Jarvis Journey - Missionaries to Tanzania

I CAN DO EVERYTHING THROUGH HIM WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH. PHILIPPIANS 4:13

Dear Friends,

Christmas 2008 is now behind us and we are looking ahead to a new year filled with new challenges. A few weeks ago, we were asked by the TAG National office to serve as interim principal at the Mwanza Bible College for one term. We have done many things in our 30 + years of ministry, but we are preparing to enter into an area of ministry for which we feel completely unprepared. Fortunately, God has told us that “if any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously…” (James 1:5)

The Mwanza Bible College is dear to our hearts; we finished the project and opened the college at the end of our first term in 2001. We have already spent a good deal of time there since our arrival back in Mwanza, Tanzania. The new term begins in less than a week and we are already feeling a bit overwhelmed with the responsibilities that come with the job of principal. In addition, we automatically become senior pastors of the Bible College Church located on the campus; there are four other faculty members who are also on staff at the church.

We have toured the facilities and have slowly become aware of the many areas of need; the Mwanza Bible College is the youngest of the four TAG colleges and is far behind the others in the areas of facilities, supplies, and equipment. We have a long list of needs that we are adding to daily as we discover more and more things that this school lacks.

The Bible College runs about 80-85 students each semester and we graduated 30 students last November with three year diplomas. The staff and faculty are an incredible group of people who are committed to educating future pastors and leaders; they do so with joy and under less than ideal circumstances. We consider it a privilege to work with this group of people; they have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome and are taking on extra duties to help as we adjust to our new role.

PLEASE PRAY WITH US FOR THE FOLLOWING NEEDS:

· We are starting the year at the Bible College with a “0” balance in the bank and with over a $1,000 worth of bills that are overdue or due.
· We need to buy food to feed close to a 100 people every day starting next week.
· We are short of or out of almost all supplies including textbooks.
· Some of the faculty housing does not have water; they use an outside spigot to haul water.
· The dining hall does not have tables and chairs; students sit on the floor or stand to eat.
· There are not enough dishes or eating utensils for all the students to eat at one time.
· Some of the buildings are in need of repair or need to be finished.
· The school truck is unusable because it needs work done on it.
· The road to the Bible College is in bad repair and often requires use of four wheel drive.

IT SOUNDS LIKE A PERFECT SETTING FOR GOD TO WORK MIRACLES! PLEASE PRAY AND BELIEVE WITH US FOR THESE NEEDS.

Workers Together for the Harvest,

Tim & Joyce Jarvis
Missionaries to Tanzania

Glutting Prayer Letter - Chi Alpha Missionaries

Dear Prayer Team:

No news yet from the Brubakers about “dad’s” surgery or their son.

No news yet on a key church to help with our year-end conference costs. (I’ve registered for the staff conference today-on faith) ☺

Prayer Needs:

1. Please continue to pray for the Brubakers going to the University of Oregon

2. Please continue to pray for the Lord’s provision to be able to attend our 2 conferences: the Missions Summit Dec 30-Jan 1 and Momentum conference Jan 2nd

3. Nate Banke – Candidate Missionary 9/17/08

Target: Pioneer Chi Alpha at Colorado State University, 32,000 students.
Training: Internship 07-08 @ Sam Houston State University, TX
Support: 2 months itinerating, has about 50% of his budget (most raised as intern)

Nate is traveling around CO, meeting about 9 pastors this week.

Next week he has 5 leaders from Sam Houston, TX coming to his campus CSU to consider becoming a staff worker to help Nate start the Chi Alpha ministry. Nate hopefully will begin in Fall 09 as wants to raise 100% of his support by then.

Please pray for Nate that the Lord would provide favor and financial support with the pastors he is meeting with this week. Please pray for Nate as he hosts potential staff workers that the Lord would provide specific direction and confirmation to all concerned as to who will help Nate pioneer the Chi Alpha ministry at Colorado State University.

Thanks for praying!

The Lord bless you my friend!

