august 2026

 

Dear Friends, Over the years we have spoken of E., a long-time member of the CologneProject and the small group in the PastorenAtelier.  E. immigrated to Germany when he was a young child with his parents.  He professed Christ as Savior and was baptized in our Fellowship.  His past is filled with abuse, tragedy, and regret – all of which continues to haunt him in the present.  Last week his visa extension was denied and he is facing deportation, which could take place any day.  He will be returned to a “home” country which he no longer knows and where he has very few contacts.  The photo belong was taken at our small group meeting last Tuesday.  Please pray for God’s miraculous intervention, his presences and provision for E., regardless of the outcome.   On a joyful note, Sue has been supporting Z. and M. for many years in their endeavors to receive a basic secondary education.  Countless hours of tutoring in English and German have been spent together.  Both Z. and M. received a grade 9 certificate during the COVID pandemic.  After state exams in May, they were both informed that they had received the Grade 10 certificate.  This is comparable to a CAEC in the Canadian system and a GED in the US.  This achievement allows them to pursue a technical skill, and potentially study at university, attaining satisfying jobs in the general economy, and freeing them from dependence on the social system.  In the photo below the three of us are celebrating this milestone at an ethnic coffee shop.  It was a great opportunity to talk about the goodness of God and his care and provision for us.  Both women continue to face many challenges, including in their family and personal lives.  Pray that God would enable them to continue taking the steps toward full self-support and that they would find their ultimate refuge in him.   Sue has been a member of the Belong Group (and its predecessor) within GEM for many years.  GEM has become an international organization with staff from many continents and countries, not just North America.  The purpose of the group is to make all staff members of GEM feel recognized and equally valued.  To this end she has generated articles and training material.  Here is a link to access an article that she wrote spontaneously after reading a news article on the World Cup.  If you are interested in more articles or training for your work, church, neighborhood or ministry contexts, please contact her. Thanks to each one of you for your encouragement, prayers and financial support.  We are intricately linked in this work for the Kingdom. Jason and Sue   PS: It has been a rough year financially. Some of our supporters have retired resulting in a reduction of their support. Others have passed away. The strong euro and the weak dollar have also diminished our ministry account - leading to a salary cut. Would you prayerfully consider supporting us or increasing your support and/or giving a special gift? (Goal: $2000/month and $10,000 in special gifts to catch us back up) Here is the link to give.

dec 2025

Dear Friends,
Like many of you we have been immersed in Christmas concerts, celebrations, and preparations.  Jason recently had the opportunity to give some instruction to the men’s choir as they prepared for their Christmas concert regarding the proper pronunciation for the two songs that they sing in English. Some of the men hadn’t even realised that he’s American.  We tend to blend in well.  After the rehearsal, over refreshments, a young ethnic Chinese singer came up to him and asked what a “manger” is. Then he wanted to know about the word “thee”. When Jason used the informal form of “you” in German he wanted to know why he didn’t use the formal word since it was being directed at God.  He was astonished that God would be addressed in a familiar way. This led into a wonderful conversation with a couple of other men at the table about Jesus and the incarnation.  Why would God become one of us?  That little baby in the manger is the reason that we can relate to and talk to God personally!
 
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:14
 
We wish you all of God’s fullness this Christmas.
 
Loving Christmas greetings,
 
Jason and Sue
 
PS: Please consider giving an extra gift so that we can finish this year financially strong. click here!

nov 2025

 Dear Friends,

 
As this season of thankfulness comes to a festive close, we want you to know how grateful we are for your partnership with us in prayer and financial support.  Although we don’t celebrate on a particular day, it is indeed a season of thankfulness.  German and Canadian Thanksgiving are on various days in October and US in November.  It seems fitting to make it a season of thanksgiving.
 
We are amazed and grateful for how God has been working in the last six months.  A highlight has been Jason’s involvement in the Cologne men’s choir.  The concert in Vienna was an unforgettable experience.  Jason was able to have some very personal spiritual conversations with a few of the men, as one man especially opened up about a deeply painful experience in his life.  
 
Sue has also had several spiritual conversations with one of the wives.  As they visited one of the many art museums in Vienna M. was drawn to this painting of Jesus’ agonizing prayer on the Mount of Olives before his arrest.  I commented that it seemed somewhat realistic, especially in its portrayal of Christ.  M. reflected deeply and said, “And he didn’t even know how it would turn out in the end”.  I replied, “But isn’t that what faith is all about”?  God is faithful and worthy of our trust.  Even in this moment Jesus is our example of following and trusting him. 

And thank you for all your prayers and support of Jason’s concert in Cologne a week later.  It was another over-the-top experience.  The room was packed, the music wonderful and inspiring.  Jason was able relax and enjoy the moment as he shared about our lives and his faith.  
 
