December 7 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

Fresh Grace - 1 Dec 2023, Irvine Prayer Update

Dear Friends & Family,

I've found myself asking the Lord to pour fresh encouragement, fresh faith, a fresh sense of His Love and Grace, and a fresh perspective into our hearts. Well, usually there is a gap between starting to feel the need to pray for these things and then starting to feel the effects of "Empty" and only then am I moved to pray.

I was reading a book on Evangelism the other day. In the context of giving examples of Jesus encountering people in Luke 18, this sentence really struck my heart: "There is nothing that we give up for Christ that isn't returned many times over." Not a new thought. But something about the reminder that God generously and lavishly and continues to pour Himself out for us - all undeserved - was such good news for me. It really just got me. Pray for more of this Good News to be real to us even as we seek to hold out the words of life to others.

A Few Update Snapshots & Prayer Points

(1) The 3rd consultation on 16 Nov in Oxford concerning outreach to our religious group context went well. It was a smaller group but very good discussion and mutual learning. One fact that keeps being highlighted is that there has been a 260% increase in Indian Student Visas to the UK in the last 5 years. Pray for some who are considering how to get good outreach training resources into the hands of Christian Students.

(2) Last night two of us New Life Suwarta Sangat elders met with two younger men for Leadership / Elder / Preaching Training. What a joy it was to unpack a passage together and encourage our younger brothers to consider how the Lord could use them in Preaching and Elder ministry. Pray for the Lord to protect and encourage and help them to grow.

(3) This past Sunday after worship - as sometime happens - a number of us ended up grabbing lunch at a local "Masala Dosa" place. Some relatively new followers of Jesus were with us and our conversation led to some mutual discipleship and encouragement regarding how to reach out to friends and family. Pray for the Lord to open doors for them for outreach to friends and family.

(4) This week I attended a British Gospel Centred Church Planting Network gathering to get a feel for it and see if it might be a good idea for our church plant to join up since we are in a bit of a "re-vitalising" mode. It was so encouraging! Pray for wisdom as to whether we should join. But also at the gathering I got to sit in on a seminar led by a younger pastor from a British Gujarati Indian background who is in the process of planting a multi-ethnic church in North East London (we are in NW London) in the past 3 years. It is so encouraging to see what they have learned and are now sharing with a larger British Church Planting Network. So much of their experience resonates with ours. He is also starting to raise up some younger British Indian trainees. There is a possibility of perhaps some mutual encouragement and partnership. Pray that the Lord would bless that specific CP work and also continue to raise up more young British Indian gospel laborers.

(5) Two weeks back we had another church plant "games night" outreach event which is functioning very much like a "Gospel Porch" that Tim Keller wrote about and was also discussed recently on a podcast. It's so good to see unbelieving friends and believers from our small church just mixing it up in a safe place. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with our friends.

(6) We are preparing for a Christmas Outreach on Sunday 17th December that will involve a Nativity Play featuring both children from our church and kids who don't come to our church normally. Pray for the gospel to be "heard" and "seen" by all who come on that day.

(7) We had a special time of giving thanks at church two weeks back and then at our home on Thanksgiving Day (mostly family/team but also a few church friends.) So much to give thanks for, which has been brought back to me again even as I've typed the above. I had a chance at the church Thanksgiving to have a gospel conversation with some visitors from other faith backgrounds]. Pray that the seeds planted would grow into true repentance and faith.

So thankful for all your prayers and partnership in the Lord!

Matt Irvine (and Jenn)

November 28 — Souls Winning Ministries

Haiti Souls Winning Ministries (SWM) of Haiti

The Seminary in Jacmel is training pastors in the south of Haiti. It is lead by Maxito Raphaël often joined by David Bruno, both graduates of the 2017 Class of the Seminary in Marin. They meet for a week of teaching every 6 or so weeks, as funding allows. Grace’s special offering allowed them to meet again the week of November 13-17.

Rich Kennedy was part of the teaching for the first 3 days, presenting on Making Biblical Decisions. “There’s an App for That!”, APP lying Gods word to the situations on our path, with special attention to God’s work on transforming our hearts and strengthening our discernment. The Last 2 days were an overview of the wisdom literature.

Our special offering also sent funds to the school Cenet Joseph has started on the Island off the coast of Haiti, La Gonave. 

The main SWM campus is in the middle of 2 gangs battling the Chien Mechant (Evil Dogs) vs a branch of The G9 Coalition of gangs. Pray for safety and peace to return. 2 of the kids of the New Joy House Orphanage need to retake national exams in December. Pray they pass and move on in possible directions for their lives. 

