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!

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!

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

 

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!

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.

FAITH + PRAYER = DREAMS COME TRUE

Ahh, the busy-ness of life!  How quickly life can slip by!  Our last entry in our family "blog" over a year ago expressed our "Christmas wish" for funding to complete CEF Fiji's beautiful building.  With faith, prayer, perseverance and the goodness of God through His people, our DREAM became reality.  The new national office of CEF Fiji was dedicated on August 20, 2011. 

God's Gift to CEF Fiji in 2011 ~ A National Office & Training Center

CLICK HERE to see more pictures of the beautiful facility God has given to CEF FIJI

Our Christmas Wish: PRAYER!

How gracious God has been to us this year!  We thank Him for His wonderful blessings!  Yet, as the year comes to an end, we find ourselves "standin' in the need of prayer".  Would you take a few minutes to lift these concerns up to Lord on our behalf?

• We need approximately USD $ 195,000 to complete the construction of CEF Fiji's national office.  If this money comes in soon, construction can be completed by early May 2011.  We need a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.
• We urgently need a tenant for our "retirement" home in Durham, NC.  We've been without a tenant since June 2010.
• Our personal monthly support level is down by 25% ($2150.00 per month).  Several precious and faithful supporters have gone Home to be with the Lord in 2010, thus leaving a substantial "void".
• Kent needs to have a right hip replacement in 2011 and will need to have this done in Sydney, Australia where costs are considerably lower than in the USA.

THANK YOU for your GIFT of PRAYER.  The Bryant family wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a God-blessed New Year!

BACON & EGGS...Yum, Yum!

You've just gotta to read about our BACON and EGGS.  It will bless your gizzard!

Click  HERE!

PRAY NOW for this PROMOTIONAL AD

This "ad" is due to appear in the national newspaper The Fiji Times on Thursday, July 8th, 2010. Please join us in praying that God will guide the hands of the editors and that it will be placed in a prominent place where MANY people see it and RESPOND.

Our need is critical and urgent. We have LESS than 90 DAYS to raise USD $197,000.00 (Approximately F$400,000) by September 30th, 2010. This is the deadline set by a Christian couple overseas who has pledged to give US$75,000 to the Moriah Project...IF...we raise the balance of USD $225,000.00 by Sept 30th.

Drawn to the Savior!

A desperate young man was "drawn" to the CEF office on Monday morning, May 24th, by the CEF signboard!  Kent listened to the sad story of this suicidal young man, Several times, the young man said the sign "drew him" to come to the gate of the CEF office seeking counseling help.  Kent carefully explained the wonderful Gospel story and the HOPE that can only be found in the LORD. The young man had been in church ALL his life, but he had NEVER heard the Gospel explained so simply. What a joy for Kent to lead him to Christ!  An Indian pastor came to continue counselling in Hindi and took the young man home with him overnight. Praise God...He used even a signboard to draw the lost to Himself!  That has been our hearts' desire!  Pray for this young man named Nathan as he is discipled to follow the Lord.

Congratulations, Jeremy!

May 10 - 15, Jeremy participated in a squash sports clinic in Suva. From 3 to 5 PM each day, Fiji's two-time gold medalist squash player of the 2007 South Pacific Games coached the advanced teen players. The culmination of the week was a round-robin competition. Jeremy is now officially ranked Fiji's  #2 player for both the under-19 and the under-16 categories. Way to go, Jeremy!

Dual Citizenship a Reality

April 28, Kent received his Naturalization Certificate and his Fiji passport;As a dual citizen of both American and Fiji, he no longer needs a work permit that must be renewed every three years nor does he need immigration bonds. He may now register the rest of the family so that Becky, Jeremy, and Katelyn can have Fiji passports as well. Congratulations, Kent!

VBS or Summer Bible Clubs Missions Project

We are pleased to offer you a SPECIAL KIT of VISUAL AIDS to help you present THE MORIAH PROJECT in your summertime ministries to boys and girls.  CLICK HERE to go to the blog!

There arePowerPoint's a giving incentive, song and an instructional letter in this kit.  It's all ready for download on the Moriah Project blog.  We'd love to hear from you. 

PRAY for God's continued blessing and provision so that the final phase of construction can begin within the next few weeks!  Let us know if you have any questions.  We'll be glad to be of help to you!

Read our Most Recent Newsletter

Double-click on this link to read our most recent newsletter!  Thank you for taking a few minutes to spend with us.  Your friendship, partnership and prayers are highly valued!      An Expectancy of the Miraculous

Western Fiji Spared

Thank you for praying!  While the predicted path indicated Cyclone Thomas would make landfall over the eastern sides of both Vanua Levu and of Viti Levu (the island on which we live) , the actual path shows that the cyclone actually shifted course further east on Sunday night and Monday in Fiji which is Sunday,  March 14 USA time! When you prayed, God blew the cyclone further to sea and spared the most populous areas of Fiji from the full wrath of this category 4 hurricane. The smaller islands in its path experienced wide-spread destruction of homes and crops.The full extent of damage is still being assessed.

Truly, "even the wind and and the sea obey HIM!"

Battening Down The Hatches...AGAIN!

All of Fiji is under a cyclone warning as Cyclone Thomas takes aim for the Fiji group. It is predicted to be a Category 3, possibly a category 4, by the time it reaches our island of Viti Levu.  Because of the size and strength of this cyclone (hurricane), the path is unpredictable. If it continues on its current path, the cyclone will pass by Suva on Monday morning in Fiji (Sunday afternoon Eastern Standard Time). Suva is on the southeastern tip of our island. We live on the western side of the main island. If it swings inland, it will pass right over us.

Authorities are urging all residents to prepare as we will be experiencing heavy rain and wind, irregardless of the path of the cyclone. So, we are "battening down" both at home and at the CEF office. A skeleton construction crew is on hand to finish the plastering of the boundary fence today, to be sure the v-drains are clear of debris,  and to move all the equipment inside. Cyclone shutters are up; extra water and emergency supplies are on hand.

To tell the truth, it's the waiting that is hard. We would appreciate prayer for all of us in Fiji as we prepare for the worst, and pray for the best.

Tsunami Warning...Fiji Spared Once Again!

February 27, Fiji was on alert for a tsunami resulting from the earthquake in Chile. Kent woke up with the beeping of his cell phone at 1:30 AM when the first disaster message was sent via all the Fiji mobile phone providers. Realizing that we had 8 1/2 hours before the anticipated series of waves arrived, Kent turned over and went back to sleep! When the family was up the next morning, we all knew what to do. Within 15 minutes, Becky, Jeremy, and Katelyn had all the laptops, the important documents, and prescription medicines in bags and at the kitchen door! Meanwhile, Kent alerted the fellows at the office to get ready to evacuate and rushed to the bread shop to buy what was needed. We spent three hours in fellowship with dear Christian friends as we waited for the all-clear signal to go home. We are grateful to God for sparing Fiji from a potentially dangerous tsunami.