FREY, ESTHER (Puerto Rico; Emmaus Correspondence) PRAISE: Participated in a radio program that is directed to prisoners. I shared the program with an ex-inmate you had done 68 courses in the 8 years I knew of him. He is now an evangelist. No knee replacement at this time. Our Emmaus office completion rate is very high for which we thank the Lord. Teamworkers (5) arrived February 27 and will be painting the chapel. They stay for two weeks. PRAY: Safety and protection as people work at the chapel. I'll help teach a group in Healing the Wounded Heart March 13-17. I've had to receive an eye injection in my better eye and this will be done once a month for three months. March 6 I receive the second one. I will also begin leg therapy this month for lymphedema. So grateful for your prayers as we join together to see our dear Lord work.
Jenn Brubacher - March 2023
BRUBACHER, JENN (Listowel, YFC) PRAISE: Over the last month, I've had the opportunity to serve within the high school four days a week, from coaching to assisting a gym class to being a supervisor for a field trip. This is a gift and answer to prayer, and I've built more connections and relationships because of it. 'Georgia' is choosing life and has even applied to school! Our senior high drop-in is growing and is full of students who love to play basketball, many I know from coaching at the high school. PRAY: Our team needs God's presence, wisdom and care to walk with these students well. Please pray for the parents and families of our drop-in students that they may experience Christ's deep healing and peace.
Phil & Andrea - March 2023
BAUMAN, PHIL & ANDREA (Canada, International roles with SIM) PRAISE: That Andrea had a good trip to Ethiopia to help the team there develop plans for their personnel team. That Phil had a good trip to Thailand for the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission consultation at the start of the month. That Phil finished the month with good Board and Leadership meetings in Kenya. It was great to be together with 200 SIM leaders from around the world. PRAY: For Phil as he spends time with a developing team from a sensitive context to help them plan their ministries. For both of us to be able to catch up on work that got delayed while we traveled. For Andrea who has to travel to Calgary for a couple days to be on an interview panel. For Andrea as she helps with training personnel coordinators for a new people management system SIM is launching. For Phil as he helps lead a review of a sports ministry that serves in many contexts.
Trevor & Hannah Martin - Power to Change
Trevor spends some of his time coaching staff from across the country. One of the staff in Vancouver he coaches shared this story of what God is doing there:
"I am leading a discipleship group with a student named Caleb! This is Caleb's first time leading a group. I was honestly nervous to start a brand new discipleship group with him in the second term. I wanted so badly for it to be a good experience for him, because it's his first time. I also know that starting a new group in second term can be hard. Usually by second term we are consolidating groups because members have stopped attending as often. This year is so different! We have six huge discipleship groups with 20 to 30 attendees, and mine and Caleb's has 20 members now too!
We usually go around the circle and share a highlight from our week and also a lowlight. When it got to Mahalia's turn today, she said, "my highlight from the week is that I finally accepted Jesus!"
SO COOL!!
I then went to our office, where students are making candy grams for valentines! They are selling them to raise funds for the homeless shelters in Vancouver's downtown east side. I had a lot of fun folding origami hearts with them and packing candy!
While I was in the office, one of our students named Jenalyn came through the door literally jumping up and down and raising her hands in the air saying "God is amazing!!" She had just shared the gospel with a student who was friends with another student who came to faith last semester. This girl had never heard the gospel before, but knew her friend believed it. She soaked in everything! She was so excited to learn about the concept of grace! Even after repeatedly being asked if she was sure she wanted to accept Jesus, she excitedly prayed!
I then walked over to the seminary on campus at UBC and helped Jenalyn buy a Bible for this new sister in Christ!" Praise God for these changed life stories!!
Another Loss
In January, Trevor's paternal grandma passed away. We're grateful for the times we could spend together at family gatherings and at the farm where she lived. She was always in the know about many of the happenings amongst her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She valued good food, hard work and quality time with people. This marks the end of a season as it was Trevor's last grandparent.
Our last time going to visit Grandma Martin at the farm.
Kids Zone
TL:Amelia has been enjoying puzzles recently. She did this 200 piece one by herself one afternoon.
BL:Amelia 'snow queen' sitting in her 'snow throne'.
TR:Avery is still figuring out what snow is. Soon she will learn to enjoy it with her sister!
BR:"Don't lose it! Re-use it!"
Prayer Requests
1) For Hannah as she has started working again part-time ministering to students at Laurier university and also mentoring some new staff in Ottawa.
2) For Avery to get a spot in daycare. And also for her growth in being willing to be taken care of by people other than the two of us.
3) Wisdom as we make our summer plans (both in ministry and for our family)
Russ & Meredith Martin
Hacking for Jesus
How is the Great Commission accelerated when 1,235 hackers get together to code for Jesus?
- A digital outreach campaign for the World Cup was developed.
- Experimental strategies of starting churches for the next generation were piloted.
- The reporting of online exploitation was expedited.
- Prayer was mobilized.
- Refugees were welcomed and given an opportunity to discover Jesus.
- Believers working in tech discovered how to use their skills for God's kingdom.
- The use of data enabled more effective outreach.
We just released our #HACK2022 impact report and are excited to share 43 stories of God at work all around the world.
1,235 participants
56 cities
29 countries
3 global partners
It's a privilege to lead and steward this effort.
WBC Friends, this (^) is the fruit of your prayers and giving. Without your faithful partnership this global collaboration would not have happened. Thank you for the part you play in leading the next generation of missions in a digital age.
Recent Highlights
A. Quality time with Grandparents in and around Singapore
B. Meredith was her parents' travel guide to visit missionary friends in Cambodia.
C. Women's Bible study kick-off. Meredith has been giving leadership at our church plant in this area.