Pray: 

1. That the Jacmel Seminary flourish and the gospel spreads through the south of Haiti. 

2. That the gang warfare stop in the vicinity of the SWM work, and throughout Haiti.

3. That a transitional government can form and bring order and stability to the country.

4. That the students of the orphanage stay safe, and flourish educationally and spiritually.

5. That if God wants Osseille and family to come to the US, that He open up those doors, and if not, that He shows the plan He has for them in Haiti. 

November 7 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

John 13:17 (ESV) “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

1. Praise God that, in this time of world upheaval and unrest, He is sovereign and in control. Pray for the people who are suffering, in areas of conflict, in areas of persecution, and in areas where the gospel has not yet penetrated.

   2. Thank God for several specific answers to prayer:

• Thank God for the tropical storm and much-needed rain in Zihuatanejo. But there was little wind, so homes were not damaged much.

• Thank God for our ministries in Zihuatanejo with children, parents, and grandparents.

• Thank God for the lives and communities transformed by Christ through the spread of community health evangelism ministries.

• Thank God for his provision of a car for Texas.

• Thank God that the work on the cabin is progressing.

3. But I do have a specific prayer request for you. I have been having more vision problems, and it probably is a side effect of my cataract surgery. So, in November I am scheduled to go to Texas for an eye exam and probable laser surgery on my eyes. Please pray for all the travel and clear vision. (And please forgive all my typos now!)

4. Thank God for our Global CHE Network service team, and for all the work behind the scenes to support the worldwide community health evangelism ministries. Please pray for God’s provision of a new bookkeeper and for new curriculum staff.

I want to thank each of you who have been praying for me and those who give support. But our address for support has changed. Please send any donations to:

Global CHE Network
200 W Frontier St., Suite Q
Payson, AZ 85541

Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Let me know how I can be praying for you.

With love,
Jody

October 31 — International Friendships, Inc.

IFI continues to grow and thrive on the RIT campus. We have been asking you to pray that IFI will be recognized as an official student group on the RIT campus and are happy to report that this prayer has been answered. As an RIT student group, IFI now has access to campus spaces and limited funding for student events. Christine Maali Amiri (c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org) and Mason Pell (m.pell@ifiusa.org) are both working with international students on the RIT campus. 

On Friday, October 20, Ridgeland Community Church hosted an informational meeting and fundraiser for IFI. We had a great meal together (catered by Mission BBQ) with about 65 people in attendance, including about a dozen members of Grace Church PCA.  

The meeting was led by Peter and Hannah Putz, who have been with IFI Rochester from the beginning. We heard a brief history of IFI in Rochester from our very own Dave Beinetti. A young man who grew up in Canada/India/Dubai told us how he experienced a much-needed sense of belonging from the IFI Christian community after his travels in multiple countries. A young woman from the Republic of the Congo provided a very inspiring story about the joy she experienced as she shared her faith with her roommates at RIT. Rich Mendola, the nationwide director of IFI, pointed out four important principles in the ministry of IFI.

• It is Biblical - starting with Abraham, God has been raising up people from within cultures to carry His message.

• It is strategic – the ministry of IFI has the potential to impact future leaders all over the world, including the children and advisors of presidents, premiers, and prime ministers.

• It is economical – missionaries to a new country typically require more than two years of language and cultural training and frequently take four or more years to have an impact on arrival. Students returning to their homes can have an immediate impact. 

• It is effective – students who come to faith in Jesus Christ and those who have their faith strengthened and renewed return home to start Bible studies and home churches, even in countries where Christian missionaries are not even allowed.

There will be opportunities during the coming year to host international students for dinners at home, especially during Thanksgiving, over Christmas break, spring break, and Easter, when many IFI students cannot return home. Please contact Paul Craig (call him at 585.305.5557, email at pac8612@gmail.com, or just stop him after service on Sunday) if you would be willing to be added to a list of potential host families who can be contacted when these opportunities arise. 

Please pray for the international students that IFI serves and for Christine and Mason as they minister to these students.  

If you would like to receive regular updates about IFI,  to volunteer with IFI, or to support the ministry of IFI at RIT, please contact Christine Maali Amiri at c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org. 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://rit.ifiusa.org/). 

October 24 — CompassCare

There is a great need for prayer to support the ministries of CompassCare, particularly through the PrayerNet team. This team sends out weekly updates that provide data on the number of women served by CompassCare in the Rochester, Buffalo and Albany offices, and by Telecare, which reaches women around the world. Here are the highlights from a typical update. Please note that there is also a request to pray for the nurses who work directly with the women in all of these settings.

