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FEB 25 UPDATE! One Blade Sponsored! Thank you Community Alliance Church of Bloomsburg and Danville!
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015
On The Road Again!
We hope to see YOU sometime in 2015 before we return to Africa (late July). Check out our speaking dates for our nearest visit in your area:
JAN 25- Jersey Shore, PA (Mountain View Alliance)
FEB 01- Williamsport, PA (Faith Alliance)
FEB 07- Lancaster, PA (women's event at Lancaster C&MA)
FEB 22- Bloomsburg/Danville, PA (C&MA)
FEB 27- State College, PA (Mt. Nittany School chapel)
MAR 01- Boalsburg, PA (St. College Berean Baptist)
MAR 08- Hellam, PA (ValleyView Alliance Church)
MAR 22- Spring Grove, PA (SG Area C&MA Church)
MAR 29- Portage, PA (Martindale Alliance Church)
APR 12-15- Plainville, MA ... yep! MASS! (Plainville Baptist Church)
APR 18,19- Harrisburg, PA (1st Alliance Church)
APR 26- Harrison Valley, PA (C&MA Church)
APR 28- State College, PA (Alliance Church "Prime Timer's" meeting)
MAY 03- Coalport, PA (Alliance Gospel Tabernacle)
MAY 10- York, PA (York Alliance Church)
MAY 17- Plumsteadville, PA (Christ Community Church)
MAY 24- Lewistown, PA (Pine Glen C&MA Church)
MAY 31- Long Beach, CA (C&MA Council)
TEXAS Dates - Tentatively late June; early July
FEB 01- Williamsport, PA (Faith Alliance)
FEB 07- Lancaster, PA (women's event at Lancaster C&MA)
FEB 22- Bloomsburg/Danville, PA (C&MA)
FEB 27- State College, PA (Mt. Nittany School chapel)
MAR 01- Boalsburg, PA (St. College Berean Baptist)
MAR 08- Hellam, PA (ValleyView Alliance Church)
MAR 22- Spring Grove, PA (SG Area C&MA Church)
MAR 29- Portage, PA (Martindale Alliance Church)
APR 12-15- Plainville, MA ... yep! MASS! (Plainville Baptist Church)
APR 18,19- Harrisburg, PA (1st Alliance Church)
APR 26- Harrison Valley, PA (C&MA Church)
APR 28- State College, PA (Alliance Church "Prime Timer's" meeting)
MAY 03- Coalport, PA (Alliance Gospel Tabernacle)
MAY 10- York, PA (York Alliance Church)
MAY 17- Plumsteadville, PA (Christ Community Church)
MAY 24- Lewistown, PA (Pine Glen C&MA Church)
MAY 31- Long Beach, CA (C&MA Council)
TEXAS Dates - Tentatively late June; early July
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Sharing the Headline with Mark Wahlberg
So what if it was section C of a small town newspaper?
Backstory: So, at the end of every year, TIME magazine honors their "Person of the Year". This year, it turned out to be the Ebola Caregivers. When I heard about this news, it reminded me of how thankful I was when I was the one walking into the ER of my local hospital with a mysterious illness having recently returned from Africa. Yep- that was me, here in York, Pennsylvania, this past June. It was an interesting experience.
So, I felt prompted to log onto the internet and write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper recounting my situation and how blessed the people of this region of PA are to have dedicated and heroic caregivers as those the TIME magazine are honoring.
Then...
A day later, I'm on the phone with one of the newspaper's journalists who picked up the story and wanted to feature it in his weekly column! Pretty cool. So, on Friday, December 19, 2014 I shared the headline of the newspaper with actor Mark Wahlberg! ...okay, okay... it was section C, however, I think you'll agree there is a "cool" factor here.
Here is the full article: (hit the + on the magnification to make it readable... located at the bottom of the window)
Backstory: So, at the end of every year, TIME magazine honors their "Person of the Year". This year, it turned out to be the Ebola Caregivers. When I heard about this news, it reminded me of how thankful I was when I was the one walking into the ER of my local hospital with a mysterious illness having recently returned from Africa. Yep- that was me, here in York, Pennsylvania, this past June. It was an interesting experience.
