Thursday, November 15, 2012

God's Faithfulness: Support Level Reaches 88.6%

Our hearts are SO blessed and encouraged to see that our current support level, as of today, has reached the 88.6% mark.  The Lord is so faithful to us!  As the time for our return to FIJI is quickly approaching, we continue to trust Him to provide the remaining monthly support of $1,140/per month.

Should the Lord impress upon your heart to partner with the Bryant family as we return to begin our SEVENTH TERM of missionary service, you may CLICK HERE to give either a one-time gift or pledge your support for monthly gifts.  All donations to CEF Inc. for our support are tax-deductible.

When designating your gift online, be sure to select "support an individual missionary" and to then put our name in the comment box:  Kent Bryant / Account # AFJO 2083

Alternatively, you may send your tax-deductible gift payable to:
                        Child Evangelism Fellowship Inc.
                        PO Box 348
                        Warrenton MO  63383-0348
                        * Designate for Bryant Acct # AFJO 2083

God's blessings be yours!  Thanks for praying. Thanks for caring. Thanks for giving!


Friday, September 14, 2012

CEF World Headquarters Visit


EVERY CHILD, EVERY NATION, EVERY DAY
In mid-August, we attended five days of Missionary Refresher at the CEF World Headquarters in Warrenton, MO. It was wonderful to share what God is doing in Fiji with the other missionaries and headquarters staff.  The beautiful plaza had wonderful reminders as to WHY we are CEF missionaries. We were surprised by a certificate honoring us for 35 years of faithful service with CEF. There was also a surprise birthday ice cream cake for Kent at the end of the week.
Millstone of Matthew 18:6

Jeremy Raises the FIJI Flag...a Fitting Occasion
for his second "homeland" and his last visit to the
CEF headquarters as a CEF MK
Kent, Fiji's CEF National Director,
Prays for the Children of FIJI at the CEF Int'l Headquarters
International Plaza with flags from Various Nations
Around the World
 The Founders of CEF, Rev Jesse & Ruth Overholtzer,
are buried on the property of CEF Inc.
 
Kent and Becky were recognized for 35 years of ministry
in Child Evangelism Fellowship...
a combined service of 70 years to the children
Kent's Surprise Birthday Party
Ice Cream Cake...YUMMY!


And the "Eagle" Soars!

During the first weekend of September, we headed to  Florida to register Jeremy for his freshman year at Pensacola Christian College. By the end of the week, Jeremy had moved into the dorm, bought books, and started classes for a Sport Management degree. During Greek Rush weekend, Jeremy joined the collegiate Pi Kappa and has since been selected for their intracollegiate soccer team. We are proud of our "PCC Eagle" who is making many new friends and adjusting to his new life. We are also thankful that we will have Christmas together before saying goodbye for 2 1/2 years.  Please PRAY for JEREMY as he learns to juggle the demands of his academic load and social activities.  Thus far, he's doing very well!
Ready to Travel
Packed for Four Years


Welcome to the Class of 2016


Welcome to My Dorm: Ballard South


Four Men Share This Room

At Least My Bed's Made!


Buying Books for Sport Management Major/Business Minor

Our Family Farewell - Our first "eagle" leaves the nest and flies!

Monday, July 9, 2012

New Prayer Cards ~ Want One?


We're pleased to let you know that the Bryant family has a new prayer card and we would love to send one to you!  Just drop us an email at kent.bryant@cefonline.com along with your request and we will get one to you pronto! 

It's hard to believe that we have less than six months remaining of our furlough within the USA and our time is passing by so quickly.  We are still in need of approximately $2,975.00 more in monthly personal support.  This comes after a budget increase; the homegoing of several supporters during the past five years; and then, the negative effects of the world economy.  It seems like an awful lot of money to us, but once again we have the opportunity to trust in Jehovah-jireh, the God who provides!

We still have several openings in our travel itinerary that need to be filled, so please join us in praying that God will arrange our "comings and goings" and allow us to present our ministry in potentially new supporting churches.

Thanks for PRAYING!

On the Road Again...Where We're GOING (or Hope to Go)

(CEF Hdqtrs in Missouri)



On the Road Again...Where We've Been



 



Saturday, May 19, 2012

Congratulations to the Graduate

We proudly present our high school graduate, Jeremy Kent Bryant, who officially graduated from A Beka Academy in Pensacola, FL on Saturday, May 12th, 2012, along with 393 other homeschoolers from around the USA and the world.  Jeremy received recognition for being the graduate who traveled the farthest (10,000 miles) to attend the graduation ceremony!


 
We are so proud of Jeremy!  He is adorned with a Fijian "salusalu" which signifies
honor and special recognition.
 Becky taught Jeremy from K-4 to fifth grade.  Jeremy then completed his education using
A Beka Academy DVD's under her supervision as well.   
Jeremy shared his accomplishment with Mom who deserves a lot of credit for her dedication and commitment to excellence in home schooling!

