May 30 — CompassCare

This year the CompassCare Walk for Life was scheduled to operate as many smaller local walks throughout the Rochester, Buffalo and Albany regions. The walks began with an online rally, which you can still view at this link:  https://secure.qgiv.com/event/2023walkforlifeweekend/page/rally-countdown.

The team from Grace Church PCA joined the team at Browncroft Community Church to walk around their campus and their neighborhood. We were also joined by another local group called Irenaeus Ministries. There were about 25 of us in total. Local walks are continuing through the month of June. I am delighted to report that the team from Grace Church PCA raised 104% of our goal, which was up 10% from last year. Overall, CompassCare is at 93% of our goal for this year and counting.

Please continue to pray for the ministries of CompassCare:

* For effective ministry to women considering abortion in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany

* For Tel-a-care ministries to reach women considering abortion throughout New York State

* For ongoing efforts to establish CompassCare near a major abortion hub in Brooklyn, New York City

* For protection for the leaders and facilities of CompassCare

* For organizations around the country who are adopting the CompassCare model based on CEO James Harden’s new book, Ethical Theory and Pertinent Standards in Women’s Reproductive Health: The Foundational CRHSS Medical Ethics Manual. 

May 23 — Souls Winning Ministries

The Bible College in Jacmel 

The best news out of Haiti is that the Bible College in Jacmel is strong and thriving! They recently finished week-long trainings on the book of Hebrews, and another on the Prophets. There are 25 students from south central Haiti attending, braving bandits along the way. The gangs are not nearly so bad around Jacmel. 

Pastor’s Maxito Raphaël and David Bruno continue training at the Reformed Bible Academy in Jacmel. 

Pray that the Reformed Bible Academy in Jacmel will continue to thrive, that the original Academy location in Marin will be able to restart once the security situation allows, and that a new location in Mirebalais could be built up. 

Osseille and his family are still safe. He is grieving because his cousin was murdered by the same gangs that have taken his family’s house, and 5 people in the church he was meeting with in Cabaret were killed by gangs. The people of the town were so angry, and the police outgunned and outnumbered,  that ~ 1,000 of them ran the gang out of town, temporarily. Pray that the anger of the populace toward the gangs does not rage out of control. Pray that a solution to the absence of an effective government and police security forces is found. 

A Humanitarian Parole application was put in to bring Osseille and his family to Rochester, and after 3 months it is still pending. Osseille asks for prayers that it to be processed quickly and that he and his family stay safe in the meantime. 

The kids of the orphanage remain safe. We have helped them do a sewing class on the weekends that they love. They have Bible lessons on Saturday as well. Pray for the leadership of Jacky Philidor and Ancelotti Pierre Louis there, and the children will stay safe and growing in all dimensions.

Wisnel’s daughter Christelle, heading off to school.

Wisnel has been a faithful servant of the work of SWM. Gangs took his house and business and he had to flee to a town an hour’s drive north. He asked for prayer for his daughters, Christina and Christelle, who are struggling, and who need school supplies. 

Pray for a solution to the overall situation of Haiti, where there is no effective government, and gangs run rampant, that some government or group of governments or United Nations can restore order and security, allow for elections, and formation of an effective government for the longer term. 

May 16 — Max & Samantha Herbert

"for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"
Luke 19:10

Hello Grace Family!

I love this picture from our Fall weekend trip to Saranac. One of our volunteer leaders, Justin, is at the forefront of the pic leading our ragtag bunch through the wilderness, haha. We have had a great semester full of Monday night clubs, games, and musicals (Mary Poppins!). It has been such a blessing to be able to walk alongside our friends and point them towards Christ who is the Way! Thank you for all of the encouragement and support, we are so grateful for your partnership in this mission.

Here is what is happening in the next few months that we would ask that you would join us in prayer:

1. We are losing our college leaders this week as their semester is coming to a close. Please pray for those leaders as they head back home as well as the remaining leaders who will continue our ministry through the summer.

2. Graduation for Luke is June 24, please pray for us as we celebrate this season for him! Thank you for lifting our children up in prayer, we are so grateful.

