Introducing New NTP MTW missionary Luke Smith

Luke grew up on a farm in west central Illinois. He went to college planning to pursue a career in agriculture. Through a couple of short-term missions trips with a campus ministry while in college at Western Illinois University, he started thinking about missions. Toward the end of graduate school at the University of Missouri, he was impacted by the missionary biography Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot, and his burden to be a missionary continued to grow. After completing graduate school, Luke went to Dallas Theological Seminary to further prepare for the mission field. While in seminary, he began to have a vision to serve in an area that was unreached and poor. He has continued to prepare by working with refugees in Dallas and serving in his church, New St. Peter’s Presbyterian . Luke has been called to work in rural Cambodia training pastors. The majority of the country’s population of 13 million live in villages spread throughout rural areas. It is a country struggling to recover from years of famine and civil war. Currently, fewer than 1 percent of the people are considered Christian.

You may contact Luke at LBSmith62@hotmail.com to find out more about his intended work and to schedule him to speak at your church.

Doug Serven's MTW Vision Trip to Greece

Note: North Texas Presbytery's MTW Committee provides Teaching Elders and key Ruling Elders of our presbytery with monetary assistance to go on MTW's Vision Trips. See here for information on MTW Vision Trips.

Last week I returned from Athens, Greece. I went there with a group of RUF campus ministers and with some MTW workers.

We arrived in Greece on Saturday night after the long flights on KLM from Atlanta to Amsterdam to Athens. We were picked up by Yodis, one of the Greek pastors in Athens. We stayed in a church near the port, and we had excellent accommodations there, especially the food from the woman who cooked for us - Vicki.

Unfortunately, my bags didn't arrive until Sunday afternoon, so that put me out of sorts for a time.

On Sunday, we worshiped with Yodis at his church, the biggest in the Greek Evangelical Church. It was a blessing to worship together with these dear brothers and sisters. The church was full, and it was Reformation Sunday, so we sang A Might Fortress Is Our God in Greek. To think of the worldwide church in every tongue and language, did my heart good.

I preached on Sunday night in Pastor George's church, which is nearby. They were excited to have just finished a project at a nearby town where they had planted thousands of olive trees to replace those burned in a huge, devastating fire. There was a passion for service there, a heart for people, a love for the gospel.

One of the days we were there, we trekked up to Volos, a mountainous port city in the north. We met Pastor Melatus there, and he took us to an excellent lunch while we discussed his work, his church, and his need for help. There are 5000 college students in that town, and they're trying to reach out to the city in love and service.

I might mention that these three pastors (George, Yodis and Melatus) all went to Gorden Conwell Seminary in Boston. All either have or are working on their PhDs, this is is a well-trained, educated pastorate. They are sending two more to seminary, and are wanting to plant churches in Athens - one to a university part of the the town and another to an immigrant community.

We toured two of the campus with the man who has been heading up the campus work there, Tim. He showed us around, explaining his heart for Greece, Athens and the university. We were able to meet many students, all of them who were passionate about the gospel and about getting together in fellowship. service and outreach.

We also had fun. We were able to tour the Parthenon, Acropolis, Temple of Zeus, Hadrian's Gate and Mars Hill. The historical value of Athens cannot be understated. To stand where Western Civilization began was truly breathtaking. Perhaps my favorite part was on Tuesday, when we were able to go to Aegina, a Greek island only an hour's ferry away. We rented mopeds and tootled around the island, trying not to get lost. The Aegean Sea always on our left, we circled the island until we stopped at a restaurant for one of the many great Greek salads I had.

I'd recommend you consider going to Athens and joining in what God is doing there:

* Church planting

* Campus ministry

* The faithful preaching and teaching of God's word

* Training and sending men to seminary

* Works of good for the community - food shelter, clothes, ministry to prostitutes, helping the city

* Involvement in a Bible college in Athens

There is much good to participate in. To learn about more opportunities, please contact Opal Hargrove: opal.hardgrove@mtw.org

November, 2008 Reports From Our NTP-MTW Missionaries

Note: we have not listed reports from NTP-MTW missionaries serving in sensitive areas of the world

OUR FEATURED MISSIONARY THIS QUARTER
Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418
MTW/Wycliffe Trinity Presbyterian, Plano

Scott and Mary Ann Nelson have been serving as missionaries with MTW and Wycliffe Bible Translators since their acceptance as members in 2000.Their first assignment was with the team in Nairobi, Kenya which provides the Scriptures in the heart language of unreached people groups in Africa.
Now based in North Carolina serving translation teams around the world, Scott provides computer support for Bible translators working in Africa, Europe, South America and parts of Asia. He maintains the servers and services to provide email, language/scripture text version control, remote collaboration and other tools used by translators and support staff. Mary Ann serves as a counselor for missionaries and their families with the stresses and issues they face.
With a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, Scott worked for 12 years in computing before joining MTW. Mary Ann received her undergraduate degree from Wheaton College, an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary and an M.A. in Marriage and Family Counseling from Southwestern Seminary.
Together with MTW and Wycliffe, they seek to take God's Word-Life!-to those still waiting.
The Nelsons have three children: Leigh Ann, Drew, Peter
Scott_nelson@sil.org

Rick & Pam Box #010519 Bogotá, Colombia Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound
In Colombia, Rick is working with the Colombian leaders in training and church planting. Rick pastors the only English speaking church in Colombia and assists in the development of three church plants. They are beginning training centers in English and Spanish in their church building this fall.
On a more personal note, Pam was able to be with her father when lung cancer took his life. Our condolences go to the family and praise for his Christ honoring life..
rbox@mtwsa.org / pamelajbox@yahoo.com

Dawn Brady Sparks #010572 Ukraine Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler
Dawn is currently in the U.S. on HMA. She and her new husband, Steve, are living in Austin as they seek to determine whether God is sending them back to Ukraine in the near future.
Meanwhile, Dawn is continuing many of her country-wide financial and administrative duties from the U.S. as she supports the Ukraine team from this side of the ocean. Please pray for Dawn and Steve as they seek to follow where God is leading. You can keep up with them on their ministry blog.
dbrady@mtwukraine.org www.sparksministry.org.

