whole earth."
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower that
the men were building. The Lord said, "If as one people
speaking the same language they have begun to do this,
then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.
Come, let us ... confuse their language" (Genesis 11:4-7,
New International Version).
Medical-social changeWe live in a time of medical
revolution. In Africa and in the world smallpox has
been eradicated. Leprosy, tuberculosis, and poliohave
been dealt severe blows. We live in a time of new
medical knowledge and new medicines. Not long ago
doctors had very few medicines. Then came the mira
cle drugs. Billions are being poured into research and
the development of new medicines today. There are
new surgical procedures (heart transplants, joint
transplants, etc.) and new equipment for the diagno
sis and treatment of disease. Doctors and their medi
cal partners, the scientists and the medical technolo
gists, have revolutionized medicine.
But, unfortunately, the doctor has also revolution
ized himself, for he will treat the disease of your child
within the womb, or he will snatch it from the womb
for death, whichever you prefer! The African witch
doctor does not exceed this!
When did this begin? It just began! The exact date
was January, 1973.
Abortion kills more than 1.5 million children a year
in the United States. It kills the equivalent of the
population of the city of Houston or the state of Ne
braska every year. "Abortion is as Americanas apple
pie," said one U.S. senator. Much of the leadership of
the women's liberation movement supports abortion.
How did we come so far? A few men in America, over
night, changed our society. As jurors, they found
(885) Page Five
something in our constitution that no one had found
before: the right of expectant mothers to put to death
fetal life within their bodies.
The decision in 1973 by certain members of the Su
preme Court regarding abortion shook the moral
foundations of America. It measured and judged the
degree of our civilization.
Red and Yellow, Black and White
In America we are living (not have lived but are
living) in a time of important change in racial rela
tions. Until 1954 the doctrine of "separate but equal"
educational facilities for blacks and whites was in
force. In that year the Supreme Court reversed itself
and said that "separate but equal" was inherently un
equal. We live in a time of sit-ins, demonstrations,
busing. Roots, and equal employment opportunity. We
have undergone great social change for good in racial
relations in America, but we still have a great dis
tance to go.
War with a differenceWe live in a time of war, not
really knowing what the next days hold. We are living
in the time of World Wars I and II, the Korean war the
Vietnam war and many other military involvements,
and in a time of thoughts of war and of high prepared
ness for war, with a subtle change.
I visited my barber not very long ago. (I have since
changed barbers, but not for the reason of the story
I'm going to tell you.) He likes to discuss the people in
our hometown. On this day he wanted to discuss me.
He asked me if I thought it fair to have taken my wife
and children to live in Africa. He knew it was danger
ous because he had seen it on television. I didn't deny
the dangers. He and I had discussed them before. He
said I was acting irresponsibly and not fulfilling my
Christian responsibility to my family.
I asked him how he liked the location of our home
town. "Very much," he replied. (He doesn't like anyone
in the town, but he likes the town and its location
very much!) We discussed that some hometowners
work in Cincinnati, Dayton, and Columbus and com
mute daily. With the good roads Louisville, Lex
ington, and Indianapolis are available to us.
I asked him where he thought our enemies would
deliver the first nuclear fusillade. He was perceptive
and said, "I see what you mean." It was easy to see
that just the hot gases of radiation from bombs ex
ploded over those major cities would bring life to an
end in our hometown. I thought he should join me in
Page Six (886)
Africa with his family. I didn't think our enemies
would bother to drop a nuclear bomb on the iroko
trees in the jungle where I live. Things had changed,
but my barber hadn't noticed. He had little sense of
what was happening in his world.
Media of changeWe live in a time of revolutionary
social ideas and activities, and a time of important
media to affect social, cultural and political change.
Television is probably the most important technologi
cal medium for social change in the history of man
kind. National network television did not extend
coast-to-coast until 1951, but today millions of people
view it indiscriminately.
Children spend 900 hours a year in school, but more
than 1,200 hours a year before the television. Most
children do not receive even 100 hours a year of Bible
instruction in the church. Children and adolescents
are sent to school, but television viewing in the home
is voluntary and often addictive. The three R's are
learned in school, but morals are absorbed from tele
vision. Television depicts lust, promiscuity, fornica
tion, adultery, violence, greed and materialism, por
nography, perversion, prostitution, divorce, abortion,
drinking, and other similar things. The viewer young
or old, is left to make his own decision about what he
has seen. Overall, television has an extremely nega
tive impact to offer the homes of America today.
In the world, not of the worldHow does the Bible
describe the situation and times in which we livethe
times that we have been only partially describing?
Second Timothy 3:1 says that our times are gi-ievous,
perilous, dangerous times. Our world is an evil, at
tractive, dangerous world of conflict. The apostle John
said, "Love not the world, neither the things that are
in the world" (1 John 2:15, American Standard Ver
sion). James counseled us not be a friend of the world
(James 4:4). The apostle Paul said, "Do not conform
any longer to the pattern of this world, but be trans
formed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2,
New International Version).
If we are not to love, nor to be a friend of, nor to be
conformed to the pattern of this world, we must know
accurately what the pattern of this world is. We need
a sense of where the world is and where we are in the
world. We need a sense of where the world has re
cently been and where it is going. We need a little
sense of the history of the here and now.
CHRISTIAN STANDARD
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Missionaries to Nigeria
Don ^ Marianne Baughman
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Nigeria is the most heavily \
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It is in Nest Africa 6 K'
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year round temperature v.nth dry
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The 3rd largest river in Africa
the NIGER, divides Nigeria into
East and Y/est and North. The three
largest trihes: Hausa (north),
Yoruba (Y/est) , Ibo (East) .
