PERSONAL FILE

Date

February 3j 1975

Name in full Ronald Ifeayne Elerick

,^

, Cbxistian Church Miseion, Chiduba Village,

Complete address on field

P/A Chiringa^ P.O. Palombe^

Complete forwarding address

MLAWT, AjBRICA

Same as Above

Name and address of Livinglink church or churches:

Eastern Heights Christian Church,

Street_i2A-52L.5

L- Street

City 22f_^Zone

Zone

State,

Names and addresses of other sponsoring or endorsing churches:

Cherokee Hills Christian Church

strppf 6601 N. B/IacArthur

Clty^^iixFHL Zone

Forrest Hills Christian Church

stnoot 2121 No MacArthur

Oklahoma^..^Qkla. City .

Oklahomaj

Please send along with this form copies of recommendations from churches which will encourage
other churches to support your missionary work. There are churches which will not allow a
visiting missionary to speak unless a church recommendation can be shown. Since it is impos
sible for any one person to know all Christians in the world, this recommendation by a respon
sible New Testament church is a vital help in persuading others of your worthiness and the value

of your mission. Mission Services stands ready to help you inform HORIZONS readers about
your church recommendations. Since the church is sending you to the mission field (Acts 13:1-3)
and will help provide the necessary needs on the field, naturally the church should share the
credit in your missionary ministry. One of the ways that the church can do this is to share their
conviction regarding your missionary ministry with others. Certainly, their words will help
convince others regarding the worthiness of your work. Please help MISSION SERVICES to
spread your news through HORIZONS, Packets and Slide library by sending your church recom
mendations as soon as possible. Thanks. Send what you have now, and the others later.

Recommendations by Christian Leaders: (List names and addresses here and enclose a copy of

MAMTT

Ward Randall

Davis

TOO Lincoln Christ ian College

Street_z2^LiZL
Lincoln

Midwest Chiistian College

Street, Box IgeS'?

Zone_ State__

Ckla. City

Zone__ State

Oklahoma

Name and address of hometown

Oroville Mercury, Oroville, California

Name and address of other

which mi^t carry stories of your work:

Street,

Street.

City_

Zone,

City_

State,

Zone,

State,

Place of TtTRTTT Glendale, California ^

Day nfhirtti
MnnfTi
Voar ^9^
1st Chr. Church

^ I960

J^^re baptised?,
City,

Oroville

State

California

On an extra page please describe any details regarding conversion which you might care to
mention.

MARITAL STATUS:

MarrifiH, ^ Single,

Divorced,

Date of maryiflgft Ju-P.e 6, 1964

Widowed,

Where married?

Oroville, Californaa

Who solemnized your wedding? Bro Eldon Melton

List children by full name giving place, day, month, and year of birth:
(If your children have been adopted, please indicate.)
Name

Place of their birth

day, month, and year

Rhonda Jane

San Jose, California

19

Susan Mae

Fairbanks, Alaska

19

Wendy Kay

Homer, Alaska

21

1966
1968

1970

Please list places of previous Christian service and what service you did. Give approximate dates:
Place

Service

Dates

10/72 Thx-u 6/74

Minister

. Apache, Oklahoma

Sxumuers 1975 & 197^

Internship

Malawi, Africa

SCHOOLING (high school and later):

Name of school

Number of years

Location

Oroville Hia:h

H.S. Diploma 1962

Oroville, Calif.

Degrees and date granted

Midwest Chrdstian College

A.B Missions

1975

Okla. City, Oklahoma

What things influenced you to become a missionary? What is your purpose? What do you hope
to accomplish on the mission field? Your;own story in some detail might be influential in leading

others into fuUtime service (Use_an extra sheet if you need more space):

Describe briefly in outline form the nature of your daily duties on the field:

Which of the following terms most nearly describes your missionary status?
Evangelist,
Homemaker,

Radio ministry.

Bible College Teacher,

Doctor,

Nurse,

Radio followup.

Maintenance of mission equipment.

Publich School Teacher.

Social worker.

Music teacher.

.Christian Service Camp,

Benevolence,

Office work.

Linguistics.
Name other:

PARENTS:

Father's name and home addrpgg-

Living___^ Deceased.

\
A

.strppt

His nnn.iipatif>r>

ZoneState.

t.q he a Christian? yes___.no.

What positions of leadership has he held in the local church?

What Christian service does he now do?

Mother's full maiden name:

Living___Deceased.
Q

7.one _____ State

'

Is she a Christian? Yes___No__ Her occupation if employed outside the home.

What leadership positions or Christian service has she rendered to the local church?.

ClAC<">+'fl V

FORWARDING AGENT:

Natvifi

Clioiles Sc Linda Soitli

City. Pone a City

st-rBBt

lOW Dtnan

Zone_____ State. QklailOIIia ^

TH-faOl

99

pV\on.-

Teleplmne'. *7^^ fa ^

Where attend ehnreh?. Eastern Heights Ohr. Chai

Box 88
r.-H, Ponca City
zone
state Oklahoma ,
What duties are performed by the forwarding ag^^nt.

Handles the receiving and receipting

r

No

Does the forwarding agent receive a salary ?____

Should money be sent to the forwarding agent nniyv. Yes, 11 other sliould he rcx.iL Lp .
the Onuroh at. Ponca ^ity

In what form should funds be

Checks payable to Eastern Heia:hts Christian Church

ior: Ron Elerick, Malawi

If funds are to be sent directly to the missionary on the field, please explain the details of how to

do it, so we can give your explanation to HORIZONS readers and others who may inquire.
Use the remainder of this sheet or an additional sheet to supply other information which you think

might be helpful to the staff of MISSION SERVICES in preparing news stories about your ministry:

 f"\

I really was influenced to becoiiie a mitsionaiy while I was a

State 'irooper in Alaska,

My job took me into many Indian and

Eskimo villages, and while theie, I truly sav^' the need to take the
Gospel to those people.
Later K'hen I fully surrendered and committed my life to Christ,
ffi left Alaska to study at Midwest Christian College in Oklahoma City-