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731 Thailand Park Cities, Dallas
“We are well into our first year of seminary work at Covenant in St Louis. Classes are going well, and we've quickly realized we have so much to learn! Andrew is working part-time for MTW while in school, continuing to support the work of MTW Thailand from the States assisting in fund-raising and administration. We continue to pray about the specifics of God's plan for us after seminary, even though that's a few years away - and we plan to spend next summer in Bangkok supporting the team.”
bronsons@mtwthailand.org www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718 Brazil Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa
“I arrived back in Brazil the 16th of July and in Patrocínio the 19th. Classes began the 4th of August. I have 2 classes with the first year in their field work, and 2 classes of Christian Education Theory with the 1st year. The rest of my time is observing students in their field work, helping in our work shop, translating materials, producing materials, and informal counseling. I am sorry that I was not able to get to TX to get to know you folks. One of these times it will work out for me to get down your way.”
dinkinsmr@hotmail.com

Peter Dishman #011731 RUF-UNAM, Mexico City MTW/RUM Town North, Richardson
“We are past the midpoint of the semester and headed into the final stretch. The Lord has brought some new students to the group and some newer students to faith. Pray that our group might finish strong this semester, and in particular for interns Josh and Amy Oettle as they finish their term of service here and head back to the US.”
pwdishman@gmail.com http://www.rufmexico.org/ (English) http://www.curunam.org/ (Spanish)


Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783 Mexico Church Planter Training Park Cities, Dallas
Back home in Monterrey (after HMA), where he grew up; Caleb continues ministering as the Director of the Theological Institute of Ministry in partnership with RTS Charlotte. The institute currently supports church planters and lay leaders with a B.A. in Theology, and also offers continuing education for presbyteries. He also continues to work toward his D.Min in Pastoral Counseling at WTS Philadelphia.
caleb@mtwmex.net / aimee@mtwmex.net

Ben Graber #012803 Eastern Germany Fort Worth PCA
At the end of his first year of two: “How do I talk about a year like this? We were a little church meeting in a cafe when I got here….. But we are a little church with a home, a team of missionaries who have Done Ministry In the Community…. So here we are, trying to grow into the bigness of what He seems to be doing.”
Ben.graber@gmail.com http://bengraber.blogspot.com

Josh & Amy Oettle #015711 UNAM, Mexico City Park Cities, Dallas
The fall semester is well under way for students at the UNAM. Josh and Amy and the team are working with Bible studies and English Clubs and getting in touch with old students and new students. Josh and Amy are soon to finish their short-term mission and return to the States. Pray that their decisions about their future be always glorifying to God.
Josh.oettle@gmail.com http://joshandamyoettle.wordpress.com

Howard and Deidre Shelden #016816 Wycliffe/Dallas New Covenant Presbyterian, Dallas
Deidre directs personnel administrators in the Dallas office of Wycliffe USA, helping with the difficult decisions needed to care for and deploy Wycliffe missionaries. Howard writes promotional and publicity materials about Wycliffe missionaries' achievements and milestones to enhance credibility in academic circles and in foreign government relations.

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819 Ukraine Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa
Doug and Masha have finished a busy summer training 6 American two-month interns in L'viv. The team also hosted a one week English Camp in the Carpathian Mountains for 53 Ukrianian university students. The team is now busy following up these contacts and starting a few bible studies. The Shepherds are scheduled to visit the States (Home Assignment) for three months this winter. Continue to pray for converts. Free2travel98@yahoo.com

NEWS FROM BEAMM Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries

Steve Milvain, Village Seven PCA, is the Chairman of BEAMM Partnership.

Next Partnership Meeting – November 14-15 at Redeemer PC, Overland Park, Kansas.

BEAMM Partners NTP Are: 5th St., Tyler, Ft. Worth PCA, Redeemer, McKinney, and Westminster, Gainesville. steve@milvain.com

The search for land for a community center in Juarez continues.

The donated 14,000 sq. foot building for Dios Soberano (Sovereign God) Mission, Mexicali, Western Region has been dismantled and is being stored at El Centro, CA, in preparation for being exported to Mexicali.

Missionary Units or Church Planters now headed for the border: Jeff & Heather Vaughn are now settled in El Paso; Charles & Bonita Davidson are scheduled to join the team in January 09; Ray & Michelle Call are in language school in Edinburg, Texas; Rick & Sharon Marooney, Julio & Arlette Navarro, Gary & Kay Whiting,.

Personnel Needs: BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region: Career:
English Language Trainers: Intern, Two-Year, Career:
Seminary Instructors: Two-week, Two Year, Career:
Contact Gene Bowman, 915-838-3747, glbowman@BEAMM.org
Summer Interns to host Summer Mission Trips – 2008,
Contact Luann Bowman, luannbowman@BEAMM.org

Check in at www.BEAMM.org to keep abreast of events on the border.

dropping by

via i am probably overthinking this by Ben Graber on 10/29/08

I remember a lot of frustration over the 14 months of my support-raising before I came out here when I realized that I had no Missionary Stories to grab the interest of my hearers and readers, no tales of God's mighty deeds abroad among the heathen and all that.

Eventually you do start to collect those stories, particularly when He sticks you right there on a street corner in the field and makes you visible. Day in and day out, I sit in the entry area of our church, which has a big bright sign and posters in the great big plate-glass windows and interesting-looking pictures on the walls, and people drop in.

read the rest:

A Russian lady wondered if it would be possible to rent out our space for the exercise classes for seniors that she leads. A couple of folks wondered if we knew where a charity grocery service's offices were. Some people are curious about English. Some wonder who we are and what kind of weird church we are. Some remember when this place was a sketchy bar whose proprietor was murdered a decade ago, and how long it sat empty afterward, and they're impressed with the renovations.

And some people have more questions. Another Russian lady said she had never felt comfortable walking into a church with her questions about the basics of Christianity, but she worked up the courage this time. A young father and his little daughter came in because she felt a sudden compulsion to do so; he's an atheist, but somewhat favorably disposed to churches, and he's interested in having his daughter take part in children's programming.

And today - right now, as I write - there is a man who came in saying that he is contemplating suicide, and he's sitting in David's office. Judi and Alex and I prayed for a little while, while the kids here for Kids' Camp ate their snack, while the heating repairman poked around, while all this ministry chaos raged, and I suppose I am still writing this as a prayer that God will show Himself through David right now, that He will save another life, that He will bring this man into the place where he can be healed and know that there is Someone to live for, Someone Who would send His Son to love him and give Himself for him.

Just one little corner of one city of one small continent in this whole world - I try to picture the human experience here, and it's an incomprehensible swirl, a maddening blur of paths crossing and diverging and running parallel, burning passion and dark, cold loneliness, sparks of hope and glow of love, and everywhere need, pushing and pulling them all.

And here we are on one little corner of that little corner, and a lot of paths run by us, and a lot of them run into our home, and we get the stories.

Sharon Abebe Prepares for Mission Field

A member of Metrocrest PCA in Carrollton, Texas, Sharon is planning to leave for her native Ethiopia by the first of February 2009. We are very excited to see this fulfillment of Sharon's desire to minister to the women of her country. She has become a Certified Biblical Counselor, and is finishing her studies in Bible training. Be praying for her preparation and for her prayer and financial support to come in as she gets ready to enter this new chapter of her life. To support Sharon:

Payable to Life Wind, P.O. Box 576645, Modesto, CA 95357

Memo on all checks/cheques/online gifts: “LifeWind – Account #S084”

You may also give online at www.LifeWind.org

Sharon writes:

I was born and grew up in Ethiopia. As an adult I came to the U.S. to work and study but I have never forgotten my home country. Since I was a child in Ethiopia, the Lord has given me a great burden for hurting people. I want to not only pray for them, but also get right in the midst of their pain and help them in tangible ways. Over the years, and as I have grown in my faith, a vision has emerged: I want to go back to my country and get deeply involved in the suffering of my people. There are so many in Ethiopia who are spiritually and emotionally broken. My greatest burden by far is for my sisters in the Ethiopian villages. The compassion I feel for these women is overflowing! As a Board Certified Biblical Counselor, I will be working directly with women who are divorced, abused, and whose marriages are in trouble and need healing. I will also be training women to help minister to the needs of these families in crisis.