Please pray for more opportunities to share with the men’s choir.  Pray for Sunday, Nov. 30 and Dec. 14 as we celebrate Advent with the English conversation group.  We will sing Christmas Carols in English and have opportunity to share about our faith.
 
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever, this faithfulness continues through all generations.”  Psalm 100

oct 2025

Please pray for my concert tomorrow. I had a fantastic dressed rehearsal yesterday with Sebastian at the venue (foto). I booked the room in faith that we could fill the 50 seats. I personally invited more than 150 people and so far 49 have said that they are coming even though I didn't ask for an RSVP! Please pray that God would prepare the hearts of the guests. Pray that the love songs will soften and open hearts for the songs with spiritual content. Pray that I would sing well and that God will help me be wise and winsome as I introduce the songs and share about our lives and our faith.

update august 2025

 

Dear Friends,
These are the first 4 lines of the lord's prayer - hanging on the side of a bookshelf in Jason’s pastorenatelier next to his dad's favorite fishing lure (rapala!) and a set of angel wings (you never know when they may come in handy ;-). Recently, after one of the english conversation group meetings, S asked him why he has those sentences hanging there. She recognised them from her childhood. He told her that some time ago we had some church meetings here where we unpacked those sentences one word at a time, starting with “Vater”. What does it mean for us to know that we have a heavenly father? What is heaven like? There are so many aspects of that prayer that we can talk about. She seemed truly interested as they chatted for a few more minutes and he invited her to check out our bible study group. Please pray for S and the others in the group, that the Lord would continue to draw them to himself.

Jason has been able to set a date to perform the concert in the well-known location that is the home of the men's choir. Having Sebastian accompany him is an answer to prayer - one of the best jazz pianists around - who had played countless times in our church services. Please pray for them as they prepare these songs of love, life and faith. Pray that God would give Jason the right words to say in his comments between songs.

Also, we are looking for people to sponsor this event financially. The budget is $2500. We just need 5 people to contribute $500. Here is our giving link. Please let us know if you want to get behind this special outreach.

Gratefully,

Jason and Sue

 Dear Friends,

There are so many people we have relationships with who we are discipling toward faith or growth in their relationship with Jesus. Sue continues to teach and help people to interact with others who may be very different from themselves. Jason is an accessible pastor to the people in the neighborhood in his artist’s studio called the Pastorenatelier (pastor’s workshop) occasionally hosting events that draw people in. But we are always looking for ways to reach new people for the gospel in ways that fit our gifts and the platforms God has given us.

Jason is singing again! Taking voice lessons from a jazz artist and now, after a lengthy audition process, joining a traditional Cologne men’s choir that has a 180 year history. With 130+ singers, there are lots of new people to get to know. Music is a gateway into people’s hearts on so many levels including among those you sing with. Please pray for good connections and spiritual conversations that lead toward Jesus.

Z and F are a couple of refugee women with whom Sue has developed a close friendship. Z has been looking intensely for another apartment as she, her husband and son, are being forced to move because the landlord supposedly wants to live in their apartment himself. Recently Jason bumped into them at the market and asked her how the apartment hunting was going. Her exasperation was evident. It is very difficult for anyone to find a place these days in Cologne - especially refugees. Jason told her confidently that He knew that God had a place for them.  A few weeks later Jason was scheduled to preach in a church right in their neighborhood so Sue invited them to come. We were so happy that they decided to brave all of their uncertainties to attend a Christian church service. They experienced a very loving, hospitable fellowship of Believers and were exposed to the Gospel as Jason preached on the glory of God (Rev. 21). Later, with tears in her eyes, Z shared with Sue about how Jason’s words about God having a place for them impacted her.  As she walked away she felt the huge burden of concern being lifted and was filled with peace.  One week later they were offered an apartment! Please pray for these 2 women and their families.

Gratefully,

Jason and Sue

Merry Christmas 2024!

 

Dear Friends, We had 9 people out for our last English conversation group before the holidays so we had a little christmas party and had great time singing christmas carols in English. At the end, after we sang Silent Night, I started to talk about how it probably wasn't very silent - with a crying baby, cows and goats and chickens, etc. One question led to another about the Christmas story and based on their questions I was able to share the entire Gospel with them! Then I sort of apologised saying that I hadn't intended to start preaching, but they said no, no, Jason. We didn’t know about so much of that. Thank you for explaining it to us. Nobody has ever told us before. Whew! It was crazy. Please pray for a, s, c, j, a, j, b, k and m - German, Polish, Swiss, Iranian and Iraqi background. Pray that they would draw near to God Incarnate - Emmanuel: God with us! Christmas Greetings, Jason and Sue