Do you see it?
As the snow melted off our front flowerbed last week, Andrea eagerly pointed out some green shoots poking out of the ground (and through the mesh intended to keep digging squirrels at bay).
Do you see it? This is a question we need to ask in ministry too. Many times we don't look for, or acknowledge the multitude of ways that show God is at work. If we fail to see him at work, we miss opportunities to give him the praise and glory he deserves.
A gardener doesn't wait until the flowers are in full bloom before noticing. Likewise in ministry, we shouldn't just wait for the headline events. What are those small things that show God is at work? We should look for them:
... to see people continue to enquire about and prepare for service in the Middle East
... to see new workers arrive and plunge into Arabic learning
... to see workers have the opportunity to move to a new place in an area where the gospel is even less known
... to see a large school have the opportunity to share Christ daily in online chapels
... to see workers have opportunities to point people toward Christ, carefully, one nugget at a time, in conversations made possible by deepening relationships and trust
... to see workers, and especially local believers, persevere in difficult situations
These are just a few examples of the many ways God is at work in the Middle East - all things we should praise God for.
Beyond the Middle East:
... to see Personnel Coordinators develop skills and be more confident in their roles is evidence of God at work. We need to give him glory.
... to see leadership teams develop partnerships and plan ministries hat cross barriers to the Gospel, is something to give God praise for.
Some of these may seem insignificant in light of our purpose but it is God at work in the small things that allows us to continue to pursue our purpose.
Convinced that
no one should live and die
without hearing God’s good news,
we believe that He has called us
to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ
in communities where He is least known
It is this Gospel purpose that gives us focus. This is why we spend hours connecting with our colleagues by Zoom, Signal, and email.
When will we travel?
This is a question we often get asked. It is also a question we ask ourselves. Before COVID most of our routine work was already conducted virtually so COVID travel restrictions have not been a huge disruption to that.
The inability to travel is beginning to be felt most keenly in our interactions with our closest colleagues. We usually had the opportunity to meet in person with them at least once a year. Now, we are not expecting to be face to face with many of our closest colleagues for 2 years, and quite possibly more!
There are also some specific situations when working with teams that require in-person events. The lack of travel has meant delaying these events.
We are grateful for all that can be done online but there are limitations. Pray for wisdom as we consider when travel will be appropriate.
Family Update
Last fall we shared this photo. Unfortunately restrictions have meant that we have not had all 7 of us around the table since then. We are grateful that we can now at least have 5 of us together. For a while our family interaction was limited to online (almost like when we were on different continents) and outdoor winter walks.
We are grateful Kieran's ankle has healed well. He and Mackenzie are now in the final stages of planning their June 12th wedding. Liam (4th year) and Cara (2nd year) are both currently working co-op jobs. Liam is looking for another co-op job for May-August. Cara will be returning to online classes for May-August while she serves as a residence don at the university.
Events
Did you know, SIM Canada runs online SIMinars twice a month for those interested in learning more about different aspects of mission? Subjects have ranged from “What is poverty?” “What do missionaries do and why?” and “Single in ministry”
This month’s SIMinar is "Business as Mission: Theory vs. Reality" Thursday, April 8 at 8pm [EDT] (click the link to register).
We’d also love to invite you to SIM Canada’s 2021 Virtual Banquet: "Changing times, unchanging God." Saturday, May 8th, at 7pm [EDT] (click the link to register).
You can learn about these and other events at https://www.sim.ca/events/
Prayer Corner
Praise God
healing for Kieran's ankle.
for providing co-op jobs for Liam and Cara.
for keeping each of our family safe and healthy.
for the many ways we see him at work in our lives and in those that we engage with.
for the continued stream of enquirers considering service in the Middle East.
Pray
that we will continue to be intentional to look for those many ways that God is at work and give him the praise and glory he deserves.
that some of those enquiring about service in the Middle East will make a commitment to serve.
for Kieran and Makenzie as they plan their wedding and that they will have a marriage centred on Christ.
that Liam will get a co-op job for next semester.
that Cara can be a testimony for Christ as she serves as a residence don.
that we can maintain productive online relationships with our colleagues, despite the long period without face-to-face time.
Thank you for journeying with us,
Andrea and Phil