They also include prayer requests that are specific to the situations of women who are visiting CompassCare, such as these from the October 17, 2023, PrayerNet update:

Please pray for CompassCare's patients this week. Please pray specifically for the women who are experiencing the following:

• Negative experience with foster care—pray for healing and Christian mentors/caregivers.

• Domestic violence—pray for protection, reconciliation, and transformation.

• Abandonment by family—pray for provision and love.

• Boyfriend wants an abortion—pray for a change of heart.

The Church through CompassCare shows women loving sacrifice, giving them the ethical medical care and comprehensive community support they need to get a vision of their life after having their baby. When a woman experiences that love, care, and sacrifice, it becomes easier for her to face the tensions in her life, protecting her baby.

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

October 10 — Max & Samantha Herbert

We are off and running!

We are so grateful for another Fall season with YL!  Pictured above are most of the leaders for Young Life, Wyldlife, and Young Lives in our area.  We had the chance to go to Saranac for a leadership weekend getaway (sadly a few could not make it).  We spent our time planning out the club schedule for the year, checking in on personal health, and most importantly finding encouragement in the Word. The mission we are leaning into this year is to "know Christ and make Him known to teens."  Please pray for our team as we reach out to teens in middle school, high school, and teen parents!  

Club is in full swing!

Pictured above is one of our volunteers, Marissa, giving the club talk at the end of an amazing hour together.  Marissa shared a personal story from her childhood of a time when she was lost in the woods and needed help finding the way home.  As she sat with tears in her eyes she felt a nudge on her back, she turned around to see her dog sitting behind her.  She followed her dog all the way home!  Marissa related that story to our condition of being lost, of wandering on our own, leaving us in a state of brokenness and confusion.  She pointed the teens to Matthew 18 as Jesus speaks about leaving the 99 to find the 1 lost sheep.  She challenged the kids to think about where they are spiritually and encouraged them that no matter how lost they may be that Christ is pursuing them. Would you pray for club on  Monday nights as we get the opportunity to continue to share the truth about the love of Christ in word and deed. 

What Joy!!

   Pictured above is our son Luke and our neighbor Gavin.  The first picture is from October 2017 at Saranac on an outreach weekend and the more recent picture is from this most recent trip to Saranac for leadership weekend.  It has been such a joy to see the Lord work in hearts of these two young men.  What a gift it is to be able to have a front row seat watching them mature in wisdom and stature.  Luke is a freshman at Roberts this year and is helping to lead our high school ministry, Gavin is a senior at Churchville Chili this year and is using this last year as an opportunity to make a difference for Christ among his classmates.  

Fall Weekend!!

Our Fall Weekend trip this year will be at Camp Bethany! We will be joining Buffalo YL, Geneseo YL, and Roc East YL for an incredible weekend. To Register just scan the QR code below!  Would you pray for our outreach weekend? 

September 28 — Souls Winning Ministries

Grace will be collecting a special offering for the next two weeks for the work of Souls Winning Ministries in Haiti.

We would like to see at least:

• $1950 toward supporting the work of the Seminary in Jacmel, to bring the 25 students from the South of Haiti for a week of teaching at Jacmel.

• $500 to $1000 toward the collecting and sending by DHL laptops, books, supplies to the Seminary.

• $500 to $1000 toward the work of Cenet Joseph supporting a church and school on the large island of La Gonave off the coast of Haiti.

• $2000+ toward the general funds of Reformation Hope supporting the many ministries of Haiti, including the orphanage, school, health center in Marin.

Total: $4950 to $5950

Also, if people are interested in hearing about opportunities to assist with specific needs or ministry opportunities as they come up, be in contact with Rich Kennedy. Some are one-time needs and others are ongoing opportunities. Recent needs were for a student unable to afford school in Mirebalais, and a deacon killed by a gang leaving a wife and four beautiful young children. Pastor Maxito’s church has many members who can’t afford food, etc. Just today 9/28/23, a member urgently needs funds to get out of the crossfire of gangs. Staff and their families, having been displaced from their homes by gangs and leaving everything behind, must start over again. There are also ongoing opportunities on the Reformation Hope website to support a child of the orphanage, a student at the seminary, etc.

See the latest Reformation Hope newsletter. Printed copies will be available in the foyer.

History of the organization

Souls Winning Ministries in Haiti was started by Pastor Jean Jacob Paul.
At age 9 he was selected to come to the US for schooling, Bible College and to return to Haiti. In 2003, he returned to his home location of Marin, just north of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Over time, he began an orphanage, a school, a church, and a seminary.