Because of the vision God gave me as a child, I believe He is calling me to go back to Ethiopia with an organization called LifeWind International to work as a teacher and family counselor. LifeWind International works with expatriate and indigenous missionaries to reach people in over 80 countries with a life changing message of community development, basic health education, and the gospel of Jesus Christ. My work will mostly be focused on women’s and children’s issues as well as marriage counseling. My knowledge of the Ethiopian language and culture will be a big advantage. Please come alongside me and pray that God would financially prepare the way for me to go and serve Him in Ethiopia and to give families hope and a future.

In His Love

Sharon Abebe

Beginning of the Year Wrap Up

From Peter Dishman, RUF @ UNAM

The best way that you can see the first few weeks of the year at the UNAM has to be via the updates from Josh and Amy Oettle on their blog. There you can see some pictures of our kickoff party, and if you scroll down far enough, of our pre-semester retreat as well.

It has been a good semester so far - sadly, a bunch of our regular folk are starting to disappear as they move into their thesis and social service phases (in some cases, students in this fifth year phase have lots more time, but generally they have a lot less as they move towards post-UNAM life); at the same time, however, we have also seen a number of new faces at our group as people discover our group and begin to become part of it (one of the new things that we tried this year was having an information table set up outside of one the main entrances of the UNAM - we have never seen a Christian group do this before, but we have garnered a lot of confused looks and a good amount interest in “Christian community at the UNAM”).

This semester at our Tuesday large group, we are working through the gospel of John, and last week we talked about the mystery of the incarnation - how Jesus the divine missionary enters human history to redeem a people for himself. We are still learning what that missionary invasion means in our lives as well as what it means for our lives at the university. We also have student and intern led small groups going on Ephesians, the letters of John, and the Foundations of Christianity in Filosophy and Letters, Engineering, and Sciences.

English Club has been big this semester - a lot of new faces among the 40 or so that have been coming out on Wednesdays and Fridays to learn to talk like “real gringos”. Lots of relationships beginning to grow there, and you can pray that our group draws positive attention from the administration and from students alike.

Posted by Peter Dishman on Sunday, August 31st, 2008 at 3:10 pm.

Praying for Muslims and the Muslim World: 30 Days of Prayer

Pray for the Muslim World's conversion during their month of Ramadan, staring September 1st! Click here for an online, interactive prayer guide.

August Reports from MTW MISSIONARIES FROM NORTH TEXAS PRESBYTERY

Rick & Pam Box #010519
Bogotá, Colombia
Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound
“In Colombia, Rick is working with the Colombian leaders in training and church planting. We are planning to constitute one of the three church plants in Bogotá next month (September). In September, we have six Colombian men scheduled to undergo exam for elder in Cúcuta, Colombia. This is quite a blessing for us since we have been training and preparing these men for several years. We continue to partner with the only English speaking church in Colombia and we hope to begin training centers in English and Spanish in their church building this fall. On a more personal note, please pray for Pam's father who was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.”


Dawn Brady Sparks #010572
Ukraine
Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine (EPCU) was particularized on April 16! This is a great step forward for the church we work with in Ukraine. Dawn married Steve Sparks on April 26 and they will be thinking and praying about whether God is calling them to return to Ukraine. For the remainder of 2008, Dawn will be on HMA and will be visiting supporting churches and giving reports on the work in Kiev.
Dawn plans to be with us at Presbytery.
www.sparksministry.org.

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731
Thailand
Park Cities, Dallas
"The summer has been a busy time of moving to a new place and diving into full-time academics again. God has been gracious in his provision for us. Thus far, we are really enjoying St Louis and Covenant Seminary. This will be a place we feel we will learn and grow much over the next few years. We have also continued on part-time staff with MTW Thailand assisting with finances and church partnership administration state-side. This is exciting stuff for us to stay involved in; we look forward to continuing to support www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718
Brazil
Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa
“I arrived back in Brazil the 16th of July and in Patrocínio the 19th. Classes began the 4th of August. I have 2 classes with the first year in their field work, and 2 classes of Christian Education Theory with the 1st year. The rest of my time is observing students in their field work, helping in our work shop, translating materials, producing materials, and informal counseling. I am sorry that I was not able to get to TX to get to know you folks. One of these times it will work out for me to get down your way.”

Peter Dishman #011731
RUF-UNAM, Mexico City
MTW/RUM
Town North, Richardson
“The first week of school is upon us here at the UNAM, after a summer of interns and trips and retreats! Please pray for us as we connect with students at the beginning of this semester: for students that we know from RUF and the English Club, for students that we don’t know that are coming in from the churches, for students that we would like to know as they see the flyers for our semester activities. Pray that the Lord will bring us the students he wants us to minister to this semester and that we will be ready to receive them!”
http://www.rufmexico.org/ (English) http://www.curunam.org/ (Spanish)

Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783
Mexico
Church Planter Training
Park Cities, Dallas
Back home in Monterrey (after HMA), where he grew up; Caleb continues ministering as the Director of the Theological Institute of Ministry in partnership with RTS Charlotte. The institute currently supports church planters and lay leaders with a B.A. in Theology, and also offers continuing education for presbyteries. He also continues to work toward his D.Min in Pastoral Counseling at WTS Philadelphia.
Our deepest sympathy goes to Caleb and the family on the home-going of his grandfather Harold Dunn.

Ben Graber #012803
East Germany
Fort Worth PCA
Well into his two-year term, Ben is preparing to lead a children's English camp in the new rented rooms of the church plant he serves in Berlin, where he also hopes to offer adult English courses in the fall. The church held its first worship service there in August and is planning a neighborhood festival and concert to reach out to the community in September.
http://bengraber.blogspot.com

Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418
SIL Support
MTW/Wycliffe
Trinity Presbyterian, Plano
“We have been trying to solve a communications equipment problem between the Eastern Congo and Kenyan translation centers. The new equipment was received and we are waiting on approval from the government to be able to use the equipment to connect these folks to each other wirelessly. Pray that the application is approved and the equipment serves them well in their task.”


Josh & Amy Oettle #015711
UNAM, Mexico City
Park Cities, Dallas
The fall semester is just beginning for students at the UNAM. Josh and Amy and the team are preparing for Bible studies and English Clubs to start, and getting in touch with old students and new students. It’s an energetic, busy time. At the first of the month, they had a 3 day CUR (Spanish for RUF) Retreat at the home of Ruth’s parents in Tequisquapan, a city a few hours away. http://joshandamyoettle.wordpress.com

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819
Ukraine
Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa
Doug and Masha have finished a busy summer training 6 American two-month interns in L'viv. The team also hosted a one week English Camp in the Carpathian Mountains for 53 Ukrainian university students. The team is now busy following up these contacts and starting a few bible studies. The Shepherds are scheduled to visit the States (Home Assignment) for three months this winter. Continue to pray for converts.