Vvhile there, I met VVally and Joy Farnham who are missionaries in
Johannesburg, South Afxica. They told me of the need for someone to
go to the country of Malawi as to that time, we had never had a missionary
from the United States working there.
In the summer of 19735 I worked with the Parnhams, and on my way home,
visited

Malawi,

I was excited by what I found there,

Gregory Makhole, the former
Village, quit being Chief of his people, so that
he could preach the Gospel to his people. I leaxned that in just
two snort ye^rs, Bro. iS^akhole has established five congregations
in five villages , ana about 2^0 people have been immeresed into Christ
Chief of Chiduba

Bro. makhole showed me the need to train our Malawian Christian

leaders to prepare them to reach out further for Christ in that country
I was introduced to the District Chief Nazombe, and was asked by him
to come and live in the village and teach all of the people the
Gospel message.
I began then in earnest to prepare" to return

to Malawi as a missionary if the "^alawian government would grant my

family a work -Dermit, at that moment.

I returned to Malawi in July of 197^ to work with the government

officials and our Christian leaders in obtaining our work permits

as up to that point no one from our brotherhood has obtained govern

mental approval to enter Malawi as a miss.onary.
At the end of
August, I was forced to return home as I had been told I had done all that
could bedone until His Exce,lancy the Life President Kamuzu Banda^
had made a decision concerning our permits.
Praise GodJ.
in Late October 197^ je.st two months after I left Malwi, we received
word that we have been approved to enter Malawi and thus will be
the first missionaries from our brotherhood in America to work in

this country proclaiming the Gospel of our Lord,

We plan to leave for Malav^/i on tne 13th of May this year.

Cur-

plan is to live in Chiduba Village, and go out from there into each
village where we have a congregation and set up a leadership traihing
program.
We will also help establish new congregations and in
doing so will also trein local leadership,
spe it, our main
work will be to disciple, train and prepare national leadership

and in doing so

xaKT

RKYYSfycXQTKWXyKY creating a truly indigenous I

lasting v/ork in Malawi, central east Africa,

r>B

T t975

O-H
PERSONAL FILE

Date

i q7k

^ Arleen Jane Elerick

Name in full

^
,
,,
, Christian Church Mission, Chiduba VillageComplete address on field

P/^ Ohiri nga ,P.n. PftlnwihAj

Afy-tno

Complete forwarding address ffam? n t?

Name and address of Livingllnk church or churches:

. Eastern Heihhts Christian Church

Strp.p.t, P0Box88
74601

City Ponca City zone -

State.Oklahoma q ity

Zone -

State,

Names and addresses of other sponsoring or endorsing churches:

Cherokee Hills Christian Church
strppf

Forest Hill Christian Church

6601 N MacArthur

Okla. Cityv Oklahoma. 73132

Zone

2121 N. MacArthur

Street

State -

City 0VI a. C-tty

Oklahoma, 73127
Zone -

State -

Please send along with this form copies of recommendations from churches which will encourage
other churches to support your missionary work. There are churches which will not allow a
visiting missionary to speak unless a church recommendation can be shown. Since it is impos
sible for any one person to know all Christians in the world, this recommendation by a respon
sible New Testament church is a vital help in persuading others of your worthiness and the value
of your mission. Mission Services stands ready to help you inform HORIZONS readers about
your church recommendations. Since the church is sending you to the mission field (Acts 13:1-3)
and will help provide the necessary needs oh the field, naturally the church should share the
credit in your missionary ministry. One of the ways that the church can do this is to share their
conviction regarding your missionary ministry with others. Certainly, their words will help
convince others regarding the worthiness of your work. Please help MISSION SERVICES to
spread your news through HORIZONS, Packets and Slide library by sending your church recom
mendations as soon as possible. Thanks. Send what you have now, and the others later.

Recommendations by Christian Leaders: (List names and addresses here and enclose a copy of
Ward Randall
street

nity

each letter, thanks.)

Mam** Dr. Howarri

T
T^
Box
178 Lincoln
Christian

Lincoln. 111.
Zone State_.^^

Midwest
Christian College
iacfig

Oklahoma

QV1^ Zone_ State_

None

Name and address of hometown newspaper.

Name and address of other papers which mi^t carry stories of your work:

Street,

Street.

City^

Zone,

City_

. State,

Zone,

State.

Place of RTR-TH Los Angeles. Calif

Day nf hirffi 9

Mnnfli 10

Where

Vftay
na*^

Crenshaw Christian

State,

July, 1959

Calif.

On an extra page please describe any details regarding conversion which you might care to
mention.

. .

MARITAL STATUS:

MarriPiH-

Single.

Date of TYiarWagA

Divdrced,

June 6. 1964

Who solemnized your wedding?

Widowed,

Where married?' Oroville; Calif.

Bro# Bldon Melton

List children
full name giving place, day, month, and year of birth:
(K your children have been adopted, please indicate.)

Rhonda

day, month, and year

Place of their birth

Name
Jane

Susan Mae

Wendy_^y_

San Jose, Calif.

19

Fairbanksy Alaska

19

Homer, Alaska

21

1966
1968

1970

Please list places of previous Christian service and what service you did. Give approximate dates:
Place

Service

Dates

10/72-6/74

Minister's Wife

.Anaohe. Oklahoma
ACherokee Hills Christian

Sept.-Dec#, 1974

Remedial Instructor

scnooi!

SCHOOLING (high school and later):

Name of school
Washingtonm H.S#

Location

Number of years

Los Angeles, Calif.

Degrees and date granted

H.S. Diploma, 1962

rVJ

Pepperdine U.

Los Angeles, Calif.

