Praise and Prayer for River City

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings from River City! Thank you for praying for Ch/ad's time away earlier this month for a week of training focused on CPMs (fellowship planting movements). There were fifty or more PI people from a variety of countries gathered together to grow in our effectiveness as we seek to bring about CPMs among some of the least reached peoples in the world. While Ch/ad was away Ch/arity alone shouldered the responsibility of caring for Abr/aham and keeping the house running.

Despite both of them being sick at different points during the time Ch/ad was gone, Charity had a great week here in River City. The neighborhood ladies checked up on her regularly to ensure that she was doing fine. Each day, she was either out in the neighborhood enjoying their company, or they came to our house for a visit.

Growing Relationships and Ministry

Most notable was the way they seemed to feel a freedom without Ch/ad here to just pop in more than they normally do, and stay for longer times just sitting, chatting and eating chocolate. Please pray for more spiritual conversations to grow from these relationships. And pray also for grace, discernment, and language for Ch/arity as she continues to offer to pray for different situations that come up.

Recently in our apartment building there was conflict amongst two of the tenants. Ch/arity prayed with our house help who works for the building that peace would be restored. Our helper came back the next day with a big smile, eager to share the good news that the conflict had been resolved. We were excited by "Jane's" excitement, and were thankful that she saw a clear connection between our praying for God's grace in this situation (in the name of J*sus), and the quick resolution.

Training Opportunities

For Ch/ad there is still plenty to process and work through from the training. Even more so, there is much to implement. Pray we would be able not only to implement these helpful principles and practices into our own lives here, but also be able to train others to live and minister along these lines as well.

We would love to see God open opportunities for us to pass on this training to many of our national believing friends, whom we would love to see pass what they learn from us on to others (whom, of course, we'd love to have train others). We are eager to see more nationals in ministry have a heart for Mslm outreach. Please pray that God would use us to mobilize and equip nationals to plant ch.s among Mslms in this land.

Visit from Cr*ssWay Fellowship

We recently received a wonderful gift from our friends at Cr*ssWay in the form of two visitors! Ch/ad picked up David V. and Steve M. (two shepherds / friends from Cr*ssWay Fellowship) at the airport. The three of us then travelled to River City. Here Ch/arity & I had the privilege and opportunity to give them a little glimpse into our lives. It was wonderful to be able to introduce them to some of our local friends, walk through our neighborhood with them, show them our home and our city. We were greatly encouraged by our time with these dear men. In addition to their ministry to us, Dave & Steve also had some opportunity to minister to some local not-yet-believing friends by sharing the Good News, and by praying for them.

They were also able to pray for / with "Irving" (a MBB brother). We are hopeful that, among the other things God may have done during their time here, God has placed on them a greater burden to mobilize some to come and join us here in the work. We'd be delighted to welcome some new teammates from Cr*ssWay! Thank you people of Cr*ssWay for releasing Dave and Steve to come and be a blessing to our family! And thank you Dave & Steve for the sacrifices you made to be with us! We had a wonderful time with the two of you!

More Workers for River City

After saying good-bye in the capital, our family took the overnight train north to another city, where our friends Matt & Laurie live. There we spoke at a bible college, where Matt is a teacher. We shared about our testimony, calling, and burden for the Mslms of this land. We challenged the students to seriously consider ministry among Mslms after graduation. We also invited them to pray about coming to join us in the work God is doing here in River City. Please ask God to work mightily for his glory among the nationals in this land, that they might have a greater burden to see Mslms trust in Chr*st, and so be saved.

Irving and His Family

While our friends from Cr*ssWay were here we visited Irving and his family. They are doing well. Irving shared the story with us of how God rescued their family from evil spirits through the power of J*sus, and how they became followers of Hazrat Isa together as a family. This family has withstood much opposition from the evil one and from Mslm leaders who have tried using both "sticks" and "carrots" to get them back into the fold (the ummah). Pray for much grace to be upon this family as they navigate through the difficult waters of getting their children married. Their family (though probably not the whole family) will be at our house tonight for dinner. Pray we would be a blessing and encouragement to them as we interact and share a meal together.

Prayer for Alvin

Recently Ch/ad was out at a local mazaar (Mslm shrine) to pray and meet new people. He had about a 3 hour conversation with a fairly religious man, "Alvin," who is a Weaver, the father of 10, and grandfather of 3. Alvin indicated he comes to the shrine regularly and that people seek him out for help in spiritual and religious matters. Pray for God to work powerfully in Alvin's heart. Among other things, Ch/ad shared with him a couple parables and offered to him (more than once) the opportunity for us to study the holy books together (hopefully in his home with his family as well).

Pray that he would take Ch/ad up on this offer. On the phone this morning, he said he is hoping to stop by our house for a visit tomorrow or the next day. Pray for God to work in many hearts here, in giving them a desire to know what the "3 other holy books" teach us.

Prayer for Abr/aham

Abr/aham is doing well. It would seem he too is glad to be home. Traveling is hard for a little guy, especially given that he's had a bad cold, and is teething. He continues to bring us great joy and amusement! Please continue to pray for his protection spiritually, emotionally and physically.

Thank you for your partnership with us here!

Warmly,
Ch/ad & Ch/arity - and Abr/aham