JUNE MISSIONARY NEWSLETTER HIGHLIGHTS
JOSHUA & JESSICA - TEAM EXPANSION - EAST ASIA
The weeks since our last letter have been interesting ones. Not so much in the sense of a lot of activity, but more so speaking of this emotional & spiritual journey we're currently traveling. We've been coming to grips with the decision we announced to you all last month, and it's had it's ups & downs. In one sense we feel it’s the right step to take, but it's certainly not come without sadness & grieving. We feel it more intensely as we make our preparations to go back in just a few weeks, & we know our time there will be challenging but necessary in this whole process. We've also felt the eagerness to move forward. We inevitably are anxious to know what the next thing is & begin moving towards it. Many of you are probably wondering about that as well, which makes us all the more anxious to have something to tell you. I think there is definitely a certain healthiness to this anticipation we feel (when one thing ends, eventually something new must begin), but as we mentioned last month, we've received wise encouragement to take the time to fully close this chapter before opening the next one.Part of that involves debriefing & reflecting on our experience, learning from it & being able to take the good things God has done in & through it with s into the next step of life. Another part is actually the physical act of going & finishing things up over there. That doesn’t mean we aren't thinking about the future.We continue to talk with Team Expansion & other leaders in our lives about what possibilities might lie ahead, & we have some ideas in our back pocket, but the decision is one we'll make when we've actually returned from the field & are ready to move forward. We explain all this in hopes that you, our supporters & friends, will understand the place we're in & be willing to take these steps with us to see where they lead in these next few months.
We mentioned that part of this phase we're in involves debriefing & reflecting on our past & current situation to be better equipped to move ahead. To help in this, we recently attended a program for missionaries who’ve returned from the field, whether for a short-term or long-term period of time.The program was called Abide & it was put on by a group called TRAIN International.TRAIN International is based here in Joplin, Missouri & provides a variety of training & resources for missionaries preparing to go overseas, currently working on the field, or who have recently returned from the field, as well as for churches supporting cross-cultural workers.The 4-day program was great in helping us be aware of the unique challenges we’re facing & to be equipped to process our experiences in a constructive way.
Prayer Praises
*Again we want to emphasize our thankfulness for the response we’ve received from our leaders, friends, families, & others who have been gracious to us & eager to help us through this transition.
*We’ve been extremely blessed with comfortable housing here in Joplin over these last couple of months which has helped relieve stress & allow us to focus on what we need to focus on.
Please Pray for…
*That we’ll be safe as we travel to visit some family over these next few weeks & then as we make the long trip back overseas.
*That we can be patient & attentive to God’s leading in this process, bringing things to a good close in East Asia, & ready to move forward in His plan.
*The Andersons, who are also in this challenging transition & still continue to struggle with sleeping well.
SPANISH AMERICAN EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES – EL PASO, TEXAS
It seems that this year is already getting away from us.We are in the middle of it already!As you may know, we are a very small staff, so because each one of us has several jobs, you will be getting our Newsletter every other month…We Pray!
We want to tell all of our supporting Churches & Christian individuals that this mission is keeping in step with the demand of our literature.The violence in our sister city of Juarez, especially, is allowing its people to claim for God’s protection & they yearn to learn about our Savior; while some churches in Juarez are closing…Others open, looking for the answer in Jesus Christ.
At this time, we want to say that S.A.E.M. is happy to welcome Terry Knippers – from Oklahoma City, as our printer.Due to the fact our funds are focused mainly in the purchasing of the supplies for the Print Ship, we cannot print continually; but Terry’s work schedule will work out wonderfully.He will be at S.A.E.M when funds will allow & we are thrilled to have him back.He is very experienced in his field as a pressman & is as asset to our team!
SPANISH AMERICAN EVANGELISTIC MINISTRIES – ED & DONNA WECKERLY – EL PASO, TEXAS
A Testimony…A great time promoting S.A.E.M. while blessing the needy with donated blankets from MN!