After the 2010 earthquake, teams for Mission to the World started to go to Haiti, and in December 2010 went to Souls Winning Ministries. Soon thereafter Grace started supporting Pastor Jean Paul.

September 19 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?” (ESV, Esther 4:14)

1. Our online Bible class has nearly finished Esther. Like Esther, we are living in an unusual time. How is God calling you to respond?

2. We celebrated with a games night and will begin studying God's Amazing Creation, focusing on Genesis 1 and 2. Please let me know if any of your children or teens would like to join us.

3. Thank God that Chrissy was able to escape the fires in northern Canada.

4. Pray for two Zihuatanejo friends who are going through health challenges.

5. Several members of our Global CHE Network Service Team are getting ready for a series of trainings around the world, focusing on the Million Village Challenge. One way to describe community health evangelism is "Christ-centered community development in a million villages." Please pray that Christ will bring his transformation of children, parents, families, and communities to a million villages. 

6. I have been learning new strategies for Children's CHE. GameLife has the goal of "Connecting Jesus to every child in every nation". They use games as a focused entry into Bible stories, helping the children apply the truth to their own lives. Like Children's CHE, their goal is to engage the family, multiply churches, and bring Christ's transformation to communities.

7. A second dynamic ministry we are working with is KIDStory, a ministry of Kids Around the World. Their goal is "Sharing God’s transforming hope with kids and their communities through food, play, and story." As you can see, both of these ministries have much in common with Children's CHE. Pray that we can "encourage one another and build one another up", as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says.

8. Zihuatanejo has been hot and steamy, so I have enjoyed our small pool. Please pray for more rain.

Nuevo Amanecer 

Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Let me know how I can be praying for you. ¡Dios les bendiga! May the Lord continue to bless you

There a quite a few links in this prayer update. Please follow some of them to explore these ideas.
 With love,
Jody

September 12 — International Friendships, Inc.

International Friends Incorporated held a fall welcome picnic for international students at Ridgeland Community Church on Sunday, August 26. There were about 30 international students in attendance – about 10 were new to the RIT campus this fall. A few are active and outspoken Christians but many are watching and, we hope, considering the Christian faith.

 There will be opportunities during the coming year to host international students for dinners at home, especially during Thanksgiving, over the Christmas and spring breaks when they cannot return home and around Easter. Please contact Paul Craig (call him at 585.305.5557, email at pac8612@gmail.com, or just stop him after service on Sunday) if you would be willing to be added to a list of potential host families who can be contacted when these opportunities arise.

Please pray for the international students that IFI serves and for the IFI staff. Also pray for the ongoing process of IFI becoming officially recognized on the RIT campus.

If you would like to receive regular updates about IFI,  volunteer with IFI, or support the ministry of IFI at RIT, please contact Christine Maali Amiri at c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org. 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/). 

September 8 — CompassCare

This story is taken from a recent CompassCare email:

“Courage is a big part of ministry to women and babies.

Recently an abortionist in one of CompassCare’s service areas passed away. His widow courageously donated an ultrasound machine to the ministry. A CompassCare nurse was determined to redeem this equipment for the Kingdom and courageously put it to use as soon as it was delivered to the office after regular hours.

A nervous patient courageously reached out to CompassCare after taking the first of two abortion pills. She came to the office directly. On the same day. After hours. The patient, the nurse, and the repurposed machine came together. The baby's heartbeat was still strong. The mother was overwhelmed. The nurse shared the Good News and a different regimen was initiated to save the baby's life.

And with an even deeper courage, this mother also made a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of her life. Your generosity fuels the mission. Courageously.”

By the start of September of this year, 1521 babies have been saved from abortion, 227 women have prayed to receive Christ, and women in 15 countries are being served by the Telecare ministries of CompassCare. Follow this link to read the story of the first life saved through Telecare.

There will be CompassCare tours at their facilities on the following dates:

• Thursday, October 20 @ 7 PM

• Saturday, November 5 @ 9:30 AM

Please talk with Paul Craig if you would like to attend a tour.

And 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.com or text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

August 29 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

On the Ministry Front:

Pray that the good news of Jesus would run in the lives of those who heard it and experienced it during our summer outreaches including our LEAP (London Evangelism and Prayer) Week outreach in early July (about 75 short-term visitors from USA were there to help us) and our kids club week at the end of July. A number of local people heard the gospel for the first time ever and had some contact with our church for the first time ever.

Pray for a ladies’ outreach being planned for September which includes some testimonies related to cancer survivors who know and love Jesus and their desire to share about their journey.