Fwd: Lot's Going On!

From Peter Dishman, RUF @ UNAM, Mexico City

This past week, in addition to English Clubs and intern studies, we were at the Salvation Army Orphanage with a number of students putting on a vacation Bible school. We had about 30 kids on the first day, and about 60 kids on the last two days. It was a great time with puppets, crafts, games, movies and hangout time as we learned about how God made us, God loves us, and God listens to us. You can see LOTS of pictures at my smugmug site. When we left, the kids said - "next time come back for a week, and sleep over!" I hope that we can do that; it is a very needy place with some really wonderful kids, some of them without parents, some of them whose parents couldn't afford to keep them. In one of the crafts, the kids got pictures of themselves - seemed like for a lot of them it was their first time to have their very own personal photo.

On Saturday, we went to El Rollo, the infamous water park where I got six stitches last year. This time it was great, though, and we had about 20 to 25 people in our group zooming down slides and bobbing up and down in wave pools. I'm pleased that El Rollo lived up to its billing (as a quality certified ISO-9000 approved water park). Pictures of folks on the trip to Jojutla (try and say that: ho-HOOT-lah) are up at smugmug as well.

This week we have had a few visitors (maybe more on that later) and have had good English Clubs and hangout time. Yesterday we played soccer after the club, and just after we had tied 2-2 and were walking to the chemistry faculty to eat, we almost got struck by lightening. Glad we stopped when we did! After eating, we watched and briefly talked about Gattaca - maybe you have seen it? Lots to talk about there. Tomorrow we will have the last English Club of the semester and the farewell of our two summer interns, Abby and Meredith, and then we will have a sleepover so that we won't have too much hassle taking them to the airport at around 3:30 AM. Ouch!

In the news for the near future - studying for next semester next week, then we have a team retreat in Acapulco, then RUF staff training in Atlanta for a week, then a visit to a supporting church in Athens (Georgia, no Europe), and then finally back here for a retreat before school starts and then school. Should be a full, fun, and exhausting rest of the summer.

Posted by Peter Dishman on Thursday, July 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 pm.

The box chronicles

FROM NTP MTW MISSIONARIES RICK AND PAM BOX:

Dear Fellow Pilgrims,

The journey often gets complicated and the way strewn with potholes and rocks and it keeps one’s eyes open and alert for dangers ahead and the mind distracted, or maybe just focused, and in the meantime, days are ticking away and before you know it, two months have passed without you even being aware! It seems much more difficult these days to stay on top of a monthly letter, so I hope you will be patient if the monthly letter turns into a bi-monthly letter or even worse, a quarterly one! Since I talked with you last, Rick and I had the privilege of visiting our daughters in Texas, oh, and our grandkids! I was able to spend a full two weeks, but unfortunately Rick could only be there a week as he was in the middle of training sessions for deacon and elders in United Church. But, even though the time was short, we had a wonderful time of refreshment and as usual, much too soon the day came for us to head back to Colombia. On our return, we began planning for the ordination service for the first elders and deacons for United Church. It was a very joyous occasion and a new beginning for this only English speaking international evangelical church in Bogota. We have four covenant children on the way and three weddings scheduled before Christmas! Rick and I have been doing quite a bit of pre-marital counseling and other counseling as well, hence, the lack of time for writing the “Chronicles” or even much musing! But, we both do much better with busy, so all is good.

A couple weeks after we returned from Texas, I came down with a most horrid flu that put me in bed with a 102+ fever for three days. I really don’t have much recollection of those three fever filled days, but after the fact, I realized that I must have missed taking my low-dose hormone therapy because my emotions were all over the place. I am learning to have compassion for all who are on meds that alter hormones or serotonin levels! Wow! Thankfully, after a week I was more or less recovered from the flu symptoms and have been convinced from now on to get the yearly flu shot. I am not a very good patient, no, I am a horrible patient! And, I have figured out a sure-fire way not to “forget” taking my hormones! Who would have thought that losing a couple little ovaries could cause such a stink?

On the Colombian front……..we are in the middle of a challenging situation with Javier and his wife, Sandra. Javier has been pastoring the Cristo Rey church for about 15 years, but lately, Sandra has been diagnosed with a severe OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and can’t work and struggles in relationships with people, so Javier has considered resigning. As a result, they have been on a one-month sabbatical to seek the Lord and pray for His direction for their lives. The Colombian presbytery, of which Rick and Joe Harrell are both members have been covering the ministry at Cristo Rey during this month. The sabbatical is now at an end and it seems like Javier won’t be continuing on as pastor of the Cristo Rey church. He desires to continue on in full-time ministry, but is looking at other options as well. To further complicate things, Javier and Sandra have been living on the second floor of the Cristo Rey building, so now, have nowhere to live and no income at present to find a place to rent. We desperately need your prayers for the Lord to make clear to Javier what it is he is to do now and to open the appropriate doors whether it be to return to secular work or continue on in the ministry.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting a sweet Colombian-born young woman who was taken to Florida to live when she was seven by her mother. Years later, her mother married an American citizen, but he didn’t adopt Alina, so she never got her papers. Minors can’t apply for their own papers; the parents have to petition. Alina’s mom finally tried to apply for her papers when she had just turned 21, but then was told that Alina would have to apply herself, as an adult, but that if she did, she would be deported. Alina was in college at the time and did not ever remember living in Colombia, so didn’t act. Later she married an American citizen and when in the process of filling out the paperwork for marriage was arrested and put in a detention facility for six months. Two years ago she was deported to Colombia. Can you imagine how frightening that would be; to be sent to a country that you don’t remember living in at all and dropped off there? Her husband has been petitioning for her for two years, but she is still here. Alina came to United Church with another young Colombian woman in the exact same situation a couple weeks ago. They are here in the country of their birth, but aren’t really Colombian at all. Alina doesn’t even know how to read or write Spanish! I thought the immigration problem in the States was so black and white until I met these people. Alina went with me to the ladies bible study yesterday and said that she knows that God has a purpose in her being here even though it is extremely painful to be apart from her husband for so long. She has great hope that she will be able to return home soon. Alina is a third culture person: she’s not really Colombian, but she’s not totally American either. I have jokingly said that we may need to change the name of United Church to United Church, Home of the Deported! It is such a privilege to be able to minister to these needy believers!

Well, I have been extremely long-winded this time! It has been nice to take a little respite and muse over the past few months of highlights with you. But, it’s time to get back on the road. There are many pitfalls that need to be leapt over, rocks that need to be moved out of the way and pilgrims whose hands need to be taken in mine so that we can walk the way together. But, in those times when there is no one else on the path, I know I am not alone……I walk with Jesus.

Always with Jesus,

Pam

HINTS Newsletter June 2008

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a charitable trust for
Help In New Testament Study
Rev. John R. Werner, Ph.D., Chairman
 
306 Woodcrest Dr.
Richardson, TX  75080-1946
JohnRWerner@yahoo.com
JUNE, 2008
 
==============================================================
 
     The LORD will be awesome to them
      when he destroys all the gods of the land.
     The nations on every shore will worship him,
      every one in its own land.
             Zeph. 2:10-11 NIV
 
==============================================================
 
Dear friends in Christ,
 
As you know, God took me to Greece at age 26 to make me an 
international Christian and a husband. I'd thought I was going there 
just to study Greek archaeology. And I did.
 