3. Our High School camp trip is July 20 - 25 to Lake Champion. We have just about filled our available spots, we have a few remaining. Please pray that the trip would be a life-changing experience for those attending as they hear the Gospel.

4. Our Golf Tournament is July 24 at Ridgemont Country Club. Please pray that this tournament would be a blessing to those who attend, that God would be glorified, and that the funds raised from this event would be used by God to further His Kingdom.

5. Our Jr High Camp trip is August 6 - 10 to Saranac Village. Please pray for the kids to have a life-changing experience as they hear the Gospel message.

For Christ and kids,

Max and Samantha Herbert

April 25 — Jody Collinge

Travels: (Dios mediante--Lord willing)

• March 19 to 23: To Orlando, Florida for Child Safety training.

• April 2023: To the Christian Health Service Corps base in Texas for a board meeting.

• May 2023: To Reynosa, Mexico for Children's CHE training.

• June 2023: To Guatemala for a CHE Internship (or Residencia)

Prayers and Praise

1. The training with the CHE Internship in Ghana was challenging but it went well. One day I arose before 2 am (due to the time zone difference) to teach for six hours. And most of the participants spoke French, so I was working online, to Africa, in the very early morning, with a small screen, working through translators! Thank God for the technology and for carrying us through it.

2. This Sunday I leave for training with the Child Safety & Protection Network. Their purpose is "Empowering organizations around the world to have an effective, wholistic child safety programme". Even missionary kids are at risk. I am being trained to respond to reports of child safety problems.

3. The board meeting with the Christian Health Service Corps was postponed until late April. CHSC is a great ministry, training and sending out medical missionaries to mission hospitals and communities around the world. Many also do community health evangelism, bringing Christ's transformation to villages. As CHSC explains, "CHSC doctors and health professionals are often the only access to care for families in poor communities." While I am in Texas, I hope to also check on the progress on the cabin.

4. You may remember that I started working as a medical missionary in Reynosa, México, across the border from McAllen, TX, more than twenty years ago. Now they have invited me back again to work with a group of pastors and church leaders who would like to be trained in Children's CHE, or community health evangelism with children. Pray that this training will be effective in mobilizing them to begin CHE in their own communities. Pray also for safety in travel.

5. Side note: I think there has been an increase in drug activity in Zihuatanejo, but I live in a quiet neighborhood and feel safe here. Thanks for your prayers.

6. In June, I have again been invited to Guatemala to give Children's CHE training at their Residencia, or CHE Internship, A CHE Internship serves to give more training to leaders who have already received basic training in community health evangelism.

7. Praise note. We are in the process of publishing an updated CHE USB, containing all our training materials--more than 15,000 files. Thanks to all the people who worked on this. If you have taken CHE training and would like a copy, please contact me.

8. Our Zihuatanejo ministries are going well. Continue to pray for new leadership for Talita Cumi, our small orphanage, and for a new pastor to come alongside Ron.

9. Continue to pray for relief from the drought in Africa. Pray for the families without enough food, who are waiting for the next harvest.

Thank God for his protection! And thanks for your prayers and encouragement. Let me know how I can be praying for you.

With love in Christ,
Jody

April 4 — The Irvines

We are so grateful for each and every prayer you've prayed for us and Jenn's entire family concerning the sudden passing of her dad, Bob Hussar, on March 4 in Phelps, New York.

Jenn got a flight to Rochester early on March 5 and has been acting as the primary caregiver for her mom.  She says your prayers have been what's sustaining her.  It's been really, really tough but God has been a very present help.  With her mom's illness of Alzheimer's, Jenn's mum doesn't know who she is and so Jenn is playing the role of her mom's childhood friend. It's a lot of loss to grieve.

All the family appreciates your continued prayers as we gather this week and also as plans are being finalised for the transition of her mother to her "next step" for care. Please pray for God's provision for her.

