MISSIONARY PROFILE
Tony
& Kathy
Stark
Missionary Update 12/12/2016
Dear Friends and Family, Lightning strikes again! Pastor Alex had just purchased 20 new and bigger solar panels and eight batteries to increase broadcasting power at the two New Life Radio stations. Denis had installed twelve panels and four batteries in Buhimba. The next day he left for Mt. Otzi because Dominick called to tell that the station there was down. Two hours down the road, he received word lightning struck the station in Buhimba and burnt the inverter/charger, transmitter and many other pieces of equipment. On Mt. Otzi Denis found the inverter/charger and other equipment spoiled beyond repair. He brought the spoiled equipment back to Buhimba and returned with a spare inverter/charger and the new panels and batteries. After installing all of that, the station was up and running with some crippled equipment. Denis returned to work on the station in Buhimba. The fault that caused the strike was found and corrected. (We did have lightning protection.) A new inverter/charger was installed, and an old transmitter used. The station in Buhimba is also running on crippled equipment but it is up and broadcasting once again. Calls are coming in appreciating the station being on air once again. I thank the Lord for both Denis and Alex and their faithfulness in keeping these two stations on the air to minister to needy people across East Africa. As the seed of God’s word is sown from these two stations, please pray that it will fall on good ground and bring forth fruit that remains and bears much fruit. I was scheduled to travel to Uganda December 7th but have cancelled my journey for now. The Lord impressed upon me that it would be more profitable to visit later after both stations are fully repaired. Pray that I will have wisdom about when to plan for the next journey. Faith Baptist Bible Institute in Masindi will begin a new term on Monday. Pastor Oleo and Gilbert are expecting more new students. Last term they had 14 students. Pray for them to be Spirit filled as they lead and teach in this ministry to others. Tuesday night I will finish teaching Old Testament Survey at Victory Baptist School of Ministry in Milton, Florida. Beginning in January I will teach New Testament Survey and in April I will go back to my home church in Madison, Alabama, to teach a mission’s class at Madison Baptist Theological Seminary. Pray for grace and power to sustain me in these opportunities to help prepare others to serve our Lord. Kathy and I want to thank all of you for your support through words, finances and prayers. We feel privileged to work with you in reaching our world with the truth of God. Many are coming to Christ and growing in the Lord Jesus Christ through the ministry of East Africa Outreach. We wish all of you a Christ centered Christmas full of faith, peace and joy. Tony and Kathy Stark Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen Ephesians 3:20-21
Missionary Update 10/11/2016
October, 2016 Dear Friends and Family, Kathy and I have moved from Riverview, Florida, to Milton, Florida. Milton is neighboring to Pensacola where our oldest son Russell lives. I am teaching Old Testament Survey in the Bible Institute at Victory Baptist Church with pastor Tim Fellure. Kathy volunteers in the print shop on Fridays, helping send Bibles around the world to missionaries. We travel and minister in supporting churches and new churches as the Lord opens the door. On October 23rd we will be at our home church, Madison Baptist Church – pastor Mike Allison, in Madison, Alabama, celebrating their 33rd anniversary. I can still vividly remember the day the Lord took Kathy and me to Madison and made it clear that was where He wanted us to start a new church. We thank the Lord it is still a thriving church reaching the world one soul at a time. In December I will travel to Uganda to spend two weeks with various men. My main goals will be to help them improve the broadcasting of both NLR stations. So many are being reached through these two stations. I want to be sure we are making the truth available to all we can with what we have. We are investigating the possibilities of a repeater in another location for the station in Buhimba. Alex and Denis in Buhimba along with Dominic and Stephen on Mt. Otzi are doing a great work for the Lord. I will also be investigating the possibilities of Christian literature being printed right there in Uganda. Pastor Oleo and Director Gilbert shared with me that they had 14 students in Faith Bible Institute (formerly Uganda Baptist Bible Institute) this past term. Four of them were new students. Two of them were from new districts, Yumbe and Moyo, and had been reached through the broadcast of NLR on Mt. Otzi. Santo is getting calls to go many places in Congo. He and his wife, Milcah, travel together as he preaches every week somewhere in Congo. Santo has been praying and asking me to pray for over a year about a motorcycle for him and his wife to use in traveling. We put funds that churches had given to me with what he had and this week he is buying that new motorcycle. You have no idea how that will help them in spreading the word and ministering in various places. In Rwanda people are getting saved and baptized weekly. The church is growing with adults and children. At times they have 200 in attendance. Many university students that will someday relocate will take the truth with them. God continues to do exceeding, abundantly, above, all we ask or think. Recently an anonymous gift of $50,000 was given specifically for New Life Radio. Many prayers are being answered. Thank you for partnering with us in many ways. Your Co laborers, Tony and Kathy Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen Ephesians 3:20-21