Pray for some elder/leadership training we plan to resume in September

Pray for encouragement and vision for the committed core of the church plant after some long-term local leadership retired earlier in the year and as we ask the Lord to provide for the next steps.

Pray for the beginning of fall ministry programs including our weekly youth clubs and mums and tots ministry and ladies' and men's bible studies.

On the Personal Front

Praise God for a good time of mini-home assignment during the last four weeks in the USA as we've had good connections with supporting churches and friends and family, including Jenn's mom who is now in a memory care unit in Tennessee near one of her brothers.

Praise God that a cash offer was made and accepted on Jenn's mother's (and late father's) house in upstate NY. Pray that this would close smoothly by late August/early September. 

Pray for our kids this autumn:

• Malachi (19) is starting his second year of a Maths/Philosophy degree at  the University of Edinburgh and is helping with leadership in the student "Christian Union" ministry moving into an apartment with three friends and will be cooking his own meals. Pray for continued growth and learning & longer term direction for his further Calling.

• Arielle (17) is starting her senior year of High School and has to apply to Universities by the end of September. Pray for guidance.

• Luke (13) is starting eight grade. Pray for encouragement and inspiration at school.

Pray for Jenn and I to walk closely with the Lord Jesus this Autumn and to continue to grow and mature in every area of our lives that He would want to grow us.

Thanks!

Matt

August 22 — Max & Samantha Herbert

Best Week of Your Life! 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come..." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Throughout the school year during the announcements at each club as we are sharing the details of our camp trip I always end with the same line - "I promise this will be the best week of your life or I will give you your money back."  Week after week for over 20 years I have shared this line with the students in the room and we have never had anyone ask for their money back! Maybe they are so tired by the time they get off the bus they forget my promise but I think there is more to it.  

I know that every student who steps foot on camp property is going to have a great time tubing, zip lining, hanging at the pool, conquering the ropes course, eating great food, and sharing lots of laughs.  Those are all great things but they are not the catalyst for the promise.  I promise the best week because I know that at camp our students (and leaders) are going to be in a place where they are loved, hear the Gospel message, and have an encounter with Christ.  For some, I know that this will be a week where their lives will be changed forever, Christ will grab their hearts and they will truly become a new creation!  

I asked one of our students, Lauren, if she would share a little bit about her journey and how this camp week changed her life: 

"Going into my first year of camp I didn't really know God or wholeheartedly think I could give my heart to Him. But this year at Lake Champion changed my whole perspective. A few months before graduating high school I was struggling with addiction. I was vaping, smoking weed up to 4x a day, and drinking every weekend. The day before camp my parents found out about everything and I feared what my life would look like going home after camp. 

 I have never felt so vulnerable as I cried every night at camp. The withdrawal I felt at camp only made my emotions that much stronger, but as I shared with my leaders and friends I felt the weight slowly lifting.  With every cry, every hug, and every conversation I knew I wanted to quit for good. I dedicated my life to Christ this year, walking up to the stage to give my life to Him had me so emotional, I knew it was the best decision.  Walking back to my seat balling my eyes out, getting hugs from friends and strangers, people who don't even know my story.  I felt seen and I felt heard.  My family has been super supportive and has helped me quit.  I am going on 3 weeks sober and I'm just getting started.  Without YL I would be going down the wrong path, slowly losing myself."

 It has been such a gift to be able to see God at work in Lauren's life, I am so grateful that God would invite us into this miracle!  We are so excited to walk alongside Lauren as she begins this walk. 

As summer winds down and as we approach another school year I hope you are encouraged.  We look back over the summer with gratitude as our faith is deepened by seeing God at work and we look forward to the school year with anticipation as we get to share His love and His story with our friends.  

We are grateful to be in this with you, thank you for all that you do to keep this ministry going!  

For Christ and kids,
Max and Sam

August 8 — Souls Winning Ministries

Quite a few challenges have developed in Haiti. You can read the full update from Reformation Hope here. Here are some ways we can be in prayer for Souls Winning Ministries and their work: 

• Osseille Joseph sends his thanks for the help we have given. His family is safe, though they have lost their home to gangs. There is an application to USCIS to bring him and his family to the US, but there has been no action on it yet. Here is an excerpt of a letter he shared in the Reformation Hope newsletter:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for the way that you support us and our family ever since my time in jail and right up to this day. Because of the unsecure conditions in my area, we can’t stay in our house, so now we are staying outside of the city. Even while our situation is complicated, we continue to preach the salvation of God to people who haven’t gone to the theological seminary. Please keep praying for our next trip in August, we will have the opportunity to teach some leaders and also to baptize some people who have confessed saving faith at that time. Our vision is to open another Bible college for that community, Please help with your prayers that God’s will might be for that dream to come true. Our family is grateful to be at a new apartment by the grace of God. We hope in the future that Haiti will have peace and that we will be able to safely return to our home. Our family and I will never forget all that you have done to support us in this very terrible situation.