I heard about it ahead of time, Extreme Weather Task Force was going to have a blanket drive, & a light bulb went off in my brain, “Why not participate”.We have the beautiful, handmade quilts at our mission.Hand made with lots of love & work in them!They were given to our mission by 2 ladies’ groups in Minnesota & they were given to help out people who are in need.That is what this community effort was all about, so…as the radio station KHRO 1150 on the dial, was having this live broadcast & encouraging people to come by & donate blankets…I decided to do it!
Just a drive across town to the studio on N. Mesa Street & I got a nice welcome by the receptionist.I was shown the way to the studio & I already knew from listening to the broadcast…to tap on the door & I would be let in.I stated my proposal; giving 2 blankets for the project.In a little bit, the program host motioned me over.He provided ear phones & the interview proceeded as I told of the source of the quilts; that they were made by 2 different ladies’ groups from 2 churches in Minnesota & even the freight paid to get them here.I related that the majority of them go to poor homes in Juarez; one of these blankets nailed up as a door by the receiver, to keep the draft from blowing across.The ladies from Minnesota know of this event & they were in agreement about…” wherever that are needed”.The radio host commented that it is a great thing that the ladies, who made & donated the blankets, will never see their receivers.A wonderful testimony of Christian love…Amen to that!
I concluded the interview by giving out the web page address of S.A.E.M.I was told that our internet information would be added as a side bar to the Radio’s main web site.
The blankets being given were held up to the passing traffic, telling the motorists that this was the place to bring in more blankets.By mid-afternoon, a total of 90 blankets were received at the location.
NATIONAL MISSIONARY CONVENTION – TRAINING * ENCOURAGING * RECRUITING
It’s hard to believe, but the National Missionary Convention is not that far away.We are planning another great event, Nov. 18 – 21, 2010, in Lexington, Kentucky.Our theme this year is “Harvest of Hope” – a very fitting theme for a world that is in need of Jesus Christ when many things we count on for security seem to be uncertain.
I am so excited about this year’s program. I am thrilled that:
üWe have planned a full weekend from groups praying shoulder-to-shoulder around Rupp Arena on Thursday night to our Sunday morning service “Antioch Moment” when we hope to pray over 1,000 new ministry recruits.
üWe are launching Restoration Revolution. This is a 10-year effort, combining our Bible colleges, campus ministries, and churches of all sizes, church planter groups, para-church organizations, & even both conventions!
üOur President, David Linn, missionary to Caracas, Venezuela, has developed his theme “Harvest of Hope” and cast a vision with the speakers & themes that will inspire & move us to serve.
üWe have planned a special “taste of heaven” service on Friday night that you won’t want to miss!
üWe are honoring the Morse family who has served in China for almost 90 years!Wow!
üWe are in Lexington, Kentucky & it is great working with the local leaders.
There are many more activities that include: four missionary meals, the ladies’ tea, a Saturday night convention-wide event with comedian Taylor Mason, Sunday morning Doug ‘n Donuts, & maybe, the broadest array of workshops that we have ever had.
David Empson
Executive Director
TODD & ANGELA OWEN – NEW MISSIONS SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL
A dear friend & co-worker from Papua New Guinea recently wrote, “You were designed for missions.I’m praying the Lord leads you back into it.”Sometimes friends understand us better than we understand ourselves.
When we resigned from Pioneer Bible Translators in 2008, we first considered starting our own organization or joining another mission, but nothing materialized.As we prayed & sought direction from God, we understood that he was wither saying”no” or “wait”. Not wanting to burden the church by remaining on financial support during a season of decision-making, we sent our resumes & accepted the call to preach in west-central Iowa.One though was to preach until the kids were grown, when Angela & I could return to missions as empty nesters.“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails,” says Proverbs 19:21
God’s purpose for our time in west-central Iowa was briefer than I would’ve guessed it would be.Our first Sunday preaching was August 7, 2008.Our last Sunday will be sometime early this fall.Why?