A few days, ago, I read the newsletter of the archaeology school. 
You'd be shocked, as I am, by an item in it. A scholar blasts 
"Christian intolerance and fanaticism" resulting in "Christian 
mutilation and desecration" of pagan idols. He praises "attempts to 
revive the very native religions of Greece that inspired the past 
achievements and glories of Greek civilization."  Another item in 
the same newsletter tells how this year's students enacted a pagan 
rite.
 
How sadly atheism leads to a slide back down into paganism!  (As of 
June 6, that issue is not yet on line. When it is, you can see it at 
www.ascsa.edu.gr/index.php/publications/Akoue/.)
 
No, I'm not saying we should swing sledge hammers at early art 
objects. But a nation may turn to the one true and living God. They 
may choose not to save their idols as art. I think no one should 
object to their smashing them.
 
Maybe no land has more idols (of the visible kind) than India. You 
may recall that in 2002 summer we were in Calcutta. The same mission 
has asked us back August 11 to December 19. They want me to teach 
Greek and a New Testament book (not yet chosen). The Lord willing, 
we'll be there.
 
As you know, I'm trying to sell my house. As of this writing, some 
agents have seen it but no buyers. Please keep praying.
 
Sold or not sold, plans are to move in with Beth and her family in 
California. We're to leave Dallas in mid July. After that move my 
address is to be:
 
        915 Westmont Rd.
        Santa Barbara, CA  91308-1035.
 
No phone number:  I'll just catch up with the 21st century by adding 
a cell phone to Beth and Maurice's plan. My e-address will stay the 
same.
 
Thank you for being at my side in prayer. You've been there each 
time we've helped Bible translators.  You've been there each time 
we've taught up-coming preachers and teachers. I'm counting on you 
to be there also during this time of change.
 
If you change your e-address, please send me your new e-address.
 
Your fellow servant,
 
      John
 
gratefully serving the Lord Jesus Christ,
through His gracious supply
through the grateful offerings of His people and through
HINTS International Charitable Trust
John R. Edwards, Treas.
7916 Anchor St.
Frisco, TX  75035-6339
JREdwards@waymark.net     HINTS is a "501(c)(3)" org.
972-712-1017                All gifts are tax deductible.

Advice to Missionaries (and All of Us)

May 29, 2008 | By: John Piper
Category: Commentary

As I was working on the fifth volume of The Swans are Not Silent series about the lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John G. Paton, I found a letter written by Judson from Burma on June 25, 1832 with sobering counsel to missionaries.

Actually, these are hard and good words for all of us. Here are five of his points:

Fourthly. It may be profitable to bear in mind, that a large proportion of those who come out on a mission to the East die within five years after leaving their native land. Walk softly, therefore; death is narrowly watching your steps...

Sixthly. Beware of the greater reaction which will take place after you have acquired the language, and become fatigued and worn out with preaching the gospel to a disobedient and gainsaying people. You will sometimes long for a quiet retreat, where you can find a respite from the tug of toiling at native work—the incessant, intolerable friction of the missionary grindstone. And Satan will sympathize with you in this matter; and he will present some chapel of ease, in which to officiate in your native tongue, some government situation, some professorship or editorship, some literary or scientific pursuit, some supernumerary translation, or, at least, some system of schools; anything, in a word, that will help you, without much surrender of character, to slip out of real missionary work. Such a temptation will form the crisis of your disease. If your spiritual constitution can sustain it, you recover; if not, you die...

Eighthly. Never lay up money for yourselves or your families. Trust in God from day to day, and verily you shall be fed.

Ninthly. Beware of that indolence which leads to a neglect of bodily exercise. The poor health and premature death of most Europeans in the East must be eminently ascribed to the most wanton neglect of bodily exercise.

Tenthly. Beware of genteel living. Maintain as little intercourse as possible with fashionable European society. The mode of living adopted by many missionaries in the East is quite inconsistent with that familiar intercourse with the natives which is essential to a missionary.

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another walk

another walk

via i am probably overthinking this by Ben on 5/29/08

Took a walk along the East Side Gallery (the longest still-standing section of the Wall) yesterday. Here's a nice shiny new slideshow for your enjoyment (click on the slideshow window to go to the album and look through at your own pace).

From John Piper's Blog.....

When Iain Murray gives an account of the “rise of the missionary spirit” in Scotland in the 1800's he comments that “a new zeal to take the gospel to the world was born out of a new experience of its power.” Then he draws attention to the connection between the renewed homelife and the missionary upsurge:

Friends, parents, neighbors first it will embrace
Our country next, and next the human race.

The Gospel does affect homes first. In Scotland it led to a type of home life and family religion fitted to produce young men and women whose great interest was the service of Christ.... [John Paton’s] autobiography provides an unforgettable account of the prayerfulness of his father...

The Lowland cotter’s lad cherished and guarded in his heart the spell of his father’s habit of communion with God, and the vision of his mother’s absorbed passion to win her children to see fear and love the Most High. These were his main equipment in life. No science can produce them; no money can purchase them.

One of the most remembered sounds of Paton’s childhood was his father’s voice, at family worship, as “he poured out his whole soul with tears for the conversion of the heathen world to the service of Jesus.” The thatched cottage of the Patons was only one of many such nurseries. Most of the Scottish missionaries came from homes and backgrounds where simple living, hard work, many sacrifices and earnest devotion were the every day experiences of youth. (A Scottish Christian Heritage, 222-223)

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Bananas for breakfast

Bananas for breakfast

via Life Without a Recipe by angi on 5/18/08

Every morning, there are always a ton of people sitting outside our office. I think they work in the office next door, but they usually sit in front of our office. They don't ever seem to have a lot going on, so whenever I'm hungry I ask them to do me a favor...send the kids with bananas my way. There's always kids walking around with various things on their heads...bananas, peanuts, fried doughnuts, avocados and mangos when they're in season.
This particular time, I bought an avocado, 6 bananas, and a capful of peanuts for about 35 cents. I've quit worrying about eating breakfast in the morning because I know I can always get a banana at work.

10 Reminders for Faithful Evangelism

10 Reminders for Faithful Evangelism

via Irish Calvinist by erik on 5/14/08

As glorious as the message of the gospel is many of us still have trouble with faithful and fervent proclamation of it. There are many explanations as to why each of us may struggle with being as faithful as we ought in this discipline; however, the scope of these posts is simply to offer ways in which to encourage more faithfulness in the area of personal evangelism.

What follows are biblical helps that aim to stimulate further evangelistic faithfulness in your life. I will cover a total of 10 over the next several days. There are a total of ten here but honestly we could look at fifty or sixty. Some are longer than others so we'll break them up as needed.

