How is the adjustment to Singapore?

THE FIRST MONTH

Helping indigenous missionaries
A highlight from our first month in Singapore was travelling to a nearby country, as a family, to serve missionaries at a conference. It is unsafe for these missionaries to meet openly in their own country so we met them in a ‘safe’ third country. For many, it was a rare treat to safely sing songs out loud, gather as a large group and hear Bible teaching.

Despite a tightening government control of digital media, these missionaries are determined to make the love of Jesus known in digital spaces. It was an honor to meet these heroes of the faith, learn their stories and hear their dreams. We will focus a significant amount of time in the next season to come alongside these leaders.  Above, Russ was able to give one team some basic tips on how to accelerate their strategy. A follow-up is planned soon.

How is the adjustment to Singapore?
Our first month in Singapore has been full of learning. Learning where to buy what we need, how to get around without a car and a manageable pace for our family in new surroundings and with warmer temperatures. We feel quite settled in our flat. A smaller space makes for more family time. We are beginning to make friends at the parks and churches and familiar with our neighbours. Gwenyth and Heath’s skin/allergy challenges continue to have ups and downs, so please pray for God’s guidance as we chart a daily protocol to maintain comfort and health.

If you want to see more of what our life is like, I try to document our family memories on my instagram: @meredithmart (feel free to request to follow along).

It's our privilege to partner with you in leading the next generation of digital missions.

Photos Below: Adjusting to life in Singapore
- Piling into a TukTuk (Rickshaw) at the missions conference
- Exploring Singapore's Chinatown to learn about Chinese New Year
- Brothers sharing

Unexpected Impact

80 student leaders from across Canada came together to encourage and learn from each other. Hannah had the opportunity to bring students together from Vancouver to Nova Scotia at this pre-conference, that was held before our large annual P2C PLUS conference in Toronto. Going though some of our new bible study material invigorated and reminded them of the need to be rooted in Christ in all aspects of life. They also heard about the Renegotiating Faith study that we shared with you a few months ago. It was interesting hearing leaders who are in the generation of the study to talk about themselves and their friends. They also got to hear stories from each other and our National Director. 

For Hannah, the most impacting part of the day were the stories that the students shared to encourage each other. Some stories unexpectedly drew her to tears. One student has been given the opportunity to share about community and the Gospel to all the leaders of the other clubs on her campus. Another student shared of how he came from a Hindu background and has helped another Hindu girl to come to Christ!  Still another student shared of how they are leading their group to take bold steps to try new things on their campus to help people engage in the Gospel. 

Here are some of the things the students said they wanted to
remember from the pre-conference: 

• To have patience! In God's work on campus as well as in my own sanctification

• I am really thankful I went and was able to be reminded of the common reason for being a student leader which is Christ and to learn form other people and be reminded of all that God is doing in students across Canada. 

• God is at work. He is at work in the ministry in many different ways but he is also working in the next generation and we must be attentive to that as well.

• To be more intentional with my Discipleship Group in helping them make their faith their own. 

• My biggest take-away was that sanctification is a life long process.

God is doing amazing things through these student leaders across the country.
Please continue to pray that they would have boldness to bring the truth of the Gospel onto their campuses that desperately need Jesus. 

Letter of Thanks

Dear Friends at Wallenstein BC:

It is common practice among many of us in January to pause and reflect on God’s gracious provision in the year past.  Looking back at 2018, I’m amazed at the way in which God continues to animate and empower the work of Vision Ministries Canada. 

The Spirit nudged us to come alongside another dozen church plants, with new congregations launched in five different provinces including the perennial hard soil of Quebec!  Throughout the year, the VMC team engaged in a consulting capacity with an average of five churches a month.  In many cases these conversations identified foundational issues, offered practical steps toward resolution, and aligned leadership energy in a common direction.  More than two hundred leaders gathered at Thinking Shrewdly in Waterloo to hear Alan Hirsch describe the beauty of the gospel and the best ways to help our secular society understand and embrace it.   Planters, pastors and other church leaders were encouraged and reconnected with ministry colleagues from across the country.

And we (you and us) did it together.  Inspired by God, your financial partnership resourced the VMC team for these and other missional endeavours.  So, with great thanks I’d like to acknowledge your generous gift of $1241.00. Your faithful support is making a kingdom impact across Canada through church renewal, mission and multiplication.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.     II Cor. 9.8

Transitions - A Work In Progress

Happy New Year from Ghana!

It is hard to believe that this is the last time we expect to add 'from Ghana' to that statement. Ghana has been home to our family for almost 19 years.
We have just returned, from what we expect was our last trip to northern Ghana to see places and friends that have been part of our lives. It is hard to think about moving on and yet we are at complete peace because we have had it repeatedly confirmed that this is the right time. The following are a few pictures of friends that have been part of our lives for many years...

