MISSIONS PARTNERS PRAYER GUIDE

Transcription

1 MISSIONS PARTNERS PRAYER GUIDE The purpose of the Mission Lead Team is to encourage, equip, and empower people to engage in missions and with our Missions Partners. The leadership of Grace Baptist Church believes strongly in our call to make disciples. That is why we support local and foreign missions partners who serve in short term and long term roles. God calls each of us to the challenging task of reaching the nations for Him. We unite with those who have dedicated their lives to this calling. Join us today as we pray specifically for them and we ask that you continue to lift them up in your prayers. ~ The GBC Missions Lead Team

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3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Missions Partners Birtles. 4 Dick 6 Dynamic Churches.. 8 Eichmann.. 10 Graham. 12 Grunwald.. 14 Martens. 16 Moody 18 Nelson 20 Nick and Iris.. 22 Seever 24 Smith.. 26 Subramaniyam. 28 Wagner.. 30 Walker 32 Winstanley. 34 Other ABA / NAB 36 GBC Short Term Missions. 37 Mustard Seed

4 DAN & EVANGELINE BIRTLES WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS MEXICO In 2001, Dan and Evangeline began living among the Loxicha Zapotec people in Mexico, learning their language and translating Scripture. In 2009, because of Evangeline s health (Lyme disease), the Birtles moved to Mitla, closer to a centre where other Wycliffe members were working. Dan made frequent trips to the Loxicha area to work with their Zapotec teammates on translation and to hold checking meetings with Zapotec lay pastors. This past year they have been on home assignment, finishing their linguistic/translation/literacy studies and helping their kids transition to life here in Canada. It has been great to hear from the team back in Oaxaca continuing in the efforts in translation and ministry. A Christian radio program beams God s Word in 4

5 Zapotec throughout the language area, another team member travels to a town extremely resistant to the Gospel, and many stories of lives turned around by the JESUS film (nearly 7,000 downloads from the internet!). So encouraging! Pray for wisdom for Dan and Vange as they re-define their roles and responsibilities with the Loxicha Zapotec team and that its members will remain strong and encouraged. Pray for their children, Antonia and Michael, as they place roots somewhere and adjust to Canadian life. Pray that God will continue to bring healing to their lives and draw them closer to Him. On the field since 1998, partners with GBC since 1998 Dan and Evangeline Birtles Adpo. 4 Mitla, Oaxaca Mexico CP dan-vange_birtles@sil.org 5

6 STEFAN DICK INTERACT MINISTRIES (Urban Fire) CALGARY, ALBERTA Stefan grew up in Germany where his parents worked at Black Forest Academy, a school for children of missionaries. InterAct Ministries is a Christ-centered organization that has worked alongside the Aboriginal community in and around Calgary for over 30 years. Throughout this time, more and more Aboriginal young adults have been moving from reserves into the city. With such a transition comes the challenge of stepping into a new culture and establishing a healthy community. It is not easy! Urban Fire is a transitional community initiative created to encourage and support Aboriginal young adults by the love of Jesus. Through living in community and providing housing, work opportunities, and connections to the educational system, Urban 6

7 Fire facilitates opportunities to grow and learn from one another. Our daily discipleship consists of role-modeling, study, and practical experience including outward-focused ministry to strengthen our relationship with the God of the Bible. In 2013, Stefan interned with InterAct in Eden Valley, a reserve southwest of Calgary. Afterwards, he started volunteering with InterAct to help run youth nights, and in 2015 he joined InterAct Ministries full-time. Now he is building a partnership team of individuals and churches who desire to invest prayer, finances, and other talents to see a team implement the vision of Urban Fire. Stefan currently has 85% of the needed financial partners to cover ministry and personal expenses. Pray for a heart to hear the Father, His discernment and perspective in the day to day journey. Pray for Aboriginal input and members for the Urban Fire team. Pray that the Aboriginal community will respond to the Holy Spirit s work in their lives. Pray for wisdom and discernment in discipling Aboriginal young adults. Pray for the Holy Spirit to draw in those He desires to partner with Urban Fire. On the field since 2013, partners with GBC since 2017 Stefan Dick 7 Fonda Drive SE Calgary, AB T2A 6E4 stefan.dick@interactministries.org 7