Missionary Update 07/29/2016
Dear Friends and Family, Our goals were accomplished, and a new ministry has been established in Butare, Rwanda. I think it will become a stronghold for the Lord's work. Berea Baptist Church was established on our last Sunday with 60 (30 adults and 30 children) attending and 3 being baptized. Ignace was ordained as pastor of the church. The ground work was laid for New Life Radio. A piece of land was purchased and agreement made with a contractor to build a studio and apartment for a worker. Ignace is getting 3 to 4 calls per day with questions about the tracts that have been and are being distributed. Wilson from Makere University in Kampala wrote: After my exams, I and my fellow university friends made up a team of 50 evangelists. We contributed some money which helped us with transport to Kasese district which is an eight-hour drive from Kampala. We spent there 6 days evangelizing in the town and villages and over 1000 souls got saved. Most people within that area used to believe in witchcraft and small gods, but the Almighty God showed His mighty hand of deliverance as people were set free. On the last day before traveling back to Kampala we had to follow up. We visited the new converts in their respective homes to find out their experience in the new life of Christ and they welcomed us with all smiles. GOD IS GREAT! Continue praying for our "End of Semester Ministry". Last time we went to Luwero district, this time was Kasese, next the Lord will direct. Denis, broadcaster from NLR in Buhimba, wrote: Pray for Robert in Kyangwaali who is making a serious move to leave the Catholic church. He plans to get baptized and needs a Bible preaching church. Jane surprised me how the Lord used me to help her not burn their house. By the time I was preaching about anger she had burnt her husband’s clothes and she was waiting for him. But by the end of the sermon she had changed her mind. Praise the Lord for new life radio. Pastor Dominic wrote and told me that the prison officials in Moyo are allowing him to take prisoners that have received Christ to the river to be baptized. Their changed lives have made an influence. The prisoners are hearing about Christ and the new life from NLR on a fixed tuned solar powered radio we provided. I want to thank you all on behalf of these believers in East Africa for your assisting in getting the truth to them. Please pray: for more laborers in the Lord's work in Congo, Uganda, Southern Sudan and Rwanda. for the pastors and servants to walk in the Spirit. for more students in Faith Bible Institute in Masindi. for additional funds to fulfill many opportunities in the Lord's work. for wisdom and physical and spiritual strength for both Kathy and me. Your Co laborers, Tony and Kathy
Missionary Update 06/07/2016
Dear Friends and Family, As many of you know Kathy and I have returned from Rwanda. I had to make a decision and felt the Lord leading us to cut our journey short. I did have a serious kidney stone attack, but the Lord answered the prayers of someone and gave me relief. Our goals were accomplished, and a new ministry has been established in Butare, Rwanda. I think it will become a stronghold for the Lord's work. Berea Baptist Church was established on our last Sunday with 60 (30 adults and 30 children) attending and 3 being baptized. Ignace was ordained as pastor of the church. The groundwork was laid for New Life Radio. A piece of land was purchased, and agreement made with a contractor to build a studio and apartment for a worker. Ignace is getting 3 to 4 calls per day with questions about the tracts that have been and are being distributed. Ignace from BBC in Butare wrote me this week saying: "What is going on here is that the church is growing, and God is blessing with new people joining our church. Yesterday when I called people to come to receive the Lord one lady who came for the first time to attend our church got saved and said that she will be baptized also. She gave her testimony how it was for her first time to hear the truth about salvation." Dominic from NLR on Mt. Otzi wrote this past week: "Praise the Lord for what He has just done here. We had high demand from radio listeners to come to their villages. For two weeks we went down there and had door to door evangelism. Indeed, the Lord has blessed very much and in just two days 32 people gave their lives to Christ. According to many testimonies they have been listening to NLR but did not have a telephone to call into the station." Please pray: for more laborers in the Lord's work in Congo, Uganda, Southern Sudan and Rwanda. for the pastors and servants to walk in the Spirit. for more students in Faith Bible Institute in Masindi. for additional funds to fulfill many opportunities in the Lord's work. for wisdom and physical and spiritual strength for both Kathy and me. Your missionaries - Tony and Kathy Stark
