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SUMMER 1998.
THE WORLD AND ISLAM
The primary mission of the Church is to fulfill the Great Commission. To accomplish this, the
Bible says that theGospel ofJesus Christ mustbepreached toevery nation, every tribe, andevery
tongue. Numbering approximately 1.2 billion throughout the world, Muslims comprise the
majority of the population in45 African andAsian countries. Islam haseven become thesecond
largest religion in Germany, France and Belgium. Forecasts show that in the United Kingdom
there will be more regular worshippers of Islam than Christians attending Church of England
services bytheyear 2002. Even theUnited States now houses approximately 5.5 million Muslims.
What is the significance of these little-known facts about the Muslim people of our world? The
Great Commission will never be completed until the church of Jesus Ouist accepts the challenge
ofsharing theGospel with these long neglected people. Inpraying for andgiving tomissions, do
we focus on those areas where the need is greatest?
GOSPEL LETTERS ".. .sois My Wordthat goesoutfrom My month: it will not
return to Me empty..." Isaiah 55:11a
The TWO Gospel Letter mailing program ("You Can Be A Missionary At Home") has grown
dramatically in the pcist 1 Vi years. The number of volunteers in the United States who are
sending out letters everymonth has increased by about 30% to approximately 1250. Bythe end of
May we had mailed (to our volunteers) 62,768 letters. Even though a response might not be
mailed back by the Turk who received the letter, frequently the letter is passed around within an
entire family (and possiblyeven an entire village). With this in mind, the possibilities are endless
with regard to the number of people hearing about Jesus Christ for the very first time. Enclosed
is a slip for you to completeand mail to us if you wish to become a Gospel Letter volunteer.
TURKISH WORLD OUTREACH FIELD REPORT
The field department of TWO has been very active over the past two years with recruitment,
training, advising, indoctrination and field surveys. It literally take years, from start to finish, to
place a new worker on the field. The hard work is paying off. Our first new recruit, a yoimg
man, is actually on the field in Central Asia. He will be setting up an agricultural scheme (as an
entry strategy) with the ultimate plan of bringing Muslims to Christ and establishing new
congregations. Another couple will be "on the field" in Turkey by the middle of July (Lord
willing) to bring Turks to Christ and establish New Testament congregations. Please pray for
these tluree dedicated workers who are devoting their lives to building the Kingdom in strange
and foreign lands.
THE BAUMANNS
Marti and I plan to visit the southeast in July, checking in with a couple of our supporting
congregations and getting to visit with our children and grandchildren. Jeff and Robbie with
their children, Stephen and Katherine, are still living in Stockbridge, Georgia. The kids will enter
kindergarten this Fall having finished a year of preschool recently. Russell continues to enjoy his
architecture profession and is living in west KnoxvUle. He has been involved with Rugby at the
University of Tennessee and runs an occasional lOK race. Susan completed another year of 5^
grade teaching in the Knoxville schoolsystem, having what she felt was her most successful year
in teaching. Andrew is well into his senior year at the University of Tennesseein Knoxville. He
just completed another Summer mini-termto stay ahead in his course work.
KATHERINE AND STEPHEN
GRAND JUNCTION
We have now begun our third year of mission work with Turkish World Outreach. It was
September of 1995 when we made our trip out here to "look things over". It seems like it was
only yesterday when we were saying tearful good-byes to our Zambian brothers and sisters in
Christ. AnoAer fact that's hard to believe is that we started raising our support for field
missionary activity nearly nineteen years ago - November of 1979! What wonderful, almost
exotic, memories we have of those years, and what dear friends we have made.
ZAMBIAN JOURNEY
We have received several letters from our Zambian friends (over the past year or so) reporting
progress in their work there. It is a great blessing to know that the "work of the church" is
continuing in Zambia without the presence of missionaries. In fact, that was our goal when we
went to Zambia in 1980- to establish self-supporting congregations which could carry on witfi the
work of the church. We have as a prayer request to our Lord and a goal for ourselves to visit
Zambia in 1999. There is a great need for Bibles in the vernacular. We also see this as an
opportunity to encourage the leaders and the congregations to "keep the faith" through
preaching and teaching while there. Please praj' with us as we seek to know God's will in this
matter.
