Thanks to the brothers and sisters at Wallenstein for the financial gift forwarded to VMC for our support.
Last weekend Heather and I went to Ottawa. We stayed for the weekend with our son Chad and his family. We always enjoy our time with them!
But it was also a time for ministry. On Saturday afternoon I met with a group of eight pastors at the Pine Grove Bible Church. Among other things we talked about how to understand people. It's a lesson that I wrote for the Kenya leadership training. They were very responsive!
The Ottawa Persian Church then conducted a baptism in that same church facility. They baptized eight people, all from Muslim backgrounds. They were excited! It was such a time of rejoicing.
On Sunday I spoke at Chin Church in Gatineau. It was very good to reconnect with them, they are very dear people. They were telling me that they had given a gift of $5,000 each to the food banks in Ottawa and Gatineau. The community in Gatineau responded by coming and decorating the front of their church with Christmas lights as an expression of appreciation.
Then I went to speak at the Persian Church which is on the opposite side of the city. The room they are using was packed out. They were so eager to hear and to listen, It's exciting to preach at a place like that!
In a few minutes I will be joining a zoom call with Persians who are living in Iran, Turkey and Georgia. This is kind of a desperate group who have fled their country and are unwanted in the countries where they are currently staying. We talk to them every two weeks to provide encouragement and support.
Thank you again for your generous gift,
Gord Martin