Yours for the souls of collegians,

Gregg and Erin

Season's Greetings from the Priests - Missionaries to Germany

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from your missionaries to Germany. As we reflect on 2008, we are so grateful for both your faithful prayers and financial support of our family and ministry. We have been back in the US now for several months, raising support in anticipation of returning to Berlin in Spring/Summer 2009.

This past year we added a beautiful boy to our family, Alexander John. Alex is now 9 months old and a very happy baby. Jackson is four and attending the Lab Pre-School at Central Michigan University, where his Auntie Cheryl is the director. He loves to help out around the house and to work with daddy and his tools. Mercy is in the second grade at Vowels Elementary in Mt. Pleasant, MI, and has made a lot of friends and become quite the reader.

We decided to base as a family in Michigan to be near our families, during this year of support raising. Since August, Kirk has been the one on the road, spending most of his time in our other home state of Louisiana. A special thanks to all of our friends and family in both Texas and Louisiana who took Kirk in, housing and feeding him (he gained 10 lbs!!!). This fall of itineration has been a challenge for our family, separating us sometimes up to four weeks at a time. However, it also has been a joy and privilege to re-connect with so many of you. We look forward to seeing many more of you in the coming months before we return to Germany.

We stay in steady contact with the ministry back in Berlin and are excited to report that things are growing in both our student ministry and church. We are even more excited to get back there to reach more Students with the love of Jesus and see the Kingdom of God advance in our cities across Germany.

Many of you have recently increased your monthly support and we are very grateful for that. Due to the weak dollar and increased budget needs, we need to raise an additional $1000/month and $40,000 in cash before returning. Thank you for helping us reach this goal so that we can return to Europe as soon as possible. We know that God is our source – but He is using you as the channel to enable us to live and minister in Europe. Your partnership and faithful support is greatly appreciated.

Merry Christmas,

Kirk, Amy, Mercy, Jack & Alex

A Note from our Missionaries - Todd & Cindy Anderson

$15 and 15 minutes. I'm boldly asking you for our Christmas gift. I hope you don't mind. Sometimes people want to know what we would like to have or to have a list from us. Would you give us $15 of your money and 15 minutes of your time?

The longer we work in the Bengali Hindu world the more we see how entrenched the strongholds and demonic forces are that grip this people keeping them in blindness and bondage. Prayer is the only thing that will change that. We need thousands of people to pray and intercede with us or nothing we do here will have any affect until these strongholds are overcome in prayer.

Create International has worked with us to produce an 11 minute dvd about the Bengali Hindus. It's just been released. It is called Bengalis-Not Forsaken.

Here is my Christmas gift request to you...Would you order this dvd for $15 then set aside time to watch it and pray for the Bengali Hindus for 15 minutes sometime in the next three months? Maybe you could show it to a group of friends and pray together. Maybe you could show it in your church service or a house group. Maybe you could watch it and pray and then pass it on to another group who you challenge to watch it and pray.

$15 and 15 minutes. If you gave us that for Christmas, it would mean more than anything else you could give us.

If you want to help in this way, please go to the website http://www.createinternational.com/store/index.php. Then click on "Bengali Not Forsaken" and order it online. Or, if you prefer you can send us a check for $15 made to Todd Anderson, 11522 172nd St W. Lakeville, MN and we will get it sent to you. Then after you get it, please just let us know when you watched it and with whom and that you prayed for the Bengal Hindus and any scriptures or Word's God gave you when you did.

We really want to see 2009 be a year of breakthrough and freedom for the Bengalis here in Siliguri. But it won't happen without prayer, much prayer.

Thanks for taking time to read this in a busy season. May the Savior who came to deliver and redeem show himself strong this new year in your life and ours!

The Andersons

News from Ethiopia

Check out the newsletter from our missionaries Bob & Rhonda Thomas who are serving in Ethiopia. http://thomas4africa.org/newsletter.html

Glutting Prayer Letter - Chi Alpha Missionaries

Thank You For Praying With Us For Our Ministry!