San

Jose

Bible College, San Jose

1i

San

Jose

State^ College

Midewest Christian College, Okla. City

1-^

A.B. Chris. Ed., 1973

What things influenced you to become a missionary? What is your purpose? What do you hope
to accomplish on the mission field? Your own story in some detail might be influential in leading

others into fulltime service (Use an extra sheet if you need more space): See

3h

'irst Year:
''

'k .. V

. r -r

1. Make home a place where' villagers feel comfortable & welcome

2. Start children on correspondence course schooling
3. Learn the language, Chiohewa
4. Travel with husband to villages when possible
4

Second year
1.

Start Bible Studies with women and children

Y Describe briefly in outline form the nature of your daily duties on the field:

\l

^ ^ ;

Which of the following terms most nearly describes your missionary status?

Evangelist,^__. Bible College Teacher

wntYiftrnflifiaT

Radio ministry.

nrv>tnr

Nurse. Social worker.

Radio followup.

Maintenance of mission equipment.

Publick School Teacher.

, Music teacher.

Christian Service Camp.

Benevolence,

Office work.

Linguistics,
Name other:

PARENTS:

Father's name and home aHHygiQg.

'

'

j ,

RfrA<>t

City,
1

His occupatioil.

Deceased-JL

Living.

nnay.al Gaor^e Evans

'

f r L''

Zone

State.

.T e j

Is he a Christian? yes,. .no.2L

What positions of leadership has he held in the local church?

What Christian service does he now do? - Etheyl Jane Evans

Mother's full maiden name: .

StrRPit

^ - -- -

Is she a Christian? Vrr

^
r.ity

Nn X-

Living,

DeceasedJL

7.f\na

Her occupation if employed outside the home.

What leadership positions or Christian service has she rendered to the local churchi?.

forwarding AGENT:
MflTYiA

Eastern Heights Christian Church

Charles Smith

Street

QQ

Home phone
nitv. Ponoa City

Where attend RTinrRh? Eastern Heights Chris,

CAfy Ponoa City

- Telephone:( 405)7626820

7.nnR Qklahoffftitp.74601

Zone

Street,

Box 88

SfgfA Oklahoma. 74601

What duties are performed by the forwarding ggRnf- Handles the receiving & receipting
of finances.

Does the forwarding agent receive a gfllary?.

Shpirtd gLopey,.bg 8g]a.tethe for^dlng a^nt only?

hi what form should funds Hr

nViftrVg pnyn-hlA -Ha Tgf4-ftT-n TT^4^h-bo pv.---; o4-4 O-,,

Cliureh

designated for Ron Elerick. Malewi

If funds are to be sent directly to the missionary on the field, please explain the details of how to
do it, so we can give your explanation to HORIZONS readers and others who may inquire.
Use the remainder of this sheet or an additional sheet to supply other information which you think
might be helpful to the staff of MISSION SERVICES in preparing news stories about your ministry:

Arleen Elerick

I became a Christian

r.

when I was fourteen, in July, 1959.

The following March, on Palm Sunday, I came forward at

Church and said I wanted to give my life to full time Chris

tian service, probably as a missionary#

I knew then that

serving Jesus Christ was the only thing in life worth doing#
I knew there was a great need for missionaries.

I wanted to work in the "bush" as that type of work

really appealed to me far more than being a minister's wife
in the city#

I hate the city, love the outdoors, and don't

mind roughing it a bit#

commitment#

My parents were upset by my public

They v7ere not Christians#

young to make that type of decision#

to waver from

They said I was too

But I have never desired

it#

While in Alaska, my husband drifted avay from the Lord

and the church, but I still felt the "call" to the mission i
field through the Bible, mission books, I read, and seeing the

need#

Many in our churches in the U#S# have heard the Gospel

over and over again, and just don't care to respond or really
become committed Christians#

While

in countries like those

in Africa, there are thousands who want

to hear but there

is no one to tell them#

I told a friend, while still in Alaska, that either my

hii^band was going to have to change, or the Lord was going to

have to stop calling mo#

One week later, Ron decided to get

"serious with the Lord and ^left Alaska for Bible College#
Praise Godl

Why did the Lord wait so long in making it possible for

me to be a missionary?
mature.

I feel He was waiting for me to

Five years ago, if we were then getting ready to

leave for Malawi in three months, I would have been con

stantly worrying about the money for plane fares, a car, etc.
I would also be worrying about all the problems we would
encounter on the field.

Now I am able to rest on Matt. 6:33.

If we truly seek the Lord's will. He will keep His part of

the bargain by providing us with all that we need when we
need it.

As a result of relying on Matt 6:33, I have also

learned the meaning of Phil. 4:6,7i

'Copy Sheet For:

Issue No.

HORIZONS

TITLE:

Date

THE FIRST MISSIONARIES In Malawi, Africa

( Picture

OTHER

C Eeb. 12.7S WEM')

P

The Ronald Elerick family I

The Ronald Elerick family ^ntere d

Malawi, Africa in May, 1975- |Ron h
spent two Summers as a missioriary
6

intern in Africa.

He visited 'Malawi
I

7
8

enroute to South Africa in 19713 and in

1974 spent the Summer in Malaw|i. Ir
October, 1974 the Elericks redeived

10

word from the Malawian governic/ent tt at

11

they were approved to enter Malawi

12

Thus, they became tthe first m'issiorlaries

13

from our brotherhood in Americ'a to

I

1i+
15
16

work in this country. Their it^ain wo rk

is making Christians and trainjing
national leadership. In doing| this

17

creating a truly indigenous lasting

18

work in Malawi, Africa.

|
Ronald Wayne Elerick was b|om
December 16, 19^ in Glendale,| Cal.

19
20
21

He was graduated from ||[ high s'chool

22

in 1962 at Oroville, Cal.

23

as State J'^ooper in Alaska bfefore

2U

went to Midwest Christian Coll|ege,

25

Oklahoma City, Okla. where he kad

26

4 yOg^rs and was graduated in 1^75

with the AB degree in Missions|. He

27
28

He berved
he

is recommended by the elders at the

Type within the lines. If short,
lengthen the next line that number

of characters. If long, shorten the

next line that number of characters.

