INTERNATIONAL MINERS’ MISSION

THE SAFETY LAMP“Introducing Miners to the Master”

CHILEIn 1917 Mr and Mrs H H Pulling were appointed

work as missionaries amongst miners in Chile. Ten

years later ill health meant they had to retire,

but in 1929 work was begun in the El Teniente

mine at Rancagua - the largest underground

copper mine in the world. It is here that Chilean

evangelist Victor Varas has been faithfully

witnessing for many years. He supports outreach

to miners and their families in two large miner

housing estates in Rancagua, at La Braden and El

Teniente, carrying out door-to-door ministry and

regularly holding open air meetings on Sundays at

the entrance to the main hospital. Victor works

with churches in Rancagua, helping with teaching

of children and teenagers - most of whom are

from local miners’ homes. He retires at the end

of 2010. Together Victor and his wife Ana, have

given 40 years in service amongst miners in

Rancagua, the largest copper mine in the world.

ETHIOPIAIn 1999 Vicky Yorke, IMM UK Trustee was part

of a team of 5 from Toddington Baptist Church,

Bedfordshire, visiting Ethiopia to provide

encouragement and support to various projects in

and around Addis. The aim for IMM UK was to

establish whether IMM could work with the Arat

Kilo Addis Kidan Baptist Church to evangelise

workers in the remote gold mining town of

Shakisso near Jima just above the Kenya border,

some 500 miles south west of Addis and . It was

a journey of a lifetime for Vicky, a visit never to

be forgotten. It gave her a new perspective on

life and hope for the future for the people of

Shakisso. The fruit is still being reaped today.

Pastors and evangelists supported by IMM UK

have snowballed from one to 10! They are:

Fakiru Abebe, Ayele Bululita, Nigusse

Denibla, Godana Ensabe, Qelebesa Geleta,

Gobena Gossay, Gobna Gumi, Haile Waqo,

Girma Wordofa and Ermias, supported by

advisers, John Massink and Kifle Shibre,

Addis Kidan Church.

ROMANIAIn 1989 during the dying days of the communist

regime of Nicolae Ceaucescu, the coal miners of

Jiu Valley, located in Southwest Romania, were

bussed into Bucharest in a vain effort to support

the tottering rule of the dictator. God laid on the

heart of Cornel Hudulin, a Baptist evangelist and

pastor, the need to reach these men and their

families with the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He started visiting the many coal mines round

about preaching the Gospel news to men as they

came off their shifts. During the 1990s Cornel

carried out this work almost single-handed.

Miners and their family members came to Christ

in numbers. Churches began to be established in

the mining villages. IMM heard of this vibrant

ministry work through long-standing friend and

supporter, the late Rev Dr Eric Hayden, himself

an ex-Bevan boy working in the mines in the

1940s. As a result, some 10 years ago tentative

contacts IMM UK began its support. Several

church groups have been established in quite a

wide area. As a result, IMM now supports

Vali Bereznicu, Daniel Gheorghitan, Viorel

Ghita, Marian Popescu and Aurel Tulpan

under the watchful eye of IMM advisers,

Pastor Cornel and Mrs Sanda Hudulin.

SIERRA LEONETongo Field is a centre for diamond mining. It has

an estimated population of 20,000 and is 'over-

populated' with housing difficult to find. It is the

main town in a chiefdom. Many work as miners.

Diamonds seem to be the main attraction. Until

recently there were no evangelical churches. The

miners in Sierra Leone believe that diamonds

Issue 305 CELEBRATING THE WORK OF IMM WORLDWIDE October 2010

IMM UK SUPPORTED MISSIONARIES AND PROJECTS, 2010

The International Miners’ Mission (Glynn-Vivian Miners’ Mission Incorporated 1906) is company limited by guarantee 90484 and registered charity 221853Registered office: 53 High Street ~ Kimpton ~ Hitchin ~ Hertfordshire ~ SG4 8PU

belong to the demons. Many are involved in cultish

devil activities in order to 'get rich' by finding

diamonds. The area is Muslim-dominated but

underneath the even more influential traditional

religion holds sway. Diamond miners are forced to

work Sundays but to take Fridays off. IMM UK

works alongside the local church in Sierra Leone

supporting the programme of church planting in

this needy area. Local UFM missionaries, Mike

and Vi Webb act as advisers to IMM UK and

provide oversight to Pastor Dennis Manneh who

heads up outreach in the Tongo Field mining area.

Initially the work was based at Buima where, in

October 2005, the church opened. Subsequently

daughter churches have been established in 4

nearby villages.