Sincerely, Your Brother in Christ,
Rev. Osseille Joseph

• The Presbyterian Seminary in Jacmel on the southern coast of Haiti is doing well. Students come from around the area for a week of teaching every 4-6 weeks. Their next session, from August 14-18, will cover biblical ethics. 

• There is a flu epidemic raging, that hit the kids of the orphanage pretty hard. While many of the children have had mild cases, there have been a few severe cases. Key symptoms are fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. Thankfully, the Reformed Medical Clinic has been able to treat the New Joy House Children and monitor their recoveries.

• The gang situation is ongoing. Kidnappings for ransom have become more prominent. Recently, an American nurse and her child were kidnapped while doing humanitarian work in Port-au-Prince. The State Department raised its travel advisory to Level 4, Do Not Travel, and is bringing home all but the most essential personnel from the US Embassy. 

• There are a number of projects that need financial support — sponsoring a child in the orphanage, purchasing supplies for a seminary student, supporting the health center, etc. If you are inclined, check out the Reformation Hope page at reformationhope.org/donate or contact Rich Kennedy.

August 1 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

I recently returned from the base of the Christian Health Service Corps near Dallas, where they had an orientation of new medial missionaries. I taught CHE and helped with the children's program. We had an excellent group. Praise God for the medical missionaries going out to serve, many in hard places. Please pray for the mission teams that are in transition, often after going through hardships. Pray for CHSC, for new staff for their expanding ministry. Read more about CHSC's excellent ministry at https://www.healthservicecorps.org/

Our CHE ministries are also expanding. Pray for the completion of a new CHE app and the opening of new online training programs. We are also working on updating and improving our library of training materials.

Pray also for two close friends who are going through significant health issues. Pray for God's healing and for his peace during this time of uncertainty and change.

Our online Bible study with children and youth has nearly finished Esther! (Yes, she did rescue her people.) During the fall, we hope to study God's Amazing Creation by Kay Arthur and Janna Arndt. Let me know if you know anyone (ages 9-16) who would like to join us.

More children are coming to our children's ministry in Convergencia! Please continue to pray for speech therapy for Isaías, who had a cleft palate repair. In Nuevo Amanecer, we hold a discipleship ministry with mothers and grandmothers alongside the children's program.

Jo Kijabe reports from Kenya, "The ladies received fruit trees with joy and gladness. They sang songs of praise to God, we took the time to learn about bearing good fruits that will last and becoming a blessing to others by sharing the light of Jesus." Thanks to all who gave or prayed for this.

The cabin is progressing. Much of the exterior work is done. Pray for wisdom in all the decisions for the interior. (I was in culture shock, looking at all the options for lighting fixtures in Texas!)

Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Let me know how I can be praying for you.

With love,

Jody

July 11 — Jenn & Matt Irvine

Praise and Prayer for the Irvines

On the ministry front:

• As I write, we are midway through our summer leap outreach week. We have about 80 visitors from the USA from various churches and also RUF interns and summer Serge interns and it has been so encouraging to reflect on Prayer and Evangelism and Mission and God's Purposes for us and His Church. We are having many opportunities to share the good news through various street outreaches near our local church plant and three others in other parts of London. Pray for those who are hearing the gospel - some/many for the first time - that they would come to know and embrace the Good News of Jesus. Pray for the many young adults from their mid-twenties to mid-teens to continue to grow in their faith and that the Lord would help them be good stewards of the experiences they are having here serving with us.

• Pray for several local friends who are going through difficult situations - that they would know the love and healing care of Jesus.

• Pray for our upcoming Kids Club Week, which runs July 23-26. Pray that many would sign up and experience the Love of Jesus that week.

• Pray for ongoing encouragement for the church plant in this time of relative transition.

• Pray for preparation for our brief time of Home Assignment in the States from July 27 - August 24. We are looking forward to being with you all at Grace on the evening of Thursday, August 3!

On the family front:

• Continue to pray for the sale of Jenn’s mother's house (in Phelps, NY). The funding for her mother's memory unity care will last through December only unless the house sells.  Pray that Jesus would bring a buyer soon.

• Pray for good rest and renewal for each member of our family. Continue to pray especially for Jenn as she grieves the loss of her dad (and mom in many ways). 

