2 Samuel 23:10
“He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the LORD wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.”

Health Report
This winter has been unkind to me, as I grappled with COVID, persistent sinus infections, and severe colds spanning three long months. Eventually, I succumbed to pneumonia. As of now, I am on the path to recovery, although I have not yet fully shaken off the effects of pneumonia. My medical journey continues with a second follow-up appointment and another chest X-ray scheduled in 4 to 6 weeks.

2023 Recap:
What a remarkable journey of faith and service! In the course of my ministry, I witnessed 55 souls finding salvation. I diligently distributed door pamphlets to 278 households, extending an invitation to explore the message of hope. My hours were devoted to counseling the Deaf, both within my local community and across the borders of countries I visited.

During the festive season, we celebrated a joyful Christmas fellowship, gathering over 50 attendees. The spirit of unity and worship filled the room as we rejoiced in the birth of our Savior.

Crossing national boundaries, I connected with pastors from Ivory Coast and Kenya, urging them to embrace the Deaf community in their ministries. One impactful moment involved hosting a deaf man at my home for a week. Together, we delved into a crash refresher on Baptist doctrines, igniting his passion to reach the Deaf in South Sudan and Ethiopia.

In the midst of blessings, challenges persisted. The demand for workers in our mission field remained urgent, even as our ministries flourished. Undeterred, I reached out to seasoned Christians, inviting them to join our cause. The Lord’s providence sustained us, and we placed our trust in His sovereign plan.

As I reflect on the accomplishments of 2023, I am fueled by a renewed sense of purpose. Plans are underway to expand our outreach and equip more workers for God’s service. Together, we press forward, knowing that the harvest is plentiful, and the laborers are few.

A Fresh Missionary Joined:
Seven years ago, I encountered James Nyoach at the Lighthouse Africa Baptist Church in Virginia. He was visiting from Georgia, where he pursued studies at the Deaf Bible College. The scars on his forehead piqued my curiosity. James shared that he hailed from South Sudan, and his tribe marked the rite of passage into manhood by etching several horizontal lines across their foreheads.

Fast forward to May 2023, I crossed paths with James once more, this time in Denver, CO. His aspiration was to become a missionary, yet financial constraints hindered the completion of his biblical training. Despite this, he possessed a basic understanding of our doctrines. I extended hospitality by inviting him to stay at my residence for a week last October, providing a crash refresher and addressing any queries he had. Finally, in December, the IPM Board accepted James as an IPM missionary. His journey continues, fueled by faith and determination.

Prayer Requests:
Wisdom in Our Teaching: James leads Deaf Bible studies, delivers sermons from the pulpit, and trains the Deaf community for soul-winning and spiritual growth. Meanwhile, Joy focuses on teaching Deaf women and K-12 students in Christian schools.

Guidance from the Holy Spirit: We pray for the Holy Spirit to apply our teachings where they are most needed.

Seeking Support and Opportunities: We eagerly anticipate increased support, fresh meetings, and new opportunities.

Championing Deaf Ministries: Our heartfelt desire is to encourage churches to establish dedicated Deaf ministries.

Your unwavering support, whether financial, through prayer, or with encouragement, has been invaluable. Without you, none of this would be achievable. Guided by divine assistance, I persist, bearing witness to the journey that unfolds each day.

Would you consider partnering with us to reach the Deaf for Christ?

Your partner in the Gospel,
James and Joy Campbell

Home

Dear Prayer Partners and Supporters,

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:11-13

Ivory Coast – Agboville Deaf Camp 2023:
On my third visit to Ivory Coast, I invited Deaf Pastor Michael Remington from Arizona to join with me preaching to the campers. Ninety-six campers came from four villages surrounding Abidjan and I learned that twenty-nine local campers were turned away because of insufficient funds. The camp had enough food for three days instead of the planned five days. Also, there was no fund for the return charter bus. Brother Mike and I discussed about helping the camp expenses and we would like to re-invite those deaf campers who were turned away. The Gracious Lord provided the need, and the camp director re-invited them to the camp. The number of campers increased to a hundred forty.