UKRAINEBefore the demise of the Soviet Union, Donbas in

the east, was the major source of coal and steel

for the whole bloc. However, the market for

these products shrank when Ukraine achieved

independence and the early 1990s were harsh

years for the whole country particularly the

eastern areas. Many coal mines closed. Those still

open were not well maintained. Mining accidents

are a constant concern. Since 2005 IMM UK has

supported local churches in the Donetsk region,

an area badly polluted and scarred by industrial

activity, centred on the town of Enakievo. Here a

local Baptist church pastored by a former miner,

has a very active young people's work among

active and former mining families.

IMM also sponsors the summer camps. The young

people's meetings are always busy and

enthusiastic. North of Enakievo, there are active

salt mines and another church has been started

in Artyomovsk, together with outreach to the

community of Golma. IMM works here with the

local pastor and again sponsors summer camps for

local children giving them what is often the only

holiday they have in a year. The camps are well

attended and the children and young people

always hear the good news about Jesus as well as

having a fun time with their friends.

IMM UK sponsors: Vasily Dmitriev & Ivan Gartvig.

IMM’s adviser is Pastor Alexander Nagirnyak and

Alex Balakhon acts as interpreter.

THE OTHER IMM COMMITTEESIMM SWITZERLAND sponsors outreach to

miners in Zimbabwe led by Rev. Pardon Chingovo,

who co-ordinates the outreach tomen and women

in mines in various parts of the country with the

help of Rev Weston Fanazdo and Evangelists

Alias Katiyo, Farai Mukana and Shingai Vhukani.

IMM USA sponsors outreach the mines in Bolovia

(currently two missionaries, Nicolas Ajhuacho and

Florentino Apaza) and Peru (currently eight

evangelists, Juan Caurcasto, Aurelio Castro, Rene

Churata, Roberto Masca, Cesar Cordova, Juan

Tolentino, Rufo Roque Ricra and Juan Cueva).

They also provide scholarships at three Bible

Colleges (two scholarships in Eastern Kentucky,

USA and twelve students are assisted at two

Colleges in mining areas of Peru).

IMM AUSTRALIA sponsors six pastors who visit

mines in the Philippines (Myrna Gianchand,

Jupiter Sevilla, Cartier Padullon, Roland

Ormandac, Wenceslao Manila and Salvador

Espante). They also provide pastoral and

evangelism training each year for a large group of

pastors from various churches in the Philippines.

IMM SOUTH AFRICA has established contacts

with the many gold mines of the West Rand with

the aim of establishing Christian cell groups and

churches. Three pastors (Faki Bodibe, Phillip

Dungulu and Elijah Dube) provide training and

engage in regular visits to the mines and mine

hospitals. In Rustenburg and the area around

there are many platinum mines. Three pastors

(Patrick Langa, Mohau Mofokeng and Andrew

Mayathula) evangelise in the various mine hostels

and mine camps that are found there.

Visit IMM’s website at www.minersmission.comemail David at dshillitoe@minersmission.com

PLEASE USE THIS COPY OF SAFETYLAMP FOR YOUR PRAYERS

Or why not pin up the picture side

on your church notice board? The

next 'Safety Lamp' will report fully

on the Conference taking place in

Romania at the end of September.

IMM Worldwide 2010

BOLIVIA

CHILE

PERU

ROMANIA

LITTLE LAUREL

SCHOOL

UKRAINE

ETHIOPIA

PHILIPPINES

ZIMBABWE

SOUTH AFRICA

IMM UK supports work in Chile, Ethiopia, RomaniaSierra Leone and Ukraine

IMM Australia supports work in the Philippines

IMM South Africa supports work in West Rand andRustenburg, South Africa

IMM Switzerland supports the work in Zimbabwe

IMM USA supports work in Bolivia, Peru andLittle Laurel School in Kentucky, USA

IMM Worldwide 2010

INTERNATIONAL MINERS' MISSION53 High Street, Kimpton, Hitchin,Hertfordshire AL3 8PU England

www.minersmission.com

SIERRA

LEONE

IMM Worldwide 2010

BOLIVIA

CHILE

PERU

ROMANIA

LITTLE LAUREL SCHOOL

UKRAINE

PHILIPPINES

ZIMBABWE

SOUTH AFRICA

IMM UK supports work in Chile, Ethiopia, Romania,Sierra Leone and Ukraine

IMM Australia supports work in the Philippines

IMM South Africa supports work in West Rand andRustenburg, South Africa

IMM Switzerland supports the work in Zimbabwe

IMM USA supports work in Bolivia, Peru andLittle Laurel School in Kentucky, USA

IMM Worldwide 2010

INTERNATIONAL MINERS' MISSION53 High Street, Kimpton, Hitchin,Hertfordshire AL3 8PU England

www.minersmission.com

SIERRA

LEONE

ETHIOPIA