Good morning friends at Wallenstein,
Thank you again for the expression of support you have provided for me in my ministry at VMC this past month! It's appreciated a great deal.
Yesterday I spoke to the Persian church in Toronto. They have been affected by the pandemic like everyone else. Though they have been meeting in person since late December they have not as yet regained the momentum they had pre pandemic. Nevertheless, I very much enjoyed my time with them, they love to hear the word of God and it's special for them to have somebody who is a native Canadian speak to them.
Last evening I met with an interim leadership group of a church that has been in turmoil and trouble. We had an excellent time together and I am hoping that they will be able to find their way out of the deep quagmire that they were in. I've been working with them off and on for at least a year and a half now. This coming week I will be at their annual business meeting to provide a report on some of the challenging pieces that we have been addressing.
On Friday evening I plan to be in Toronto for an evening with an Eritrean church. The man who planted this church now wants to go full time. This is quite a challenge for him and his wife. She is continuing to work and he says that if the church can provide half of his previous salary he thinks they will be OK. So on Friday evening we will be conducting a commissioning service for him. A number of other pastors from the Toronto area will be present to affirm and to participate in this evening.
God willing I will be speaking to a Chinese church next Sunday afternoon and then meeting with another Eritrean pastor who is facing a housing crunch. The cost of housing in Toronto is incredibly high.
We are continuing to have conversations on a regular basis with Ishmael of vision ministries Kenya. He is a going concern! He is making a trip to a tribal group in the north of Kenya that are quite remote and living in primitive circumstances. After he visited there for the first time he told me I had no idea there were people in my country still living like that!
I trust you are well and continuing to find joy in serving Jesus,
Gord Martin
Vision Ministries Canada
145 Lincoln Road, Waterloo, ON
519-501-5933 cell