July 6 — Jacob & Lisa Pursley

Earlier this month, Lisa Pursley visited our Kingdom Prayer gathering to provide an update on her family’s ministry in Armenia, a country situated between Turkey and Iran. Here are some updates on their ministry:

• They have been able to help mobilize and send 16 full-time missionaries out to neighboring Muslim countries. 

•  They helped form a 4-year bible college in the area which is doing well.  There is a serious need for Biblical/reformed teaching as well as reformed material in the appropriate language since most of the “Christian” material in Armenia stems from prosperity gospel movements. The protestant presence in the area has also been increasingly influenced by the New Apostolic Reformation which has been a growing concern for Jacob in recent years due to its doctrinal issues.

•  They helped form an elder-led, reformed, Biblical church in the area (International Bible Church of Armenia). We can be praying that God would grant the church a new full-time pastor and more elders due to some moves. 

• Jacob has had multiple speaking opportunities over the past year and as a result of an interview, someone was moved to donate a number of Farsi Bibles just in time for them to be used in street ministry during a key holiday!

• We can pray for their children – that they would grow spiritually strong and that their faith would mature.

• They have a ministry near the border of Iran. They have requested prayer for renovations on a second guest house in that area.

• Their “love camp” ministry for kids with special needs is continuing to thrive.

• They have welcomed three new Americans who have come to help on a 1-year commitment. They would like prayer for more workers, and the door for effective ministry seems to be wide open.

June 27 — Max & Samantha Herbert

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." Romans 12:1

What an amazing school season we have had together, and there is no better way to celebrate than with our annual shaving cream kickball game (pretty light on the kickball part haha). 

What a gift it was to be together every Monday night sharing the love of Christ in word and in deed with our friends.  We are grateful for our host families who welcomed us in and helped build a sense of belonging (Repass, Snitchler, Seaburg, Johnson, & Capria families thank you so much!). 

We are so blessed to be able to work with our volunteers who share their gifts with our students.  Our volunteers gave their Monday nights as well as Thursday and Saturday mornings, time outside of our meetings with teens, musicals, sporting events, camp weeks, and weekends while juggling a mix of full-time jobs, college schedules, and deadlines, parenting, getting married and so much more!  These people are my heroes and I am reminded of the passage in Romans 12, they indeed offer their lives to share the Gospel.  

Thank you for being a vital part of this mission.  We couldn't do it without you and though you may not personally know the teens you see in the pictures you are very much a part of their stories.  

Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we begin a new season. Our summer season will include some regular get-togethers to connect personally and also share the Word at evening Campaigners. Our leadership team will continue to meet with kids in smaller groups for coffee, ice cream, disc golf, etc.. as the summer allows for more flexibility.  We have a camp trip on July 20th - 25 to Lake Champion as well as a local camp experience with Roc East YL and Geneseo YL on July 9 and 10.  Would you pray that our time with kids in all of these events would provide us with opportunities to go deeper in friendship and provide a clear picture of God's love?  

We also have one of our major fundraisers this summer.  Our annual Golf Tournament is July 24 at Ridgemont Country Club.  Would you pray that this event would bring glory to God as we share what He is doing in our area and that it would be a good way to sustain the ministry financially? 

We are so blessed to be able to be a part of this ministry, thank you for partnering with us! 

For Christ and kids, 

Max and Samantha

June 20 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

Praise and Prayer for the Irvines

On the Ministry Front:

Easter church gatherings and outreach went well. Recently we had a well-attended "Family Game Night" evening at the church which allowed for good interaction with visitors. We've also continued to have weekly Friday Afternoon street outreach and talked to a number of people as we hand out free chai. We've also been enjoying good discussions at bible studies.

In the next few months, we are looking forward to having 2 college students from the states join us as summer interns in June and July. Pray for the Lord to use them while they are here. Pray for preparations for summer leap week outreach the first week of July and for a kids' club outreach the last week of July.

In all of this pray for the Lord to open people's eyes to the good news of Jesus.

Please also be praying for summer leadership training in the church we are hoping to start in June.

On the Family Front:

Thank you for praying for Jenn's family in the wake of her father's death. The funeral gathering went very well just before Palm Sunday and it was so good to give thanks together with many family members for the life of her father.

Thank you for praying for direction for care for Jenn's mum who has Alzheimer’s. The Lord opened a door rather suddenly for her mom to move into a memory care wing of a nice care facility near Knoxville, TN near to where one of her brothers lives.

