When less is more and down is the best way up

Grace and peace in the Lord!

Last week my sister wrote "We haven't heard from you for a while, is everything O.K.?" She is used to getting regular email updates. Usually I send them out before a ministry trip to ask for specific prayer. Even though my bags aren't packed for another trip, we still need your focused prayer. First let me share some of the things that have been happening in our lives.

July was a difficult month because of a health problem that grounded us and brought us to our knees. I won't go into any details about the health issues. I had to postpone a trip to Haiti. Our ministry leaders counseled us to slow down for a while. God is blessing us through this time. We are spending a lot more time together as a couple, and that is so good for us. Our walk with Him is being refreshed and we are learning so much. Healing is taking place and our energy is being restored.

In August we went up to Hershey, PA and the church there provided a missionary home for a couple weeks. From there we visited some family and friends. We participated in grand-daughter Rachel's baby dedication (picture). Gene spoke with some mission pastors and shared in one of our new supporting churches in New York.  

In September, some strategic advances were made. Some of you may remember that Stephen Covey speaks of "Quadrant Four" activities: those that are important- but not urgent- so you never put the time into them. It's a gift to devote time to them. Gene finished the final review of a Baker Church Planting book he is co-authoring with Dr. Craig Ott that will come out in January. Working with our team, we have launched a Web Resource Bank for church planters globally and completed 101-level church planter training.

Another blessing is the perspective you gain when you slow down. God has been speaking about our ministry flowing from who we are in Christ. It's not the amount we accomplish that counts but loving Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. The strength of our ministry flows from a heart that loves God and listens to him. God has given us clearer priorities that will guide our travel and ministry. We will be focusing on regional efforts that develop, empower, and release national workers for church multiplication.

There are exciting things ahead of us this year. Lord willing, Gene will be helping regional church planting leaders in Central Europe, West Africa and Myanmar launch reproducible church planting training, and Linda will be accompanying him to Prague and Germany. But we are still recovering and have to take one step at a time. In October we will be visiting some churches and sharing with pastors in Florida. The next international trip will be to Port-au-Prince, Haiti in November to help with plans for a truly global church planting team. We are expecting church planters from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Brazil, and the USA to come together in a long-term church planting effort that will complement relief efforts already underway.

Would you please bring the following Praise and Prayer items before the Lord?

Praise:

1. God's grace and healing.
   

2.   Great opportunities to launch church planter training in places where none is available.

1. Our kids and grand-daughters are doing well. New ministry for Jarrett and Michelle.
   

 

Prayer:

1. Full recovery of strength and God's continued spiritual formation in our lives.
   
2. God's provision for our ministry ($750/month needed) and guidance as we share with others what God is doing.
   
3. Wisdom in planning training trips and church planting initiatives.
   
4. Church Planting Summit in Port-au-Prince Haiti Nov 8.