NTP MTW Report, February, 2009

MTW MISSIONARIES
FROM NORTH TEXAS PRESBYTERY

February, 2009 Report

Rick & Pam Box #010519 Bogotá, Colombia

Christ Presbyterian, Flower Mound

Rick is working with the Colombian leaders in churches and church plants in four major cities of Colombia. He and his wife, Pam, are working with the growing reformed Presbyterian Church in Colombia, South America. While the primary task is church-based training of Presbyterian pastors and elders (through church planting), ministry opportunities extend far beyond to other evangelical churches and leaders who are hungry for the Word of God.
rbox@mtwsa.org pamelajbox@yahoo.com

Andrew & Rebecca Bronson #010731 Thailand
Park Cities, Dallas

They are in their first year of seminary work at Covenant in St Louis. 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.
bronsons@mtwthailand.org www.mtwthailand.org

Ruth Dinkins #011718 Brazil

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

“Our new school year begins March 2nd. I will have 4 classes with the 1st year, 2 with the 2nd year and will be adding an elective English class for those interested in translation, and 1-2 flute classes. We have a saying in Brazil, "He who has one eye is a king in the land of the blind". I do play the flute and the Bible Institute has 3 flutes and there are some students interested in learning. So... here I go... to pass on what I know.”

dinkinsmr@hotmail.com

Peter Dishman #011731 RUF-UNAM, Mexico City MTW/RUM

Town North, Richardson

“We have just completed the first week of classes at the UNAM, and our large group and small groups will begin next week! Pray for the group to grow in strength and numbers this semester, for a location for the ministry to call home, and for university students in our ministry to grow in love for Christ and his church. Pray for intern Jared Weatherholtz as he completes his internship this semester, prepares to get married shortly thereafter, and looks longer term to returning to Mexico.”

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

Caleb & Aimee Dunn #011783 Mexico Church Planter Training

Park Cities, Dallas

In Monterrey 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 East Germany

Fort Worth PCA

Following a well-earned vacation to European capitols, Ben is back on the field, resuming his duties supporting the church planting team in place in Berlin. The monetary exchange rate has become a problem to his support budget. He needs prayer for peace of mind in financial matters.

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

Scott & Mary Ann Nelson #015418 SIL Support MTW/Wycliffe
Trinity Presbyterian, Plano

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.

Scott_nelson@sil.org

Josh & Amy Oettle #015711 UNAM, Mexico City
Park Cities, Dallas

Final entry for Josh and Amy. Their 18 month UNAM tour completed, they are at home in Austin, finding new jobs and resuming their lives. VAYA CON DIOS!

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.

Howard_Shelden@WBT.org Dee_Shelden@WBT.org http://www.wycliffe.org

Doug & Masha Shepherd #016819 Ukraine

Christ Presbyterian, Tulsa

Doug and Masha are continuing to make contacts in L’viv in the hopes of planting a church in this influential western Ukrainian city. The Shepherds are active ministering to university students, working with families, orphans, teammates and interns. “We are now in the States (Tulsa) and will return to Ukraine on March 2nd. We are traveling to different churches from coast to coast every weekend. The kids are enjoying their time with grandparents while we all get our medical checkups etc.”
Free2travel98@yahoo.com

NEW! Luke Smith # 17118 Cambodia
New St. Peter’s, Dallas

Just beginning support raising, Luke has been called to work in rural Cambodia training pastors. The majority of the country's population of 13 million lives in villages spread throughout rural areas. It is a country struggling to recover from years of famine and civil war. Currently, less than 1 percent of the people are considered Christian.
LBSmith62@hotmail.com

Dawn Brady Sparks #010572 Ukraine

Fifth Street Presbyterian, Tyler

Dawn and her husband, Steve, are living in Austin. Dawn is continuing her financial and administrative duties from the U.S. supporting the Ukraine team from here, freeing the resident team members for other duties. Steve is beginning Seminary classes as they continue to pray for guidance for future ministry. You can keep up with them on their ministry blog.
dawn@sparkstracks.com. www.sparksministry.org.

Chris & Julie Koiner #14017 Monterrey, Mexico
Heritage, Oklahoma City

Chris and Julie have just begun the support-raising phase of the MTW process. This family, God willing, will join the church planting team in Monterrey and assist in the areas of finance/administration, evangelism and mercy ministries, short-term team support, training church leaders on financial stewardship, and women’s ministry. They will also, through God’s grace, join the other families on the team in being a light in the darkness and an example of a Christ-centered covenant family. Children are: Jacob (9/19/97), Jaden (6/2/99), Jewel (12/30/00), Jennah (1/17/04), and Jillian (11/23/05).

New Missionaries from NTP: The Koiners

By Chris Koiner

We are all familiar with the account in the Gospels where Jesus feeds the 5,000, but I would like to focus on the insignificance of the two fish and five loaves Jesus used in order to describe our call to the mission field. Many of you are aware that Julie and I were officially approved in September as missionaries with Mission to the World (MTW) and are just beginning the fund raising process in order to join the church-planting team in Monterrey, Mexico. It is our prayer that God would use our story to encourage others to get involved in missions and, maybe for some of you, to answer God’s call to the mission field.

Our journey began about three years ago when God sparked a small flame in me after hearing a missionary give their story during the Sunday school hour at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. Julie and I discussed the possibility of missions and agreed to contact MTW. Providentially, God brought several MTW missionary families that Heritage supports through town over the next few years. We had a wonderful opportunity to share a meal and discuss their experiences on the field and how they discerned their call to missions.

We decided to start the MTW “process” by completing the application paperwork and going through a phone interview. I refer to the steps required for an MTW missionary to get on to the field as a process, because it is designed to help you discern and confirm your call over a period of several years. One can move through this process as quickly as two and a half years, but for our family, it could take as long as five years from the time we completed our initial applications in 2006. Julie and I, and our immediate families, have come to appreciate the time and care MTW commits to their missionaries, from the application and selection process, to the readiness evaluation and pre-field training. MTW thinks and plans long-term so their missionaries have the best chance of success once they are on the field.

We have just begun the support-raising phase of the MTW process, which usually takes about a year and a half, but, in our situation, could take longer than two years. MTW requires their missionaries, by design, to raise their own support through partnering with churches and individuals. The amount we are required to raise in monthly and one-time support is daunting, but we know that God will use this process to build our faith and confirm our call to Monterrey.

Our family, God willing, will join the church planting team in Monterrey and assist in the areas of finance/administration, evangelism and mercy ministries, short-term team support, training church leaders on financial stewardship, and women’s ministry. We will also, through God’s grace, join the other families on the team in being a light in the darkness and an example of a Christ-centered covenant family.

What can an accountant, homemaker, and five children do to help build God’s kingdom in northern Mexico? How can two fish and five loaves feed well over 5,000 hungry people? Inadequate, hopeless, impossible, yes, all the words I would use to describe the two fish and five loaves in man’s hands, but in our Savior’s hands they become satisfying, an over abundance, and a testimony to His lordship over all things. Our family is nothing special, we have the same struggle with sin and doubt that all of you have, which is why His name will be all the more praised by using us to build His kingdom.

So, we are asking you to partner with us prayerfully and financially, but we also encourage you to consider getting directly involved with missions work, whether through a week long trip, a short-term commitment, or as a career missionary. If God can use us, then He, certainly, can use anybody!

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.