Thank You New Harvest Church

The good folks at New Harvest Church did it again. Thank you for blessing the children with new hats, gloves and scarves for winter. And for all the warm winter socks!  Thank you for blessing us!!!

A Weekend Away

Last weekend, we took 35 kids from the village and our church to Vatra Dornei, a small city in the mountains. We had been blessed with some extra money after camp and decided to use the money in the spirit for which it was inteneded….chance to get away!  We were able to stay at the Baptist Church for a great price. Everyone went on a little tourist train ride around the city. And we all got to play in the park.  The park is famous for its black squirrels.  The squirrels are so used to people they will come and take nuts out of their hands. We had a few kids that got really good at feeding the squirrels. While the weather wasn’t great we took every opportunity to go out and play.  We also had some fun games inside, including a plastic wrap/tape ball (if you need to occupy children for a couple of hours, this is the secret!!)

Our dear friend, Alina, who is a purity presenter for MBK/Precious Life here in Romania came with her family. She was able to meet with the older girls.  The girls were able to talk to her about all the things they wanted to know about but might have been scared to ask.  Alina is a blessing to us!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us and prayed for good weather. The only big hiccup was that the children got stuck on the train going home for an extra 2 1/2 hours because of a power outage!  They were all supposed to be home by 6:30 or so and they got home at 9 (and one teen boy, who had to get another train got home at 10!) I understand from the leaders, who were also stuck on the train, that the kids weren’t too bad and sang many songs together, including the songs they had sung in church that morning! Everyone enjoyed themselves!

I have posted over 100 pictures on Facebook for the children to see and use.  Please feel free to check them out on Facebook page!

10 Ways a Local Church Can Help a Missionary

I would like to share a recent blog post from Chuck Lawless.

10 Ways a Local Church Can Help a Missionary | ChuckLawless.com

October 12, 2016

I spend a lot of time with missionaries. Based on my conversations with them over the last year, here are some ways your church can help them:

1. Actually pray for them. This one’s probably not a surprise, but here’s the point: many churches say they pray for missionaries but seldom actually get there. Missionaries depend on your church’s prayer – so really do it. Regularly. Strategically. Passionately.
2. Plan your trips with their input. Too many churches do mission trips, but they make their plans and on-the-ground connections without talking with missionaries. That’s not helpful.
3. Make a long-term commitment to work with them. One short-term trip can be helpful, but an ongoing commitment that allows for strategic partnership is better.
4. Ask them what you can bring them. Maybe it’s food they can’t get where they live, or a book that costs too much to ship, or something for their kids. Bring gifts . . . .
5. Talk with them before you make commitments to national believers. Missionaries are typically leading nationals to become self-dependent, challenging their own believers to give sacrificially. The dollars we give without missionaries’ input can actually hinder their work.
6. Pray for the people they’re trying to reach. Missionaries love their people, and they want you to love them, too. Knowing others are interceding for them empowers missionaries to press on in their work.
7. Actually read and respond to their newsletter and emails. Even a short “We’re thinking about you” or “Thank you for keeping us informed” can be encouraging to a missionary who sometimes feels tired and alone.
8. Talk with them regularly. Missionaries are busy, but they’ll take time to talk with churches who genuinely care. Ask them about their work. Listen and learn, and you’ll strengthen somebody’s heart.
9. Provide housing and an automobile while they’re in the States. When these things are already provided for them when they come back, their rest time is that much more peaceful.
10. Give sacrificially to missions offerings. The dollars we give really do make a difference around the world. Give until it hurts, and lives will be changed.

What would you add to this list?

Chuck Lawless is Dean and Vice-President of Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where he also serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions. In addition, he is Global Theological Education Consultant for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.