Last week I asked for prayer for the need below. We’ve not had any progress on it yet, please continue to join with us in prayer. (Please know I’m not asking you to contribute by asking for prayer!) (I felt I needed to dispel any unspoken expectations)

I’ve approached 2 key churches, one is seriously considering an amount. Please pray for these churches to contribute generously. Pray for other churches and individuals to contribute this week and next too.

(Please join us for prayer:I need to raise $1400 to go to our year-end conferences ($800 if I go by myself). They are national meetings for the staff and students. I need to have the funds by December 10th. One is called World Missions Summit and the other is called Momentum. Momentum is on January 2,2009 and the Summit is on Dec 30-January 1, 2009. Please pray that the Lord will help us have the funds to attend, especially as a family. Please pray for God to radically work through the conferences so lives of students and Chi Alpha staff will be built up, trained and become affective for HIS KINGDOM. Pray that we’ll see radical healings, restorations and revivals at the conference and back home on university campuses.)

PRAISE REPORT - In October I asked prayer for Monica: Rich and Monica Brubaker, University of Oregon, OR. Praise God everything worked out so well. Erin did an awesome job sharing and praying with Monica on Nov 3rd. And the Lord worked out some key issues over the last few weeks in Monica’s life that really ministered deeply in her heart. Monica is doing very well. Thanks for praying!!! What an awesome God we have!

Please pray for the Brubakers 1. They have an autistic son who is having a physical reaction (body twitching) from being over-stressed. He recently was switched to a “regular classroom”. Please pray for calm and peace in his heart and an ability to cope. 2. Please pray for Rich’s Dad as he is going into cancer surgery to remove his pancreas on Friday Dec 5th, in the morning. Please pray for a successful surgery and healing from cancer. 3. The Brubakers started raising support in Sept 08 and now have 45% of their budget raised. Rich has church service in OR scheduled through June 09. Please pray for continued favor in their support raising efforts.

Thanks for caring and for praying! We love you!

Yours for the souls of collegians,

Gregg & Erin

Hope in the Rubble

Dear friend,
As the temperatures are dropping in the Caucasus mountains, refugees in Georgia are warm because of you. Families this afternoon received winter clothing, hygiene supplies, food aid and the message of HOPE, because of you. Tomorrow, hundreds more will receive blankets, food, heaters and stoves to prepare for the winter, because of you.

Earthquake survivors in Armenia are moving into their new homes, because of you. Next week, Christian Yezidi Kurds, who have faced persecution and hardship, will receive clean water for the first time in their villages' history. All because of you.

Standing in the rubble of destroyed homes, hearing the heart-wrenching stories of survival, we are simply lost for words.

Thank You from survivors of the earthquake in Armenia. Thank You from hundreds of refugees in Georgia who survived the war with Russia. Thank You from the Clarks.
Serving the poor,

Mike and Laura Clark

Trip Video

Here's a short video of the BCC and Way of The Cross ministry Mexico mission trip.

Local Misssions 10/31-11/2

I wanted to pass along this opportunity to serve in the "local" mission field. Tent City is a yearly event in downtown Toledo that ministers to the homeless. Here's a link for more information:
http://1matters.org/?page_id=54

Mexico Trip 9/08

The BCC Mexico mission trip was a wonderful time of songs, sharing our testimonies, sharing the gospel and sharing Gods love by ministering to the people we met in Aldama Mexico.

We saw 175 people come to the Lord at the schools and villages that we visited. Many thanks to all who provided supplies and prayers for the team. You were part of the Lords work!

North Carolina Mission Trip

Please pray for our youth and leaders as they prepare and leave for North Carolina August 3.

July Haiti Trip

Thank you to everyone who supported and prayed for our team.

Many wonderful things happened - people were saved, hungry were fed, kids and adults were loved on and our lives were changed. Watch for testimonies in the next few weeks.

To see a few photos from the trip, scroll down and on the left is a photo album of our trip.

Mexico Trip Meeting

The BCC September Mexico mission’s trip team is now forming. Please contact Jim Spitnale at jspitnale@bex.net or 419-478-4047 to be a part of this exciting trip.

May Haiti Trip - Please Pray

Please pray for our team going to Haiti May 14 - May 20 - Tony Eddinger, Chris Rettenberger, Tom Scribner, Billy & Karen Worland, John Mazur and John Berns.