The latter part of 2018 saw Phil in Guinea for some time to do a strategic review with the SIM team there and then the day after he returned we left for Greece to participate in the next Leader Development 'Flight'. We have enjoyed our 2 years working with Mike & Jacky and we continue to connect. Our focus now, however, is to mentor Dan & Christie Reich who are leading the SIM Paraguay team. Below is a picture of the 4 of us at the Temple of Poseidon. Just before the Leader Development event, we spent a weekend in Athens with our niece who is working as an au pair in Rome.

Following the Leader Development event, we went to the Middle East for a week. It was great for Andrea to be able to connect with the 8 new team members that had arrived in country since her last visit a year ago, and to also spend a weekend retreat with the team.

After returning from the Middle East, we were both involved with preparations for the semi-annual Ghana leadership meetings. Andrea was a key part of those meetings but Phil no longer participated. Instead, Phil was in Kenya for the first meeting of the restructured SIM International Leadership team.  This team meets online every two weeks but the Kenya meeting was the first face-to-face meeting of the team (see below). 

"Where will you move to after you leave Ghana?" This is a very common question and our response is, "We don't know yet and we are OK with that!"  We expect to leave Ghana in early June and spend the rest of 2019 working from Canada while connecting with family, friends and supporters. We are waiting for God's direction as to where we will be based after 2019 and what Andrea's role will be in the future. At present our focus is for Andrea to complete her Ghana role (though she will continue the Middle East one for now), for Phil to continue to grow in his role, and for us to do our best to 'leave well'. Once we know where we see God leading us in 2020, we will be sure to let you know! 

We have been given the privilege to participate in an Integrated Mission Leadership course run by the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) that will take place as four, one-week modules over a year. We believe that this comes at an opportune time as we seek God's leading on what might be next for us.

Whats on the horizon?

Over the next few months we expect:

• Both of us to spend a few days with our boys in Canada, then travel on to Bolivia and Paraguay.

• Phil to be in Ethiopia, North East India, Thailand and Singapore.

• Andrea to help one of our colleagues as she expects to deliver her 2nd child here in Accra in March.

• To participate in Module 1 of the Integrated Mission Leadership course.

• Andrea to participate in a Middle East Team conference.

So, yes, it will be a busy few months.  And some time in there we need to pack up!

Prayer Fuel!

Praise Items

• That each of our kids are doing well - Kieran in his final semester, Liam on his co-op placement and Cara in her final semester.

• For a good strategic review with the SIM Guinea team.

• For the opportunity to mentor Dan and Christie.

• For a good visit with one of the Middle East teams and the opportunity to participate in their team retreat.

• For good SIM Ghana leadership team meetings as well as Phil's time with the International Leadership team.

• For a good Christmas together with Cara - including a last trip to the beach.

• For a great last trip to northern Ghana  - and the gift of a few nights stay at Mole Park at the end.

Items for Prayer

• For Kieran and Cara in their final semesters.

• Cara has applied to three universities for their Kinesiology programs. Pray that she will be accepted to the university of God's choice.

• That the people interested in both the Ghana Personnel Coordinator and Business Manager roles will have a clear sense of God's leading.

• For a good couple of days with the boys in February.

• For wisdom and safe travel for our various travels and meetings.

• That things will work well for Andrea while Phil travels!

• That God will provide the funds necessary for our Integrated Mission Leadership Course.

Am I too old to go on a mission trip?

Am I too old to go on a mission trip? This was a question I was asked during one of our global missions lunches at our annual P2C Plus Conference Dec 28-31. At the lunch I was sitting beside Angie, who had recently graduated. She hadn't gone on a mission trip while she was a student, and was now anxious that she was too old to participate. We assured her that she wasn't too old but that there were also many other missions organizations at the conference that might also have interesting missions opportunities for her. I really enjoy chatting with students about their interest in mission trips and how God might be leading them to go on a trip. Please pray for Angie that if God is speaking to her about going on a mission trip that she would respond in obedience and go. Pray that she would find the right missions opportunity to participate in.

While at the conference, I also led two workshops. The first was called "Leading Me.” This workshop challenged students to consider that their most important leadership assignment is leading themselves well, and I shared some principles of self leadership. The second workshop was "A Plan for the New Year." This workshop was on New Year's Eve at 7 pm. I wasn't sure if anyone would attend, but seven eager students came, and I had a fun time helping them reflect on the past year and think ahead to the new year.

Many of you will remember that in December I shared about helping lead the Praxis Reading Week Mission Trip (Feb 16-23). Due to lack of student participants (only 3 students applied), we had to cancel the trip. Pray that these students would be interested and able to participate in a summer missions opportunity instead.

Thank you so much for standing with me in this ministry. Your prayers and support are very meaningful to me. As you start 2019, I pray that you would sense the nearness of God. I pray that he would fill you with faith, hope, and joy as you walk with him each day. Blessings!

Leading my “A Plan For The New Year” Workshop.

The Global Missions booth at P2C Plus - promoting all our 2019 mission trip opportunities.