Serious Situations, Carports and Coffee
Dear All,
Sunday’s Bottom Line:
Following the conclusion of the Tandem Conference on Saturday afternoon, Mark and his family stayed up in the mountains to preach Sunday morning at a church there, while Scott returned to Villasis to preached at Wilson’s church on Sunday morning. Monday will be an “off” day, allowing our team to reconvene and prepare for two important “Summits” this week, the first on Tuesday involving well over 100 people currently in DM groups. It will be a very exciting day!
Sunday’s Prayer Requests:
1. Our team to be Spirit-led as they prepare for Tuesday’s DM Summit and all attendees to leave encouraged, informed, and challenged to purposefully disciple others.
2. Jihadi terrorists in Niger, West Africa to immediately release kidnapped missionary pilot Kevin Rideout; safety for Christians there and terrorist activity in that nation to cease.
3. Wisdom and peace for Pastor Gil as he researches options for his CT scan; clarity for him and his medical providers as they prepare for his throat surgery, and God’s timing to be perfect.
Sunday’s Details:
TTC has two overriding goals during the Philippines part of this mission trip: 1) to expand the disciple-makers movement into new regions of Luzon, one of the two largest islands in the Philippines, and 2) to strengthen the existing coaches and their groups so they will be spiritually healthy and logistically effective.
The Tandem Conference up in Baguio was a huge thrust toward #1 (expansion), as those pastoral couples participate in online DM groups as they return to their far-flung homes, and now our team is focusing on #2 (strengthening) those who are have already been involved in DM groups. Currently, 50+ DM groups are meeting weekly in the Philippines, and all those people have been invited to Tuesday’s DM Summit, a time that will provide a great deal of, as Scott has summarized it, “cheerleading and challenging.” So far 130 people have registered to come, some from as far as eight hours away. We are expecting amazing results!
God is at work all around the world, and so is our enemy. Last week, Kevin Rideout, a missionary pilot, was kidnapped from his home in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Longtime TTC partners may recall that Scott has ministered in Niger under the leadership of our close friends, missionaries Neal and Danette Childs. They know Kevin personally, and their home is only a few miles across town from his. We are joining Neal and Danette in asking all Christians to pray fervently for Kevin’s release, for peace in Niger, and for the wickedness of the wicked to come to an end!
Our friend, Pastor Gil (“Hill”), who hand-selected and invited those 20 pastoral couples in his ministerial network to come to the Tandem Conference, is awaiting throat surgery to remove a tumor on his thyroid gland. He’s experiencing delays related to a necessary CT scan with contrast due to an allergy to the contrast medium. Pray for the details of that to be worked out properly, for the Holy Spirit to guide all decisions and procedures related to his situation, and for Pastor Gil’s total healing.
On a more upbeat note, here’s news about the two Sunday services Mark and Scott just preached.
First, from the Phillips family…
Unfortunately they have been pounded with sickness, so this first of their four weeks in the Philippines has been rough. But on Sunday Mark preached on “The Pursuit of Holiness” at the Agape La Trinidad Church, which meets in a converted carport.
Whitney said, “They said it was a timely message as they are focusing on Holiness for this month. We spent time after the service talking with small groups and fellowshipping with the church members. All were so encouraged by what he preached and how to get on with becoming holy and living close to God.” Then in the afternoon, “Mark was able to give a message of encouragement to their leaders of disciples and answer questions they had on reaching others for Christ.”
“They were so sweet and welcoming. We truly enjoyed our stay with them. They even gifted him with coffee beans! ❤”
Meanwhile, down in Villasis at Wilson and Angelica’s church, which is less than two years old and also meets in a converted carport… Scott said, “Sunday morning under the tarps. The service starts at 9 AM and it was already hot!”
Scott preached on “reaching to lay hold of the thing for which Christ Jesus laid hold of you.”
He said, “It was really powerful worship, and the people really seemed challenged to step up and find and fulfill their potential in God.”
“In this picture I am fist-bumping Nathaniel for stepping up to play the bass at such a young age.”
We all need to be encouraged every day, and I hope today’s update has encouraged you and shown you how important your prayers are for people you may never meet on the other side of the world. Thank you for standing with us!
Blessings,
Patty