Evangelical Friends Mission

APRIL 2008

For security reasons, some of this newsletter has been altered.

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AFRICA
Evangelical Friends Mission
Including Burundi, Congo, GLLT, and Rwanda
Leaders: Brad Carpenter, Michelle Carpenter, Christina Muhr, David and Debby Thomas, and Philip Cox/Chelsea Roberts, short-term missionaries

From Rwanda Team

Praise...

that the first Discipleship for Development Conference went very well. We sensed God's Spirit was at work in the teachings and have a good start on the process of building five teams that will work in five communities.
Chelsea and Brad are engaged to be married! We praise God for His direction in their lives!
that there is growing excitement and desire to implement Farming God's Way (mulch farming - www.farming-gods-way.org) and other practical development methods.

Please pray...

for good health for all of us, Thomases, Brad and Chelsea, Michelle, Chrissy, and Philip.
for the next Discipleship for Development Conference in May, which is the second phase of training for our church leaders.
for a new church plant in Uganda, that it will start out well and grow well!

BHUTAN
Evangelical Friends Mission

Praise...

that we have completed our visits in the central and eastern districts.
for the first time in Bhutan’s history general election voting was completed on March 24th.
that our youth are more united and have formed a choir group in Thimphu Friends Church.

Please pray...

for my visit to Nainital, Ghumauney, Sipsu, and Sikkim for baptism services.
for the new church establishment in Chengmary.
for our board meeting on April 9th.

CAMBODIA
Evangelical Friends Church Southwest
Leaders: Gary and Christine Colfax; Steve and Carolyne Harvey; Matt and Lois Kuffel; and Michelle Murray

From Gary and Christine Colfax

Praise...

for the membership class where we had ten accepted as members. (Keep praying for those who want to become part of the church.)

Please pray...

for our preparations for our home assignment this summer.

From Michelle Murray

Praise...

for the Believers’ Seminar in Battambang, where many new believers met people from other ministry areas.
for good teaching by our national leaders and fellowship with the new believers.

Please pray...

for a new regional youth-leader training program that we are planning and hoping to implement in May.

CANDIDATES
Missionaries Raising Support
David and Tricia Howell, Ireland

From David and Tricia Howell (Tallaght, Ireland)

Praise...

for amazing partners and friends we have met over the last few years.
for seeing God move in amazing ways.
for His awesome protection and provision.

Please pray...

for all of the planning and details that need to be finalized as we prepare to go to Ireland in June ‘08.
for health and safety as we finish up our deputation traveling in the US.
for the remaining finances needed for us to be fully funded.

EFM DIRECTOR
Chuck Mylander

Praise...

that national missionary candidates in our southern-Nepal ministry, are ready to go to the country of Sri Lanka. This is missions from the poor to the poor—big time praise! Sister churches in the US will provide plane tickets and a few one-time costs, but regular missionary support comes from the Nepali people.
that EFM missionaries Joe and Tina Swan, Eskimos from Buckland, Alaska, have arrived in Rough Rock to minister to the Navajo Nation.
that Edwin and Maria Giron have arrived in Aguascalientes, and all the AGS team members are discipling new converts to Christ!

Please pray...

for church growth. It’s harvest time in many places.
for transformational discipleship. For people to fully know Jesus Christ and obey his commandments.
for financial support needed to fuel the growth.

HONG KONG
OMS International
Sponsored by Eastern Region
Leaders: Dave and Cindy Aufrance, Jack and Celesta Rea, and Jacelyn Jones

From Dave and Cindy Aufrance

Praise...

for several decisions for Christ in March in the Filipino church. Pray that the ladies would follow through on their commitment and desire to become involved in the church.
We’re grateful for the new church established in Macau. The dedication of the new facilities was held in March.

Please pray...

for the United Wesleyan Graduate Institute (UWGI) Board meeting in April as important decisions are made regarding the development of the school.
for Cindy who has been planning with friends the opening of a Christian counseling center in Hong Kong. Pray for God’s guidance in all the details. Pray for a ministry-training session planned for the fall.
for the sale of one of the apartments owned by OMS. Resources are needed elsewhere.

From Jack and Celesta Rea

Praise...

for I am thankful for the Lord’s help in some difficult situations these past days.

Please pray...

for the International Christian School in Hong Kong. Along with other kindergarten and elementary schools in Hong Kong, they were shut down for two weeks around Easter due to a flu outbreak. Three preschool children in Hong Kong died. Pray that the outbreak can be contained by these measures and it doesn’t balloon into a crisis.
for a pilot chaplain program at UWGI. It is a first in Hong Kong and is in response to expressed need from corporations in Hong Kong and China for trained chaplains.

