MARTIN, GORD & HEATHER (Waterloo, ON; Vision Ministries) PRAISE/PRAY: God willing, Doug Loveday and I fly to Nairobi tomorrow, October 5th for two weeks of teaching and interacting with church leaders there. Praise that we have cleared all the hurdles for travel! Pray that God would use us powerfully to strengthen and encourage our brothers and sisters there. Indy, still in Burma. His father, who was very frail, passed away last week. He is now safe in the arms of Jesus.
Charlotte Martin - October 2021
MARTIN, CHARLOTTE (Guelph, ON; Power to Change) PRAISE: Many of our campus ministries were able to hold some form of in-person Summit retreats over the last few weekends. Students were able to gather for Bible teaching, training, fun and times of worship. I was able to join a day retreat with Western, Fanshawe, Brock and Windsor in Paris ON on Sep 25th. I am taking a seminary class on Global Missions this fall. Despite it being a lot of work, I am enjoying it. PRAY: We have almost finalized the locations for our 2022 mission trips. Pray that we could have them finalized and leaders for each chosen by the middle of October. Also pray that staff and students would be interested in signing up for mission trips and pray that we would have wisdom in sending mission trips safely and effectively. Pray for my own spiritual growth that I would be able to lead from the outflow of a deep relationship with God.
Esther Frey - October 2021
FREY, ESTHER (Puerto Rico; Emmaus Correspondence) PRAISE: Our chapel celebrated it's 41st anniversary starting Friday evening, Oct. 2nd projecting a film in the parking lot, and Sunday morning thanking the Lord for the testimony of a street drug addict saved by God's grace and now preaches wherever he goes. For God's help in my Zoom message Sept. 25 when 104 participated. For 10 minutes on a radio program promoting the Emmaus courses to inmates and their families; Brian was accepted as a teacher and now needs to decide whether to start in January or August of next year. PRAY: Continue to remember our postal system problems. Teamworkers are planning to help camp have a solar power system in the next few months. Our chapel building needs repairs - we are working on the second floor bathrooms that sank. It's a slow going project. We also need to replace the roof. At present asking for estimates. How to evangelize in such a restricted situation. How to reach the next generation.
Phil & Andrea - October 2021
BAUMAN, PHIL & ANDREA (Canada, International roles with SIM) PRAISE: That Phil had a chance to see several colleagues in person while in Texas. For good connections at the North American missions conference he attended. That we have the opportunity to travel to visit colleagues in the Middle East. That Cara has had a good, although busy, start to her co-op job. PRAY: That our travels would go smoothly despite the added complications that COVID creates. For Andrea to have good in person connections with colleagues, some she hasn't seen for two years and some she has never met in person. For wisdom for Phil as he continues with much of his regular work as we travel.
Robert & Susan - September 2021
MARTIN, ROBERT & SUSAN (Kingston, ON; Kingston Prison Ministry; MSC) PRAISE/PRAY: We are slowly beginning an “in person” presence in the federal institutions. I am scheduled to return to 4 sometime this month (September). Please pray for successful ongoing access. Chaplaincy seems to have stabilized with representation of Christian chaplains in each of the institutions. We look forward to joining them again and assisting in programs and chapel services as well as any new opportunities. Pray for Sharon and Shirley…family members of a deceased inmate. We recently gave them each a Bible encouraging them to begin reading in the gospel of John. We look forward to follow-up phone conversations with them. Pray for recently released inmates to halfway houses that connections with family and work opportunities would go smoothly and for healthy church connections as well. ... that there would be genuine acceptance and ability to feel at home with a church family.