We’ve continued to ask God over the last few years to direct our steps.During these years of prayer, the leadership at New Mission Systems International (NMSI) have also been praying; praying that God would send them missionaries with experience, leadership skills, & the right heart – but that he would not take them away from other missions.They have prayed in this way because NMSI has over 200 missionaries serving in 28 countries, many of whom are either n their first-term or are preparing for their first term of service.God, in his grace & mercy, put our prayers & NMSI prayers together.God made us aware of his intentions when he brought a young NMSI couple into our lives at church camp last summer.
One March 18th Angela & I became provisional affiliates of NMSI.(We are still provisional affiliates as we have yet to attend their 6-½ week orientation & evaluation course, called COAT, which stands for Community, Orientation, Assessment, and Training.Upon successful completion of COAT, we will be granted full status as affiliates of NMSI.)
Angela & I sat down with NMSIleadership at the Center for Global Outreach in Fort Myers, Florida a few months ago.We sketched out general areas of responsibility to be firmed up & further defined during our orientation.NMSI is interested in having me develop a crisis management plan & team, train & mentor interns, provide pastoral care, & screen incoming affiliates.Angela is being asked (as her schedule permits) to be involved in prayer ministry, mentoring young missionary women, & hospitality.
The first financial hurdle that we need to jump is one-time support.As mentioned above, in order to become fully affiliated with NMSI, we must attend orientation, which will cost our family roughly $5,500.This price includes the cost of the course plus housing, but does not include normal living expenses like groceries, gas for the car, insurance, etc.
The second, more challenging financial hurdle we need to clear is monthly support.Our monthly needs include our salary package (about $5,500 which includes around $1,000 worth of health insurance) and ministry funds (about $2,000 per month, which covers traveling overseas, training courses, global conference, & normal business expenses, & 10% towards shared expenses) totaling about $7,500 per month.
Would you prayerfully consider becoming part of our support team?There are many ways to partner.First, you can pray.We are engaged in a spiritual battle for the souls of men & women across the world.To be involved directly in missions is to be targeted.Intercessory prayer is absolutely vital to overcoming the enemy in this battle of the ages.In addition to praying, you can give.In order to be able to devote our energy completely to this effort, we need financial partnership.Finally you can organize fellowship groups in your church or circle of friends to devote time to praying in community for our ministry of keeping missionaries productive across the planet.
We need your support more than ever to be able to carry out this compelling vision for ministry.Let us contend for the gospel as one person by praying, giving, & getting the word out.
RODNEY & LINDA PETERSON – TEAM EXPANSION – LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Kairos, God, the Church and the World
Kairos (www.kairoscourse.org) is a class that will transform your worldview & will draw you close to the heart of God, close to His desire for all nations to be blessed with His son, Jesus.The course is changing the lives of individuals, churches, & billions who need Jesus.It’s a class for every Christian looking to deepen his/her devotion to Christ.To each of us God has given direct responsibility to bless the nations.
Kairos.It’s about God.It’s about the church.It’s about the world.It’s about YOUR individual part in all of it.Kairos will not only help you see the need, but truly feel it and want to meet it.
Rodney is one of the facilitators for the Kairos course, which is offered here at Team Expansion.More recently, he has been involved in giving it at a church one evening a week.Around 17 people from local congregations were impacted by the 9-week course.I was especially touched by a young man who is dying from a brain tumor who attended with his wife.The overwhelming majority shared that God was moving them to do something more for the call & cause of world missions.
As I write this, it is being given in Taiwan with plans in the making for taking it to other parts of the world & churches across the U.S.
Mercy Medical Clinic
A side ministry that Rodney enjoys – serving as a translator once a month for a free Christian-run clinic for lower income people & those without medical insurance.The ministry continues to grow & Hispanics make up 50% of the patient population.