This team will be putting a roof on the storage warehouse that will hold food to feed thousands of hungry children every day. They are also hoping to be able to roof the first of many quadplexes that will house 240 orphans once complete.

Haiti Trip Testimony from Dustin Reed

The thought of visiting a third world country for me was filled with nerves and excitement, I honestly did not truly know what to expect. My only perspective of third world countries was from a cruise I went on about four years ago. In my mind I was preparing myself to be awakened however I never could have guessed what was going to happen inside of my heart.

The first day we arrived to Haiti, we drove through Port-au-Prince, the city was filled will people who had needs beyond anything I could ever imagine. Children hugging fences pleading with us to help them by giving them money. Children climbing up our bus trying to get inside and convince us to give them money. These children where in need, you could see it in their faces and the stomaches that where very empty.

We often forget how much we have in America, the clothes and the roofs on our houses. In Haiti there was something that was very common, buildings and houses that never were completed, most of them were without roofs. This was a reality that I understood the most when John Mazur, Mike Keane, Jim Spitnale and I put a roof on a young man's house. This young man and his younger brothers lived in a house with a tarp for a roof and with rainy season currently going on it was not a good combination. The thing that I found most rewarding was seeing the thankfulness in his face, he came up to all of us and gave us the biggest hug and was beyond thankful.

My favorite aspect of the trip was traveling to villages, I enjoyed the VBS we would put on, but I thoroughly enjoyed talking to young adult's of the villages. I sensed a connection with many of them, I was greatly moved by the thankfulness that they had for the little things. They would show us their houses, wives and children and the light of God would reign from their face. Haitian Christian's showed a level of love and contentness that if we had in our lives I believe things would be different. I'm beyond thankful I was able to go on this trip and be changed forever.

WOTC Prayer Need

I was down last weekend on a visit to Way of The Cross and their camps at Harlingen Texas, Padilla and Aldama Mexico in preparations for the BCC September mission’s trip. The people at WOTC have a burning desire to preach the Gospel and raising up others to share Jesus. I wanted to pass on a prayer need for some new friends of ours. A van from WOTC was in a very bad accident yesterday down in Mexico. They were hit head-on by a car that blew a tire while coming the opposite way. Tony Miller (far right in picture) and several others are badly hurt and one young lady named Andrea was killed. I can still see Andrea dancing and singing at a meeting that we had last Monday in Harlingen. I believe that she’s dancing and singing with the Lord now. Please pray for those that were hurt as well as the WOTC ministry. They are hosting a big pastor’s conference in Aldama this week with over 1,000 pastors from across Mexico coming.

Haiti Trip Testimony from Jim Spitnale

This was my second missions trip to Haiti and I think this trip has confirmed in me the calling of being more of a servant of the Lord by reaching out to those in need. God provided the opportunity to minister and serve others by doing work at Mission of Hope, as well as sharing the Gospel with people in the villages. I got a chance to hear the testimony of a man named Ed Hughes, who the Lord called out of living a worldly life to start an orphanage in Haiti. After he started the orphanage he almost lost his life after being kidnapped and held for ransom. He lost his right arm after he was shot by his kidnapers. Even though his life was at risk, and he faces the disability of only having one arm, this man returned after his release from his captures to what the Lord had called him to, serving the children who have no one else. God spoke to me thru Ed’s testimony when he said, “Pleasures of the world don’t matter; being God’s servant is what matters”.

Haiti Trip Testimony from Kim Spitnale

The mission trip to Haiti was my first and I know it will not be my last, and what an amazing trip it was. It was difficult to see how most of these people live and witness the poverty and oppression. At the same time it was exciting to go into the villages and minister to the people. They were so open and loving to us, both small children and teens eager to hold your hand and walk close to you. So many of them starved for affection (and food) and human touch as many don’t have any family to speak of, it really makes one re-evaluate the way you live. What impacted me the most was the incredible, genuine joy and the hope that these people possessed even in the midst of their discouraging circumstances. They are always smiling when they see you, and it was great to be able to show Christ’s love, minister, and pray for their needs. Mission of Hope is growing and God is definitely moving in Haiti!