We'd also appreciate prayer for Malachi and Arielle and Luke during this time. They are grieving the loss of their much-loved "Tato.” Please also be praying for their studies as especially Arielle has major exams in early May that determine the nature of her university applications this fall. Malachi also will be finishing up his first uni end-of-year exams/papers and trying to figure out what to do this summer. 

Pray for the outcome of the Easter Outreaches at the church plant. Pray for our team and the church as they gather to celebrate, that they would be encouraged and renewed and that the good news would spill out to some visitors and friends who don't yet know the Lord.   

Jenn and I were asked to sit down and record a conversation about "What have you been learning about prayer in the context of your ministry?"  for a new Serge Podcast series titled "Grace at the Fray". (We are "episode 3".)

Listen here

Watch here

In this interview, we discuss things that we've been absorbing from others for years and years and that have been an encouragement to us.  We aren't "prayer experts" or even "prayer warriors" and are still very much in the process of learning to depend on Jesus in prayer.

Hopefully, this interview will be an encouragement to you even as we continued to be challenged and encouraged by the very things we were discussing.

If you do manage to listen and feel it could be an encouragement to others, please feel free to forward the podcast link.

With love in Him,
Matt (and Jenn) 
edited and submitted by Joan Beinetti

Feb. 28 — CompassCare

CompassCare is dedicated to giving women the courage to have their babies, especially when they are facing pressure from those close to them. During a visit, a woman will talk with a nurse and has the opportunity to have an ultrasound and STD testing. During that visit, the nurse always asks for the opportunity to pray and share the Gospel with the patient. These are high stakes conversations and here are this year’s results as of October 27, 2022.

If you would like a tour of CompassCare, please talk with Paul Craig.

 Please continue to pray for CompassCare and pro-life groups everywhere.

• Pray that many women in crisis will find the CompassCare offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany and through Telecare and receive the care that they need.

• Pray for God's protection on all pro-life centers from attacks.

• Pray for grace, humility and truth as individuals, groups and a church in our ongoing conversations about abortion in all settings.

• Keep praying for plans to expand CompassCare into Brooklyn, NY.

• Pray that God will raise up Christians in New York, and across America to pray for the unborn every day.

CompassCare is a Christ-centered organization, committed to "Erasing the need for abortion by transforming a woman's fear into confidence.” You can also follow them at CompassCare Community on Facebook or ErasingTheNeed.com/RebuildBigger. Please contact Paul Craig by email pac8612@gmail.comor text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

Feb. 21 — Souls Winning Ministries

We received a newsletter update from Reformation Hope regarding Souls Winning Ministries (SWM) in Haiti. The danger in Haiti is especially high right now.

Please join us for Kingdom Prayer this Sunday evening at 6:30 PM. Our primary focus will be praying for Pastor Osseille and Souls Winning Ministries.

• In particular, pray for protection for Pastor Osseille and his family as there have been threats made against him.

• Pray that the Lord would open up the way for him and his family to come to the US on the new Humanitarian Parole program.

• Pray that they are able to procure passports for his children, Sarah and Samuel.

• Pray that the obstacles be overcome to allow for the container for the orphanage to be finally released and safely transported.

• Pray for the Bible College in Jacmel, where Pastors Maxito and Bruno are teaching 25 students who are hungry for a deeper knowledge of the Bible for their various ministries in the south of Haiti.

Feb. 7 — Souls Winning Ministries

Haiti Souls Winning Ministries Update 

Pastor Osseille was finally released from prison after 8 months and 9 days.
His home was taken over by a gang. Pray for God to show His direction for his next steps. It is possible he can be of more use to the ministry from the US. 

The children of the orphanage have remained safe and have been able to return to school. Ancelotti is starting sewing classes. Jacky has started a Saturday morning Bible Teaching, and English teaching. 

The Jacmel Seminary is still continuing despite the turmoil in Haïti.  They have been meeting for a week of studies every 4-6 weeks. Our special offering helped them add another session in January, with a focus on “Christology”, the person, nature, and work of Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, Redeemer, etc. 

Continue to pray for leading for Pastor Osseille's future; the safety and thriving of the kids of the orphanage; the work of the school; the work of the Seminary in Jacmel, and that order can be restored in Haiti. 