INDIA
Evangelical Friends Mission

Praise...

that we were able to start three new church-planting stations in the last two months.that many young people are delivered from the evil one these days.
that we are blessed by the protection of the Lord in the midst of persecution and turmoil in many families and villages in the last few months. It is severe for many.

Please pray...

for the many who committed their lives at Easter; that they would continue to walk with the Lord.
for the many individuals who are going through persecution from their families. Pray that they will continue to stand in the faith.
for the families of our leaders who need protection and good health.

From Gabriel and Suzana Massey (Eastern Region - Bundelkhand)

Praise...

that the Lent days meetings went well at Chhatarpur and Nowgong each evening in Christian homes. Many people attended. Different people shared the messages.
that the examination at the Christian English College went well.that our two evangelists are preaching and sharing the Word in the villages with no opposition yet.

Please pray...

about the scarcity of water in this whole area. Wells are drying up and the government water supply only comes for one hour every fourth day.
for the protection of believers and others since it is said that the summer will be severe this year.
for the start of the new session at the Christian English College in April. Pray that we will have more enrolled this year. We have 1050 students at present.

From Arun and Shobha Massey (Eastern Region)

Praise...

that the children in our home are finishing annual exams. All kids are keeping physically well.that Renuka, who underwent angioplasty for her heart condition is fine and we praise God for a new lease on life for her.that Chandrakala’s treatment for tuberculosis is finished. She is well. Thank you for your prayers.

Please pray...

for the Kids Camps that will be held in April and May. Nearly 3000 children will attend. All staff of Caring Hands and volunteers need prayer to stay well and do a great job for Jesus. Pray for love to bloom in the hearts of children for Jesus.
for all our children (Children’s Home) who will be visiting their families during the summer vacation in April. The parents’ behavior at home is mostly not exemplary. Shobha will be spending time counseling with each mother as they come to take the kids home.

IRELAND
Evangelical Friends Mission
Leaders: Todd and Celesta James and Kathi Perry

From Todd and Celesta James (Ringsend)

Praise...

for plans coming together for a short-term teen missions trip to Hungary this summer.
for opportunity this April to share Christ with 500-1000 youth in Northern Ireland.for Cairde Christian Fellowship’s desire to reach its community for Christ.

Please pray...

for Celesta’s health. She has had a very rough month. Doctors changed her medication again and she is undergoing more tests.
for wisdom in choosing elders for Cairde Christian Fellowship. Cairde means Friends.
for opportunities for outreach in the Ringsend area for Cairde.

From Kathi Perry (Greystones)

Praise...

for significant opportunities to meet people and be involved in the lives of those around me.
for the chance to attend an “Organic Church Planting” seminar in England in February.
for a neighbor who has expressed interest in a Bible study.

Please pray...

that the interest in a Bible study would result in an actual Bible study!
for continuing opportunities to meet new people in Greystones, and strengthen relationships that have formed.
that God would direct us as we make preparation for the arrival of the Howells in June.

LATIN AMERICA
Northwest Yearly Meeting
Latin American Doctoral Program—PRODOLA
Leaders: Hal and Nancy Thomas

Praise...

for a good group of students in the doctoral program throughout the continent (PRODOLA) and in the Masters in Missiology program in Bolivia (CENESI). God continues to build His church and raise up His leaders.

Please pray...

for peace and integrity in the administration of the Bolivian Evangelical University.
for God’s mercy on the approximately 80,000 people misplaced by floods in Bolivia, and on the whole country given the food shortage and crop losses caused by the floods. Pray that the church will be a vehicle of His mercy.

MEXICO
Evangelical Friends Mission
Leaders: Andrea Byrne, Candi Foster, and Jeremy and Betty Smuck

From Andrea Byrne

Praise...

for new contacts in the community of El Salto.
for clearer vision in terms of how to move forward in ministry in El Salto.

Please pray...

for making the most of my time here before going on furlough in May.
for leaving the ministry here in a position to thrive while I’m gone.
for discipleship with Cris as she deals with her past and habitual sins so that she would be free from their control of her life.

Candi Foster

Praise...

for the kids in Club Aventura who have decided to follow Christ!
that God is moving in the hearts of people here in Aguascalientes!
for God’s faithfulness and love.

Please pray...

for the new Christians to grow in their faith.
for spiritual strongholds to be brought down so that people may hear and believe the truth in Christ.
for me to continue to be refreshed in my walk with the Lord.

From Sinaloa, Mexico

Praise...

for “Sinaloa Invasion,” a team of students from EFC-MAYM who traveled to Sinaloa in March, led by Jesse Penna, Youth Pastor from Northridge Friends Church in Wichita, Kansas.
for the upcoming dedication of the church/training center building this summer.