He always checks with the patient to see if they’re involved with a church or not.He always asks if he could pray for them.He also prays with the volunteer staff that God will touch the lives of the patients & that they will come to Christ.One patient shared, “This clinic did help me physically, mentally, & spiritually.I was given medication for my high blood pressure…heart problem & mental health issues.But the best part of all, they helped me understand that there is a God & He will help you.He has given my purpose & love of life.”
Praises:
- For Linda, Heidi & Julie’s visit with Karen & Dean Cary while in Dallas.Dean (who is now in the late stages of Alzheimers) had a vital role in our going to Mexico.
- For time with our Dallas offspring as we attended some of the grandkids’ special events
- For the valuable tool Kairos is & the opportunities that are opening up to teach it
- For the language & cultural adjustments being made by our new missionaries in N. Africa
Prayer Requests:
- For Jade & 7 young people from inner city Cincinnati who are raising funds for a work trip to Mexico the end of July
- For the outreach of mercy Medical Clinic
- For the 6 new recruits who finished up the 2-week training course & are now support raising
- For the marriage enrichment session we will be giving at “homecoming” this month
NICK & RACHEL PARSONS – MUSTARD SEED GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP - JAPAN
The past 2 months have been great months of productive ministry for Mustard Seed Global Fellowship. I am excited to fill you in on how things are going with our recent church plant in Nagoya as well as some future projects we are working towards.
Mustard seed Christian Church in Nagoya – Our church plant in Nagoya continues to thrive with 2 recent baptisms as well as a young man, training for pastoral ministry.This young man, Taisei, became a Christian in Australia, but was recently baptized at the church & wants to become a minister of the gospel in the future.He has a long road ahead, but we are excited to be training up someone to help minister with us in Japan.The church is currently going through the book of Ephesians & there are a handful of people very close to making decisions to follow Jesus.God is at work!Keep praying.
New Church Planter & Team Heading to Osaka – We recently hired a new church planter to be a member of a new team we are building to plant a church in Osaka, Japan.Ryan Fletcher is a graduate of Ozark Christian College who recently finished a preaching internship at College Heights Christian Church in Joplin, MO.Ryan said he joined Mustard Seed because, “The whole world needs an opportunity to hear about Jesus & the whole world needs Christ-centered churches.Planting a church in an unreached city it is a faithful thing to do with my life & I am glad to serve in this way.”We are excited to have Ryan on board & are in the process of adding to this new team.This summer, I am taking Ryan through an extensive pre-field training program to help prepare him for effective ministry in Japan.
Prayer Requests:
Please continue to pray for the following 10 cities:
1.Osaka, Japan
2.Tokyo, Japan
3.Karachi, Pakistan
4.Dhaka, Bangladesh
5.Mumbai, India
6.Delhi, India
7.Calcutta, India
8.Tehran, Iran
9.Bangkok, Thailand
10.Istanbul, Turkey
These are the 10 largest, least-reached cities in the entire world & the places that MSGF wants to plant churches in the future.We are still seeking God’s direction for the best strategy to accomplish this goal & ask that you would join us in seeking his wisdom & asking him to raise up workers to plant new churches in these cities.
JAY & CAITLIN GREER – MUSTARD SEED GLOBAL FELLOWSHIP – JAPAN
We greet you after a month spent in 2 different continents.Here’s the news on the ministry from May.
Month at a Glance – Until the 13th, we were in Japan doing ministry as usual.Jay preached on the last Sunday we were there & the day before we left, we had the Tues. night Bible study in our house.We continue to see new people come to church & the members of the church grow in maturity.On the 13th (Rowen’s first birthday) we flew to America.While here we’ve attended 2 family weddings & got to see our close relatives.We’ve also met with a few supporting churches & made connections with new churches in hopes of future partnerships.It has been a productive time of networking & fundraising.