“The joy of the Lord is my strength” (Neh 8:10)

Haiti Trip Testimony from Shealee Moore

One night I was writing in my journal and I wrote, "Even though these children aren't shown love and/or they've been moved from place to place, they are still so open to love. Even if they aren't happy in the U.S., we feel so alone with all of our wealth and we aren't open to anything. In fact, we are so closed in and we keep to ourselves, it's almost like we like our pride but the U.S. has no idea what it means to be in real devistation." I am just so amazed that they will love you, even if it's just from a smile you give them. Then when you know they love you, you can't help but fall in love with them.

Haiti Trip Testimony from Ashleigh Ladoto

This mission trip to Haiti was amazing. While there is extreme poverty, that is not what I will always think about. I will always think about the people and the hope that they truly have. The people of Haiti taught me how important and vital a relationship with Christ truly is. I learned that He is the only true solution. It is awesome to know that. I also thought it was so cool to know that even though the Christians in Haiti are from a very different culture than us we still have such an awesome bond because of Christ. This was really evident when we sang worship on Sunday in Haiti. Even though the words were in Creole, we still knew the songs and could worship together. I loved Haiti and wouldn't trade the opportunity to go for anything.

Haiti Trip Testimony from Amy Griffore

Haiti was life changing to say the least. When we first drove through Port-Au-Prince to get to the Mission of Hope compound, I was in complete shock, watching the scenes go by out the bus window was intense. It made me feel queasy, like I was stuck on a broken carnival ride with flashing lights and swirling colors. I've never felt that uneasy or troubled before. The only thing I could think was "I'm in way over my head here, I can't do this". Then as we pulled into the compound I saw it, three little boys playing basketball, just beaming when they saw the bus. They waved at us and went back to playing. In that moment, I could feel God say to me "I AM here. If you look for sorrow here, it'll be easy to find....but if you look for Me, you will find me". With that in my heart, I found more hope and joy in Haiti than anything else. Throughout the week I was surrounded by people with no money, no food and no family, yet they had more joy than I've ever seen. They knew that they knew that God's love is unconditional and He loves them wholeheartedly no matter what their circumstances might say. God used the people of Haiti to teach me that when things seem down in the dumps, I have to choose to search for Him in the situation, because He IS there, helping me along and pouring out blessings. He will never stop loving me, or you, or the people of Haiti.

Haitian Bibles

Can you imagine not owning a Bible? What would your walk with the Lord be without having His word to inspire and direct you? The BCC missions team helped in bringing the Holy Scriptures to people that most likely have never owned a copy. The team distributed 300 Creole New Testaments as we walked and worked in Haiti. Without exception people were very happy and thankful to except these New Testaments. I saw more that one person hug it close to their chest and they had a look in their eye that told me that they knew what it was that they were receiving.

Psalm 119:50
This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

Mexico Trip

Interested in going to Mexico on September 20-28 2008 on a mission trip? We will be partnering with Ben Butler of Way of the Cross Ministries. If you want more info contact Jim Spitnale at jspitnale@bex.net

To check out Way of the Cross go to www.wotc.org

Serving the World - February

Thanks to everyone who stepped out in faith and pledged to be a part of reaching the world for Christ through Global Outreach. This year the BCC family has committed over $96,000.00 to support missionaries around the world and locally.

In the month of February we have already started serving the world by sending out $3,600.00 in monthly missionary support, helping Convoy of Hope with $1,000.00 for an outreach to Panama, 275,000 nutritious meals left for Mission of Hope Haiti (Wild Game proceeds)and raised 10 of our missionaries monthly support from $50.00 to $75.00.

Watch for pictures of Jennifer DeLand's trip to Panama.

