God's Hand in Panama
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c A M N T E R N A T 0 N A l CAM International 8625 La Prada Drive Non-profit Organization Dallas, Texas 75228 Postag e PAID at Dallas, Texas Permit No. 2808 Address Correction Requested CAM lnternational1990 • Number 2 PANAMA RELIEF FUND As the Bulletin goes to press CAM has received a total of $4,700 which is being forwarded to Panama for evan gelistic and relief programs. $6,300 .A. A building at the entrance of the McKeeths' subdivision was hit by rocket is still needed to fire during the U.S. invasion of Panama. meet the program's By Dr. Stephen Sywulka The area of Panama City watch Gospel videos and get Lord provides funds, the goals. where the John and Kirk involved in home Bible stud churches would also like to peration Just Cause, McKeeth families live still ies. Bob and Lina Duncan, get involved with some sort the U.S. invasion of bears some scars from De recently returned from fur of neighborhood improve Panama last Decem cember. A fire fight at the en lough, plan to do the same in ment projects which would ber, was swift, trance to the subdivision left their neighborhood. help generate employment 0 dramatic and spec a gaping hole in one apart The program also in as well as open doors for the tacular. Within days, the ment, and a spent bullet cludes material help for a Gospel. Panamanian Defense Forces penetrated a neighbor's roof. number of families. Although Only a massive barrage had fled or surrendered. The McKeeths also have none of the members of the of prayer can break down the Today another invasion vivid memories of those days two CAM-related churches in barriers of indifference, is going on in Panama, this (see CAM BULLETIN, 1990, No.1). Panama City suffered injury materialism, and false time slowly and quietly. The Now, the two McKeeth or property damage, many religion in Panama. Pray that object is not to oust a corrupt families want to saturate the are affected by the general this spiritual invasion will government, but rather to 1,500 homes in their area with economic situation and the bring victory and open hearts to the message of specially written tracts and to country's 30-plus percent un peace. salvation in Jesus Christ. invite interested people to employment level. As the that General Manuel Noriega, soldiers found voodoo dolls God's sovereign GOD'S HAND the deposed dictator, was in and papers with lists of names hand very defi volved with the occult, along of enemies which were placed nitely at work. IN PANAMA with drug traffic and other in decomposing offerings of Not only did they crimes, it wasn't until he was food. They also found porno experience the The military invasion of ousted that the true story graphic material, liquor, and Lord's protection Panama left Christians con came out. large amounts of cash. and care, but they vinced about two basic doc Noriega had at least eight The demonic influence also feel God used trines: the depravity of man houses in which U.S. troops was not limited to Noriega the invasion to and the sovereignty of God. found evidences of witchcraft and his henchmen. Dramatic spare the country Although it was known and other practices. The proof was the orgy of looting from worse evil. for several days before U.S. Had it been troops took control of Panama delayed, there may have ... City. Estimates are that been even more serious CAM perhaps 60 percent of the problems with Noreiga's INAUGURATES population took part in the "Dignity Battalions." Eco CENTENNIAL looting, including many nomically, Panama is suffer educated, middle- and upper ing from two years of U.S. CELEBRATION class, professional men and economic sanctions topped women. off by the looting and dam DALLAS , Texas One participant said later, age from the fighting. The Over 450 members and friends gathered at CAM 's "I'm a decent person, not like bubble of prosperity based Centennial banquet held in that. Something just came on drugs, arms traffic, and Dallas on February 17. Dr. over me." Another told a money laundering has burst. Albert T. Platt, President, Christian, "Thank God I only Panama needs help, but brought the message and have a small car; otherwise I most of all it needs prayer. (shown above) presented would have stolen more!" Says Gilberta Arguelles, a Dorothy Martin the first copyof 100 .. .ANDCOUNT Panamanian church CAM church leader, "We /NG , a history of the leaders say the looting has need to pray for the new Mission's 100 -year minis aggravated the already high government. They seem to be try which she authored . unemployment