'Copy Sheet For:

Issue No.

HORIZONS

OTHER

TITLE:
1

Date

First Miss. 3S In Malawi Page2 Peb 12,75 WEMO)

Cherokee Hills Christian Chur& in ^

L

Oklahoma City, Okla.; PresideJfc HowSrd

Davis of Midwest Christian CoJlege snd

Max Ward Randall of Lincoln CHristign

College in Illinois.

preaching in 1972.

I
c

Ron started
'
I

Mrs. Arleen Jane Evans El^rick

was born Sept. 10, 1944 in Lo^ Angeles

Cal.

10

ir

She was graduated from Washington

High School, Los Angeles, Cal.' in IS

y

11

She has received training at; Peppei

I

12

University, L.A., Cal. for one'year;

13

San Jose Bible College in Cal.' for

I

11+

years; San Jose State College In Cal

I

19

for one year and Midwest Christian

I

16

College in Okla. for 1% years Where

17

she was graduated with the A.B'. degr

18

in Christian Education in 1973'.

She

19

married Ron on June 6, 1964 at'Orovijlle,

20

Cal.

They have three daughterfe:

I

21

Rhonda Jane Elerick born Aug. 19, 19

I

22

at San Jose, Cal.; Susan Mae Elerick

I

23

born May 19, 1908 in Pairbanks|, Alasfca

21+

and Wendy Ray Elerick bom Augl 21,

29

in Homer, Alaska.

'
j

26

Their forwarding agents ai?e: Mibsion

j

27

To Malawi, Charles and Mrs. Lihda Smith,

28

Eastern Heights Christian Churbh,

Type within the lines. If short,
lengthen the next line that number
of characters. If long, shorten the
next line that number of characters.

1 '7/

'Copy Sheet Per;

Issue No.

HORIZONS

OTHER

Date

TITLE: The First Miss, in Malawi (Page 5, Peb 12,75 WEM)

1
2

P.O. Box 88, Ponca City, OK

"I

7^01. Their field address i^

Eonald W. and Mrs. Arleen EleAck,

Christian Church Mission, Chldtaba.

\

Village, P/A Chiringa, P.O. Pa'lombe,

Malawi, Africa.

the end

###

9
10
11
12

13

1U
15
16
17
18

19
20

21
22

23

21+
25
26

27
28

Type within the lines. If short,

lengthen the next line that number

of characters. If long, shorten the

next line that number of characters.

I
Ron Elerick Family

Wendy, Ron, Rhonda, Susan & Arisen.

This is to introduce the Ron Elerick family who will be the first missionaries from our congre
gations to establish a mission work in the country of Malawi. Both Ron and Arleen are graduates
of Midwest Christian College and Ron has completed two summer internships in Malawi. Both are
hatives of California and both received their high school education in that state.
They met at
San Jose Bible College and were married on June 6, 1964. Ron served as an Alaskan State Trooper

for nearly three years before enrolling at Midwest Christian College where he was president of
the Missions Group on campus for two years and also a student minister serving the congregation
at Apache. Arleen's degree in Christian Education and her experience in substitute teaching and
remedial instruction will be very needed on the field, for she will assume the full responsi
bility of the children's education. Home will be Chiduba Village, more than a hundred miles from
the city of Blantyre, and their "mansion" will be a typical native hut with no electricity or
running water.
The two year "work permit" has been granted and the visas are in hand. Their
greatest needs are prayers and finances to undergird them in this pioneer venture.
Keep this
picture as a daily prayer reminder and these dates as a special opportunity to remember them

with a card or a gift. Their birthdays are: Ron (Dec. 16), Arleen (Sept. 10), Rhonda (Aug. 19),
Susan (May 19) and Wendy (Aug. 21). May God's richest blessings accompany them.

0
"ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO!" At the time of this writing only days remain; but by the time you read
this, you may be "counting only hours" until Ron, Arleen and the girls begin their flight to
Malawi.
They will leave the Will Rogers Airport on Thursday, May 22nd, at 10:20 a.m. on a
Braniff flight to New York City.
With only a four and a half hour layover, they will again
be in the air for Frankfurt, Germany; and within two and a half hours of touch-down there,
will be on their way to Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Originally, Ron had planned for a day of rest in
Israel before flying on to Malawi; but the leadership of Eastern Heights unanimously voted to
pay the expenses for two extra days in Israel from local church funds so the family could en
joy some sight-seeing and obtain some much needed rest.
Veteran missionaries had advised
this, so adjustments could be made to the
"time-lag" problem of flying
through so many time changes.
We do want to express our appreciation to
Leaving Tel-Aviv they will fly to
TOM PARDEE for the fine art work in the
Nairobi, Kenya, and then to Malawi,
arriving at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday,
"Malawi Witness" masthead and to DONNA
LONG for the three color print job on
May 27th (Africa time).

'THANK you'

this newsletter and on the letterheads

Donna will also be printing the newsevery issue.

And how could we forget
the forwarding Agents, Charles & Linda

Arleen adds this note of comment on

the past few weeks: "Sorting cloth

ing, trying to pack an even 44 lbs.
in each suitcase, shipping goods
from New Orleans, getting the nec

Smith?

will want to

LAKE
MALAWI

MALAWI,AFRICA
Save this map

in

we

In
say

"thanks" to many, many others.

It will be impossible in the

time remaining for the Elericks
to personally contact everyone
who has helped or who has shown
an interest

re-

of "midnight oil",

future issues

essary (Ugh'.) inoculations, travel

ing near and far saying final fare
wells to friends and family have

kept the Elerick family busy as the

time for our departure draws near."

This labor of love will

many hours

for

future reference.

Malawi is situated in southeast

Cen

tral Africa, south of the equator and

it lies entirely within the

tropics.

In the south, southwest and southeast

it is bordered by Mocambigue, in the

northwest by Zambia S in the north

their work;

therefore, why don't you call

them person-to-person at 1-405-

and northeast by Tanzania.