So, here we go, 10 Reminders to help you become more faithful in personal evangelism…

1. Don't forget the mandate

matt 28.18-20 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We sometimes forget the context of this revolutionary decree. Jesus is not in the stocks or awaiting trial, instead he is the risen King of everything. His signet ring is glaring, almost blinding, as he gives this royal decree. He is alive from the dead, the victor over death, sin and Satan. When he says he has "all authority" he means it.

But notice what his authoritative command is to do. It is a call to invade the planet with the message of his accomplishments while declaring his own sovereign rule over everything and everyone. Notice what Jesus says, "make disciples of all nations". The word translated nations is ethnos where we get our English word 'ethnic'. This mandate, quite frankly, is a call to ignore apparent social, ethnic, cultural, or demographic barriers and proclaim that this risen Jesus is in fact the only sovereign King and that he must be worshipped exclusively. Jesus' command for the reach of his gospel extends to every soul whom he has the right to declare obedience and worship from. Therefore we go.

And Jesus is not just pro-birth here but he is pro-life. He wants disciples; this is the main verb in the passage (the going is assumed…so, as you go…make disciples). That is followers, mature, growing Christians. The Great Commission is not all about the box score after folks go out and evangelize, but rather it is about bringing about the obedience of faith through the heralded word of truth. This posture of obedience starts by submitting to Christ as Lord at conversion and then proceeds to characterize the believer's life. The evangelist must not only proclaim the message of the King but also work to teach these disciples "all that I have commanded you…"

This is a high calling that we cannot overemphasize. Jesus is the sovereign ruler, he commands obedient proclamation of his supremacy to all nations and peoples, and through this heralding of his greatness we are to be teaching his followers the statutes of the King.

As an added bit of encouragement or intimidation (take it however you need it), Jesus drops the omnipresence card on his followers: "and behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." This could either be indicting or encouraging.

If you are a mute Christian it stings your heart for you know that you have been silent while the King is even right there.

If you have been shaving off the pointy edges of the gospel this will also be a tough theological pill to swallow, for the King is there, even when you appear to be ashamed of those distasteful divine perfections (like holiness or judgment) and they are ignored.

If you have been faithful and you have encountered persecution, then this is truly comforting and further incentive to dig in and be faithful.

The King is in fact with us, even to the end of the age.

>we'll keep this going in the days ahead. Tomorrow's key is Don't forget the Message.

Tags: 10 Keys to Faithful Evangelism, Evangelism, Gospel

MTW Minuteman Appeal For Myanmar

Dear Minuteman,

Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting an estimate of one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll—now reported at 25,000—will rise, but estimates are still being revised upwards. The military government has not responded quickly, and relief agencies have been initially frustrated by delays in receiving emergency visas. Assistance has only begun to trickle in. Many areas are almost inaccessible, and early reports from survivors describe terror and devastating loss of loved ones. The urgency of the crisis increases almost hourly.

The area hardest hit by Cyclone Nargis is Myanmar’s fertile Irrawaddy delta region known as the Rice Bowl. Rice plants die quickly when completely submerged in water, and much of the area is still underwater. Of course, this means that the rice crop, upon which the country depends, is almost certain to be entirely lost. So, even those areas of Myanmar that did not take a direct hit from the storm will be deeply affected, possibly catastrophically. And as is always the case, children and the elderly will suffer the most from lack of shelter, water, and food. If circumstances continue unchecked, disease will almost surely follow.

Our assessment team will leave as soon as visas are issued, and after that we hope to move quickly with disaster response teams and perhaps longer-term assistance. The crisis will not pass quickly. Although our national partner, Dr. Tial Tanga, is believed to be in an area not directly hit by the cyclone, phone and email communications are down, presumably throughout the country, so we have been unable to reach him. We expect Dr. Tanga, a graduate of Reformed Seminary, to be directly involved in MTW’s efforts.

To make a donation by check, please make your check payable to Mission to the World and write” 93985-MMMM08WEB” on the memo line. To give online, click here. And would you pray as well as give? We expect to face many challenges.

Sincerely in Christ,

Paul D. Kooistra, Coordinator

PS: Any funds not used in the current appeal will be used for similar appeals.

PPS: If you would like to receive Minuteman appeals by email, please send a message to minuteman@mtw.org with the subject line “Add to Email List.”

Donations Address:

Mission to the World

P.O. Box 116284

Atlanta, GA 30368-6284

God has blessed the ministry of BEAMM greatly over the past eighteen years by sending many willing servants to the border to advance His kingdom. As you can imagine, with an area 2,000 miles long, 120,000 square miles in area, and fourteen major border cities, opportunities abound for ministry. We need servants like you to help us reach the over ten million people now living on the border with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

BEAMM serves as an "empowering" agent, providing financial, educational, and human resources to presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church in America on the United States side and presbyteries of the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico on the Mexico side, so that churches may be established and cities transformed with the Gospel.

We have a wide variety of ways in which you can serve for one week, one to eleven months, two to three years, or long term as a career. Please check out the areas of service that we currently have available and then pray how God may lead you to work with our expanding team of missionaries and Mexican national church planters and pastors.

If you are interested in any of the opportunities listed below, please contact Gene Bowman, BEAMM Coordinator, at (915) 838-3747 (home), (915) 892-4778 (cell), or glbowman@beamm.org.

• BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region - Career
  A BEAMM Regional Director drives the work of BEAMM is his region, developing relationships with local churches, helping to recruit new workers and discover educational and financial support for these workers. He also serves as BEAMM's liaison to presbyteries on both sides of the border as well as to BEAMM Partners.

• The ideal candidate must be a mature man, fluent in both English and Spanish, with good organizational skills. Being an ordained Teaching Elder is a plus, but not a requirement. He must be able to encourage and mentor others, with good leadership development skills. He must be able to raise his own financial support as well as the support for other workers and projects within his region. He must pass an assessment process. He may live on either side of the border in the region where he is working.

• English Language Trainers - Intern, Two-Year, Career
  Many on the border are eager to learn English. For those who live in the U.S., learning English allows them to assimilate more quickly into the U.S. culture and allows them to find better employment. For those living in Mexico, learning English allows them to better their employment situation, opening up opportunities for advancement in the U.S. assembly plants located all along the border.
• The ideal candidate may be a man or a lady who is college-age or older with an aptitude for teaching and a command of the English language. English as a Second Language Training will be provided to every candidate. Supervision will be given by the BEAMM Regional Director of the area where the candidate is working. The candidate will be responsible for developing class sites, schedules, recruiting students, teaching students, and routinely evaluating their progress. The candidate will work with a local church so that the Gospel may be presented to the students and so that a relationship may be developed between the students and the local church. Fluency in Spanish is a plus. but not required for interns. Two-year and Career workers will be required to either be fluent in Spanish or be willing to learn Spanish. He must be able to raise his own financial support and pass an assessment process.

