Trip to French Guiana on Friday - Gordon Woolard

Dear Friends,

What do Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, and Gordon Woolard have in common besides being pop culture icons? The answer is in the subject line. Steve and Dustin filmed Papillon there (the story about trying to escape from Devil’s Island prison just off shore.)

I’ll be in French Guiana for a week helping with a university students’ conference and a nation-wide evangelical church assembly. Please pray for my talks.  I’m also hoping to set up a continuing education course for pastors which I will co-teach with my colleague, Marc Mailloux.

If you’re interested in how the work in francophone Africa is going please read the article found at the following link: http://www.langhampartnership.org/2008/01/18/preachers-clubs-undergo-training-in-francophone-africa/

I took the photo at the Japanese gardens recently and felt it might be relaxing for you.

Sincerely in Christ,

Gordon

Joyfully Serving - Roger and Dianne Smalling

Two hours away (as the crow flies) are the future leaders preparing to influence their region for Christ. The Yucatan Peninsula is becoming very familiar to us. Roger just taught our book Joyfully Justified to 20 master level students. When he got home, there was an invitation by email for us to return in April to present a Presbytery conference on challenging aspects of the reformed faith. A direct flight there and back makes this practically a bedroom community.

“I’ve just read the first few chapters of Spiritual Leadership and can only say, WOW!”

“I’m thinking of giving it to the leaders of our church.”

We were blessed to discover the above blogs on the internet between two people we don’t know, regarding our book Spiritual Leadership. link to book . . .

http://www.smallings.com/books/CHRISTIANLEADERSHIP.htm

Phil 1:4, 5 - “…I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…”

Joyfully Serving,

Roger & Dianne Smalling

Pray . . .

1. Our book Joyfully Justified is being considered for publication in Mexico.
2. Safety for travel this winter.
3. We can visit our training centers S.E. Mexico.
4. Praise: Negotiations are in process for training centers in two new regions.

WE APPRECIATE YOU

Update from the de Arrudas in Brazil

Dear friends and brothers in Christ,

We trust you all are doing well. Thank you for the Christmas cards and we sure hope you had a great and blessed time with family and friends. We did miss the Christmas gathering you have at the end of the year with all the M.I.A. missionaries. We are glad we could have joined you on one occasion while we were in the States.

Well, I can say we started out our year pretty good, and could see God’s good hand at work. Just as soon as Onesimo and the family came back from Sao Paulo after New Year’s, Onesimo left for a two day bus trip way up north to visit a village of Terena Indians who has the desire to reach other Indian tribes for the Lord and they have already reached three. They have a school and a church, but they need a pastor, so please keep them in your prayers. Onesimo sure came back very excited about the work and wants to return there more times to give them more assistance. There sure is a lot to be done and we can only pray God will call more Brazilian workers for the task.

Hyacinth Urquhart Recognized by Miami Herald for Project Ebenezer Work

Hyacinth Urquhart, Ministries In Action’s Director of Project Ebenezer, was recognized by the Miami Herald today for her leadership of mission work in the Caribbean.

Click here to read the article.

Christmas Greetings from Joan Page Bain in Haiti

My dear friends and family,

Christmas greetings!

“Li rale m soti nan twou kote m t’ap peri a, . . . li fe m kanpe dwat, anko . . . Li mete yon chante tou nef nan bouch mwen, . . . Anpil moun, le yo we sa, yo pral pe, y’a mete konfyans yo nan Senye a.” (Som 40:2, 3)

“He brought me up also out of a horrible pit . . and set me on a rock . . . He hath put a new song in my mouth . . . many shall see . . . And shall trust in the Lord.” (Ps. 40: 2,3)

Bringing Hope - A Missionary Newsletter of Billy and Sherry McKillop

A Missionary Newsletter of Billy and Sherry McKillop  - Equipping the Church in Jamaica  for Ministry and Missions

Christmas and New Year’s Greetings to you and your family. We hope that you enjoyed a wonderful celebration of Christ’s birth.   When we think of God’s greatest gift to us, His Son Jesus, we can’t help but think of His many other wonderful gifts over this past year.

Joyfully Serving - Roger and Dianne Smalling

Villahermosa, Mexico

You prayed and God has relieved our brethren after a flood ravaged their area. Happily the rivers held to their boundaries after a recent landslide was cleared. Thousands of evacuees were transported back to their homes or friends’ houses in an orderly fashion by government trucks.

There are yet 2000 homeless from the November flood, who will continue to be lodged in the city’s recreation center until they can be resettled. We are grateful to the Lord for your prayers. Carlos assures us we may be able to resume ministry to our six training centers in that region by February.

Update from Gordon Woolard

Dear Inundated Virtual Family Member,

I unashamedly add my drop to your overflowing bucket in sending our strong hopes for a great oh-eight. Your love, prayers, and support have kept us in missions this last year. We will need those same ingredients next year, too. Thank you for sticking with us. I feel the family spirit most when I’m teaching somewhere and realize, “I can do this because I have believing friends behind me.”

Christmas Greetings from the Mailloux family

A man can do nothing better but to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work. This too, I see, is from the hand of God. - Ecclesiastes 2:24

Dear friends,

The great Red Sox slugger Ted Williams was blessed with extraordinary talent including exceptional reflexes and legendary visual acumen. What’s more, he was a perfectionist and worked hard at his craft, taking hours of extra batting practice, often until his hands blistered. He once quipped that he enjoyed his ‘work’ so much that he would have gladly done it for free. But to be paid for the privilege of doing what he loved: it simply didn’t get any better than that! Conversely, there’s no amount of m oney that can compensate for doing something one dislikes. Using this implicit wisdom from Ecclesiastes, we exhort our children searching for their vocations to seek the Lord’s will for their lives without neglecting what they enjoy doing. It’s a great grace to have a career doing what you like.