Missionary Update 05/03/2016
Dear Friends and Family, Saturday: Seeds were sown as many tracts were given out from a number of locations in Tumba. The new baptistry was set in place and filled with water. The new signpost was put on the gate to the entrance of Independent Baptist Ministries/Berea Baptist Church. Sunday: Ignace taught SS from Matthew 24 exhorting to beware of false teachers. Hymns were sung in both English and Kinyarwanda. Alex Byaruhanga led in prayer. Tony Stark preached on seven truths about the local church and applied them to Berea Baptist Church. Irizerwa Ignace was ordained as pastor of Berea Baptist Church. Kartine, Raul and Fanny were baptized, and the others were sprinkled as it started to rain. (the latter part is humor) Sixty plus (30 adults and 30 children) were in attendance. The builder was present and promised to start the studio building for New Life Radio #3 on Monday, May 9th. Monday: It is early 4:30 Monday morning and Kathy and I will l eave for the airport in Kigali at 9:00. We will be back in the USA Tuesday around 2:00. Thank you all for praying and giving to make possible this new lighthouse for the Lord. I am sure much fruit will come in the future. Tony and Kathy, the Lord's servants and your partners in reaching the world for Jesus Christ.
Missionary Update 04/29/2016
Dear Friends and Family, Raul, who attends Ignace' class on teaching English, had a private meeting to talk about salvation. By the time they finished Raul had accepted the Lord as his Savior. We met under the tent for the first time last Thursday. We had about 12 people. I preached a second message on the model church from 1 Thessalonians. On Sunday morning Ignace taught on Revelation 21 and I preached on the "Truth about God's Word". We had 25 in attendance, and they were taking it in. God was with us and giving understanding. People went away satisfied but wanting more. Our theme for everything has been John 8:32. And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. A young lady from the Pentecostal church came to Ignace with some questions. He answered and gave her some things to study. She called the next day to say she was leaving the Pentecostals and coming to the Baptists. The last two days I have been in two different hospitals with kidney stone problems. Yesterday, as I was waiting my turn for an ultrasound, I passed out tracts to all that were waiting. Ignace then gathered them around and explained in more detail. Last night seven people called Ignace with questions relative to tracts they had received. This morning two more called with questions. We have agreed with the owners on buying the house where we now meet. It is a perfect place to begin a ministry. There is plenty of room for Ignace and family to live besides a big room for his classes on teaching English. The classes give him opportunity to share the Lord and His Word with many plus make a little money. In the courtyard we have room for the tent. There is a wall that goes all the way around with a nice gate. The property is in the midst of many people and with schools and the University very near. Neighboring to that house we have agreed to buy a plot of land 85 feet by 190 feet for the radio station and future church building. My wife drew the plans for the 3-room radio building, and a man will give us an estimate tomorrow as to how much it will cost. Three small signs and one large sign are being prepared for directing people to the church and giving them details. A portable steel baptistry is being built and should be ready for Sunday. We have a good number ready to be baptized. Pastor Alex, his wife Lilian, and Henry Baguma will arrive tomorrow. They are bringing the van full of English and French John and Romans, New Testaments and Bibles. They will help us in evangelizing and passing out tracts for a few days. Tomorrow night I will preach the next message on the model church showing how the emphasis on the second coming of Jesus made such a difference in that young church. On Sunday we will have Bible Study and preaching. I will preach on the truth about the local church and then ordain Ignace and baptize believers. I feel that Ignace and these people are ready to see a new church grow. He is a real leader, and people follow him. We have done what we needed to do and will travel to Kigali on Monday to travel back to the good ole USA. God has surely blessed, and we are rejoicing in His blessing. Thank you for your prayers and support in a new church being established for God's glory. Keep praying. I will tell you more as things develop. Tony and Kathy The Lord's servants and your partners in His work.
