“He (Jesus) called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish”
Dear Friends,
As you know, Tim is interim principal this term at the Mwanza Bible College and I am teaching a class. We have been praying about the financial situation of the Bible College since we were first asked to be interim principals; there is a long list of needs and a “0” bank account balance so we have really been praying!
On Friday, we had a meeting about the food situation for the students; we have about 70 students and they are scheduled to have meat three days a week. We discussed how much the meat was going to cost and was also reminded by the food manager that in a couple of days they were scheduled to have fish; the price of fish has gone up since last term. The faculty suggested that we buy “cow intestines” for the Saturday meal since they are less than half the price of beef and mix it with vegetables. I was horrified, but the staff assured me that most of the students and they themselves ate them from time to time and it would be fine. I was so glad that I was not going to be at the Bible College for the Saturday meal!
Saturday morning I was alone since Tim was away for some meetings on the opposite side of the country and I spent time praying about the finances of the college. I was told that in their “all night” prayers on Friday night that the faculty and students also prayed about the matter.
Sunday we received a text from our academic dean, Mollel. He said that they had been given some fish by a local church and they didn’t have room for it in their freezer. I contacted him and told him we would come and take some of it to our home and keep in our freezer.
As we drove onto the school campus, we saw the students busy cleaning fish; there were lots of fish! In fact, they had filled their big freezer full and they had more than two thirds of the fish remaining. We quickly called our friend, Seni, and it a short time we had made arrangements for a local business with large walk in freezers to take the fish; for a small fee they would freeze and store it for us. When they had weighed all of the fish, we had 1,500 pounds of fish! We have enough fish to feed the students three meals a week for 10 weeks, that takes us to the end of the term!!!
We are so thankful for this miracle that Godhas given us; truly it seems like manna from heaven.
Please continue to pray for the Mwanza Bible College for the following needs:
· We need tables and chairs for the dining hall – there are no tables at all.
· We need more dishes, bowls and cups; the students eat in shifts and then wash their plates for the next group.
· We need water in the faculty duplexes; currently they get it from an outside faucet.
· The school truck is out of commission; it will take about $500 to get it running, licensed and insured.
· The school copier is broken; it will take about $100 to fix it.
· We don’t have enough books for the students to have one in each of their classes; some classes don’t have student books at all.
· We don’t have all the textbooks for the teachers to use; some of the ones we have need to be translated into Swahili.
· We need basic cleaning supplies and tools for the buildings and property.
· We need our road fixed; taxis charge twice the normal rate if they have to go up to the Bible college because the road is so bad.
There are other needs but these are the most important and basic needs.
Thank you for your faithfulness; we are privileged to be here and we are grateful that you make it possible for us to stay.
Workers Together for the Harvest,
Tim and Joyce Jarvis
Missionaries to Tanzania
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Glutting Prayer Letter - Chi Alpha Missionaries
Greetings! Hope you had an awesome Christmas season!
We love and appreciate YOU!
TESTIMONIES
THANK YOU FOR PRAYING for additional support for us in Nov/December!!!
Wow, the Lord had blessed us in such a huge way! We had several checks given to us at the end of the year. Both requested and non-requested.
The funds were enough to cover ALL of our back expenses as well as pay for our conference expenses! And pay for our office rent for 4 months! Praise God!
Again, THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!!
We are also at about 94% of our budget which is tremendous, considering we had almost $2800/month of support attrition over the last couple years. Our God is an awesome God! We are very excited about moving into 2009 and ministry for His Kingdom!
Prayer Requests:
1) *Moco (not his actual name) is an international students attending GVSU English classes from South Korea. He had arrived at our house last Sunday and will be living with us for minimally one month.
He'll stay longer at our house if he chooses to live with us or he may choose to live with other friends he meets on campus. He'll attend classes at GVSU for one year.
*He is open to the gospel, please pray for his salvation.
*Pray for the Lord's guidence & direction if he will be living with us after one month.
2) Please pray for the expansion of my coaching ministry throughout 2009.
*Please pray for direction and provision concerning additional staff ie part time or full time staff, or possibly a "coaching task force".