8 JOSEPHINE ANGIHAN / JULIA AMEHNA / REYGAN OLNAH / JUNICIA ANGIHAN NORTHERN PHILIPPINES DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRY THROUGH DYNAMIC CHURCHES INTERNATIONAL PHILIPPINES Grace Baptist Church has been instrumental in starting a discipleship ministry among the Ayangan speaking people in the northern part of the Philippines. After the first GBC short-term missions trip in 2005, the team chose Gaspar Angihan to continue the ministry. Gaspar came to Canada in 2007 to secure prayer and financial partners on route to becoming a full-time missionary. This people group has an association of churches called the Association of Ifugao Bible Churches (AIBC). Unfortunately, Gaspar went home early to be with the Lord in James Angihan, a member of Grace Baptist Church and a brother of Gaspar, answered the call to keep this valuable ministry growing and thriving. Three local missionaries were found to carry on the work: Pastor Reygan Olnah, Josephine Angihan and Pastor Miquel Banhan. Miguel stepped down in 2016 and Julia Amehna stepped in to partner with Josephine. Junicia Angihan is their administrator and meets with the missionaries once a month for updates, sharing, prayer and to write reports of what is being accomplished as well as making sure their needs are being met. 8

9 James continues to look for more prayer and financial partners to add to the existing team. The fruit of the ministry over the last few years has been to see new members of the team become graduates of the discipleship program. Julia is one of those. Three members of AIBC s board are also graduates of the program. Large numbers of people have been introduced to the faith, been baptized, and become members of the church as a direct result of the discipleship ministry and the work of the Holy Spirit. Pray for the trainees as most are farmers and are busy with their crops. Pray for creative ways for these people to attend meetings and complete their responsibilities at home. Pray for their goal of reaching out to more than 100 churches. Then they can train leaders and help them reach out to their own people. Pray for safety as they visit churches, some of which are in remote areas that require hours of hiking. Some places are also dangerous due to the invasion of government rebel groups. Pray for more prayer and financial partners so that more team members can be added. Two more partners are needed to work with the young people. On the field since 2005, partners with GBC since 2007 Junisia Angihan Batad, Banaue Ifugao 3601 Philippines angihanj@gmail.com 9

10 GÜNTHER EICHMANN WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS CALGARY, ALBERTA Günther joined Wycliffe full-time in 1994 where he works as a senior accountant/financial services officer in the finance department. His focus is managing and looking after payroll. Recently Günther has taken some courses towards his professional designation in order to take on other responsibilities. As a couple, Debbie and Günther have become involved in foster parenting, now entering their fourth year. They currently have three children ages 6, 7 and 14 as well as their own daughter Katya. They have recently been challenged with the possibility of taking on another foster child. 10

11 Pray for Debbie and Günther that they will be the light of Jesus to their foster kids as they endeavor to be good Christian parents and try to help these children to overcome their hurts and various issues. Pray for the possibility of taking on another foster child and the challenges that brings for them and the other children. Pray for Debbie who has severe migraines and arthritis in her hands and feet. Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they prescribe medications, that they will not interfere with the rest of her health and that God would either heal her of this pain in her life or reveal other solutions that will give Debbie relief. Pray for clear guidance and direction for Günther in his future vocational calling. Working with Wycliffe for 21 years, partners with GBC for 13 years Günther Eichmann 335 Arbour Lake Way NW Calgary, AB T3G 3Z8 11

12 BRADY GRAHAM YOUTH WITH A MISSION PERTH, AUSTRALIA In Brady attended YWAM Perth as a student and at the end of the year felt God calling him to go back as a staff member for the 4 Wheel Drive Discipleship Training School for a two-year period. Brady has now completed that two years of being a staff member and has learned a lot about himself, his relationship with God, and his leadership style. He has been encouraged to see his team return for further training, some even aiming to pursue long-term missions to China. He has now been asked to return with an even larger leadership role to fill. 12