Maternal grandparents:
John & Syble DeBerry

 "Mamaw": Mrs. Lena Bryant

The extended family traveled in a van to join in on this wonderful milestone in Jeremy's life!
We all enjoyed touring the campus of Pensacola Christian College where Jeremy will begin his college education in September.  The campus is truly breathtakingly beautiful!
Crown Center: The Campus Church

Crown Center at night


To God Be the Glory!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

A NEW PRECIOUS JEWEL

Malachi 3:17  "And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels..."
During the past four years, Kent has endeavored to build a bridge of friendship with Rajan (RAH 'John), an Indian young man, who works at a nearby supermarket. Rajan recently started wearing a necklace with a cross on it.  Noticing the cross pendant, Kent asked Rajan if he knew the story about the Cross.  He didn't.  So, Rajan was invited to come to the CEF office to hear the story. One Friday night,  Kent and Rajan sat in the reception area so Kent could explain the Gospel via the salvation truths which are beautifully carved in the "CEF" letters which hang on the wall in the reception area.

Rajan enjoyed listening to the Good News that the Heavenly Father loves him. But he was extremely resistant to the news that he was a sinner as this concept of personal sin is not part of Hinduism. Kent finished explaining the Gospel story, but then asked  Rajan to think about the truths he had learned.

The next evening, we were  relaxing and enjoying a family night. We were surprised when Rajan showed up around 8:15 PM. We fed him dinner and Rajan expressed interest in receiving that "free gift" (of salvation).  Meanwhile, he asked if he could listen to an old  iPod that he had found in the dorm room. There was no connection cord.
Kent turned his back for a few minutes  to ask Jeremy to check the iPod. It was "dead." Rajan  put down the "dead" iPod and went  downstairs to the dorms.

Jeremy suddenly remembered his  new iPod Touch and went to pick it up from the living room. It was GONE!
SICK at heart, we searched the apartment. Kent and Jeremy went downstairs TWICE to ask Rajan about the iPod Touch.   Rajan denied having any knowledge of its whereabouts.

Kent searched Rajan's backpack TWICE before finally telling Rajan that he was no longer allowed to be on the CEF property until we located the iPodTouch.  All weekend, our family grieved over this betrayal of trust as we searched for the missing iPod. In particular, we, as parents, grieved that OUR SON was having to pay the price of our obedience to the Lord in sharing the Gospel as a missionary family.
Kent also grieved the broken relationship with Rajan.

Several days later, a volunteer came running upstairs holding the missing iPod Touch which had been hidden behind a mirror down in the dorm.  Jeremy was ecstatic to have it back!

Three weeks went by.  Rajan came by twice to offer Indian sweets to Kent. Each time, Kent graciously thanked Rajan, assured him of his love, accepted Rajan's love gifts, but stuck to his word about not allowing Rajan into the building.

FINALLY, Rajan arranged to talk to Kent on Monday,  March 12. In that meeting, Kent asked Rajan about the whereabouts of the iPod Touch, not yet revealing that it had been found.  Kent wanted Rajan to have enough time to admit his sin, asking Rajan to simply say 5 words, "Yes sir, I did it."

As Rajan hesitated to speak, Kent explained that, although he still loved him, their friendship was broken. As there was no one else on the property that evening, we KNEW Rajan had to have taken the i-Pod Touch.  Kent needed to have Rajan ADMIT to what he had done. Rajan finally said "Sir, I did it." At that point, Kent stood up and hugged Rajan saying, "I love you for telling the truth."

As Kent talked about their broken friendship that needed to be repaired through admitting the wrong and asking forgiveness, he told Rajan that his friendship with God was also broken. With that explanation, spiritual understanding finally dawned!  Rajan admitted that he had sinned, his friendship with God was broken, and he needed a Saviour. Rajan was born again! Kent gave him a Bible and a correspondence Bible lesson for follow-up.
The next day, Rajan showed up during his lunch break with his completed Bible lesson. He had studied for TWO hours the night before and read the first pages of his Bible. He was so excited to have Kent write 100% on his lesson. Every day the first week he returned on his lunch hour to get his new lesson.  It brings us great JOY to see his hunger for spiritual truths!
What a story of a Great God who has GREAT mercy and goes to GREAT lengths to have the lost sinner understand the GREATEST story ever told so that there would be another Precious Jewel in God's forever family!

P.S.  Rajan came this weekend, broken-hearted that his store manager had told him that he could not continue to be friends with the "gora" (white man) who was a customer at their store!  This seems ludicrous and Rajan continues to visit us regularly.  
  Pray for Rajan and his spiritual growth in the Lord.