So, I felt prompted to log onto the internet and write a letter to the editor of my local newspaper recounting my situation and how blessed the people of this region of PA are to have dedicated and heroic caregivers as those the TIME magazine are honoring.
Then...
A day later, I'm on the phone with one of the newspaper's journalists who picked up the story and wanted to feature it in his weekly column! Pretty cool. So, on Friday, December 19, 2014 I shared the headline of the newspaper with actor Mark Wahlberg! ...okay, okay... it was section C, however, I think you'll agree there is a "cool" factor here.
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| That's Marky-Mark under the word "Gambler"; it's me under the word "Ebola" |
Here is the full article: (hit the + on the magnification to make it readable... located at the bottom of the window)
Monday, January 12, 2015
Hangar Visitors... Future Aviators?
From time to time we have some aspiring aviators stop by the hangar for a visit. Here is a story from Rob, our chief pilot:
Yesterday (12/22), a container of supplies from the US arrived in Bongolo. In addition to many medical supplies and equipment, I received a number of needed parts and equipment for the airplane as well as 16 drums of aviation fuel. When I took the boxes to the hangar, Jantir who maintains the runway, was cutting the grass. Two of his children were also with him. As I unpacked one box, I found two little teddy bears that my parents had squeezed in the corners - one blue and one pink - just in time for Christmas!
Monday, December 29, 2014
Ebola Update
Although the amount of attention that the media is giving to the ebola outbreak in West Africa has waned, it still continues. Last week, the BBC had a good article detailing some of the current statistics. Read it here.
Our work, in Gabon, is just one piece of the larger work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Some of our colleagues are on the front line of the fight against ebola. You may have heard of the very sad story that, due to fear and misinformation, a team of C&MA healthcare workers were attacked and killed in September, while trying to care for and educate the people of Guinea.
Please continue to pray for our teammates in Africa, who continue their efforts to care for the victims and educate communities, in the name of Jesus. Here is a story shared by some of our friends serving in West Africa, Stan and Jaynee W.:
Our work, in Gabon, is just one piece of the larger work of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Some of our colleagues are on the front line of the fight against ebola. You may have heard of the very sad story that, due to fear and misinformation, a team of C&MA healthcare workers were attacked and killed in September, while trying to care for and educate the people of Guinea.
Please continue to pray for our teammates in Africa, who continue their efforts to care for the victims and educate communities, in the name of Jesus. Here is a story shared by some of our friends serving in West Africa, Stan and Jaynee W.:
Ebola: Desperation Yet Hope
Ebola’s spread continues to devastate more and more families—mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and now Mali, where cases have been reported in the capital city, Bamako. The death toll is now above 5,400 and continues to climb (late November 2014 stats).
One of Ebola’s significant side effects is fear, which is creating panic in West Africa and the United States. Thanks to donations, we’re printing Ebola-awareness brochures in French and providing them to several of our local shop owners to distribute.
We also gave copies to a leader in our neighborhood who will hand them out in the local house of worship during Friday prayer times. This plan sounded great to us, since a Christian organization designed the brochures, printing John 8:32—“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”—on the back.
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| Stan passes out educational material to a shopkeeper. |
Ebola’s spread continues to devastate more and more families—mostly in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and now Mali, where cases have been reported in the capital city, Bamako. The death toll is now above 5,400 and continues to climb (late November 2014 stats).
One of Ebola’s significant side effects is fear, which is creating panic in West Africa and the United States. Thanks to donations, we’re printing Ebola-awareness brochures in French and providing them to several of our local shop owners to distribute.
We also gave copies to a leader in our neighborhood who will hand them out in the local house of worship during Friday prayer times. This plan sounded great to us, since a Christian organization designed the brochures, printing John 8:32—“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”—on the back.
Opportunity for God’s People
Fear also is affecting those living in a number of Ebola-free African countries where Alliance international workers serve, creating an alarming ripple effect:
Fear also is affecting those living in a number of Ebola-free African countries where Alliance international workers serve, creating an alarming ripple effect:
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| A local church worker on an educational visit to a village. |
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Economies are suffering due to the decrease in tourism.
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Food prices are increasing because of the lack of trade.
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People are losing their jobs due to the decrease in commerce.
In addition to these harsh realities, many parts of West Africa experienced a shortened rainy
season this year. It is a recipe for disaster: the United Nations is predicting up to 750,000 people
will die from starvation and malnutrition-related diseases in the next few months.