13 Please pray for guidance as Brady decides about this role in leadership as it carries more responsibility and commitment. Pray for Brady in his personal life that he would lean on God through the ups and downs of relationships and trust God through it all. Pray that Brady would receive the financial support that he requires to renew his visa and healthcare for the next couple of years, as well as growing his monthly support base and prayer team. Working with YWAM since 2015, partners with GBC since 2015 Brady Graham YWAM Perth 9 Robertson Street Perth, Wa 6000 Australia bradygraham96@gmail.com 13

14 SHERYL GRUNWALD KIDZANA In 2004, the Lord called Sheryl to "Disciple the children of the nations". She joined an organization called Kidzana in Sheryl has been thanking God as she hears reports back from some of her training events. After training a group of 50 in Indonesia, they have reported to have done more than 30 trainings of children s leaders all over the country. In Ethiopia one man on his own has trained leaders of children and youth in 35 churches in his region. Praise God! In the busyness of her life, juggling between school and ministry, Sheryl continues to ask herself an important question: Am I doing the work of God at a pace that is destroying God s work in me? Through her studies in Holistic Child Development God is continuing to break her heart for children at risk and increasing her burden to be an advocate for them in Christ s name. 14

15 Pray for a healthy balance with ministry, school and personal life. Pray that she will be filled with the Spirit and will listen carefully to God as she plans Kidzana s training schedule for the coming year and as they develop partnerships with new regions of the world. Pray for a heart open to ministry opportunities in the formal and informal times as she travels. On the field since 2005, partners with GBC since 2005 Sheryl Grunwald 102 Martin Crossing Court NE Calgary, AB T3J 3P3 PHONE: kidzana@telus.net 15

16 ERNA MARTENS TEACHBEYOND BLACK FOREST ACADEMY KANDERN, GERMANY Erna serves in Kandern, Germany, as a librarian at Black Forest Academy, a boarding school for English-speaking missionary children and other students whose parents are working in other countries. She is working in the high school library and helps out in the elementary library as well. Erna is challenged in her faith as she sees what takes place around her. When she thinks of Martin Luther, he was challenged in so many ways and yet persisted and changed the world. She says, I am not about to change the world, but I can accept the changes even though they may not be comfortable. Please pray for grace in the activities of the daily routine. Pray for grace in living and working with constant change in staff and ideas. Pray for continued good health. This has been such a blessing. 16

17 On the field since 1976, partners with GBC since 1976 Erna Martens Black Forest Academy Bahnhofstr Kandern, Germany PHONE: (49)

18 CRAIG & MAUREEN MOODY NAB CAMEROON Craig and Maureen Moody are in their third year as NAB missionaries now living in a town called Bamkika ai where they are involved in health care through Life Abundant Primary Health Care (LAP). Maureen, an RN, is responsible for continuing education for all the health care staff at LAP nurses, birth attendants, village health workers and field supervisors. Currently, Maureen is working with a team to train village health workers to provide basic medical care, health education and share the love of God to the people in their communities. Craig is involved with various administrative and financial aspects of the program. Currently he is modifying the way the health centres order and report their drug sales. This will help provide easier and more accurate management of medicines and supplies. Currently Cameroon is experiencing a difficult time in which the long-standing tensions between Anglophone and Francophone Cameroon have increased. Rotating strikes have resulted in the inability of people to travel freely and markets and shops are 18

19 closed for one to three days every week. The internet has also been interrupted. Pray that the LAP staff will be able to travel to give medical and spiritual support to the people in health centres in remote communities. Pray that travel bans and difficult roads will not stop them from carrying out their work. Pray for Craig and Maureen as they seek wisdom in the challenges they face in their work. Pray for the village health worker students that they will be successful in completing the Basic Training program and that they will be bold in sharing their faith with everyone in their communities. Pray that a peaceful resolution for the situation in the country can be reached and for a complete restoration of internet service On the field from and Currently on a three-year term that began July Partners with GBC for all three missions. Craig & Maureen Moody CMF Hostel BP 1299 C/O SIL Yaounde, Cameroon mojomoody@gmail.com 19