Please pray for the sale of her mother's house (in Phelps, NY) to happen by August so that money can be released to help pay for her mother's care.  Please also continue to pray for the family as they figure out to be a part of her mother's life in this new normal - her one brother/fam nearby and Jenn and her other brother from a much longer distance.

Thank you for praying for our children as they progress through various school and university levels. Pray for our middle daughter  Arielle as she has to make decisions about where to apply for uni by October. Our oldest is back from university for the summer next week. Our youngest just celebrated turning 13!

Pray that we would know the joy and encouragement of fellowshipping with Jesus and that we would be filled with and renewed by His love on a daily basis.

Thanks!

Matt

June 13 — Jody Collinge

Travels: (Dios mediante--Lord willing)

June 3 to 10, to Guatemala, for the CHE Residency

Prayers and Praise

1. Praise God for our Reynosa trip (on the Tex-Mex border) to give training in community health evangelism (CHE) and Children's CHE. Thank God for the strong united group of pastors and churches who organized the training, with 35 people from about 20 churches. Thank God for their enthusiastic response to the training. Pray that CHE will be a tool that helps to bring Christ's transformation to their communities, schools, and to the immigrant community. Jacob Sotelo and I hope to return to continue the training.

2. Please be praying for the border cities and for other cities in the U.S. who are struggling to deal compassionately with the flood of immigrants. Many come from desperate situations and have risked all to come to the U.S. Pray that we may show the love of Christ to them.

3. I started my ministry in Reynosa about 30 years ago. On this visit, I was thrilled by the unity of many pastors and churches. But the drug cartels now have an overpowering influence in many areas. Thank God for his protection, and pray that the cartel leaders and members may come to know Christ's love.

4. In June, I hope to go to Guatemala to give Children's CHE training as part of their Residencia. This is advanced training for CHE leaders from Latin America, led by Hugo Gomez. Thank God that Miriam Gomez, his wife, is doing better.

5. What is Haman scheming to do? The girls are enjoying our online inductive Bible study of Esther.

6. I help with a children's ministry in Nuevo Amanecer. Now several of their mothers and grandmothers are gathering together for Bible training and discipleship.

7. Please pray for God's direction for our Convergencia ministry, up in the hills about Zihuatanejo. Daniel is a young Bible whiz. His younger brother, Isaías, is also smart but he has not been able to go to school because of a speech defect. Pray for God's wisdom in this.

8. I was at CHSC for a board meeting. And the good news is that the logs arrived and they have started construction on the cabin! Pray that we can use the cabin to serve God.

9. Trivia notes:

Zihuatanejo has been hot and sticky. So right after breakfast, before the sun is high and the water gets hot, I enjoy swimming.

I have been learning digital painting with courses from Schoolism and Proko. But no masterpieces yet!

Thanks for your prayers, support, and encouragement. Let me know how I can be praying for you.

Abrazos,
Jody

June 6 — International Friends Incorporated (IFI)

International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) reaches out to international students on the RIT campus by providing them with hospitality and opportunities to participate in Bible discussions, dinners with American families, and English conversation partners. IFI students who are already Christians receive encouragement and discipleship to become more impactful Christians when they return to their homes. Those who become Christians can then return to their countries (many of which are closed to the Gospel) to share the Good News there.

I have included some stories that Christine Maali Amiri shared in a recent newsletter to help you understand more about the ministry of IFI to international students at RIT.

A few days after Easter, I picked up Naomi* (India) from RIT and drove us to a local coffee shop. During our conversation, I asked her what she knew about Easter and about Jesus rising from the grave. We had a fruitful conversation about Jesus' victory over sin and death and what it means to be a "good person." Pray with me that Naomi would see and understand that all goodness, truth, and righteousness are found in Jesus Christ alone.

A few weeks later we celebrated Eid al-Fitr (celebration marking the end of Ramadan) with Keren* (Pakistan), her husband, and infant daughter. We sampled from seven delicious dishes! As I looked around at the small gathering I thanked God. Every single guest that this young Muslim family invited were Christian! At the end, Keren and her husband thanked us. "We were feeling lonely. Thank you so much for coming and celebrating with us."

Many international students experience loneliness, especially around holidays they normally celebrate back home surrounded by family. I am thankful for these opportunities to befriend and show the love of Christ to these students.

Please pray for…

• the IFI team to meet more international students

• that the IFI team will experience a summer of renewing and refreshing

• salvation for international students who connect with IFI

• 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. During the summer, there are still ministry needs for many IFI students, who must stay in the United States to avoid Visa issues they might encounter if they return to their home countries. Please contact Dave or Paul if you would like to help with driving students around in practical daily ways. You can also learn more from the RIT IFI website and their main website.