Amid this grim outlook, there is an opportunity for the Church to shine by reaching out in love to many who are in need. Please pray for revival in Africa’s churches and for God’s people across the continent to be a testimony to those who are suffering or living in fear—so that many more will be led into His Kingdom.
Amid this grim outlook, there is an opportunity for the Church to shine by reaching out in love to many who are in need. Please pray for revival in Africa’s churches and for God’s people across the continent to be a testimony to those who are suffering or living in fear—so that many more will be led into His Kingdom.
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Mission Perspective to Christmas
Merry Christmas!!!
Here is an infographic shedding light on how the current state of the Gospel message this Christmas season, 2014:
(This graphic can be found at: http://www.gmi.org/infographics/missiographic_ChristmasLights.jpg)
Here is an infographic shedding light on how the current state of the Gospel message this Christmas season, 2014:
(This graphic can be found at: http://www.gmi.org/infographics/missiographic_ChristmasLights.jpg)
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Heart Language
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| Can you imagine not having the Bible in English to assist your pilgrimage? Some languages don't yet have an alphabet or anyone working on developing one yet. |
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| JeanMarc passing out Mp3 scripture files for playback on cell phones. 1000 Mp3's and DVD's of the Jesus Film have already been distributed in Gabon, thanks to the SIL (Wycliffe) organization in Cameroon. |
The translation work is one of the projects that AMB (our aviation
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| This young guy is listening to the New Testament in the local language of Nzebi. |
Is there a need? Recently, people from 5 people groups in Gabon have approached Pastor JeanMarc wanting the Jesus film to be available in their language. Some of these languages don't have a translation of scriptures yet, so that will be the first step. Please pray for these efforts.
Here is a short video from Wycliffe that highlights the critical need of additional translations, like the ones in Gabon.
Friday, December 12, 2014
Family Items for Prayer
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| Thanksgiving- Sam & Megan's first snow in 7 years! |
Here are some items that we'd ask you to reflect upon as you pray for our family:
Prayer for Megan (Nyack College), Joe (Moody), and Sam (high school) as they finish their semesters with tests, projects, and papers.
Pray for Joe and Meg and their travel plans getting back home (York, PA)
Praise that Sam made the honor roll in the first semester back in the US at a high school about 18 times the size of his small MK school in Africa
Praise for no complications and a full recovery from gallbladder surgery for Steve.
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| Steve speaking to the Fall Mission Rally in State College, PA |
Pray for relief from intense heel pain (right foot) that Steve is experiencing after trying to restart his jogging routine. Pray for an economical solution in finding a lower impact exercise (like biking) to replace this activity, especially through the cold, winter months.
Praise the Lord for the churches that responded to host us on a speaking tour the first half of 2015. We still have some churches to try and fit in the calendar. CLICK HERE to see the tour schedule.
Pray that many would respond to support the ministry the Lord is calling us to in prayer and financially. We have a significant needs at this time. CLICK HERE to read more how to become a supporter.
Pray for the pilot recurrency training, starting in February, that Steve will do in North Carolina with JAARS. It will total about 4 weeks and will be spread out through the Spring.
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| Our kids at a reunion of their African MK high school (Rain Forest, Cameroon) |
Praise the Lord for a gift of $1000 toward the upcoming flight training. A little over $3000 remains to cover all expenses.
Praise the Lord for new teammates that are working toward joining our Gabon Team, serving at the Bongolo Hospital.
Pray for a young couple- the husband, who recently underwent a technical evaluation at JAARS for his skills as a pilot and mechanic. Many of his skills were affirmed, but he does need some follow up work to be qualified to join our team. Please pray that they have discernment for upcoming decisions.
Praise the Lord that He is blessing the ministry of Bongolo Hospital- over 1000 per month in 2014 have made decisions to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior!
Pray for the local churches in Gabon to do the important work of disciple-making for all those that return to their villages after hearing the Good News at Bongolo.
Praise the Lord that Alace was able to attend a writers conference at the end of October in Chicago and get to visit with Joe. Pray for her as she works to develop her writing gift to the next level, for God’s glory. CLICK HERE to read some of Alace's wonderful writing.
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