Phil & Andrea Bauman (SIM)
Merry Christmas
It is wonderful to be able to celebrate the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ!
We hope you have a joyful Christmas season.
"How has the first year been?"
This is a question we hear a lot! It is coming up to 10 months since Phil took over as International Director. These months have been months of change, challenge, joy and opportunities.
Our greatest joy is being able to see the people God has brought to SIM serving with joy and passion as they pursue the purpose and mission that we share.
It was great to be back in Ghana in September for SIM's Board of Governors meetings. We are very grateful for these women and men who provide oversight to the work of SIM. They are also a great source of encouragement to us both.
Being in Ghana we took the opportunity to spend a few extra days and connect with friends and colleagues. Even our dog seemed to remember us from more than 5 years ago! Unfortunately we didn't have time to visit all our SIM colleagues but we plan to be back with them later in 2025.
Later in September, Phil had the privilege to spend a few days in Ethiopia to attend and speak at a conference for East African church leaders on the theme of "May the Desert Tribes Bow". It was a great opportunity to meet a variety of church leaders and to meet our SIM leaders on the ground. Dr. Seble on the left leads our East Africa Sending office and Cherry on the right leads our team in Ethiopia.
Phil also enjoyed the opportunity to be in Seoul, Korea for the 4th Lausanne Congress. There were a significant number of SIM colleagues who also attended. The world is a rapidly changing place and it was good to hear about and think together with brothers and sisters from around the world about how we join together to "Let the Church Declare and Display Christ Together”.
Where are the Indian states of Megalaya and Mizoram? Given where they are located, you might be surprised to learn that they are part of India. SIM has many colleagues sent from these and other North East Indian states. We both had the joy of speaking at a retreat for their sending office team in October. We also visited some key church partners to thank them for sending missionaries. We were inspired by the history of the church in NE India, and their passion for missions.
In early November, the SIM International Leadership team had their annual meetings, this year in Panama. It was a great opportunity to spend time in prayer, worship and fellowship together. We are usually scattered around the world so times together are essential to help us strengthen our relationships so that we can lead well together. A fun, wet time at the Panama Canal was great way to build relationships.
Visiting colleagues in Japan and Singapore as well as a Regional Leaders gathering in Malaysia gave us a busy few weeks later in November. The opportunity to spend time with leaders and those on their teams is always a highlight. We love hearing the way God is at work. Many times we are asked to help teams to think through organizational structure or ministry direction. Andrea is also able to spend time with, encourage and help our personnel teams. We desire to be an encouragement to all that we meet. Thankfully we were able to schedule some time in the middle of that busy trip to relax and see some sights.
SIM Niger celebrated 100 years of ministry this year. In most cases that marks the beginning of the church in Niger. We were hoping to be there to celebrate with them in early December, however, we had to cancel that trip as our visas did not arrive in time.
Family update!
Our family is doing all doing well.
Kieran, Mackenzie and Thea live close by so we get to see them regularly when we are home. Thea is a delightful 4 month old.
Liam and Meridith currently live in Ottawa where Meridith is on a one-year contract with Health Canada. She has her Masters in Public Health and we were able to be home to celebrate her graduation in late October.
Cara is a busy physiotherapy student living in Toronto and enjoying her course.
We look forward to having some time all together over the Christmas season. We are so grateful that each of our kids are seeking to honour God with their lives and that they are happy to hang out with us!
Looking Ahead
In early January, we will be in Nigeria for a couple weeks. Phil will be the main speaker at the team conference and Andrea will lead a seminar. We will then spend some time visiting with the team in various ministry locations. We would value prayers for energy and safety.
In February, we plan to spend a week with SIM International staff at the office in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Later in February, we head off for Board meetings followed by a large gathering of SIM leaders. Andrea is on the planning team for the leaders' gathering and Phil has lots of preparation to do for both the Board meetings and the leaders' gathering.
Following those events we plan to spend some time with leaders on one of SIM's Leader Development 'flights'. This is a great opportunity for Phil to establish relationships with newer SIM leaders.
Our life continues to involve lots of travel and connections with SIM's people around the world. Pray for wisdom in all our connections and speaking engagements.
Andrea continues to enjoy serving as a key part of the International Personnel team and is grateful that she can do that in the midst of travel.
Participating with us
SIM's motto is 'By Prayer'. We are very grateful for the many people that pray for us on a regular basis. We try to provide more frequent prayer updates to those that have requested. We'd love to have more people praying for us. If you would like to receive these regular updates, please drop us an email or click here.
God is a wonderful generous God. We also know of many places in SIM and in our own roles where additional financial resources are needed. If you are able we'd like to invite you consider the following ways you can join with what God is doing through SIM:
SIM's Leader Development - Project 99696 (just add 99696 where prompted)
Our ministry effectiveness is impacted by the caliber of our leaders. Join with us to develop our leaders.
Faithful Witness - Project 99746
The initiative places teams of multi-cultural and multi-skilled workers in communities across the world where there is virtually no Christian witness.
Bauman support or ministry (03497) to help cover our personal support costs or allow us to direct resources where needed within SIM.
(The links above are for SIM Canada. The names or numbers or our number can be used with any other SIM website such as SIMUSA or SIMUK.)
Those of you outside Canada may not know, but Canada Post has been on strike so while we have mailed out some Christmas Cards, they will no doubt arrive very late!
For Prayer
Praise God
For our Board of Governors and all that they do to provide oversight for Phil and the rest of SIM.
That we could see friends and colleagues while we were in Ghana for the Board meetings.
For the many leaders and other SIM people we have been able to connect with on our travels.
That Thea is a healthy growing baby.
For Meridith's graduation and provision of employment.
Pray
That we can both be an encouragement to the Nigeria team and that we will have safety and good health in our travels.
That Phil will be well prepared as he meets with the Board of Governors in mid-February. Pray that the Board will continue to provide effective oversight for SIM.
For both of us in our different roles as we prepare for a large SIM leaders' gathering. Pray that all present will be challenged and encouraged to work together well as we look to accomplish our Purpose and Mission.
That Andrea will have wisdom as she serves SIM's personnel coordinators.
For safe, uneventful travel.
Thank you for your prayers and interest.