20 DAVID AND MARLENE NELSON INTERACT MINISTRIES CALGARY, ALBERTA InterAct Ministries exists to make disciples among the least reached peoples in cooperation with like-minded churches and organizations. Their approach is highly relational to live in communities, learn the culture and language and build bridges into the lives of the people. As relationships grow, God frequently opens opportunities to share the gospel with non-christians or speak into the lives of believers with the hope of seeing them become mature, reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ. InterAct missionaries serve among growing immigrant populations of Sikhs and Muslims, living in immigrant neighbourhoods of the larger cities in Western Canada and sharing the gospel through those personal relationships. 20

21 David and Marlene began ministry to Muslims with InterAct Ministries in Calgary in They have 3 married children and 5 grandchildren. Pray that Muslims would become disillusioned with Islam and therefore more open to hearing and accepting the truth of the Gospel and that God s message of salvation will be revealed to them in powerful ways. Praise God for long term relationships with their Muslim friends. They have been visiting Amy and building in her life for many years. Pray for Amy s husband. Pray for repentance, forgiveness and deep reconciliation. Pray for Faye s success in her business and for Joel, her son, for salvation. Praise God for the relationships that they have with Muslims and believers from a Muslim background. They are so thankful for increased freedom to pray with them. They are praising God for the mobility that David still has and the slow growth of his cancer. David and Marlene are celebrating the pending birth of a boy and the added joy of being grandparents. David and Marlene Nelson Street S.E. Calgary, AB T2B 0Z2 PHONE: mar.nel@nucleus.com 21

22 NICK AND IRIS NAB ASIA Nick and Iris began a new assignment in an extremely sensitive country in March 2013 in the field of education, connecting with teachers, parents and students in a variety of venues. They are holding weekly Bible studies with university students and two groups of young couples. Sometimes as a nation they treat religion as knowledge. They look for answers to their questions online. Pray that Nick and Iris may be able to equip themselves to serve the nation better and meet their needs well. Many websites and apps are blocked in this country. Please pray that this will not hinder communication with supporting friends in North America. Pray that God will continue to have mercy on this nation and will keep the door open there to the gospel. Also pray that other people will be willing to serve on the field of East Asia. 22

23 Nick and Iris are currently on home assignment; pray for safe travels as they visit supporting churches and time for rest and refreshment as well. Pray for those who are filling their shoes in their ministry in East Asia right now. On the field since 2009, partners with GBC since All correspondence must be sensitive to their current location. You may also send s to: 23

24 JANET SEEVER WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS CALGARY, ALBERTA Dennis and Janet Seever joined Wycliffe USA in 1975, so marked 40 years in Wycliffe in August They have served in Papua New Guinea; the Philippines; Darwin, Australia; and Dallas, Texas. In 1993, the opportunity arose to work in the Wycliffe Canada office, so they and their two school-age children came to Calgary, which has become home for them over the years. Dennis served in the maintenance department and later in the finance office, while Janet first worked as a writer in the communications department, assisting the Word Alive editor. In 2004, Dennis suffered a very large stroke, which left him unable to speak, read or write and with no use of his right hand. He has never regained any of these abilities. He has difficulty walking and walks slowly with a cane. Since 2009, he has been living in a personal care home and comes home on weekends to be with his family. Janet took over as editor of Prayer Alive in She prepares it for publication four times a year and enjoys knowing that the Wycliffe partners around the world are being lifted in prayer. Prayer makes a difference! She also writes a yearly story for 24

25 Word Alive, does proofreading and assists new members with their bios for partnership cards. The Seevers have two adult children, Tim and Rachel. Tim and his wife, Renylor, have a son named Andrew. Pray that what Janet writes will bless others and that Prayer Alive will generate prayer. Pray for Dennis who is struggling with his walking; it is much less steady than it was a year ago. He also seems confused at times and Janet knows that she needs to be planning ahead for him. Pray also for Janet s health to remain stable. On the field since 1975, partners with GBC since 1993 Dennis & Janet Seever 5335 Rundleview Road NE Calgary, AB T1Y 1J7 PHONE: janet_seever@wycliffe.ca 25