Jan. 31 — Max & Samantha Herbert

Dear Grace Church Family,

We had a great discussion recently with our Gen Co and Roc West campaigners around the washing of the disciples’ feet. Since this was our first official gathering since Christmas we started with small group sharing answering the question, "is there something you are either looking forward to or is looming in the near future?".  We focused on our emotional state as we approach a big game, a test, a presentation or performance, etc.  In general, our focus is on ourselves and getting through what lies ahead hoping for the best outcome.  

We then looked into John 13 and the attitude of Christ as He enters the last supper knowing that His "hour had come." Christ looks to His disciples with love, a genuine love that compels Him to take action. He demonstrates His love for the disciples by taking on the role of a servant and washing their feet. Not just His favorite disciples and not the disciples who had "earned" it or who "got it." No, compelled by love, Christ washes the feet of all of the disciples including Judas who would betray Him.  What a picture of love and grace, as Christ approaches the cross, compelled by love, He is thinking of us. 

Our goal this semester as a campaigner group is to take steps toward the example we see in Christ.  That we would look at those we encounter with love, and that we would take action to point others toward Christ. 

Thanks for all that you do to partner with us, we are so grateful for your support!

We are starting up our second semester YL club meeting on Feb 6, we will continue to meet every Monday night from 7:30 - 9:00.  We would appreciate your prayers!

For Christ and kids,
Max and Sam Herbert

Jan. 16 — Jody Collinge

Thank God for all He has done this past year!
Match the descriptions with the photos below.

• Children's ministries in Zihuatanejo and online Bible studies with youth

• Working with the Global CHE Network with community health evangelism ministries. Pray for change in a million villages.

• A visit to Guatemala to help with their CHE training in residence

• Visits to the Christian Health Service Corps in Texas and a CHE planning retreat in Arizona

• Visiting friends, family, and several churches in upstate NewYork at a beautiful time of year.

• Our time in Israel: time on the Sea of Galilee, being baptized in the Jordan River, riding a camel near Jericho, and enjoying our time in Jerusalme.

Thank God for his protection and his presence in all of this.

A special note of thanks for our church family…

I always enjoy my visits with you! And thanks to Rich and Mary for great hospitality and the tour of fall foliage.

Many thanks for your prayers, support, and ongoing friendship during this year. I thank God for all He is doing. Our CHE ministries around the world are growing--pray that the network of CHE ministries can reach a million villages in unreached areas. Thank God for our children's ministries in Zihuatanejo, in the U.S., and in Africa. (Pray for the famine in Kenya.) And thank God for my trip to Israel in November, where I rode on a camel, and was baptized in the Jordan River.

May you have a joyful New Year. ¡Próspero Año Nuevo!

With much love, 

Jody

Jan. 10 — International Friendships, Inc.

International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) reaches out to international students on college campuses by providing them with hospitality – transportation to and from the airport, trips to the grocery store, or an introduction to local stores to help them find the items they need. IFI also provides opportunities for Bible study as a means to introduce them to Jesus. IFI students who become Christians can then return to their countries (many of which are closed to the Gospel) to share the Good News there.

Each month Christine Maali Amiri (c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org) provides updates on campus ministry with wonderful stories about her interactions with individual students. You can also contact Christine if you would like to receive her monthly newsletters or join her support team. You can learn more about participating in Bible discussions or becoming an English Conversation Partner with an international student on the RIT IFI website (https://rit.ifiusa.org/).

Last month, I had lunch with a new member of the RIT IFI team. Mason Pell grew up on a farm near Cornell and studied media production at SUNY Brockport. Following his conversion at a local church near the university, he went to seminary in Philadelphia with a focus on international missions. Following a short-term missions position in Russia, he returned to the Rochester area to serve with IFI on the RIT campus. You can reach Mason by email at m.pell@ifiusa.org if you would like to learn more about him.