765-3956 or else meet them at the

airport on the" 22nd for"a

personal farewell?

final

ZOMBA

MULOLOWA VILLAGE

Service Link Needed

NOAANGA VILLAGE

If hopes and promises of support were

dollars in the bank,

actually
then the Elericks would

LAKE CHILWA

have no worries.
However, while it appears
that adequate LIVING LINK SUPPORT is commit

ted,

very little remains for the work that

MUST

be

done

in Malawi.

THUNGA VILLAGE
NAMATA VILLAGE
CHIDUBA VILLAGE

Plane fares to

MOUNT MLANJE

Malawi are paid,money is on hand to cover the

shipping of goods by boat and the money for the
motorcycle to be purchased in Africa is commited.
What remains? The freighting of a used cycle, the
return air fare for the family (over $3,000.00) and
the funds to purchase a small foreign pick-up truck
(about $6,000.00). Your support is appreciated and
receipts for your giving should be in the mail in

the next few days. Please continue to pray and givel

BLANTYRE

The Elericks will live in Chiduba

Village
the

most

in

Mlanje District.
densely

This is

populated district

in Malawi, with 395,000.

Nonprofit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE

/ .

W
FIELD ADDRESS:

M/M Ron Elerick

Christian Church Mission

Chiduba Village

P/A Chiringa

ni

P. 0. Palombe

Malawi, Africa
FORWARDING ADDRESS:
Malawi Christian Mission

c/o Eastern Heights Christian Church

Route 2

Box 88

Ponca City, Oklahoma

74601

PAID
Permit No. 32

Copy Sheet Porj

Issue No.

HORIZONS

TITLE:

J)ate

GleaninKS

( July 24,75
-r-

OTHER

1
2

Ronald W.

and Mrs.

Arleen

)lerick, Christian Church Mis^i^,

Chiduha Village, P/A Chiringa,

"1

k P.O. Palombe, Malawi, Africa share

5 bheir news:

" We had a safe arrival

I

Ln Malawi on May 27th after spending

5 wonderful days in Jerusalem. J

^^e have a 2 year work permit,

ialawian Christians built us a J

the

10

Lovely 6-room home with mud walls,

11

concrete floors suid an iron rooi.

12

r am already || beginning leadership

13

:raining sessions with the men in the

^h

churches of 7 villages.

15

" Eastern Heights Christian thurch

16

In Ponca City, OK has taken on 6ur

17

full living-link support, as well

16

is being our forwarding agents.]'

19

Pheir forwarding agents are: Ch4rles

20

and Mrs. Linda Smith, Box 88, Ri. #2

21

onca City,OK 7^601.

'

22

23

Gleanings

2k
25
26

27
28

Type within the lines. If short,

lengthen the next line that number

of characters. If long, shorten the

next line that nimber of characters.

Issue No.

Copy Sheet Port

S^rescrrrnss ( Aug 26, 75 '^)

HORIZONS

OTHER

Elerick In Malawi

Ron and Mrs. Arleen ElerickQ,

arrived in Malawi on May 27tli,j,

1975 aiid Eon writes

tmlj- "Mnnt "hrrr,

5
6

Lord| has
our firsj: 2

months we're settling in very well

to village life; no illness anii very

few problems. Our local work jlnclud

two more villages now: Masale, ^d Maiy^esa.

10

11

2S

At present we are teaching in

villages.

men are enrolled^ in

12

our leadership training prograp. In

13

our work, we are teaching one jveek.

1U

and have a 'free' week in-betwpen.

15

During the alternate week, we ^o int 0

16

new villages where there is no work,

17

preaching the Word vinder a trep or in

18

the open, and if one responds to the

19

Gospel, we. teach ^d work aroupd tha

20

person to establish a teaching| point

in his village and eventually |to
planting a new church.
|

21
22

23

" Tomorrow 1 leave for one of

2k

these new villages .

25

local chief came to visit me ajnd

26

27
28

J days a^o our

the chief of this new village was

with him.

He had come to ask ^us

to establish a work there, so you

Type within the lines. If short,
lengthen the next line that number

of characters. If long, shorten the

next line that number of characters.

Copy Sheet For:

Issue No.

HORIZONS

TITLE: G-leanings (Elerick Cont.

Bate

-Aug. 26,75 WEM)

"f-

OTHER

1
2

can see how God opens for us.

Similar requests are received rj,

frequently and we find we are

limited here only "by time- We]

really need help and do look

and Mrs. Linda Lentz.

students with Arleen andC<lf at '

San Jose Bihle College in 1962J,

9
10

63 and 64.

12

Boh is a capable preacher and ^

13

teacher and Linda is a regist^ed

nurse. Boh spent an internshijp
in Brazil before he married arjd
went to Dillingham, Alaska. ']

1U

15
16

17
18

19
20

Boh was my roommate

and Linda was Arleen's roommatje.

" Since our arrival May 27t*h

^ people have been pK horn s^gain.

We look forward to a great ha3^vest
here. It is not all easy, an<^ there
I.

21

have been hardships, hut wdith ^ God';

22

help we're pushing ahead)/

They we|re

11

forward to the arrival of Boh

Copy Sheet Porj

Issue No.

HORIZONS

TITLE:

Jate

Gleanings ( Page 3 Elerick - Aug 25,75 WEM)

'

OTHER

1
2

k
5

' '

f'

Their field address is: RonLand

I

i
0

Mrs. Arleen Elerick, GhristianrChurch

E

Mission, Chiduha Village, P/A Phirinka,

P.O. Palombe, Malawi, Africa.

Their

forwarding agents are: Charles

and

Mrs. Linda Smith, Eastern Heights

7

Christian Church, Route 2, Boxj 88,

Ponca City, OK
9

M#

Gleanings

10
11
12

13

IJ4
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22

23

2h
25
26

27
28

Type within the lines. If short,

lengthen the next line that number
of characters. If long, shorten the
next line that number of characters.