26 CHAPLAIN GORDON SMITH, AVIATION INTERFAITH MINISTRY CALGARY, ALBERTA Fourteen thousand people work in aviation-related jobs and each year 4.5 million people pass through the Calgary airport. Gordon Smith has served as a chaplain to these people since 1987, ministering to both employees and travelers. Unfortunately Gordon lost the tender for this valuable ministry at YYC and is now seeking God s direction for his future. Pray for the Board of Directors as they seek God s will and God s plan for the ministry of Aviation Interfaith Ministry. Pray for Gordon Smith and his family, for God s peace, provision, and direction. 26

27 Pray for all of those over the years who have been touched by this ministry. On the field since 1987, partners with GBC since 1993 Gord Smith and Family 145 Muirfield Blvd Lyalta, AB T0J 1Y1 PHONE: ,

28 GODWIN AND REBECCA SUBRAMANIYAM, SHANTI MINISTRIES (YWAM) YEUN LONG, HONG KONG Godwin, Rebecca, and their daughter Ashly Joy serve as missions partners in Hong Kong. They started a ministry called Shanti (meaning peace in Hindi) Ministries that serves various age and cultural groups. Shanti Ministries focuses on the local minority people groups of Hong Kong, especially Southeast Asian people. Shanti believes God can bring peace into these people s lives. Building friendships with local, ethnic minorities is very important because many people are new to this culture. Some of them have lost their identity and are confused in a foreign country. Shanti believes they can show God s love, care for the poor, and help them find their identity in Christ. Shanti s core value is to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind" and to "Love your neighbour as yourself." This year was very busy with Kid s club (every Saturday), a sports day, and Kid s Club Summer School (VBS). The VBS was the largest they ever had with over 130 children and volunteers! At the graduation even the family members attended! This has never happened before! 28

29 They have close to 30 ethnic minority students registered at Shanti Centre with more on a waiting list. God is answering their prayers! Through the tutoring centre, God has given them the opportunity to visit the homes of the children. This is a special time of really getting to know their families on a deeper level and even pray for them. They now have over 46 children as part of the Kids Club so here as well they are maxed out! Praise God! Pray for God's wisdom and knowledge to lead this ministry. Pray for open doors for this ministry. Pray for God s protection and financial provision for family and ministry. Praise God that they were able to enroll Ashly Joy into an English school after trying for 3 years. On the field since 2005, partners with GBC since 2011 Godwin and Rebecca Subramaniyam P.O. Box 1453 Yeun Long, New Territories, Hong Kong shantiministry@gmail.com 29

30 VERN & GLORIA WAGNER NAB (CAMP FALCON ROCK) SALAJ, ROMANIA Having a passion for camp ministry and years of experience from Camp Caroline, Vern and Gloria followed the calling of God to Romania in November 2016 to assist the team there. They started right in with maintenance and renovations and haven t stopped! God provided a miracle in having received their five-year visas already. They are rejoicing in that! Their first summer was busy with visiting teams, NAB visitors, family visitors, and a VBS! All were celebrated and successful! God has been good. Pray for Vern and Gloria, for patience as they learn the new language. Pray for them as they miss family back home. Pray for the permits needed to continue the work on buildings required to be ready for summer camp. Pray that they can continue to feel God s presence and be where He wants them to be. 30

31 On the field since 2016, partners with GBC since 2016 Vern and Gloria Wagner Camp Falcon Rock Nr. 29 Sincraiu-Silvaniei Salaj, Romania

32 JERRY & CINDY WALKER WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS UKRAUMPA, PAPUA, NEW GUINEA The Walkers were active at Grace Baptist Church while they were working in the Wycliffe office in Calgary where Jerry served as a printer from 1990 to After working in Cameroon for two years, they went to Papua New Guinea in Cindy works with the Scripture Use department and Jerry does audio recordings and works on videos. The Walkers have three adult children: Nathan, (1989); Ryan, (1991) and Leslie (1993). They have been able to record thousands of hours of the Bible in about 20 languages this year. This has gone out on hundreds of Audio Bibles and SD cards to reach the people of PNG. Pray that the recordings will help people engage with the Word of God so that it changes their lives. Please pray for the recordings that they do. Pray for wisdom on how to schedule the work and for the funding needed for these recordings. 32