Please pray for…

the IFI team to meet more international students

IFI English Conversation Clubs and Bible Discussion groups

For salvation for Claudia (not her real name)

Official recognition of IFI on the RIT campus

Please talk with Dave Beinitti (dbeinetti@gmail.com) or Paul Craig (paul.craig@rit.edu) to learn more about IFI at RIT. You can also learn more from the RIT IFI website (https://rit.ifiusa.org/) and their main website (https://www.ifiusa.org/). 

Jan. 5 — CompassCare

CompassCare now has three fully functioning offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany. During a typical week, around 30 women visit one of the three offices, to talk with the nurses. During a visit they will have a pregnancy test and may also have and ultrasound. CompassCare also offers STD testing.

One of the main efforts at CompassCare this year is the ongoing development of an online, nationwide platform called TeleCare . If you would like to learn more about the plan to reach every woman in America with a pro-life telemedicine platform called TeleCare, go to CompassCareCommunity.com.

If you are interested in experiencing firsthand how women are served at CompassCare, sign up for a Vision Tour by emailing rochesterevents@compasscare.info.

Here is a summary of CompassCare results for 2022.

Please continue to pray for CompassCare and pro-life groups everywhere.

• Pray that many women in crisis will find the CompassCare offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany and through Telecare and receive the care that they need.

• Pray for God's protection on all pro-life centers from attacks.

• Pray for grace, humility and truth as individuals, groups and a church in our ongoing conversations about abortion in all settings.

• Keep praying for plans to expand CompassCare into Brooklyn, NY.

• Pray that God will raise up Christians in New York, and across America to pray for the unborn every day.

CompassCare is a Christ-centered organization, committed to "Erasing the need for abortion by transforming a woman's fear into confidence.” You can also follow them at CompassCare Community on Facebook or ErasingTheNeed.com/RebuildBigger. Please contact Paul Craig by email pac8612@gmail.comor text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

Dec. 20, 2022 — The Irvines

Dear Friends & Family, 

We are truly thankful for your ongoing prayer support and financial partnership in the gospel! We are praying for you that the Lord would meet with you and with us as we prepare to celebrate His birth.

We recently had a Christmas Outreach with a Children's Nativity Play, a 'Christingle' Gospel Presentation, and then a veg curry meal. Pray for the Lord to work in the hearts of those who were there.

Please pray along these lines from 2 Cor 2:9b-11 which jumped out at us a few days ago: "But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Pray also along the lines of Isaiah 51:3 which also jumped out at us recently: “The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; He will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.”

Please join us in thanking God for some great opportunities in recent weeks - fruitful street outreach, a ladies’ craft night, a Thanksgiving outreach meal, lots of little gospel conversations.

We are thankful for our teammates that we have the privilege of serving alongside. Our team has been experiencing lots of sickness, so please pray for healing and refreshment.

Please keep praying for the church plant for 1) the Lord to raise up younger leaders to replace the original core group who has started to retire and 2) for people to come to Christ through the many ongoing outreach opportunities. These are always ongoing prayer requests!

FAMILY/PERSONAL CORNER:

**Malachi came back from university for Christmas break a few days ago and so nice to have the five of us under one roof for a few weeks. Please join us in praying for some good family times of encouragement while he is back.

We are asking for the Spirit to refresh us and give us energy and his presence even amidst a lot of things on the "to do" list over the next days. We need grace and encouragement in the midst of all of this. Pray that we would have times to stop and just simply enjoy His presence.

Please be praying for Jenn's Mum as she experiences some ongoing health issues and for her Dad as he is on the front line of care. Pray for the Lord's provision in various ways both short term and longer term.

With love in Jesus,

Matt for the Irvines
(from the 17 December 2022 update, edited by Joan Beinetti)

Nov. 29, 2022 — Jody Collinge

Thank God for the wonderful trip to Israel! I went with a Bible study tour group (Hope and Help, and Beloved Truth) and we spent 4 day traveling around northern Israel, mostly near the Sea of Galilee, one day traveling down the Jordan River to Jerusalem and four days wandering around Jerusalem. Here are some of the highlights:

• Safe travels to and from Israel (Thanks for your prayers!