21 People will be leaving for a mission trip to Mission of Hope in Haiti on March 28-April 7. Please begin to pray for the team. Fred Betcher, Dustin Reed, Mike and Ticia Keane, Jim and Kim Spitnale, Vanessa Farnell, Lauren Eriksen, Jennifer Perkins, Ashleigh Lodato, Kendra Postlethwaite, Shealee Moore, Adam Mogk, Libby Velasquez, Brian Matthews, Patrick and Leah Rose, Amy Griffore, Caleb Mazur and John and Mary Mazur. Thanks to all who are praying and individually supporting this team to go on a life changing trip.

Kenya Devastation - Please Pray

Hi friends,

Greetings from Grass Lake, Michigan. As most of you know, we have been in the USA for medical reasons - surgery for our daughter, Danealle, and cataract surgery for me (Dave). We are both doing well. Danealle is back at work, and I had my final appointment with the surgeon yesterday, receiving a good report and a prescription for new glasses.

We had planned to return to Kenya on Tuesday, January 8. However, with the violence in Kenya following the election, it has been recommended that we delay our return for at least a couple of weeks. There is no domestic travel at this time, so we would have no way to get to our home once we reach Kenya.

Following are some reports concerning our city of Kisumu, Kenya, that we have received from some independent missionaries living in West Kenya, near Kisumu.

Kisumu is a mess. Rioters have destroyed many shops downtown and much around the bus stage. The city is under curfew, shoot-to-kill-and yes, they are killing. People are staying in and are getting very desperate for food and water. The rioters are burning houses, beating, chasing people from other tribes. Looters have cleaned out several car dealers and businesses. Pictures look as if a bomb hit Kisumu.

People are hiding out in their homes. Many homes have been burned. The water has been cut and often there's no electricity. Most people who have phones are out of air time on their cell phones so they cannot make calls. Bodies are lined up at the morgue with bullet holes. The pictures we have seen look like a war zone. Fires, beating, killings. Fifty people were burned to death in an Assembly of God church. One woman tried to get out, holding her baby out the window first. Someone grabbed the baby and threw him back into the fire. So grievous! Some are calling this Ethnic Cleansing. Now the word Genocide is being used on the media. We have been getting news from our Kenyan friends who have been in their village homes during the Christmas holidays, saying they must stay within their homes for safety. One friend called us to warn us not to come into Kisumu telling us, "We are dying here."

"Kenya is in the throes of a humanitarian 'national disaster' amid post-election violence that has left scores dead, tens of thousands displaced beyond reach of immediate assistance and many more destined to be dependent on aid for several months to come, according to the Red Cross."

Many of you have heard and seen news reports like these. There have been tribal clashes in the past, but churches were always a place people could go and be safe. We have no way of knowing if other churches have been targeted.

Please pray for:
1. Calm to come to the nation.
2. Protection for the innocent (hot spots are Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret)
3. Our brothers and sisters in Christ
4. The missionaries and their families

Thanks for praying!

Serving JESUS,
Dave and Damaris Thompson

What is "Glocal"

Here at BCC you may hear me refer to a word. The word is "glocal." What does that mean for Global Outreach? It means "global" and "local." We need to be a church that reaches out for Jesus globally, but also locally. We need to realize that BCC is not just a church to meet the needs of those that already attend, but locally, we need to see ourselves as a "mission post." We need to see every ministry as and evangelistic and discipling ministry. Every small group, every ministry, every student sent out from emc is a missionary.

Also, we have to see that BCC can and IS impacting the world "Global." Only God knows how much the moneys, efforts , food, training, literature, vehicles, and people are affecting the Kingdom of God. I bet we took part in thousands of salvations! From our own emc students going into ministry, to the students at Global Bible schools, to food given out overseas or right here in Bedford, to your monthly faith promise, it is mind-boggling to know how many people have been touch for the Gospel. We don't realize the impact we are making. it is awesome! People know Jesus and will be saved because or our giving of money, time, and effort!!!!!!!

What I do know is that we are not supposed to slow down, or stop in our efforts. We must move forward in the Great Commission. We need to stay on focus, on purpose, and be missional. We are a mission post for Jesus Christ. Mission posts exist to win souls! We need to be Glocal, like God is. Let's have an awesome Global Outreach Month! Pastor Nate Elarton