Please pray...

for the Holy Spirit to conserve the fruit from “Sinaloa Invasion.”
for spiritual strongholds to be broken that are holding back the Kingdom of God from advancing in Siete Ejidos.
for short-term trips being planned for May and July.

MUSLIM MINISTRIES
Evangelical Friends Mission
Leaders: Roy and Jinky Twaddell

Praise...

that I had a good series of meetings with Oyan and Yashar, our two leaders in Europe.
that Pastor Azim is continuing to recover from his cancer and is back to full-time ministry.

Please pray...

We have three Simple Church Leaders moving from Hannover, Germany - one to Berlin, one to Hamburg, and one to Dortmund. Please pray for these groups in transition and for the economy. Jobs are the reasons for the movement.
for the translation of Crown Financial Ministry materials. These materials equip people worldwide to learn, apply, and teach God’s financial principles, so they may know Christ more intimately, be free to serve Him, and help fund the Great Commission.
for us to identify and train four more leaders. This is urgent. Please pray Matthew 9:37-38.

NEPAL
Evangelical Friends Mission

Praise...

that 12 people accepted Christ during our Easter services, one was a Muslim from Musaharniya, India.

Please pray...

for the Friends church in Musaharniya. Muslims who are coming to the Lord there are still experiencing intense persecution.
for one of our women evangelists. She was in an accident, has a broken hip, and she needs bed rest for at least six weeks.
for the election in Nepal, (April 10th is the actual voting day), that there won’t be violence and political instability.

Praise...

for the informal education groups in three villages of Chitwan that have successfully completed a six-month course with certificates awarded.
for Suleman and Asha as they work among the people of Mahira village in Chandranigahpur. The fellowship has seven regular members.
for traveling mercies as we traveled extensively this month for our work, exploring many possibilities and sharing about CHE work among churches.

Please pray...

for our forthcoming Training of Trainers in Gulariya where 20-25 leaders will come for a five day CHE training.
for the CHE committee in Damile and the leaders who are set to make some important decisions regarding this work in their village (which is almost three years old now). We are exploring the possibility of working in Thori villages along the Indian border.
for Priscilla as she appears for exams leading to her Masters degree this month.

Praise...

that we had very successful leadership seminars in two areas—Chitwan and Nawalparasi. This seminar helped the leaders to think of new ideas about their ministry and to become more resourceful.
that Janakpur Friends Church has eight new people prepared for water baptism.
that sewing training in three different villages (with 48 trainees, several of them non-Christians) is running smoothly. The teachers are our disciples whom we trained a few years ago.

Please pray...

for the Pastors/Leaders Spiritual Growth seminar to be held from April 13-18 in Kathmandu.
for traveling safety for Pastor Deming Duh from Taiwan and Russ and Esther Zinn who are coming for this seminar.
for Nepal’s election. May this Constituent Assembly vote be successful in bringing peace in the country.
for our village church members that they may not be easily swayed by false preachers going around to churches and luring people with finances and material aid.

NAVAJO MINISTRIES
Evangelical Friends Mission
Leaders: Joe and Tina Swan

Praise...

that we are here in Rough Rock!!
for our prayer and financial supporters who helped us make it, for the Lord’s care over us as we traveled, and that all of our belongings made it here.

Please pray...

that the Navajo would receive the Word as the Word of God, not as the word of man.
for the stirring of the hearts of the people here, that they will receive the Lord as their personal Savior.
that we will be able to reach across the language barrier and that we will learn to speak Navajo quickly.

ROMANIA
Evangelical Friends Church-Eastern Region
Leader: Voicu and Ana Marian

Praise...

for daily grace and God’s leading in ministry.
for all our children, natural and spiritual, for their protection and growth in understanding God’s Word.
for the faithfulness of God’s people and their love expressed to us personally.

Please pray...

that we will have a prayer walk in Orlat, and hopefully, will soon break ground for the ministry house. May the glory of the Lord reside there!
for wisdom in presenting the gospel and practical ways to show God’s love to the young and old.
for healing for us from constant “minor” physical ailments, which seem like spiritual attacks.

RUSSIA
Eastern Region
Leaders: Abraham and Diane Bible

Praise...

that we had a breakthrough on transferring of funds! Hopefully it will provide new options for the future!

Please pray...

for Diane as she continues to work intensively on the revision of a course on the mature Christian life. She needs wisdom and clarity and direction of the Holy Spirit.
for a critical situation in the Russian Union of Evangelicals/Baptists. Pray for God’s provision and for His glory in a time of distress.

WORKERS ABROAD
Northwest Yearly Meeting
English Teachers hired by the Chinese Government

Praise...

for the visit of Dennis and Janet Hagen and Jim and Becky Teeters.

Please pray...

for more applicants. Several teachers are coming home and we need replacements.

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