• Wonderful friendships! I had met several of these friends in online Bible studies, but now we were together in person.

• Great hotels with abundant food. (We hiked and climbed several hours a day, so we burned some of it off.)

• A boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, complete with Israeli dancing and a demonstration of first-century fishing

• A visit to Capernaum including the probable sites of the synagogue and Peter's home.

• A visit to Jericho, with a ride on a donkey!

• Visiting Qumran, the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls

• Riding the cable car to see Masada

• Getting baptized in the Jordan River--that was a highlight!

• A night by the Dead Sea (we floated but didn't really swim)

• Listening to a triumphant song while entering Jerusalem

• Praying at the Western Wall

• Seeing the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock

• Wandering around the Old City and seeing the amazing architecture

• Mourning at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum

• Wandering from Mount of Olives down the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane to the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

• But what I liked best was the peaceful Garden Tomb, where we had a Communion service.

• Praise God for this wonderful trip--great friends, great sites, tracing the footsteps of Christ.

• En route back, I slept in one of the tiny cubicles at the Mexico City airport. When I woke up, I thought I was in the Garden Tomb!

Now, try to match the descriptions with the photos below.

Thank God for an excellent, unforgettable trip to Israel, walking in the footsteps of Christ. And thank God for a safe trip home again--after more than six weeks of travel, it is great to sleep in my own bed. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement and support. Let me know how I can be praying for you.

Let me close with the shortest Psalm, Psalm 117:

1 Praise the LORD, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!

Happy Thanksgiving! We have a lot to be thankful for.
With love in Christ,
Jody

Nov. 21, 2022 — International Friendships, Inc. (IFI)

The team from International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) shares the love of Christ with international students who come to US college campuses by offering them hospitality, in the hopes of introducing them to Jesus.  If you would like to help IFI to offer rides and other practical services to these students, please contact Christine Maali Amiri at c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org. You can also contact Christine if you would like to receive her monthly newsletters or join her support team.

Please pray for…

• the IFI team to meet more international students

• IFI English Conversation Clubs and Bible Discussion groups

• For salvation for Claudia (not her real name)

• Official recognition of IFI on the RIT campus

Please talk with Dave Beinitti (dbeinetti@gmail.com) or Paul Craig (paul.craig@rit.edu) to learn more about IFI at RIT. You can also learn more from their website (https://www.ifiusa.org/). 

Nov. 15, 2022 — CompassCare

CompassCare is dedicated to giving women the courage to have their babies, especially when they are facing pressure from those close to them. During a visit, a woman will talk with a nurse and has the opportunity to have an ultrasound and STD testing. During that visit, the nurse always asks for the opportunity to pray and share the Gospel with the patient. These are high stakes conversations and here are this year’s results as of October 27, 2022.

If you would like a tour of CompassCare, please talk with Paul Craig.

Please continue to pray for CompassCare and pro-life groups everywhere.

• Pray that many women in crisis will find the CompassCare offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany and through Telecare and receive the care that they need.

• Pray for God's protection on all pro-life centers from attacks.

• Pray for grace, humility and truth as individuals, groups and a church in our ongoing conversations about abortion in all settings.

• Keep praying for plans to expand CompassCare into Brooklyn, NY.

• Pray that God will raise up Christians in New York, and across America to pray for the unborn every day.

CompassCare is a Christ-centered organization, committed to "Erasing the need for abortion by transforming a woman's fear into confidence.” You can also follow them at CompassCare Community on Facebook or ErasingTheNeed.com/RebuildBigger. Please contact Paul Craig by email pac8612@gmail.comor text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

Nov. 8, 2022 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

Dear Friends and Family,

We held a "Celebrating the Light of Jesus" celebration at a recent Sunday worship and meal. We had about 70 total adults and children present. Just under half were not followers of Jesus. There were a variety of songs, prayers to Jesus, and a teaching from 1 John, followed by a bring-a-dish veggie meal. There were fun activity stations for the kids, including cultural activities such as rangoli-making with coloured rice, and applying designs on hands with henna. It was neat that pretty much everyone from what feels like a smaller church plant all of a sudden was pitching in to help host a worship event that had more guests than regulars. Both regular Sunday attendees and guests pitched in to help serve the food and clean up.