There are 252 different languages
plus 1^8 different dialects.
Marianne Baughman September, I987
Missionary to Nigeria, Africa
ilnsv/ers to Frequent Questions
How did you know God wanted you to be a missionary?
I gave my self to Jesus when I realized that Jesus died for me.
V/hile attending classes at Cincinnati Bible Seminary my husband Don and
I worked in the basement of a tenement building in downtown Cincinnati
with colored children. The children were eager and delightful to work
with. During this time we participated in the first inter-racial c^p
in the area. This work,plus all the returning missionaries we heard
telling about their work interested us very much. We knew Jesus woras^^
by heart: "Go ye into all the world and make disciples of all nations.
"Go ye" meant me. I knew that God was talking to me, I saw the nee
for missionaries in Africa and Jesus had said, "Go."
How did you find out v/here to go?
We listened to a lot of missionaries from Tibet, India, Africa,
Philippines, Japan even studied the Japanese language 0^^ year.
During this time we joined the V/orld ?/Iission Volunteers at CBS. we
v/anted to go but did not know where. Africa seemed to be the place tna
God put into our herts. We had experience in Cincinnati and knew tha
we could work with black people. Color made no difference to us as we
had both been in school with v/onderful black friends. V/e he^d from
Bob Mills in South Africa that he was getting letters from Nigeria lor
his correspondence courses. We took one step at a time and the Lord
led us all the way.
Did your church help you in any way?
Our home church took Don's living-link support immediately after
his ordination. Other churches quickly picked up my and Ruthie and
Judy's support. We were off to a good start. We travelled many miles
for almost a year to raise the needed travel and operating expenses.
We made many friends during that time who are so dear to us now. It
was a lot of work travelling before the expressways v/ere put in, but
it was worth it.
V/hat is your main job as a missionary?
My main job through the years has been my family. ^
However, in I962 we began Bible Correspondence Courses in Nigeria.
I do all the office work involved typing stencils, duplicating lessons,
grading and mailing lessons and literature. V/e nov/ offer three courses:
Bible Doctrine, Studies in Acts and Studies in James. 1 ha.ve become
acquainted with many of the students personally. Some who study with us
come to us and are baptized. One teacher is now an evangelist who
supports himself in his ministry. I have SSi\RCHi:<D THl^ ^CRIPTUR-iS with
the'students and am the prime beneficiary I love my work.
r>iarianne Baughma}i
Ansv.'ors to Frequent Questions - page 2 -
V.Tiat are sone other things you do as a missionary?
I am a secretary to my husband I answer all correspondence that
is possible, I*ve been a homework helper to my childreno I've picked
endless rocks out of the rice to feed my brood and visitors who are
frequent. I sev^ed all of the girls clothing when they were v/ith us,
VJhen the v/ater in the house runs out I call for help to pump water from
the cistern into the up tank. If no one is available, I pump the^water.
When I carkt get the kerosene refrigerator to work I PRAY. Sometimes
I have to wash all our clothing by hand. And after camps, I sometimes
have to clean the latrine. As one missionary says, "V/e must clean those
latrines with grace." Also, I travel to the River with my husband
to visit the churches,
v/hat are some good things that have happened to you as a missionary?
I think the best thing that has happened to me is witnessing the
new birth of many Nigerian people we have taught, learned to love, to
Icnow as friends, and to learn from them. Friends are the best thing
God can give us, V/e all need friends, V/e have friends here in the States,
in Nigeria and in Europe, These friends have been through the hard times
of our life with us and our lives have been made fuller by praying together,
worshipping together, and having fellowship. God has supplied^us with
generous Christian people who love Him and who care about telling people
all over the world about Jesus Christ, So, my answer to this question
is PEOPLE I There are good, generous, kind people v/herever we go who
share their lives with us God's richest earthly blessing-
Have you ever been in danger as a missionary?
During the Nigerian civil war therq were road blocks along all the
main roads. Soldiers manned these check points. They were sometimes drunk
and handled their weapons csirelessly, vThen we had to drive through these
check points we all prayed. Once Don had our car counter-manded by the
military. He had taken medicines and food to the churches in the Cross
River, The army officer ordered him to stop (possibly his o^wn vehicle
had broken down), climbed in and ordered Don to take him some place on
the other side of the river. Don had to obey which meant crossing the
river bj^ ferry in the dark, then turning around and coming back. During
one state of emergency Don met a flaming road blqck and had to reverse
the car quickly to get away from the fire, r/!y own dangers have been
minimal once a snake fell from our bedroom ceiling onto my bed and
another time the oven of my stove blew up singeing my hair.
Is there any way v;e can help you to do a better job?
Yes, please nray for us every day that we v/ill be able to meet the
needs of all the people who come to us. Pray we'll have mental and
physical strength to do all that needs to be done. Pray also for^the
Nigerian Christians that they v/ill be strong when tempted by the idolaters.
Pray for souls to be won to Jesus,
Once a month you could take turns v/riting a letter to us. Please
include your church paper also. This will keep us informed about your
church family and help us to become acquainted with you personally even
though we are thousands of miles away!
God bless you.
oyo
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FORWARDING AGEW; '
Mrs. CaroJ SrAftiroijgh
370 Whttehead Roe^?
Mi(^thi3n, Taxas 76005
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West Africa Christian Mission
PO Box 46, Otta, Ogun State
NIGERIA, West Africa
The raission is located 23 miles northwest of Lagos on the road
to Abeokuta, the capitol of Ogoin State, Qgim State got its name
from one of the river gods - ogun.
The Cross River Bible School is in eastern Nigeria near the
Cameroon border. There are 10 churches in this area.