and has had a trying to do things right, but (For information on spiritual impact on the like all of us, they too are receiving acopy oft he book people. Unfortunately, in sinners." see page 4.) many cases it has hardened Panama needs the Lord. e hearts against the Gospel. .A. The pastor of Central Church in downtown Panama City, Gustavo Soto, and Despite the problems, his family (left) visit John and Nancy McKeeth (right). Christians in Panama see A L c A M N T E R N A T 0 N CAM INTERNATIONAL Statement of Income and Expenses The books were audited by Grant Thornton, Certified Public Accountants. Copies of the audit are available upon request. By Dr. Al bert T. Platt, financial policy: no solicita- President tion. That is, no begging or 1989 1988 emotional pressure on the Income $3,956,722 friends of the Mission. We Contributions for Missionaries $4,008,150 Trust. .. but not the mails. Field Ministries 360,027 419,267 .. though, frankly, much of distinguish between informa- General and GMA 940,348 932,040 what meets the financial tion, the plain statement of Other (non-expendable) 72,318 87,034 needs of CAM International fact, and pressure applied to Total contributions ~.380,843 5,395,063 comes through the mail. those statements that tends to Depend . .. butnoton usurp the ministry of the Bequests, legacies, grants 130,508 72,825 donors ... though by His Holy Spirit. Revenue 133,037 92,809 grace, there are a significant Some have commented Annuity income 10,969 10.447 number of them and there is a that according to the audit Total Income 5,655,357 5,571.144 temptation to look to them. published annually in the CAM BULLETIN, CAM Expenses Rely ... but not on the Program activities Missionaries 3,892,557 3,677,288 appears to have money and cunning of editors, graphics Field MirUstries 544,205 564,399 people, printers, or program- even a surplus. The facts: no Home Ministries 424,272 480,948 mers. We're happy for people surplus at all! Every penny Total program activities 4,861,034 4,722,635 with these abilities. And what CAM has invested belongs to did we ever do before the some committed fund, a fund Support activities computer. .. and the designated for some other Administration, Management whole area of highly devel- use, such as missionary and General 642,521 645,187 oped graphic arts? CAM has salaries, retirement, insur- Promotion 166,180 189,293 7,862 been singularly blessed. ance, etc. CAM does not have Annuity 8,437 discretionary funds, no Other 20,058 10,720 Count. .. but not even the Total support activities 837,196 853,062 coin on whose face we read resources to which we can the words "In God we trust." turn, no amount into which Total expenses 5,698,230 5,575,697 There is a slight tendency to we can dip, no endowments. think "If we only had more of That means we look at Income over (under) expenses (42,873) (4,553) these coins we could do won- 1990, the 100th year in our ders for and in God's work." history, just as did our found- Fund balances start of year 1,903,853 1,908,406 But, with coins and ing fathers back in 1890: donors and editors and com- trusting God. Fund balances end of year puters, or without them, the CAM's total budget for Board-designated, non-expendable 174,932 158,470 53,092 fact remains: in God we trust. 1990, embracing missionary Annuity 55,624 support, general ministries, Unrestricted (10,665) 120,537 True, we give information Restricted to our friends, but we look to and field projects, exceeds six Reserve for rrUssionaries 1,098,563 1,101,211 Him. We tell you what He is million dollars. And there are Reserve for field rrUnistries 59,127 93,443 doing and what we feel He no discretionary funds. Mission-managed endowments for wants us to do,but we trust But, even if we had them, specific mirUstries 483,399 377.100 Him for the supply. the rule would be the same: 1,860,980 1,903,853 One more item in CAM's in God we trust. e pastor came and asked me to other. In some ways it was pray that the Lord would threatening, but it was a send him a wife and also rewarding experience. It asked if I would come back helped me know myself. To PRArnCAL MisSIONARY TRAINING and help him in his work of know that I could do this caring for two churches. work. It encouraged me to "That was probably the hear from missionaries who IMPACTS A LIFE highlight of my trip." had been on the field, 'Yes, he can do it."' Editor's note: What effect did PMT How did PMT change CAMerRob have on you? your thinking about mis Was there any out Corbin, now "It gave me a foretaste of sions? standing lesson vou married and missionary life.