*Please pray about further development concerning coaching the next level of missionaries ie senior missionaries under budget and intern missionaries.
*Please pray that I'll be able to investigate and study more coaching materials.
* Please pray for the development of a coaching ministry in all U.S. missions departments. Pray for their development as a result of my continued work on the U.S. missions support raising task force.
Thank you and the Lord bless you!
Gregg and Erin
Chi Alpha Campus MinistriesSupport Coaching Specialist
*I generally use ficticious names of people when I report about their spiritual needs if they are not saved.
Prevost Update - Missionaries to Spain
Looking back on 2008, we are grateful for God's provision and blessing in our lives and ministry!
Through open air evangelism at Kilometer Zero, this past year thousands of people received gospel literature and heard the gospel preached; many people had encounters with Jesus Christ; and hundreds of evangelizers were trained in ministry.
At Evangelical Christian Academy, students not only learned grammar, literature, and writing skills through Karen's English classes, but through the youth group, they also learned how to preach illustrated messages, give personal testimonies, and share the gospel one-on-one. Teams of students evangelized in the streets of Madrid, as well as Alcala de Henares.
We are thankful to GOD and to YOU for your faithful financial support and your prayers that enable us to minister in Spain! We count it a privilege to work together to reach the lost for Jesus.
Pray for Literature Distribution
A law was recently passed in Madrid that bans the distribution of literature on the streets.
Since gospel literature is an important part of our ministry at Kilometer Zero, we are seeking permission from the government officials to be able to continue to distribute tracts and gospel portions.
Please PRAY for God's favor and continued open doors for His Word to be proclaimed unhindered.
Through open air evangelism at Kilometer Zero, this past year thousands of people received gospel literature and heard the gospel preached; many people had encounters with Jesus Christ; and hundreds of evangelizers were trained in ministry.
At Evangelical Christian Academy, students not only learned grammar, literature, and writing skills through Karen's English classes, but through the youth group, they also learned how to preach illustrated messages, give personal testimonies, and share the gospel one-on-one. Teams of students evangelized in the streets of Madrid, as well as Alcala de Henares.
We are thankful to GOD and to YOU for your faithful financial support and your prayers that enable us to minister in Spain! We count it a privilege to work together to reach the lost for Jesus.
Pray for Literature Distribution
A law was recently passed in Madrid that bans the distribution of literature on the streets.
Since gospel literature is an important part of our ministry at Kilometer Zero, we are seeking permission from the government officials to be able to continue to distribute tracts and gospel portions.
Please PRAY for God's favor and continued open doors for His Word to be proclaimed unhindered.
Hoskins' Praise & Prayer Update - Missionaries to Kenya
Dale will be in Nigeria from January 2-27 for the 2nd workshop in the series. There are 856,000 speakers of the 12 language communities represented. We’ll begin translation training with easier passages in Luke.
************************
May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You.
(Ps 67.1-3 HCSB)
Praise & thanksgiving for:
• the cessation of rioting in Jos, Nigeria, and the safe completion of another workshop held nearby at the time.
Specific prayer for:
• the Nigerian Christians to see the perpetrators through God’s eyes, and God’s peace be known and He be praised.
• the January workshop. Pray all the advisors and Nigerian participants arrive safely, and we enjoy health, peace & security, smooth operations, and effective training.
• God to be gracious and bless us and our partners during these economically challenging times.
Some have needed to reduce or suspend their giving.
• Carole & the boys during Dale’s travels.
************************
May God be gracious to us and bless us; look on us with favor so that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Let the peoples praise You, God; let all the peoples praise You.
(Ps 67.1-3 HCSB)
Praise & thanksgiving for:
• the cessation of rioting in Jos, Nigeria, and the safe completion of another workshop held nearby at the time.
Specific prayer for:
• the Nigerian Christians to see the perpetrators through God’s eyes, and God’s peace be known and He be praised.
• the January workshop. Pray all the advisors and Nigerian participants arrive safely, and we enjoy health, peace & security, smooth operations, and effective training.
• God to be gracious and bless us and our partners during these economically challenging times.
Some have needed to reduce or suspend their giving.
• Carole & the boys during Dale’s travels.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
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
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
Friday, December 12, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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
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
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