God is Faithful. We already knew that, but we’re being taught about it in many new ways. Read on for some examples of how God has shown us His faithfulness in the last year.
The News in Brief
Things are moving fast! We’re hardly able to keep up with all the major changes that are happening in our lives, but we’ll try to give you a basic idea:
Where are we?
- We’re still in Missouri at New Tribes Mission’s Missionary Training Center
In the last year…
- Stephen and Rachel attended two semesters of classes, such as Biblical Peacemaking, Families and Education, and Folk Islam.
- Stephen’s been part of two different ministries to youth in trouble with the law: A detention center, and a program house.
- Rachel has been ministering to the ladies at a domestic violence shelter, as well as providing doula care to several ladies on campus
- We haven’t run out of money (Seriously, read on)
In the last month…
- We’ve filled out and turned in a lot of paperwork for our pending membership with New Tribes Mission
- We’ve started our last two classes
- We’ve had our (successful) membership interview! There is nothing left standing between us and full membership in the mission.
In the next 20 days…
- We will have a new baby! (We don’t know the gender this time!)
- We will graduate from New Tribes Mission’s Missionary Training Program.
- We’ll clean-up, pack-up and move out of our home at the training center.
- We’ll say goodbye to the closeness we’ve enjoyed with friends we’ve gained in the last three years 🙁
- We’ll move our family to Colorado Springs to begin raising support for our ministry
- We’ll become official members of New Tribes Mission on June 1st
The Rest of the Story…
God’s Faithfulness Financially
When we left Colorado Springs 3 years ago, we had $40,000 in the bank, and the emotional and prayer support of our home church and family and friends. While we knew that the money we had wouldn’t stretch to cover the entirety of our training, we stepped out in faith, trusting God to provide along the way. And we did watch God provide in a vast number of ways financially. He provided a job at the school in Jackson one semester. He provided a full time job over last summer. He provided several generous financial donors. He provided an inexpensive van to replace our broken-down car. And while this worked wonders on our ability to trust Him, it’s easy to trust when there’s still $10,000 in your savings account!
However, God did not leave us in that “Easy-trust” state for long. As we came to the end of our training, and Stephen was able to calculate more of the variables, we found ourselves literally running out of money with no way to pay the bills. In principle, this was no different than the previous two years because we always knew the money wouldn’t last. But emotionally, this was a whole new area. And guess what! God is still faithful! Through new donors, known and anonymous, and by protecting us from bank-busting catastrophes, God provided so that we still have money!
As we get ready to embark on a life of support-based full-time ministry, the lessons we’ve learned in the last months are bringing a level of peace and trust that wouldn’t have been possible without the trials that God saw fit to bring into our path. I’m so glad that He’s in charge, because He clearly knows what He’s doing.
Prayer Requests
- A safe (and preferably soon) delivery for mom and baby
- Continued peace and trust as we begin raising support, and that God will continue to grow us and draw us to Himself through the process
- A safe and low-(-as-possible)-stress move to Colorado Springs
- The kids’ adjustment to the new home, as they’re leaving friends they’ve had their whole lives (particularly Asa)
- Housing once we arrive in Colorado Springs