Ron Elerick Family

V , -

Our Exodus finally ended May 27th when we landed at Chllika Airport just outside of Blantyre.
We had a few tense moments at Customs when we were asked to purchase return tickets before entry
would be allowed. We showed them our letters from the Immigration Department and they checked
their log and found that all was in order, so we were allowed to stay. We were greeted warmly
by Bro. Gregory Makhole and his wife and also Willie David, a brother in Christ from WoWo Vill
age. They had walked 12 miles from Chiduba Village to catch a bus and then had ridden for 6

hours.

Two days after our arrival, our paper work was completed and we were given a two year

work permit with the probability of extensions of two year durations.

Ron's official title

is

now "Director of Central Christian Mission."

We rented a car for the trip to the village and even though the roads are in good condition it
required 4 1/2 hours, with the last 42 miles taking 2 1/2 hours. As we pulled into Chiduba Vill
age,the villagers began running after us, singing and shouting. The Christians had hand cleared
a road up to our house, but we had to pile out while the men pushed the car the rest of the way.
The house really surprised usl

$ervice Link Needed

The last issue

of

this newsletter stated:

"If hopes and promises of support were

ally dollars

in

actu

the bank, then the Elericks

would have no worries.

However, while it ap

pears that adequate *LIVING LINK SUPPORT is

committed, **very little remains for the work
that MUST be done in Malawi.

Plane fares to

Malawi are paid,money is on hand to cover the

shipping of goods by boat and the money for

the ***motorcycle to be purchased in Africa
is committed. What remsiins? The freighting
of a used cycle, ifthe return air fare for
the family (over $3,000.00) and the funds to

ffpurchase

small foreign

picdc-up

It is very

large, with three bedrooms, a living room, a

kitchen area, a back porch or storage area,

plus a "path" (an outside bathroom made of

straw).
The house is made of mud that has
been plastered over
whitewashed.

pole frame

It has an iron roof,

and

then

concrete

floors, doors and also glass windows.

The
Christians hauled in on foot or bicycle all
of the building supplies. Gregory personally
carried in nine bags of concrete on his bike.
The view from the house is magnificent. Lots
of greenery. Part of the mountains of Mulanje are in the back and to the southeast we
view the mountain range which is inside the
border of Mozambique.

truck

(about $6,000.00)."

This is where we presently stand on

these:

/the Blerick's full Living-Link support of

^he Eastern Heights Christian Church assumed
$625.00 a month.

This move freed all

other

support for Service-Link.

**Pledged monthly support for Service-Link

will average $325.00. This sum permits only

a minimum evangelistic outreach

at

the pre

sent and is most inadequate for the future.

***Ron still could use the cycle, but initial
cost, duty and taxes, plus problems in order
ing

The

the

cycle he needs could nullify

air-freight

costs

nearly $700.00 on this.

would be much cheaper,

ing.

to

this.

Malawi would be

Sending it by

boat

but very time consum

Transportation from the coast to Malawi

would pose another problem.

##rn two or four years we will need more than

$3,000.00 for this item. We should be putting
a prorated sum
for this need.

in a saving account monthly

We have no surplus nowl

It has taken us three weeks to really get

settled in our home and now we are beginning
leadership training classes in 7 villages.
At the present time, I am teaching 41 church
leaders. Our lessons are separated into two,
two hour sectionsone on the
and one on the book of Acts.

Life of Christ

Mail

We just Praise God for the victory and for

allowing us to serve Him in this country of
Malawi. We expect great things to happen for
Christ in this part of Africa.
Our strength
and power as Christians come from prayer, so
please pray^for us as we pray for you also.

your check to the FORWARDING ADDRESSTODAY'.'.

Ron & Arleen

This item was provided by the Lord at half

the anticipated cost, but the $3,000.00 ad
vanced for the purchase of the Land Rover and
some needed repairs, MUST be paid back. Your

gifts are needed on this projectNOW'.

(0 !?walli Q<P@
WISH
!F!si ifiia nw^ss^iiLaiSsa
My how we thank the Father for again affirming Philippians 4:19, "And n^y God shall supply all
your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus", by providing the exact transporta
tion needed for the evangelizing of Malawi. Ron had informed the elders at Eastern Heights of
the exorbitant cost of vehicles in Malawi and this had been made a matter of much prayer. Ron's
first trip to the village convinced him that a small pick-up would not hold up in the bush even
if we did raise the $6,500.00 needed.

However, God had known this all along.

In a recent letter Ron said:"While shopping

at the Toyota Dealer for a pick-up, Harvey
Foy the Sales Manager suggested that what we
needed for the bush was a Land Rover.

(Power of Prayer'
Ron and Arleen made this request: "We ask you

I ex

plained that it was out of the question, due

to cost; but he told me that Chris and Wendy
Troylen had a 1968 model for sale. God was
truly supplying our need, as when I left Mal
awi last summer, the Troylens were preparing
to leave one month later! Praise God,they
are here and have just the vehicle we need."
The vehicle is a 1968,4,-Wheel Drive Land
Rpver that is fully equipped for the bush. A
pop-up tent with mattress and mosquito net
ting is mounted on top and is fully enclosed
in a fiberglass box.
It has a 2 burner gas
stove and some pots and pans in a "Chow Box".
It has new tires on the ground plus 3 spares;
eight 5-gallon jerry cans are mounted for

to he in daily prayer with us, for without

faithful committed prayer support, little can

extra petrol and over $350.00 of spare parts

he accomplished

haul 11 people and Arleen and I will have a

safe comfortable place to sleep as we travel
village to village."
The best news.yet isthe price.
Not the
$11,000.00 of a new one, nor the $5,000.00
appraised value of this one; but rather only

who lift up

for

the

the Lord.

Those of you

work here to the Lord

will

have just as much a part in the souls won

the Lord as we do.
Here are our prayer
quests for this month:"
1. That we can soon enter Mozambique

to
re
and

hold Bible Training Classes there.

2.