Each Oct 31, I now give thanks that on this day six years ago (in 2016) the Lord protected my life when I was hit by a car while cycling. It was just after I finished a prayer walk with our teammate Chris. I could/should easily have died or had major brain/body damage, but I didn’t. Praise God!  Thank You, Jesus!

Luke's school situation seems to have settled down at his current school which is an answer to prayer. There are no open doors elsewhere, so we are trusting the Lord to continue to provide for him in this present school. Arielle is doing wonderfully in her new school which is where she will be going for the last two years of high school. She is making good friends, loves the subjects she is studying and is encouraged. We thank God for this.

Praise God as last week Jenn and I had a chance to take Arielle and Luke to visit Malachi at university in Edinburgh for the first time after only Jenn and I dropped him off there in early September. We had a great visit. He seems to be settling in well on multiple fronts and we are grateful for this! Please continue to pray for the Lord to establish his steps there and be near to him.

Praise God for some good street outreach opportunities (which I'll write about more in a later update). Another believer from our church and I were handing out free chai tea in a major shopping area recently. If people asked us who we were we explained that we were handing out the tea as an act of love, and give them a leaflet that talked about Jesus being the King of Peace. If they didn't ask, we just gave them tea. Many people stopped and were very happy to chat and we had very positive interactions overall. But someone took a photo of us (without us knowing) and it was forwarded to many in the wider community along with a message warning people about Christians "seeking to convert the gullible godless" and made its way back to us through third parties! We have no idea how many people saw it!  So please be praying for the woman who snapped the photo and shared it, that the Lord would bless her and that the good news of Jesus would continue to spread even in the face of misunderstandings - and even opposition - like this.

Please pray for the Lord to bless the seeds that were planted at the “Celebrate the Light of Jesus” celebration. Pray that God would help these seeds to grow.

Pray for breakthroughs of the Light of Jesus into the lives of the people to whom we are ministering. The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. Isaiah 9:2 NLT

Pray for Jenn as she serves as a monthly co-facilitator for one of Serge's leadership foundation cohorts.

Pray for a gathering in Oxford I am helping to organise on 23 November which is trying to encourage reflection on how to reach out to the people we serve.

Continue to pray that the Lord would sustain and grow New Life Suwarta Sangat as a church. He continues to open up wonderful avenues for outreach. God continues to provide in so many day-by-day ways.  But the core of the church continues to be a bit smaller at the moment, so pray that we would be able to encourage one another well, enjoy one another, and be unified in purpose. Please ask the Lord to add to our number, including younger leaders.

With love in Jesus,
Matt for the Irvines (edited by Joan Beinetti)

Nov. 1, 2022 — Souls Winning Ministries

The Good News- is that the church and Bible School in Jacmel are well. Twenty-five students are eager for biblical teaching in this country where much of the population is Catholic with a lot of synchronism with Voodoo thrown in. They could have even more teaching weeks with some more funding. 

Please continue to be in prayer for Osseille and his family. Osseille remains in the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince after seven and a half months. The gangs have been increasing in power, and normal societal functioning has mostly stopped. The legal processes needed for Osseille’s release have stopped. What little fuel there is, is unaffordable, children are not in school, many businesses are not open,  kidnappings are common, and transportation around the country is nearly impossible. 

Osseille has two types of abdominal pain, presumably an ulcer and definitely a kidney stone, but unable to access medical care or fill prescriptions for medications we have sent from here. There have been deaths from cholera in the prison, and the water being provided is suspect. Be in prayer for comfort for Osseille and his wife Lalandina, daughter Sarah, and newborn son Samuel. Pray for God’s protection of Osseille, that an angel of the Lord be there for his protection, and that God will work all these things together for good and His Glory. 