Seventy deaf campers came forward during the altar invitation and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior in their hearts. Those who responded to the altar call, twenty-five campers came from the group who were first turned away then reinvited back. I was so happy that they came back after being turned away. Brother Mike and I checked every individual to see if they understood before they prayed for the salvation. We recorded names on the sheet to ensure we didn’t count twice or thrice as some of them came forward again and again. We emphasized that salvation is one time event, not a process and encouraged them to attend Sunday school classes. Salvation is the most treasured thing that no one should be turned away. At the end of the camp week, fifty-one deaf campers responded to the invitation to surrender to serve the Lord. Praise the Lord that there are many who wants to help advancing the Gospel message to the deaf community in their own villages. Teaching the Word of God is key to growth, please pray for seventy deaf converts to attend services faithfully and remain hungry for the sounding teaching of God’s Word.

Field Report – Ivory Coast:
Brother Leonce Ekeni and his team went out and started deaf ministries at three villages: Abobo(2023), Agboville(2022), and Adzopa(2020). They are planning to start a deaf ministry at the village, San Pedro soon. Agboville deaf leader, Assoma Didier rode a two-wheel motorcycle picked up two deaf attendees at a time around the village and brought them to the church. He had to do this 14 times to get everybody to the church. After the church service, he did it again to bring them home. It requires two full gas tanks to ferry deaf attendees. He needs a three-wheel motorcycle with an attached trunk which can seat 12-15 passengers. Pray that the Lord will provide this need. Brother Leonce, Pastor Nado and Pastor Denis took Brother Mike and me to Jacqueville checking the land that IPM is working to purchase two lots for the deaf school/training center, dormitory and church. As we surveyed two lots, all of us agreed that the land is insufficient. Based on the size of the land, they can only support approximate 50-70 deaf students. I recommend that they need to get more land so they can support 150-200 students. They will work with IPM on this.

Health Report:
September 25th is the day of my first anniversary of Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL) diagnosis. Persistent fatigue and weakness are common issues for me. I am fatigued on a daily basis but have learned to roll with it and accept it. When my body says lie down, I do actually listen to it now. I deal with bone pain and a lot of muscular pain at night, but it never stops me from serving the Lord. I manage my illness much better than I did a year ago. I faithfully attend church services and teach classes. It didn’t stop me from traveling internationally. I am not currently on treatment and pray that I never need the treatment.

Prayer Requests:
1. Wisdom as we teach. James teaches Deaf Bible Study, pulpit preaching, training Deaf for their soul winning and spiritual growth. Joy teaches Deaf ladies and Christian school K-12 students.
2. The Holy Spirit to apply what we teach where it is needed most.
3. For increased support, new meetings, new opportunities.
4. Encourage churches to start a deaf ministry.

Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.

Would you consider partnering with us to reach the Deaf for Christ?

Your partner in the Gospel,
James and Joy Campbell

Home

Contributions to my ministry should be made payable IPM and sent to IPM, Inc. 100 Spring Ave. Hanover PA 17331-2717.

Be sure to include a note designating “Campbell Support” or any other special designations you may have for me. Thank you.

Dear Prayer Partners and Supporters,

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Creation Museum/Ark Encounter Deaf Days:
At the Deaf Days three-day outreach at the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter last month, we praised the Lord that 444 deaf guests attended. I set up a display booth representing the International Partnership Ministries and was trying to recruit new Timothies to join our IPM Deaf Ministries. Some pastors and church leaders stopped by at my booth and I told them about Gospel Hands circulars and encouraged them to subscribe. Those circulars are assisting pastors, leaders and workers dedicated to reaching the Deaf. It is at this link: https://gospelnowseen.com/gospel-hands-english/

My son was one of the 50 interpreters who volunteered to interpret for the Deaf guests at theatres, guest booths, live programs, and special presentations. He really enjoyed it very much and wants to do it again next year as he loves to help others. My three daughters loved the educational exhibits about how the Ark was built, how Noah’s family took care of all animals and the rest.