That both of us will be teaching prepared

lessons in Chichewa by Christmas.

That

much

will be accomplished for

Kingdom through

the

the

Leadership Training

Classes at the 7 village churches.

4.

For spiritual growth and growth in

know

ledge in the lives of our church leaders.

are included.

Ron adds, "With this we

can

$2,800.00.,., My how we praise our Father" for"

" His provision.
Pictured below is Chris and Wendy^Iroylen

who sold Ron the Land Rover.

He had "sfayef

with them a week and a half last summer

when

his motorcycle was being repaired and they

have helped Ron and Arleen to gather supplies
and to adjust to their new land.

99

Nonprofit Org.

M\
FIELD ADDRESS:
M/M Ron Elerick
Christian Church Mission

Chiduba Village

P/A Chiringa

^0.

P. O. Palombe

Malawi, Africa
FORWARDING ADDRESS:
Malawi Christian Mission

c/o Eastern Heights Christian Church

Route 2 Box 88

Ponca City, Oklahoma

74601

/77

\ 2. 1976

Ron Elerick Family

VOL. 1 : no. 3: DEC. ?5

\Ji

UTOiLTO^a

(from a personal letter written on 10/16/75 to leaders of the Eastern Heights Christian Church.)
"Its 6 a.m. and quiet so thought I could write and share some personal evaluations after four
months here. The Lord has blessed in many ways, the sky is the limit here.
The opportunities
for personal and mass evangelism abound.
We have been teaching in 5 villages regularly, but we
have found that although this is an effective method, its very hard on the Land Rover, due to
the roads. Since Bob (Bob Lentz, minister from Yoncalla, Oregon) has been here,we have discuss
ed better methods that we all feel would be better for the work here and also better stewardship
of time and money.

NEWS OF OUR CHURCHES

"First of al 1, I am
limited due to

language.

the

PiATEAUy

After talking with our local church leaders,

CHILWA

"j
it

other missionaries, etc., I feel that for the next four

months I must enroll full time in Language School. I

don't want to depend on Gregory as a crutch, and I do
want to speak on a 'one-to-one' basis. There are many
problems and pitfalls in using a translator, as already
my limited knowledge has caught Gregory ad libbing or
changing what I've said.

So I feel the time taken

to

learn the language now will more than repay us in souls

later on.

f
N

"We want to change our

'

evangelistic approach.

r!

CHlHATjZj^in

After Language School we want to begin an intensive

training program in each church. We feel the best way
to do this is to go to a different church every 3 weeks
and stay there for three days.

There will be

classes

MULANJE

all day, not only for the men, but the women and child

MOUNTAINS

ren as well. This way all of the Body will receive the

solid teaching needed for personal

evangelism. Then every night have
"There are many advantages in
will save a tremendous hammering

growth and personal

a preaching meeting.
this method: 1) It
on the Land Rover.

2) Each congregation will get more teaching more often.

3) The program includes the women and children who also

need it.

4) Every night will

be used to give the

villagers a chance to hear the word and an

to accept the Lord.

opportunity

By doing this and following up on

a 'one-to-one' basis in a 'door-to-door' campaign,these

people will be encouraged to reach their own for Jesus.

MLANJ:

CHOLO

At the present time, we are working in seven villages.

In the past five wonths, we have seen Joys
aches in all of them.

The one thing

that

and

heart

stands out

above all else is their desire to know the Word of God'.

We would like to share something about these bodies

Christ to help you become mare familiar with them

I ^UIAflDA
vrnuwon
oldest in Malawi.

of

all.

This congregation was estabUshed in 1972 and is our

It was formed when flro. MeMiole re

turned home from working in the gold mines of South

Africa, From here the Word was proclaimed and six other

will need to purchase the following equipment:

This NCR spirit duplicator can be purchased and servic

congregations have resulted.

This congregation is next
oldest and was built by Bro.

ed in Blantyre and they also carry all supplies.

We

Diamani in 1973.

need to print lesson materials, tracts and charts.

In

Blantyre we've been able to find only 3 tracts and they

one way by bicycle, so he couid teach thoae people.

Bro, Diamoni continues to provide the iocai leadership

are not teaching the New Testament plan

and the congregation was instrumental in encouraging

1) SPIRIT DUPLICATOR:

K340.00 (c. $410.00 U.S.)

of salvation.

Everywhere we go the people beg for tracts.

They will

use them and they aren't thrown away. Our men are very
slow in copying their lessons and hours of valuable

time could be saved by duplicating them.

2) TYPEWRITER:
We need a good typewriter.

K525.00 (c. $630.00 U.S.)

A cheap portable is K125

and a heavy one K235. A good office size one with a 13

inch casriage would run K525. We need the heavy one to

cut stencils, as well as for correspondence, etc.

3)^0JECT^

K275.00 (c. $330.00 U.S.)

It Hall s Garage can fit a generator on the Land Rover

we could use the Bell & Howell Filmstrip Projector to

Show the negro edition of the 'Visualized Bible Study
Series in the evenings during our preaching meeting,
inis alone, during those three nights, would be one of
the greatest evangelistic tools we could have here.

2. ZAONE

Bro. Hakhole travelled over 50 miles

man at Maya Village to take a stand for Jesus there.

Because of this, we now have a teaching point at Meya.
We held our first service on

3. MEYA

October 12,

under

hruah

arbor. To encourage their lone brother in Meya, most

of the people from the Zaone congregation had walked
the nine miles for the service. Though he was the only
one from Meya to attend, he said: "Just because X was
the oniy one here from my village, please don't give up
on us.
rt is hard for people to understand. Piease

help me to reach my people for the Lord." With a man

like this in the village, we'll have many good things
to report from here in the months to come.

4TUf
I nwlswtt
Thi' Ifddi'islti!

is

This
is one of our strongest
rind largest congregations.
avtivo and thi'g have just put a new

roDl Dit tlw buildimi.