MEDICAL PROBLEMS
Marti has completely recovered from the broken arm that she sustained last September. She fell
while on a school-sponsored roller skating outing at ihe local rink. Upon reaching the skating
surface, she immediately discovered that it was in very poor condition. As she was making her
way off the floor she fell twice. The results were a broken right arm near the wrist (unfortunately
she is right-handed) and a broken blood vessel After 6 -7 weeks in a cast and two months of
rehabilitation (physical therapy) she was pronoimced well. She has a one percent physical
impairment which is insignificant.
1was caught off guard recently (13 May) when 1suffered a mild stroke. After a very strenuous
weekend of difficult yard work and two days of a heavy workload at the office, 1 noticed things
were not right on that Wednesday morning. 1cannot say exactly when it happened, but 1started
noticing speech difficulties (pronouncing words) and a marked tiredness in my left arm. In trying
to use my keyboard to send some E-mail, 1found that my left hand had lost much of its dexterity.
1also had some left-side facial paralysis. After approximately nine hours in the emergency room
and one overnight in the hospital, 1 was released having recovered almost all normeil function.
The resulting fatigue that 1felt lasted about a week. 1have now returned to work on a full-time
basis and am feeling really good. My blood pressure is in a normal range now, my pulse rate is
great, 1 have lost about 15 pounds and my diet has been adjusted with almost no salt allowed.
Regular exercise has been prescribed.
This newsletter is published bjr: Turkish World Outreach
508 Fruitvale Court, Grand Junction. CO 81504
(970) 434-1942 E-mai^^o
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FALL 1998
THE ZAMBIAN REVISIT
We are proceeding withplans tovisit Zambia in Jime of 1999. We continue to maintain periodic
correspondence withseveral individuals and/ or congregations which arelocated in theMumbwa
District and the Kafue Flats area. By the time of our visit next year, the congregations will have
been"on their own" for four years. Wepraiseour Lordfor keeping themalive and well. At the
same time, even though we have not been made aware of any major problems, we have not
deceived ourselves in thinking that there have not beensome problems. Consequendy, there are
several important reasons for us to return to Zambia for a three-week (or so) visit. There
continues to be a great needfor Bibles in the vernacular (which are impossible to obtain in most
rural areas), and thereisan ongoing needfor songbooks. DuetoZCM's rathersudden departure
in 1995, we feel that our visit could serve as timely encouragement to all the Christians and their
congregations. If there are some recent or lingering problems, we could, through the guidance of
the Holy Spirit, help them work these out in a Biblical fashion (in love). There may be some
opportunities for preaching and teaching as well. I get excited just thinking about it!! Pray for
us to know God's will in this matter. Pray with us as many important plans must be made:
airline tickets booked and paidfor; accommodations while there (a hotel most likely); rental (or
use) of a 4WD pickup truck (this may be the most difficult thing to secure); availability ofBibles
andsongbooks through theBible Society of Zambia; good health as we travel there, spendtime
there and on the trip home; and so forth.
TURKEY ISI^ORTANT
The importance of Turkey in the history of Cluistianity is well-documented. Thirty-five of its
cities, including Tarsus andEphesus, are,mentioned inthe NewTestament. Even though Turkey
remains culturally primitive in the rur^ areas, the cities are rapidly modemizmg and are
noticeably affected by the worst of Western influence. To make things worse for the Christian
church, there is a strong religious movement to reestablish Islamic law in the nation. Some
church growth is nowbeginning to be seen, and although the number of Christians is relatively
small, there is some interest being shown, in Christianity. It is reported that more than 50% of
Turkey's population is under 25 years old. With this in mind, along with the fact that young
people are generally more receptive to new ideas, it is imperative that Christ be presented to
them now to offset tiiose worst Western influences and this radical Islamic push.
STRANGE BUT TRUE
Research has revealed that out of 332,000 missionaries m the world (using a broad definition of
the word "missionary") only slightly over 1% are working among unreached peoples. To put it
another way, of all the missionaries in the world (using a narrow definition of the word
"missionarv") nearly one-half (!) are working, with the people of Latin America (including the
Caribbean)^ and sub-Saharan Africa. Using the same narrow definition, we find that only 3.5%
are working with the people of Eurasia (Central Asia) and the Middle East (including Turkey)
and North Africa. To put it yetanother way, tliere are over 400 missionaries per one million non-
Christians in Latin America, and only seven missionaries per one million non-Christians in the
Middle East and North Africa. Our prayer should be "are we using our mission resources
wisely"?
