Dear friends,
Here are a few things to report on and for you to pray for:
Alpha Course Visit
Our dear friends, Phillip and Jules Kunhardt, have invited Jason to participate in and Alpha course they are currently leading for 20-30 friends of their 4 children. The whole thing is taking place online as their kids are scattered and all their friends even more so. They are approaching the part of Alpha where many people commit their lives to Christ. Along with 2 other “experts” they want us to come to 2 sessions. The first one will just introduce us and let us take part in the session with them as normal participants. The following week, there will be the opportunity for us to meet with participants one-on-one. We are thankful and honored for this ministry opportunity. Please pray.
A Torchbearer Connection
Through a friend, Jason was contacted by a young engaged couple with an unusual request: they met last year at the Torchbearer Bible School in New Zealand. He is American and studying now at Liberty University. She is German and currently finishing up her studies in Germany. Her pastor in Germany did not feel up to the task of doing bi-lingual, cross-cultural, long distance, online premarital counselling and so they were wondering if I would do it. Because of our common Torchbearer background, I have agreed. We will be meeting several times over the coming months. Pray for me as I invest in these young people’s lives.
Cologne Area Leadership
After serving a number of years as the GEM German Field Leader and then the Cologne Area Leader, Jason felt led to step out of this leadership position and turn over the responsibility to a younger leader. We are pleased that the Lord has provided just the right person who also came to the same conclusion. We are co-leading over a 2-month transition period before Jason steps out. We will still be involved with our younger colleagues as the senior missionaries in the area and look forward to our continued input of experience and guidance in the lives of our team in Cologne.
Giessen School of Theology
The next board meeting will take place later this month. As you may recall, we dedicated a large addition to the campus last fall, expanding the capacity to train up to 250 students. The building turned out to be beautiful and creates an awesome vibe for the students. Jason was honored when the chairwoman of the building committee asked if he would be willing to loan a piece of his artwork. While on campus for the dedication, we looked at some of the walls that could come into question, and he was inspired to create a new piece to donate. It is the biggest canvas that Jason has transformed - 180cm X 180cm (almost 6 feet square!). Now we are facing the challenge of transporting it to Giessen 100 miles away.
Training in Bucharest
Next week we are flying to Bucharest for the annual GEM Leader Meetings. Sue has been asked along with a colleague to do a Multi-Cultural Leadership Training as the training portion of the conference. As GEM has become intentionally international, the need for this kind of training has become acute. Please pray that the training would be inspiring, effective, and well received.
Financial Update
As you may recall, last fall we were in need of some additional funding. We are thankful and pleased to say that our need for special gifts has, for the time being, been eliminated. Also, we are grateful to report that our monthly support shortfall has been reduced by $1000. Praise the Lord. However, we still are in need of $1600/month. If this isn’t reduced significantly, we will soon begin to slip back into a deficit situation. Please pray that the Lord would provide through His people.
Health
Our second bout with covid, just before Christmas, has apparently weakened our immune systems - especially Jason, who has had a series of short unrelated illnesses since then. Please pray for our health, especially as we have ministry travels coming up this month.
Gratefully,
Jason and Sue