33 Pray for the impact of the Healing the Wounds of Trauma workshops held this year. Many found freedom from pain and many planned on taking this teaching to their churches. Please pray for Jerry and Cindy as they are on furlough. Pray for strength and joy and for new opportunities to get people excited about missions. Pray for their three children back in the U.S. who continue to make their way as young adults On the field since 1987, partners with GBC since 1993 Jerry and Cindy Walker Box 264 Ukraumpa EPPH444 Papua, New Guinea PHONE:

34 EDITH WINSTANLEY WYCLIFFE BIBLE TRANSLATORS CALGARY, ALBERTA For many years Edith worked at the Malaga Media Centre in Spain where she served as receptionist and bookkeeper. Through their radio ministry and Bible study courses, Malaga Media Centre provides God s Word to the unreached people living in North Africa. Early in March 1999, Edith returned to Calgary to be with her elderly father and found that her skills were useful in the Wycliffe Canada office. She has been serving in the Wycliffe office ever since then, working in payroll. While now officially retired, Edith has continued to help the lady taking over the payroll position. There are so many aspects to the Wycliffe payroll system that it is not easy to pick up all at once so 34

35 she continues to help out about four days a week. Besides payroll, she is still working with some of the ministry or business expense reports. So retirement is still in the distance. Please pray for her to trust in the Lord as she faces retirement. Edith s finances are tight and the Lord is teaching her to trust Him and at the same time to be content. Pray for accuracy and attention to detail. A small mistake can affect a missionary adversely, so she needs the Lord to "keep her on her toes". Pray that she will continue to be an encouragement and a help in the office and with the missionaries that she communicates with. Edith Winstanley 1416 Marlyn Way NE Calgary, AB T2A 3K1 PHONE: edith_winstanley@wycliffe.ca 35

36 ALBERTA BAPTIST ASSOCIATION / NORTH AMERICAN BAPTIST CONFERENCE The ABA exists to connect and enable churches to impact communities for the growth and advancement of the kingdom of God in Alberta and the world. We are also a part of the North American Baptist Conference which is a family of over 400 churches with more than 74,000 worshippers in the United States and Canada. Founded by an immigrant missionary, North American Baptists are a diverse group of believers representing many cultures and languages. As an NAB church, we support both the ABA and the NAB conference as we try to impact our community, reach the nations, and equip the next generation. Please be in prayer for the conference churches, its pastors, missionaries, and ministries. Pray for the international missionaries. Pray for the local missionaries. Pray for future leaders. Pray for the local pastors. Pray for the regional ministers. Pray for the international office staff. Pray for the church plants. 36

37 GBC SHORT TERM MISSIONS PARTNERS AND MISSION TRIPS As a church we believe, with great conviction, that there is immense value in mission work. In fact, we highly recommend that every man, woman, and child experience cross-cultural missions in their lifetime. God has given us the ability to serve others and the experience is of great benefit to those being served as well as the volunteer. Throughout the years GBC has commissioned and sent hundreds of volunteers and short-term missions partners all over the world. God has also raised up leaders from within our congregation that have followed His call to lead trips through various organizations. Some members in our congregation have accepted God s call to serve for longer terms (six months to a year). It is very exciting for our church family to team up with these individuals and support them through prayer and finance. If you, or someone you know, are feeling this prompting from God, our Missions Lead Team would love to speak to you and support you through your decision to follow Christ in this way. Please pray for continued promptings from God to lead individuals and groups to mission work. Also pray for obedience to follow that call. Pray for unified support of groups and individuals on behalf of GBC. Pray for safety and health as missions partners travel away from their homes to new countries and cultural groups. Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and direct our missions partners to serve and minister to the people He determines. 37

38 Brad and Allison Orthner will be returning to Haiti for their 4th trip with Live Different to partner with a community there in Cap Haitien. Allison will be teaching art to the students at the school in their finished art room, while Brad is planning to consult with the local planners and engineers on the new "Freedom Centre" that Live Different is building up the mountain from the school as a rescue and training centre for girls. Please pray for health and safety while travelling. Pray that they would reconnect in a meaningful way with the community members and students. Pray that their connection would help them feel loved, not forgotten, and cared for. 38