A New Minister – Many of you celebrated with us last month when our friend Taisei was baptized.Very soon, Taisei will begin training to be a minister.He has been considering becoming a minister for months & we’ve witnessed his maturity & dedication to Christ.We are excited that God is raising up people from the new church to work for the gospel.
Good Needs to Have – As we have described before, we are doing this church plant on an extremely limited budget.The space where we meet is affordable but small.And thanks to God’s working, it is now too small.We have 35 seats in the venue.We average around 30 people but we have had over 35 people 3 times now.We would love to rent a larger space to be able to better facilitate larger crowds.However, larger spaces mean higher rent fees.While our family is currently nearly fully funded, the church is not.If anyone is able to increase their giving or give special one-time gifts to fund this new church, please give.
Special Prayer Activity – The following list of people are very close to making a decision to become a Christian.Please pray for them by name every day for the month of June & lets see if God moves in their lives.
- Masaki
- Saki
- God & Saori (Married)
- Sumi
DARRIN & CHRISSY KING – PUENTE MINISTRIES – COSTA RICA
Since last we wrote, we have been reminded of the importance of not only knowing what the vision is for what we do, but also revisiting that vision in order to stay on track.The overall mission of Puente Ministries is supplied from Scripture, & is articulated in the commissions of the New Testament, which in a phrase is being a part of seeing more & more people choose to be disciples, or apprentices of Jesus.Hopefully, all the decisions concerning projects, programs, events & such will be based upon & informed by our vision statement:We exist as an organization for the nurturing, training, and equipping of spiritual leaders.That’s why we continue in the current phase of training national leadership in the Church at Tres Rios.And as part of that overall plan to see spiritual leaders prepared, we are announcing the next step toward seeing local leaders replace missionaries.As of the end of April, Victor Hernandez has shifted his efforts toward encouraging the pastors in the other congregations of Costa Rica.This is something he as not only done for some time already, but something for which he is also uniquely gifted.His shift will allow others in Tres Rios to step up, but is an act of faith for their family, as they are no longer on support with Puente Ministries.Just as we trusted in the Lord with the Institute students when they left, so we do now with the Hernandez family as they live out this step of faith.Please continue to pray for them in these months ahead.
Interns & Church Plant – There has been plenty of activity in the Church at Tres Rios in the last month.We brought to a celebration the fourth round of Discipleship classes!These aim at improving the student’s knowledge of Scripture, focusing especially on the life of Christ.We had 4 different classes, with one level having 2 sections to accommodate those who either work or study or both.We plan to start the next round in late August, Lord willing, but for now all are happy to be on vacation!
In the Children’s Ministry, May included team-building activities & training for the children’s Bible teachers.There are some new faces there as well.They had a Sat. outing, & at the end of the month hosted a breakfast for all the kids!
The Youth Ministry took a big step toward practical training, as they hosted a “talent show” on the 22nd.It included music, videos, & a host of new musicians that had practiced for weeks to be ready.As they prepare for camp in July, one highlight will be that the music will be directed by one of the student leaders, Fernando.They’re all working hard to raise money to attend & invite other youth!Thanks for reading & praying!
SCOTT & ANGIE PAGEL – TEAM EXPANSION – TAIWAN
Much has happened in the weeks since we sent our last update.
Several weeks ago I started meeting with the moms from church for breakfast at McDonalds on Thurs. mornings.We’ve enjoyed reading & discussing Scripture together & praying with & for each other, our community, & our children.We decided to meet in a public place in hopes of meeting new people or others we know to invite to join us.It has been wonderful meeting like this mid-week with my sisters in Christ, & seeing who the lord brings across our path.