• Seminary Instructors - Two-week, Two Year, Career
  BEAMM is committed to the training of national men in areas of leadership and theology. We are doing this through local seminaries as well as extension learning. In order for these seminaries to be effective, we need mature, competent instructors to teach theological concepts along with pratical application.
• The ideal candidate should be a mature Christian, very familiar with Reformed theology and the Doctrines of Grace. He should be able to teach in a seminary environment. An M.Div. or higher is a plus, but is not required. Opportunites exist for a person to come to the border to teach a particular class within a one to three-week period. Additional opportunites exist for full-time teachers. Two-year and Career instructors must be able to raise their own financial support and must pass an assessment process.

Pastors' Vision Trip: Ukraine 2008

Darrell McIntyre, pastor of Westminster PCA, Gainesville, TX, and Craig Weaver, Associate Pastor of Christ PCA, Tulsa, OK, made a trip with Mission to the World last month to Ukraine to visit the PCA's works in L'viv, Odessa, and Kiev.

What is a vision trip?

MTW vision trips come in all shapes and sizes, but they are designed with you in mind. Some trips target one ministry or geographic area; others are wide-ranging. Although a few trips provide limited opportunity for hands-on ministry, the focus is on vision rather than participation. All, however, offer personal challenge and spiritual growth.

Vision trip participants sometimes come from churches that are exploring new sites or ministry opportunities based on the strategies and objectives of their own church. Others are already committed to particular ministries, but are exploring ways in which they and their church might deepen their involvement. Still others are seeking to develop their own church’s missions focus and strategy, so are interested in a broader ministry overview

Some who visit the field are interested in seeing personally the ministries in which they are investing, or they may be seeking where God might have them invest resources in the future. Just getting a bigger vision for missions, or even seeking direction regarding a possible call to the field, sometimes provide motivation to join a trip.

NTP's MTW Committee offers up to $1000 per minister for a vision trip (funds permitting, of course). Contact the Committee through the Presbytery's website (link at right) for more details.

Psalm 117

Our prayer is that Christ Jesus be glorified by all the peoples of the earth. Have a blessed Lord's Day.

Here's Australia's Sons of Korah and Psalm 117

May 2008 Report

Rick & Pam Box #010519 Bogotá, Colombia

Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound

Concluding their first year back “home” in Bogotá, Rick is pastor of the English speaking United Church of Bogotá (training three Colombians to be examined for RE in June!!!) and continues his work with Colombian churches hoping to plant a Spanish speaking church in the United Church building. Pam is teaching Sproul’s ‘Dust to Glory’ to a Ladies’ Bible Study in English.

rbox@mtwsa.org pamelajbox@yahoo.com

Dawn Brady #010572 Ukraine

Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine (EPCU) was particularized on April 16! This is a great step forward for the church we work with in Ukraine.

Dawn married Steve Sparks on April 26 and they will be thinking and praying about whether God is calling them to return to Ukraine. For the remainder of 2008, Dawn will be on HMA and will be visiting supporting churches and giving reports on the work in Kiev.

dbrady@mtwukraine.org http://dawnukraine.shutterfly.com

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731 Thailand

Park Cities, Dallas

Returning from their two-year term in Thailand, Andrew and Becky plan to begin at Covenant Seminary, St. Louis, in June. While both work toward Masters Degrees, they will continue to work part time in recruiting, administration and vision trip leading for MTW's Director of Asia-Pacific.

bronsons@mtwthailand.org www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718 Brazil

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

“Our new school year began the 4th of March with 89 students: 31 in the 1st year (5 married), 34 in the 2nd year (11 married), and 24 in the 3rd year (2 married) - graduating class. A former graduate of the Bible Institute, who is married to one of the music department teachers, has taken over my classes. I hope to be back at the Bible Institute July 16 to begin the 2nd semester the beginning of August.”

HMA - January to mid-July. Contact her for personal visits to your church or missions conference.

2773 Gillis Hill Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306

(910) 867-8112

dinkinsmr@hotmail.com

Peter Dishman #011731 RUF-UNAM, Mexico City

MTW/RUM

Town North, Richardson

“The spring semester is off to a good start, with our large group meeting just off campus at the Baptist Student Center, several new small groups, and some good visits from RUF chapters in Texas and Florida over Spring Break. Pray for the RUF team in Mexico City this semester (Peter Dishman, Ruth Martinez, Jared Weatherholtz, Josh & Amy Oettle), for growth as friends and co-laborers.”

pwdishman@gmail.com http://www.rufmexico.org/ (English) http://www.curunam.org/ (Spanish)

Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783 Mexico

Church Planter Training

Park Cities, Dallas

Caleb and Aimee have been in Cd. Victoria and Monterrey since 2003, building a school and training Church Planters & teams. Abigail and Andrew were born there. He began his D.Min. in Pastoral Counseling at WTS Philadelphia in August, all the while commuting often to maintain his role as Director of the school in Mexico.

HMA travel ends with return to Monterrey June ’08. Notify him for personal visits to your church.

Caleb plans to be with us at Presbytery.

caleb@mtwmex.net aimee@mtwmex.net

Ben Graber #012803 East Germany

Fort Worth PCA

Ben is in Berlin since last October on a two-year term. The church plant his team serves plans to move into its own space in June. $10,000 matching funds grant for set-up. Contact Ben to contribute.

Ben.graber@gmail.com http://bengraber.blogspot.com

Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418 SIL Support

MTW/Wycliffe

Trinity Presbyterian, Plano

“We are just starting the planning phase of changing the email system for all the field locations as well as the Linguistics Center (Graduate School) in Dallas and the JAARS Center. This will be a large project which will take a year. Also, working on secure communications for translators in sensitive locations.”

Scott_nelson@sil.org

Josh & Amy Oettle #015711 UNAM, Mexico City

Park Cities, Dallas

Josh and Amy Oettle (pronounced Ettly), arrived in Mexico City in August to begin their 18 month term of study and service with Peter Dishman at the UNAM, one of the world’s largest universities. The Oettles are now half way through their time in Mexico City, and could use your prayer for continuing language development, ministry activities, and thoughts about the future.

Josh.oettle@gmail.com joshandamyoettle@wordpress.com

Howard and Deidre Shelden #016816 SIL/Dallas

MTW/Wycliffe

New Covenant Presbyterian, Dallas

Deidre is in her first year as Associate Director of Personnel for Wycliffe USA. Howard draws on his two decades of experience in a sensitive country to assist the VP of Corporate Communications by writing and editing publicity materials for government relations. “It is important that our message be culturally and politically sensitive, not only for the intended audience, but also for anyone in any country who might stumble across one of our Web sites.”
Howard_Shelden@WBT.org Dee_Shelden@WBT.org http://www.wycliffe.org

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819 Ukraine

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

Beginning in Kiev, they’ve been in L’viv now a year. Chaz and Nika are well. Doug & Masha are busy with language school and a move into apartment. Last week’s visit with NTP pastors left a taste of home. “While you’re praying, ask God to send a few more families and singles to join the L’viv Church Planting Team.” Pray for Doug’s Mom, undergoing CA treatment.

Free2travel98@yahoo.com

►◄►◄

NEWS FROM BEAMM

Border Evangelism and Mercy Ministries

• Steve Milvain, Village Seven PCA, is the new Chairman of BEAMM Partnership.