Missionary Update 04/25/2016
Dear Friends and Family, We arrived in Uganda on April 5th, only to discover a new yellow fever injection requirement. After getting the shot, we proceeded to clear customs with our baggage, including 400 radios and about 6000 tracts. Officials wanted me to pay duty on the radios but were willing to let the tracts pass by. I talked and talked and talked some more. Finally, the man gave me the okay and let us pass. We spent the night in Kampala and traveled to Buhimba the next day. When we were about 30 miles from Buhimba, the van engine overheated and stopped. We were stranded for a couple of hours, using our drinking water to hopefully remedy the engine problem. When nothing worked, Alex went for help. Kathy and I pulled out the tracts and started a tract ministry right there in a new place. Alex came with help and another vehicle (van engine had to be rebuilt). He took us on to Buhimba where everyone was waiting for us. We received a warm welcome by many. They had a cold, cold coke waiting for me along with many others in a small refrigerator. We spent the next two days at Denis' place in fellowship with various believers and encouraging people from different ministries all the day long. After two days (Friday) Alex took us to Kampala where we had supper with Bernard and talked for hours about the Lord and His ministry. Saturday morning Alex took us to Entebbe, and we boarded a plane for Rwanda. We arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, about one o'clock, and Ignace was there to meet us. He had rented a driver and vehicle to take us to Butare. We exchanged money and were on our way. After about four hours we arrived at our apartment. Ignace insisted we go and meet his new wife and share lunch she had prepared. After a little sleep that night we met with Ignace's Bible study group the next day, and I preached to them. The next week was spent asking questions, praying, and evaluating for decisions we would need to make. We had our first church meeting on Thursday, handed out tracts, and witnessed on Saturday. We met again on Sunday morning for Bible study and preaching. The attendance has been very poor (14 on Sunday morning), but it is a beginning. One of the believers used some of the new tracts and led four young people to the Lord at her home. After witnessing Saturday, Pastor Ignace received 12 phone calls and one email that evening. The email was from a young man I met on the street. He told me he wants to be a pastor. We are walking a lot. We eat various fruit but no meat. There is not as much to offer here as in Uganda. We do go to the Chinese restaurant every 3 days. Kathy hand washes all our clothes and hangs them out to dry. We do thank the Lord for all He has done and provided. We do have hot water and a refrigerator. Rwanda is a much cleaner country, and the roads are so much better. We are strongly considering buying the land and house ($24,000) Ignace rents for residing and teaching English. We have bought a tent that will seat 100. It has been set up in the compound of this property. Today we will meet under that tent. We also purchased 70 chairs along with songbooks and Bibles. Plans are being made for building a portable baptistry. Many, many tracts are being given out every day. I do have internet. Feel free to write if you have questions. Please pray for the following: the seed of God's word to fall on good ground and bring forth fruit that remains saved people to be drawn to the truth of God's word and a church that preaches and practices it people to attend the preaching meetings A Timothy and Titus for Ignace to train wisdom about establishing a radio station here and other decisions to be made my physical ability - God's grace to be and do - right now I am under a serious weakness Thank you all for what you have done and are doing to make this new ministry become a reality. Thank the Lord there is a light in Butare. Tony and Kathy