Fields Reports:
Ivory Coast: The group of some 40 deaf is about to be displaced. In November 2022, the bulldozers and wrecking equipment for the government highway project arrived to demolish about a third of the main church building including the deaf room at the top of the stairway. Thankfully, the destruction was delayed prior to the Christmas holiday and outreach. However, the Muslim controlled government promised to be back and flattened buildings on either side of the church. The last word is that the government wants to expand more so the whole church will be demolished. It is scheduled in June 2023 if all soil boring test results show promising. We need to raise $25,000 for a plot of land that has been identified to establish a deaf-training center. We need to raise an additional $25,000 for a minibus to transport the deaf to this plot of land. With my pastor’s blessings, my home church’s deaf ministry is raising some fund as our deaf wants to help. If you would like to donate, please visit: https://gospelnowseen.com/three-ways-to-support-deaf/ We may not be able to stop the wrecking ball but we can make sure that the great work being done for the Lord’s battle to win the deaf continues.

Kenya: At Habari Njema Baptist Church, in Nakuru, Kenya, 13 years old pastor kid, Andrew Kiarie, successfully signed his closing prayer and I completely understood what he said. Praise the Lord, I am so happy with this church’s progress in sign language training. Their teacher, Mary, did an excellent job teaching students and they have been faithfully learning signs since 2021.

A new deaf ministry just started two weeks ago at Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church, Naivasha, Kenya. Pastor Michael Njoroge’s wife knows sign language and can interpret the church services. She planned to start a sign language class for their church members. The number of deaf ministries around Kenya is increasing, more awareness and education are spreading, and more churches take up the burden of sharing the Gospel with their deaf.

Prayer Requests:
• Wisdom as we teach. James teaches Deaf Bible Study, pulpit preaching, training Deaf for their soul winning and spiritual growth. Joy teaches Deaf ladies and Vacation Bible School children.
• The deaf would not be hindered from attending ministries.
• The Holy Spirit to apply what we teach where it is needed most.
• For increased support, new meetings, new opportunities.
• Encourage churches to start a deaf ministry.

Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.

Would you consider partnering with us to reach the Deaf for Christ?

Your partner in the Gospel,
James and Joy Campbell
https://gospelnowseen.com/

According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:20-21

Year 2022 Report:
As we arrive the end of year 2022, I looked back and counted many blessings; my church’s deaf ministry members grew from three to twenty-seven. Two salvations, four baptisms, and ten church memberships. God blessed us by increasing the number of interpreters from one to four. Deaf started being faithful to services and giving tithes/love offerings to the Lord. We are discussing about moving to a bigger classroom because our current classroom is now small as we continue receiving new deaf visitors. Currently I am training a few deaf helpers to be servants for Christ so they can assist me with the deaf ministry. Please pray that they will be fishers of men in near future. We must reach more Deaf in our area, they must know about Christ and we must tell them.

God is good to us as my wife and I are busy with the Lord’s work reaching deaf folks, deaf ministry leaders, and deaf workers around the world and I published three issues of Gospel Hands that is intended to assist pastors, leaders and workers dedicated to reaching the Deaf. Brother Kevin Maki contributes a perspective from the hearing, Sister Marta Galdamez contributes a perspective from being hard of hearing and I contributed my deaf perspective so the readers can understand multiple perspectives on the deaf ministries. I had Gospel Hands translated in Spanish and French for our IPM missionaries around the world. If you haven’t received Gospel Hands in email, please let me know so I can email it to you.

I am learning Spanish and French since last summer so I can work with national pastors and their churches. I enjoy to learn languages and I pray that hearing folks will take time to learn sign language. It is every person’s responsibility to share Gospel to anyone in spite of language barrier.

Fields Reports:
Ivory Coast: IPM Deaf Ministries director, Brother Kevin Maki led Deaf Ministry Leaders training with 16 Deaf Ivorians, 8 hearing Ivorians, and 4 hearing Liberians. They had many blessings and fellowships. I am looking for blessings coming out of this training in near future. I’m so excited.
Kenya: I was scheduled to go to Kenya and visit several churches on the summer of 2022. I was asked by our national worker to reschedule to April 2023 due to election related unrest. I am looking forward for this.