Next Partnership Meeting – May 16-18, 2008 New Life PCA, Escondido, CA

BEAMM Partners NTP Are: 5th St., Tyler, Ft. Worth PCA, Redeemer, McKinney, and Westminster, Gainesville. steve@milvain.com

• Unreasonable delays forced BEAMM to cancel land purchase agreement in Cd. Juarez, postponing plans for a Community Center that would have become home to the Gracia y Paz Church, and the San Pablo Seminary. Pray for guidance to another solution.
• Plans are that La Vid (The Vine) Church in Laredo, Eastern Region, be particularized in June, 2008. Carlos Cano, Pastor.
• Movement of a 14,000 sq. foot building for Dios Soberano (Sovereign God) Mission, Mexicali, Western Region has again been delayed due to donor’s conflicts. Donor has now committed to having his crew dismantle the building in May, then loading it on trucks heading for Mexicali in June.
• Five Missionary Units or Church Planters now headed for the border: Ray & Michelle Call, Rick & Sharon Marooney, Julio & Arlette Navarro, Gary & Kay Whiting, Jeff & Heather Vaughn.
• Personnel Needs: BEAMM Regional Director - Eastern Region: Career:

English Language Trainers: Intern, Two-Year, Career:

Seminary Instructors: Two-week, Two Year, Career:

Contact Gene Bowman, 915-838-3747, glbowman@BEAMM.org

Summer Interns to host Summer Mission Trips – 2008,

Contact Luann Bowman, luannbowman@BEAMM.org

• Check in at www.BEAMM.org to keep abreast of events on the border.

►◄►◄

AROUND THE PRESBYTERY

Vision trip to Ukraine:

TE Darrell McIntyre, Westminster, Gainesville and TE Craig Weaver, Christ PCA, Tulsa returned last week from a week in Ukraine, visiting our work in Kiev, L’viv, & Odessa. Ask them for details.

For PCPC schedule of Mission Trips see:

http://www.pcpcmissions.org/world/ ntpmtw@juno.com

Opportunities to share in a Mission trip:

• Cristo Rey's trip to Ciudad Victoria, Mexico August 2 – 9

Contact Esmeralda Palomares - cristorey@sbcuc.net

• Lakewood PC MTW BEAMM trip to Juarez, July 12-19

Contact Paul E. Bryant, RE / Lakewood Presbyterian Church / Work: 972-624-2972 / Home: 214-324-2043 / Cell: 214-563-3068

• Town North Presbyterian Church's Summer 2008 Team to Quertaro, Mexico,

July 26-August 2

Contact Kirk McCord (469-867-4171) or Beverly McCord (469-867-4172) or Ed Hotz (214-794-9089)

Rick & Pam Box, MTW Colombia

Rick and Pam, along with their four daughters served as MTW missionaries in Bogota, Colombia between 1993 and 2001 where Rick was the team leader and church planter. During that time, by God's grace, reformed churches were constituted, a Colombian presbytery formed, and a national leadership training program established.

From 2001 to 2006 Rick and Pam moved to Mexico City, Mexico, where Rick served as the MTW Mexico country director. The summer of 2006, they returned to the US for home ministry assignment.

In 2007, Rick and Pam returned to Bogota, Colombia to serve the Colombian presbytery in the areas of church planting and theological training and Mission to the World as country director.

Please pray that the Lord will continue to grow and prosper His Church in Colombia, that He will raise up godly men to lead and teach others, that the culture will be transformed by the truth of the gospel and that Colombian believers will be sent out into all the world as a living testimony of Christ.

The Boxes have four grown daughters: Shannon (3/14/77), Tiffany (6/6/81), Jordan (10/25/83) and Hannah (11/14/87).

The Boxes March 2008 Prayer Letter:

Dear Fellow Pilgrims,
As I am writing there is a deafening whizzing beneath me, dust surrounding me and general disorder everywhere. We are having the wood flooring on the first floor of our rent house refurbished. The whizzing is coming from a gigantic sanding machine that looks much like a vacuum cleaner, but doesn’t do well in sucking in the noxious dust particles that have taken over; much to my dismay. Rick and I have had to wear nose and mouth covers for several days in order to be able to breathe. Hopefully, this job will be finished by the middle of next week, we will still have our lungs functioning and it will have all been worth the mess……hopefully.

Much has happened here since I wrote you last. We had an annual “Day without Cars”, which the Colombian government applauds as eco-friendly, supposedly reducing exhaust fumes in the air. This year, however, someone actually published the statistics and it made no difference at all. On this day, no one with a car, except diplomats and congressmen, of course, can drive anywhere in the city, so the entire population is forced to use public transportation, of which we can only use taxis. The buses are the main culprits of toxic exhaust, so with ALL of them on the roads the same day, well, you can imagine. Many people just take the day off and stay at home. Can you fathom someone suggesting this in the good ole USA?

We also had a national day of protest against the FARC and all the kidnappings and violence they perpetrate. That was also a day off for many people not only in Bogota, but in all the towns and cities in Colombia and in world-class cities around the world. We are told not to participate in any political protest as foreigners, so we went out to watch, but didn’t actually march. I sure wanted to, however! It was encouraging to see the millions of Colombians who took off work to march for peace. Of course, we know that true peace will only come through Jesus and not through political movements or marches, but it was encouraging to see so many seekers. And this is a good platform from which to talk to people about the Prince of Peace.

Easter at United Church of Bogota was wonderful! We were expecting a small turnout since many of our regulars were on vacation out of the country, but the sanctuary was full! We had kept the church devoid of ornamentation in observance of Lent, but on Resurrection Sunday, the church was bursting with color and life. In lieu of Sunday School, we had a brunch with food provided by the members. That can be a risky thing in Colombia where they have not a clue about our native “pot lucks”, but it went extremely well and we had many loaves left over and a few fish!

This coming Sunday, we will be traveling directly from United Church to Cristo Rey to be with them as they celebrate their 15th anniversary. They have been working on their history and have a big party planned with lots of good, Colombian food! We surely wouldn’t want to miss that! And then in just a week, I will be taking off for a vacation! A very generous couple from the United Church, have given both Rick and I miles for a trip to see our girls and grandkids.

Unfortunately, Rick is in the midst of leadership training at the church and can’t leave as early as I can, but he will be flying up a week later. It has been over a year since we have been at “home”, so this is so exciting for us and it will be the first time since we originally left for the field that we have been able to go to Texas just for a visit and not for itineration. I am counting down the days! Please pray for our time with our families and join us in giving thanks to God for this precious gift! I am sorry for the “newsiness” of this letter, but I have been remiss in writing and have so much to tell you.

Time and space escape me and I haven’t even mentioned Rick’s trip to Chile for the Latin American leaders meeting, or Cam Clausing’s visit during Easter week or how excited we are that we are having one of our supporting church groups coming down this summer! I hope it is evident, however, that God is good, all the time, and we can’t remember having so much fun in ministry! So, until the next time we pass this way together: May the God of peace calm your hearts no matter where you are, grant you much grace for the journey, sprinkle your path with joy so that you can skip along the way and bring you safely and securely home at last.

Skipping and jumping,

Pam