It has been quite some time since our last newsletter. Too long!

Time is elusive. It seems to be moving more quickly now than ever before. Days quickly become weeks and weeks rush into months.

Nell and I celebrated 48 years of marriage in April. Wonderful years that have passed so quickly. I am grateful to the Father for giving me a wife that has always shared in my work for the Lord. The partnership continues on now as we prepare for a mission trip to Athens, Greece and Tirana, Albania.

Since last fall, Nell and I have been meeting weekly with 14 Harding students who will be going to Athens for a month of campaigning (May 17 through June 17). We have served as resource people for the group and will be traveling to Athens with them. The trip will allow us to function in two ways. We will be the sponsors of the campaign group and at the same time, I will be teaching two courses (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon and James) in the Athens International Bible Institute. The trip will afford the opportunity for Nell and me to interact with the school and its students once more.

At the end of the trip, Nell and I will travel to Tirana, Albania for a week where I will be teaching and preaching for the congregation in the capital city. It will be good to revisit the church and to spend time with two AIBI graduates and their families.

Preparation with the campaign group and the preparation of teaching materials for the courses we will teach in AIBI and Albania have required a good deal of time, especially during the last six weeks. It is demanding, yet it has been rewarding to be back in The Book preparing to teach.

Since the first of the year, we have busied ourselves, not only preparing for Athens, but getting into our work with AIBI stateside. In January, we made a twelve-day trip to Monahans, Texas and Lubbock, Texas. On the trip, we visited with our overseeing congregation in Monahans and reported on our work with AIBI. It is always good to be with the church in Monahans. They are always encouraging and caring. They are deeply interested and involved in AIBI.

We journeyed from Monahans to Lubbock where we met with Sunsets International Branch School's administration. It was an informative and encouraging meeting as the restructuring of the Branch School's administration was presented. We also discussed our current roll with Sunset and AIBI. As the hymn states, "I stand amazed" at what our God has done through the Branch Schools since they began with the Athen's Branch in 1997.

The January trip was a good trip. It was good to be with those that we partner with in the Athen's ministry. It was also good as caring individuals and congregations committed additional scholarship funding for students of AIBI.

We made another quick trip in March to Tulsa, Oklahoma. The purpose for the trip was once again to visit with a congregation that is a partner with us in our service to Him. The Crosstown church has shared in our ministry for ten years. They have been a source of encouragement. We met with several of the elders, the mission committee and her chairmen and other individual members concerning our new involvement with AIBI. We appreciate their interest, concern and care.

In addition to the trips, I have given time to one of the major areas of my new work - working with and in behalf of the AIBI graduates. The graduates need help in:
(1) locating missionaries or churches where they might return to their homelands to become involved in ministry,
(2) in locating overseeing and supporting congregations for their planned work and
(3) continuing communication after they reach their mission point.

The following is a list of recent graduates needing assistance to return to their homelands.
Veron Shabanaj - Albania
Philip van Dijk (additional support needed) South Africa
Ayodele Ademofe - Nigeria
Simon Parfait - Cameroon (French speaking)
Joseph Iwuoha - from Nigeria seeking to work in Kenya
Jude Ogbedeagu - Nigeria
Liudmila Sudina - Russia

If any know of congregations interested or involved in the above mission points, please let me know.

Nell and I will be out of the states from May 17 through June 30. Please remember us in your prayers during this time as we seek to spread His Word. We are grateful for those who have given funds for this special effort. We are still lacking about $1,000 for the travel cost. If any would like to help, please send to Third & Dwight church of Christ, P.O. Box 167, Monahans, TX 79756. Include a note for "Stamatis Athens' Campaign."

We pray our Father's blessing on you. We appreciate your encouragement, prayers, friendship and love. We are deeply appreciative of your support that enables us to serve the Lord in our mission. We look forward to hearing from you.

In Him,

Jim and Nell Stamatis
Jim and Nell Stamatis
1408 Hillcrest
Searcy, AR 72143
501-278-5340
Email: jimstamatis@cablelynx.com
nellstamatis@cablelynx.com