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September 2009

CHURCH PLANTING

Wanhua

Two Fu Min teenagers have joined the local youth group which helped with the English camp. The Adams hope to invite this youth group to help with a "family night" activity in Fu Min in September.

Hengchun House Church

The church members were spared the flooding from Typhoon Morakot. One lady visited her family living farther north just as their house began to flood and helped with clean up. Taiwanese As Christians help flood victims may their compassionate witness bring people to Christ.

Jr-Ping is recovering from surgery to remove a brain tumor. We are thankful for the Christian doctor who continue to minister to Jr-Ping's spiritual needs.

Donggang

The church desperately needs godly men. Pray for A-So, a man of about 45 who sells clothing in the market. He has had many contacts in the past with truth. He has heard all the OT Chronological stories from Christine Dillon and read a series of 7 comic books covering all the narrative sections of the Bible. He has borrowed a Bible. He is under conviction about following Jesus but admits to being fearful of persecution. May he decide that following Jesus is the best way to live.

Mr Chen is a pork seller. His wife runs a small plant shop. They and their 26 year old daughter have been listening to Bible stories. Christine is now reading and discussing Luke with them and watching the Jesus film in sections. Mr Chen is perceptive in regards to the Bible but it is not clear what his thinking is on following Jesus himself. Pray for conviction of sin. Both these men have many contacts have potential as evangelists.

Foreign Brides (Taiping)

After 6 weeks of home assignment in US, Robb & Holly Branch are back to their ministry in Taiping. They will start a couples’ group soon. Pray for people's desire to grow in God. Guan Chau is married to one of the Vietnamese women. He believed about 6 months ago. His grandma has been diagnosed 4th stage lung cancer, please pray for her salvation.

Shannon Branch started school on Aug. 17th, pray for progress in spiritual growth, social skills and academic works, and for good friendships with her classmates.


Shopworkers Church

The Taiwanese coworkers are leading one-on-on seekers and baptism classes with around 10 people. May the Spirit help them in understanding His truth and take away all the things that may hinder them to taking the step of baptism.

Mrs. Deng and I-Hua were introduced to Elisabeth Weinmann by social workers. They looked for help because of domestic violence. They need a safe place to stay and to find work. Both are open to the gospel. They need the Lord’s guidance to help these two women and to know how to rearrange the dorms to provide space for them.

Please pray that the coworkers will meet seekers among the shopworkers when do they visitation in department stores all over Taipei, distributing magazines and inviting them to small groups.

URBAN MARGINALIZED MINISTRY

Taoyuan Reformatory

Due to Typhoon Morakot they had to cancel the first day of the Refomratory camp. But the other two days were happy with much laughter and also many serious talks. Paul’s words: ‘I planted, Apollos watered but God made it grow’ were a great encouragement to Margret Zingg and her colleagues. Pray for the ongoing work of God in the boys’ lives.

Over the last few months they gave the boys in Class 3 an overview of the whole salvation story, from creation to the return of Christ. In the last lesson Margret made the boys write a short essay or a letter to God. It was moving to read how many commented on Christ’s death. May they experience the freeing power of the gospel in their lives.

Margret arranged for Miss Cheng to speak on a regular basis to Ming, a disturbed and depressed boy. It won’t be easy, so please pray for wisdom and spiritual authority for Miss Cheng.

Cover the outreach to the Reformatory with your prayers. The team visits every 2nd and 4th Saturday and on the 4th Sunday for church.

YOUTH & STUDENT MINISTRIES

Melanie Bister praises God for the 150+ students tht attended CEF’s (Campus Evangelical Fellowship) vocational school gospel camp in July. It was encouraging to see students with no Christian background grow in their understanding of the gospel and openness to know God. Pray for continued follow up of these students.

Taipei Business School Fellowship group will begin its meetings on 23 Sept after “Fresher’s Week” (14-18th). Pray the group will draw new students to attend and be an effective witness. Melanie will lead a monthly English conversation slot beginning 30 Sept. She is praying she will have the opportunity to do 1-2-1 evangelism or discipleship with some of the students and waits to see what the Lord brings.

Birgit Glaw reports that many of the youth who have been coming to the Gospel Center for a year are now leaving Chiayi to go to universities around the country. Pray that these students may find a good church close to their school and that they grow in their faith. CEF has groups in many of the universities. Pray that students will find close friends that lead them deeper in understanding God’s love and they will make a clear choice to follow Jesus. 
Pray that Birgit will have wisdom in starting afresh reaching youth in vocational schools and be able to lead them deeper into God’s word. Time with the youth is often limited because many live in the countryside and need to take a 45 minute bus ride.