The 24-hour prayer room we shared about in the last update turned into a 48-hour prayer room!People from Taiwan Christian Church (both from Yonghe & Ankeng) signed up for one-hour time slots beginning Fri. morning & ending just before the church service on Sun. morning.Most were unsure about praying for an entire hour, but after their turn was over, 100% of participants said the time flew by & that one-hour was not long enough!The event took place at the Yonghe church, in a room already set aside for prayer.Scott & Chad Edwards added some special touches too…We’re all looking forward to next time!to see a video that Chad put together, click on over to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFauHavKLY
SCOTT HERE: Angie wanted me to chime in a little about the prayer room.The video actually captures the event nicely.You can see some of the room itself & how we tried to make it a place where people could more easily hear god’s voice.And it captures the importance of both facets of this activity…the individual & the corporate.We are all in this together…but I need to do my part!I may write more about this event and/or prayer rooms at another time, but want to give you a link to a website where you’ll find lots of info on starting your own prayer room…http://www.24-7prayer.com/
Over the last several months, Team Expansion leaders have discovered Kairos Course, an excellent training course that focuses in on indigenous church planting among least reached peoples.Of course, this is our only goal here in Taiwan…to see an Indigenous Church Planting Movement (ICPM) in Taiwan…so we are interested in Kairos for our mission teams & for the churches here.Praise God, others had already seen the value of the course & it is available in Taiwan in English AND Mandarin.What a great opportunity!So, we worked to arrange an intensive Kairos Course in Yonghe (Taipei) in the middle of June.The course is a blend of Mandarin & English & we had local Christians & foreign missionaries in attendance.Some are associated with Team Expansion & others are associated with other churches & mission organizations.This is a very exciting time.Kairos runs June 14 to June 19.On June 20, we held a “summit” with many key people in attendance.The summit originally started out as a brainstorming session to start a training center in Taiwan for local Christians as well as those from neighboring Asian counties…and it still is this… but it has become more.We are happy that many organizations were represented.Although there are many seminaries in Taiwan, & I believe most are of value to the kingdom of God, many Christian workers in Taiwan also believe that there is a need for training centers that are both less “formal” than seminaries, more “Taiwanese” than seminaries, & more “missions focused” than seminaries. We held this summit on June 20 to pray, learn, & dream together with others of like minds.
KRITSANA UDOMSRIRAT – ASIAN CHRISTIAN WOMEN & CHILDREN – THAILAND
We pray that all is well with you & always give thanks to the Lord for your love & prayers which help strengthen us greatly in serving our Lord.Our raining season has gotten here & all the mountains turn green again.The grass in Eden grows so fast, so brother Songchai suggested we should buy some goats to help eat the grass & when Christmas comes we would have roast goat for the feast.They are always thinking about eating new thing!!Songchai knew someone who wanted to sell a goat family of five.So, we bought the goats & try the new job of raising the goats!Bro. Songchai has helped to put a fence on so, everything is ok so far.Now our weather cool down a lot but still very hot when it’s sunny.
Since the new semester has started, all the students are back to ‘Eden’, here in MaeHongSon.This year we have only 4 new students because a few 6th graders from Mae-Aw village failed the exam of getting into the school of MaeHongSon & so they have to enroll in other village school which has 7th to 9th grade.Everyone was looking forward to come to stay with us in ‘Eden’.Brother Arlu is taking his internship & helping at the Nai Soi church.Now we have another intern who came to help at MaeHongSon & ‘Eden’.He is staying with Songchai at the church.His name is Bobo.He can drive so he comes to drive the kids to school everyday.Sisters Noi & View are back in school at Payao Bible College.Brother Laolon went back to Chiangrai Chinese Bible College, he has one more year training, then he would be back to serve the Lord at Mae Aw Village.Sisters So, Far & May are all enrolled at the University of Chiang Mai now.We are so thankful & grateful for the opportunity they got which has come from you through the love of our Lord.Thanks!
Praise the lord!Last Sunday, we had baptisms at NaiSoi creek.Two young ladies were from NaiSoi village.Both of them are college students in MaeHongSon.They are very active & have been very helpful at the church.Another lady with red T-shirt was from MaeHongSon church.She is married.Her husband is not a believer yet but is starting to come to church now.Please remember them in your prayers.