We wore there on

October

Eye-witness Report
"We are talking about a lot of money, but after care
ful study, prayer and personal evaluations we all feel
that we need these items and that v/e can accomplish
much more in solid Bible teaching,in the peoples under
standing and in souls won to Christ by instituting this
proposed plan. However, language study is imperative!
"The

advantage

planning

our

of
pro

gram now is that the rainy season is approaching. Now

the people must plant their crops. Since they are busy
and the roads impassable much of the time, this allows

time for Language School, time for the preparing and

printing of tracts and lessons and time for local lead

ers to prepare for the Spring Meetings in their areas.

We need the equipment now, so as to fully utilize these

next three bad weather months to make up our materials.

( Bob Lgn^z,'minister from Oregon and former classmate of

-RoTf and Arleen

at

San Jose Bible College,

26th, when five were baptized and eleven, who had prevlously been linmeTsed-for the- remission of sins, trans
ferred fellowship. Bro. M'vahiwa and Bro. Malamba share
in the preaching.

SKI
* /Mil /V
iM UnllOn

This congregation has had a

lot of trouble in the past,

due to an erring minister. The building that I had met

in, during my visits in 1973 and 1974, had collapsed
due to a lack of concern.
During the past few nonths,

the

field. Bob's wife Linda is a nurse and when "work per

mits" and support come, they plan to become the second
missionary couple of our church in Malawi. Ron desper
ately desires Bob to report to supporting congregations
during his stay from January 10-22. Present itenerary;
worship a.m.

SandusJcy Avenue

Tulsa

Tues. 13

Midwest Christian

Tues. 13

Town 6 Country

Okla. City
Okmulgee

Sun.

11

10:30

a.m.

7:00 p.m.

Wed.

14

Highland Park

Tulsa

7:00 p.m.

Sat.

17

Deer Creek Christ.

Deer Creek

7:00 p.m.

Sun.

18

Parkview Christian

Chickasha

7:00 p.m.

Mon.

19

S S A Meeting

Fletcher

7:00 p.m.

Wed.

21

Antioch Christian

Okla. City

7:00 p.m.

Most of the other dates are

CHURCHES - CONT.

arrived in

Malawi the first of October for a six week tour of

still

open,

however some

are still pending at press time.

If you would desire
a first hand report of the work in Malawi, call today:
Church (405) 765-3956 or Home (405) 762-5166.

6o(l Shall Provide!

Bro. Gomiwa has lead the ones who remained in re-build

God 1s certainly fulfilling Philippians 4:19 before

our eyes. The following are excerpts from Ron on Novem

ing on a new location.

ber 4th and Arleen on November 21st.

At present it is a small build

ing with grass walls and roof; but on our last teaching
day, the men showed us
the new building.

2,000

This work was brought to our

attention by Bro. Gomiwa at

6. MASALE
N'danga.

bricks they had made for

He introduced them to us and we met with the

men three times, discussing what they had

and explaining our position.
practiced

the

been

They had not

taught

previously

observance of the Lord's Supper,

so we

were very happy to find that they had made their own
communion trays for our first service on September 22.
We bad a wonderful time in the Lord and one man was im

mersed later at nearby N'danga Village as all of the

rivers in this area were dry.
Recently sparks from a

grass fire burned the roof off of the building.

"Several weeks ago Ron and Bob made a trip to Blantyre to see if there was a chJchewa class any place he
could attend. While they were gone, I was praying that

they would find a class, AND that I would be able to

attend, even though there was no place in town for the
family to stay and no place to leave the kids while I
attended the classes.

When they returned, they report

ed that they had been told that the University did not
have a course offered this year.
(Arleen)

"Yesterday, the family and I brought Bob up to town

to send him off, and we decided to spend the night with
a Christian couple, Stewart and Leslie Lane.
Anyway,
they informed me that during the rainy season, January

3rd through April, there will indeed

course in Chichewa at the Polytechnic.
course is K4,00l

be

a beginning

The cost of the

(Rnp)-

"Stewart said that they had been praying for someone

to watch and live in their house while they returned to
the states for three months, starting December 7th. I
could see the Lord at work'. So, 'Praise the Lord', the

house is ours rent free until the middle of March, and

the lady next door to them said she would babysit so I

could go to the classes on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Anyway, that prayer was answered in a hurryi" (Arleen)
"During the day, Arleen will teach the girls, and I
will study Chichewa,and also prepare lesson plans etc.,
for when the roads are passable again after the

rains.

Of course, I will still be working on the Lord's Day

with Gregory, but during the rainy season, is the time,

7 IWII1IAIW1DCK1I
rlWlirlDLIll

October the 26th Gregory,

Bob Lentz and I held our

I can devote to language study. Truly this is an answer

to prayer.

(Ron)

first meeting here.

The church building was literally
packed, with people sitting outside.
After preaching,
we had to teach again, as we found that some felt they

"I stumbled onto a good used typewriter for K115.00

and I bought it. It is a Facit with an 18 inch car

shouid confess their sins to us for forgiveness. A very

riage. This machine is heavy and will be good for many

young girl came to be baptized; however, she did not

know why she was coming, so we taught again. After this

was explained,three adults gave their lives to the Lord

and were baptized.

We praise Him for opening this area

to us so we can teach

the

timeless truth of His Word.

years of cutting stencils, correspondence, etc.

We rejoice that "Our Father" provided the needs

(Ron)
men

tioned in column one, even before you were informed so

you could pray. We "praise Him" for His goodness.

Nonprofit Org.
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID
Permit No. 32

WiTi
FIELD ADDRESS:

M/M Ron Elerick

Christian Church Mission

Chiduba Village

P/A Chiringa
Mssion Service

P. O. Palombe

Malavi/i, Africa

Box 177

FORWARDING ADDRESS:
Malawi Christian Mission

c/o Eastern Heights Christian Church

ADDRESS

CORRECTION
REQUESTSn

Route 2 Box 88

Ponca City, Oklahoma

Kempton, Ind. 46049

74601