Oct. 25, 2022 — Herberts

A New Season

I stole this picture from one of our YL kids from a meeting a couple of weeks ago. We are so grateful to be able to open our home to kids and share time, life, and the Word. The picture is taken prior to our bible study where we looked at Acts 9:36-43. One of the points that we focused on was the life of Dorcas (tough name). Peter is summoned in this passage shortly after Dorcas dies and we learn that her life was marked as one that was full of good works and charity. We see that what was evident on the outside was a result of what God was doing on the inside. Dorcas was not full of good deeds and charity because that was the right thing to do, she was full of good deeds and charity out of the work that was being done in her life. We focused on her legacy of caring for the most vulnerable, we see this as the widows of the community testify on her behalf.

As we talked about the application to our lives today we wrestled with the questions, "what would people say about my life?", and "do our lives on the outside match what God is doing on the inside?" As we talked about our hopes for this new club season our prayer is that our lives would preach the Gospel as much as the talks from the front. Our prayer is that our community would see our lives marked by good deeds and charity, and most importantly as one that has crossed from death to life.

October 4 was Young Life's national day of prayer. As an organization, we spent time collectively and individually lifting up our areas to our Father. I am grateful to be a part of this ministry that places an emphasis on prayer. Would you take a few minutes today and lift up Roc West YL? Jim Rayburn the founder of YL shared a prayer in the 1950's that is just as relevant today:

“Dear Lord, give us the teenagers that we may lead them to Thee. Our hearts ache for the millions of young people who remain untouched by the Gospel and for the tragically large proportion of those who have dropped by the wayside and find themselves without spiritual guidance. Help us to give them a chance, oh Father, a chance to become aware of thy Son’s beauty and healing power in the might of the Holy Spirit. Oh, Lord Jesus, give us the teenagers, each one at least long enough for a meaningful confrontation with Thee. We are at best unprofitable servants, but thy grace is sufficient. Oh, thou Holy Spirit, give us the teenagers. For we love them and know them to be awfully lonely. Dear Lord, give us the teenagers.”

– Jim Rayburn

Thank you for all that you do to help us connect teens with the love of Christ. We are so grateful to be in this with you!

For Christ and kids,

Max and Samantha

Oct. 18, 2022 — Pursleys

There is much to pray for the Pursely’s Ararat Gateway ministry, both in thanksgiving but also in intense intercession. Here are some recent highlights from this summer:

1. Successful meeting of Love Camp, a bi-annual gathering of children with disabilities. Both Lisa and Jacob are involved in planning, teaching, and ministering at the camp. 

2. Monthly meeting of the Ararat Missions School, not only for encouragement and ministry, but to send teams out to nearby areas for Bible distribution, sharing of testimonies, meeting with local missionaries, and establishing new relationships.

3. Successful meeting of the Agarak Camp hosted by the Hope Language Center. The staff of Hope Language Center along with 23 volunteers hosted 100 children to teach English, build connections to local government, and bring hope through new relationships.

4. Assisting a local family to establish a small chicken business for a self-sustaining source of income.

5. Continued steps toward establishing a University in Yerevan called the “Armenian Theological Academy.” The goal is to offer four-year courses of study in Pastoral Studies, Biblical Counseling, and Missions to the Muslim World.

6. Exploration of a new church plant in Yerevan.

In addition, here are two areas for fervent prayer:

1. Jacob has been involved with the start of a church plant in area that has not had a church for over 100 years. The vision to plant this church has seemed almost miraculous in the way it developed, but the first couple to begin the work there met with extreme resistance from local authorities that included physical torture. Pray for God’s power and protection to be at work for this couple and for the ministry.

2. The attack of Azerbaijan on Armenia on Sept 13-15 has wrought destruction as well as killing and unspeakable atrocities on Armenians, some of them connected to the Ararat Gateways ministry. Jacob reports on the horrors of the most intense spiritual and physical warfare and his trust that God’s work will be accomplished. 

There is opportunity to support their ministry financially:

https://pushpay.com/pay/visitgracewaymissionsasia/9JdQmltFxwjFGim-gy-gJg - Giving type: Asia/Jacob