Health Report:
I did not plan to announce my illness because everybody has an illness/disease at some points. Whether it is high blood pressure, diabetes, or migraines they do not advertise theirs so why should I? I only informed my mission board, International Partnership Ministries and my church, Arlington Baptist of my illness. I thought to myself, ok, that’s it. My wife, Joy pointed out that I need prayers to help me to continue working for the Lord and to keep my sanity. I realized that she is right that I can’t do it without the Lord and your prayers. I humbly request your prayers as I was diagnosed of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) last September. It is a condition that doesn’t require a treatment. I expect that over the course of many months to years that I may need a treatment. Pray that my illness remains under good control for many years and for me to tolerate of side effects of this illness which are fatigue, hot flashes, fevers, night sweats, and nodes pain. My role model/mentor who is now 85 years old who has three stents, had cancer (in remission), and many ongoing health issues, yet he is still serving the Lord, traveling hundreds of miles across the USA and goes internationally to reach the Deaf. He is not stopping; so, I do not plan on stopping either. I may lose a foot or an arm, nothing will prevent me from the Lord’s work. I will keep going till Lord calls me home. That’s what the Lord wants me to do.

Prayer Requests:

• For new Deaf who recently got saved. For those Deaf who are sitting on the fence.
• For my health and my family.
• For increased support, new meetings, new opportunities.
• Encourage churches to start a deaf ministry.

Please select International Partnership Ministries Inc. as your supported charity if you are shopping at the smile.amazon.com, AmazonSmile will make a donation to IPM. Thank you.

Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.

Would you consider partnering with me to reach the Deaf for Christ?

Your partner in the Gospel,
James and Joy Campbell
https://gospelnowseen.com/

Dear Prayer Partners and Supporters,

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Community Calls
1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

When we hear the Lord’s voice in our heart and we respond to Him, God is not only calling us to Him. God is also calling us into the Church. God is calling us into community. Once we accept Christ, it is important that we join in with a community of believers. A community of believers comprise a full spectrum people of ethnicity, age, socioeconomic status, education, and disabilities.

Acts 2:42–47 says that discipleship, fellowship, worship, ministry, and evangelism all are to take place within the context of community. We are called together so we can do the things God wants us to do together. Every one of us is part of this community to minister to one another.

This message urges you to encourage, strengthen, comfort, instruct, teach, and admonish Deaf in your community. Don’t stay silent and feel sorry for them. Don’t say that there is a communication barrier and there is nothing you can do. The communication barrier exists because folks are not willing to find alternatives to communicate. Deaf have been known for using many alternatives including lipreading, writing notes, gestures, unclear speaking, and using interpreters to communicate because they want to overcome the barrier. A Deaf person is very eager to communicate with you and wants to be involved in a ministry within your church.

My local church has a deaf church employee who serves as an administration assistant and does janitorial work. It is a blessing to give opportunities to the Deaf so they can be a part of the community rather than being an outcast. Matthew 25:35-40 tells us to help one another regardless of their backgrounds and cultures.

We should be trying to motivate everyone in our church to take that next step forward in the faith. This means working with deaf members. We need to encourage Deaf members to grow in the faith by being close enough to notice when they got discouraged. As a community of faith, we should be there, just to offer a shoulder, or just to listen. We should cheer up and comfort those who need it.

Every one of us have real problems, spiritually and emotionally. Deaf need to know that there are people who will help them through these times of difficulties. The community of faith should be a place where Deaf know people love them and will help them.

Working with the deaf ministry requires a lot of patience. Not everyone moves at the same pace. Everybody, every single person, will do things different than the way they should, or we think that they should. We need to be patient and calmly minister to each other, wherever we are.

Fields Reports:

Kenya: I was scheduled to go to Kenya and visit several churches on the summer of 2022. I was asked by our national worker to reschedule to April 2023 due to election related unrest.

Ivory Coast: Our national worker, Leonce Ekeni led a deaf team to do the outreach in the rural areas and conducted a feasibility study to see if there is a need to start a new deaf ministry.

Prayer Requests:

• For my son, Luke to pass his driving test so he can get his own license.
• For Luke and Laura, they are working with their new jobs at the retirement community.
• For increased support, new meetings, new opportunities.
• Encourage churches to start a deaf ministry

Please select International Partnership Ministries Inc. your supported charity if you are shopping at the smile.amazon.com, AmazonSmile will make a donation to IPM. Thank you.

Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.

Would you consider partnering with me to reach the Deaf for Christ?

Your partner in the Gospel,
James and Joy Campbell