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FIELD REPORT UPDATE
I mentioned in our last newsletter that TWO expected to have a family on the fieldsoon. They
are now in residence in Turkey! Praise the Lord. We are very excited about this because he is a
Turk who is returning to his country to "do the work of the church". He is currentlycompleting
mandatory military service, and his wife and two sons are trying to leam to speak Turkish.
Please cover them with prayer so that they will overcome the many obstacles that they will face
from the enemy. We also have two young singles who need our prayers as they prepare to serve
the Lord: one in Turkey and one in Central Asia. They will first completing studies at the
Urban Studies Center in Chicago before raising their support for field service.
OURYEARS TOGETHER
Marti andI recently celebrated the 38'^ anniversary ofour marriage. It was around forty years
ago at the University ofTennessee inKnoxville thatwe met ona "blind date", andthings took off
from there! We are thankful that the Lord had a plan for us as a couple which included
wonderful children, many years on the foreign mission field and service that continues as full-
timeworkers in support of field workers. Whatwonderful yearswehavehad together.
THEBAUMANNS
MARTI continues in her ministry of leading children to Christ as she teaches at a Christian school
here in Grand Jimction. Her combined classincludes sixfirst graders and sevensecond graders.
JEFFREY and ROBBIE could not believe that it was "time" for STEPHEN and KATHERINE to
attend kindergarten. Robbie accepted a position as a pre-school teacher in a Christian school near
their home in Stockbridge, Georgia. Her school hours coincide perfectly with the kids hours in
that there is no child care necessary. Jeff continues as a senior analyst on the flight deck with
Delta Air Lines. RUSSELL enjoys occasional breaks from architecture on his new BMW
motorcycle which he took delivery of and drove from Portland, Oregon to Knoxvilleearlier this
year. Completewith leather pants and all, he had a ball. He is taking time off from Rugby until
the Spring, but continues singing with the Knoxville Choral Society. SUSAN had a good
Summer break and continues with her fifth grade teaching at Rocky Hill Elementary School in
Knoxville. She was pleased to be invited to sing the National Anthem several times at the AA
baseball games, and is also singing witii the church choir. Activities with several singles groups
keeps her quite busy. Andrew anticipates receiving his imdergraduate degree from the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville in tiie late Spring of 1999. Whether to pursue a Masters
degree program or to go directlyinto the market place is an important decisionfacinghim at this
time. He continues to work part-time with his brother at the architectural firm.
This newsletter is published by: Turkish World Outreach
508 Fruitvale Cour^ GiandJunction, CO81504
(970)434-1942 E-mail: tworon@onlinecol.com
Decmkr, 1998
mwTinrifi
Dear friend In Christy
..ealUng ^urfcs to ^brist
RON and MARTI BAUMANN
Turkish World Outreach
508 Fruitvale Court
Grand Junction, CO 81504-5768
what an eXcitin^ time of the year it is! This time, when we celebrate the krth of Christ our
Savior, is JuE of wonilejfil events: hein^ with family members that we hiven't seen for hn^
j)eriois of time; seeing oldfriends in Christ that we have been ayart from for varying lengths of
time; attending ^ecial services andyro^ams relative to God's Son, jesus, being bom; singifg
those wondetful carok again that speak of the Nativity; and other events that are somewhat
traditional Later in 1999, as we look back on Christmas of 1998, let us aE say that we
truthfully keyt Christ in Christmas.
Syeaking of 1999, we are trusting that the lord will lead us to Zambia for a three-week
yeriod of mission field activity. Please yray with us concerning all of the ylans that stiE must
be made and the finances necessaryfor such travel
This Season also reminds us to be especially thankful to you who suyyort us financioEy and
continue to lift us uy inyrayer. Thank you sincerely for staying witli us throughout aE the
years. We ask God's continued blessings on our yartnershiy with you.
With love in Christ,
Ron and Marti
tworon@onlinecol.com
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