39 Mark Taroma is with Youth For Christ Northern Ireland (YFC NI). Nomad, part of YFC, is a sports ministry resource for churches, schools and Christian organizations. It uses a portable football cage and a team of volunteers to engage with young people across Northern Ireland. This cage can be set up anywhere; in a school hall, playground or car park area. Through the football cage, thought provoking presentations and classroom workshops, Nomad is able to promote positive values and greater understanding of the Christian faith to young people and children. These sessions (sometimes 2 in a day) help get the kids off the street and in a safe environment. Please pray for the team in Portaferry. It has a strong Catholic background and is a rough area. YFCNI wants to work with the existing drop-in-centre, however they are resistant. They are still doing cage sessions and the youth are coming out and enjoying playing cage football. Please pray for safety in the teams travels around to all parts of Northern Ireland. Please pray for Mark s walk with the Lord, as he shares and sometimes leads the team (weekly staff/intern prayer meetings) and with the youth in the communities. Please pray as he considers staying another year, as they have asked/offered. 39

40 Ridge Funk will be going to Tokyo, Japan with the organization YWAM (Youth With A Mission) for a minimum of two years. This specific base works heavily with the homeless and young adults, but the Japanese are very reserved so most of the ministry is building relationships with these young adults. Much of his time will be heavily focused on learning the language and culture so that he can eventually have normal conversations with the people there. Eventually, he would love to meet a few Japanese guys and really invest in them, showing the love of Christ through his actions and one day be able to disciple them to go into their own communities to share the Word. Ridge would also love to be a staff leader for a DTS (Discipleship Training School) where he could help and guide young people through the same experience that he has had. 40

41 Japan is known to be filled with depression and suicide. Ridge wants to do his best to be the light in a world of darkness, whatever that may look like. Please pray for spiritual protection; Satan is always trying to knock Ridge down and dissuade him from the faith, so he needs prayer to strengthen him when that happens. Please pray for the funds needed. He has not yet fully received the monthly support he needs to go so pray that God s will would be done and by whatever means that the funds would come. Please pray about the language barrier. Pray for the lack of full communication, that God would supernaturally give him understanding of the language. Please pray concerning his fear/nervousness. Ridge is afraid to leave everything behind like his family, friends as well as his car and dogs and even Canada itself, so pray that he would have peace. Please pray for friends. Pray about making friends in Japan, that God would give him a close friend that he could confide in. Please pray for wisdom and strength. Ridge knows that he can t do this on his own strength and asks that God s glory and boldness would reside in him, that he may have the energy and passion for His work. 41

42 Owen Graham is serving with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) in Davos, Switzerland. He is currently doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School) and is in the lecture phase for the first three months of his six-month experience. After that, he will be serving on the missions phase in South Africa. There he will be serving in a few different ways: helping in orphanages, local ministries, and sharing the gospel with people that the team encounters throughout their time there. Please pray for boldness to share the gospel with the people that they meet. Pray for unity among the students in his school. Pray that Owen would continue to feel God's presence and keep growing while he is there. 42

43 MUSTARD SEED CALGARY The Mustard Seed serves the most vulnerable in the community of Calgary and Southern Alberta. The three pillars of service that the Mustard Seed is founded upon are: basic needs, support programs, and housing. Their vision is to eliminate homelessness and to reduce poverty, one person at a time. Grace Baptist Church is proud to be a part of this mission. Please pray for their clients who come into their shelters off of the streets (they have one downtown and one in the Foothills district). One of the most obvious concerns for them is their physical health. They serve a hot, nutritious meal and provide them with the means to shower and put on clean clothes, but that is just the beginning. Thank the Lord for the opportunity for ourselves and other churches who donate their time, talents and resources for meals for the homeless. Please pray for their continued physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. The Seed actively pursues wellness through offering counseling services, community reintegration programs, support centers, Chaplain Services, and others. Pray that the Mustard Seed staff and volunteers will use the discernment of the Holy Spirit to guide them as they interact and counsel their clients with encouragement and support needed to move them forward on their journey. 43

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