David & Judy Newquist praise God for answered prayers for the camp for special needs children. All 29 families arrived safely at camp before the typhoon hit. While the wind roared and rain poured they were safe indoors. The children couldn't follow their natural tendency to wander outdoors, so they listened attentively and responded well. God spoke His peace into the hearts of the children, student counselors, and parents. Seven parents indicated a desire to receive Jesus as Savior, and all came to a new understanding of how God values them and their children. Parents who believed at the camp in past years gave testimonies of how Jesus has helped them with their special children. Pray for God's continuing work in those who have not yet believed and in those who have just responded.

CHURCH & LEADERSHIP TRAINING

Andrew and Ruth Butler report that new year begins on September 21 for China Evangelical Seminary. They have a full intake of students, including families who will need to settle children into local schools. Returning students also need to adjust after the summer, and staff will be stretched to remember new names and faces. May the community life together truly reflect the values that they teach and learn.

Chi Pin Hoon thanks God she had a good two week break and has now started two new classes - Spiritual Friendship and Book of Numbers. Pray that God may speak to her and that she will faithfully convey His message to her students. May they all hunger for Him. Pin Hoon will also teach a class on NT Heroes in “Hope in Jesus” Church starting in Sept. This is the first time she has taught there. Pray for a good relationship with the pastor and students. May they all grow to be more like Jesus.

In the Fall Semester Clara Cheng is scheduled to teach in the Logos Seminary extension site at Kaohsiung once a week for a whole day. Pray for physical strength. Traveling is never easy for Clara with her handicap – a neck injury and polio leg. Clara is training herself to practice a spiritual discipline that she will share at the OMF field conference. She asks prayer to learn it well and will know what and how to share in this spiritual formation session. She would also like prayer for her to integrate physical exercise into her daily routine.

LANGUAGE STUDY

Stephen & Susana Gribble give thanks for the many blessings in the six months since they arrived in Taiwan. These include the provision of a language exchange partner for Stephen to practice Mandarin. Give thanks that their language is improving, and pray for continuing progress so that we can communicate clearly with people such as the bicycle repair man Rick who is searching for the meaning of life. Pray that Rick will come to know the God who created him for a purpose.

Allan & Bronwyn Lihou have a new routine with the children beginning at Morrison Academy, ending 9 months of distance education. Praise God for a warm welcome and friends being made. Language learning can be fun but it also requires perseverance and hard work. Pray they can be faithful in this task and not be discouraged when fluency is a distant goal. They are encouraged that they are also learning culture so they can understand the people they long to serve, and lessons about being God’s servants such as humility, trusting Him, patience, gentleness with others and oneself…. Pray they grow in Christian maturity through language learning.

Charissa Mak hopes to finish full-time language studies at end of the year. Pray she can cover the remaining curriculum and make progress in fluency. Pray for wisdom as decisions regarding future ministry placement are made. Pray also that her friend Shiao Ru, who has been reading the Creation story, will come to know the Creator.

Thomas & Jennifer McIntyre ask prayer for Taiwanese language studies. Pray especially that Thomas will see improvement in his speaking and listening skills. Pray that they will be able to develop relationships with limited language skills.

School started for all the Noble family mid August. Stephen is full-time at language school, Megan is full-time teacher librarian at Morrison Taichung campus whilst Conrad (year 8), Isaac (year 6), Liam (year 5) and Faith (year 3) are getting to know teachers, classmates, and the school. They don’t yet have a phone or internet connection nor have their boxes arrived. Pray that they slot into a church as well as getting to know people at Morrison and language school better. They need to be careful how much they commit to, but language learning is a priority – pray for their schedules.

Teo Sin Ee hopes to finish language school at the end of the year and then start her ministry placement. It's exciting yet also a little intimidating for her to know that she'll have to start over in a new city! Pray that good decisions will be made at Field Council in Sept, regarding her placement. Pray that her Taiwanese will continue to improve.

OTHER MATTERS

Taiwan Field Council will meet Sept. 14-16. Pray for wisdom as they discuss matters of pastoral care and mission strategy. With many new workers arriving there is much to be done equip and place them in strategic ministries, as well as continuing to evaluate and strengthen ongoing ministries.

Irene Nicholson has to determine the short-term openings for 2010 and send them to home offices by Sept. Pray for wisdom and faith in projecting ahead.

Praise for the 4 summer teams (29 people). They gave many ministries a boost. Pray more long-term workers will be raised up from the many who have been here. Pray for those who are considering returning on another team, looking at medium term options or seeking guidance for the future.