Mission's Updates
Kara D.
Sent on April 23rd, 2020
Ramadan
Tomorrow is the first day of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of fasting and feasting for Muslims. They fast from food, drink, and other earthly pleasures from sunup until sundown every day for the entire month. The fast is regarded as an act of obedience to God and is a time of cleansing for their sins. Both fasting and the breaking of the fast is a communal event that acknowledges equality before God.
Until coming to Terrassa, I was relatively oblivious to the practices of Islam and the work the Lord is doing in the lives of Muslims all over the world. Did you know that the fastest growing church in the world is in Iran? Despite so many physical barriers Islam has tried to put up against Jesus, He is reaching their hearts and He is inviting us to participate!
Where do you come in?
My team along with literally thousands of Christians all over the world will be participating in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World during this month. Jesus teaches us that prayer is a communal cry to the Lord when he teaches his disciples to begin a prayer with "Our Father in heaven..." Just over two weeks ago we, the Church, celebrated the victory of Jesus in his death and resurrection. Now through Jesus we, the Church, have an opportunity to intercede on behalf of millions who are so desperate to receive the life, the joy, the freedom, the peace, and the hope that we have been given.
We would love for you to join us in prayer over the next 30 days for our Muslim friends here in Terrassa and around the world. To download the prayer guide, click the button below.
We are expectant to see how Jesus will continue to break into the hearts of millions of Muslims around the world during the next 30 days!
Envision Rhode Island
Sent on April 20, 2020
Grace and peace to you all from Rhode Island! We are doing well and enjoying life at a slower pace.
Friends, I hope that you live in such a way that you see God moving in your lives. For us, we had to dramatically change how we lived so that God's work was visible to us. He was always there and always working, but until we were in a posture of dependence, we couldn't always see and appreciate what He was doing. As always, it is our pleasure to serve right where God has put us, Providence, RI. We don't always feel like we're making a difference and we do get lonely, but we know that God has called us here and it is our desire to be faithful to Him and proclaim his message of salvation for all people.
We are so thankful and blessed to have each of you care enough for our family to pray and to give. You are so important to everything that happens here!
Due to the recent pandemic, we are not meeting with our Kids Club or ESL groups. We were excited about our first team of the season coming from Delhi, NY in April and several during the month of May, but as of now, those have all been put on hold. While we are sad for these cancellations, it has also been a blessing for us to slow down and watch God do some amazing things.
Just yesterday we were sitting in our living room worshiping with Church of Emmanuel in Foxboro,MA when they began to take communion. We didn't have any bread or juice but God intervened. There was a knock at our door and a friend from Iglesia Alianza Providence delivered lunch to us!! Robert and I both noticed the loaf of bread and juice in the bags right away! She delivered communion to our door!! It was very much our own George Mueller moment and a reminder of how much God cares and is active in our lives.
Another moment of total praise this week was through an email we received from a partnering church in Ohio. We hadn't even told you yet that we lost 10% of our funding, but God knew. This random email was to let us know that someone in their church felt led to give financially for the next 10 months - making up for money that we had lost. God is faithful!
New Addition
Thank you for all who brought meals, sent gifts, and generally blessed our family after Claire was born. She is 3 months old today and we look forward to the day you can meet her in person. We are so thankful that my sister and her husband were able to come to visit before things shut down but the grandparents still haven't met her. She is pretty amazing and we look forward to sharing her with you all!!
Kids Club
We had a great time delivering fun Easter bags to most of our Kids Club kids. Our family loaded into the van and Robert dropped the bags off and rang the doorbells and we all hung out the windows waving and honking. Our kids said it felt like we were the Santa Claus of Easter. While I know that it brought joy to our family, we also pray that it brought joy to the children who received it. Pray for these children and their families. Many of them do not get regular meals at home and do not have English speaking parents to help them figure out this new schooling at home. We wish we could have them all here each day to help them but we trust the Lord to watch over them until we can come together
again.
Summer Trips
Pray also for our summer ministries. We are excited and remain hopeful that our summer will be the busiest and most fruitful yet. We have several teams ready to come and serve alongside us and we want to see that happen!
English Classes
Please pray for our ESL students. During this time of social distancing, it is more difficult for us to maintain relationships with them. Many of them also work as CNA's or in essential jobs where they continue to be out in the community during this difficult time.
Robert & Amy Childs
Lorenzo Panza
In 2019 we heard from one of our college students that a missions opportunity had come his way- and here’s his thank you video for all the support!
William & Mayra Devenney
Sent on February 10, 2020 (Before Quarantine)
What an incredible summer season we have been having so far!
We have witnessed the Lord work in the lives of so many young people that have come to our summer camps over the last five weeks, and are thrilled to see what the Lord will continue to do with the two remaining weeks of camp! After these two weeks, we will have a special graduation ceremony for our Discipleship Training Center (CEED) students, coupled with a very special day of thanksgiving and celebration for the twenty years of ministry on our property in Cañete, Peru! We have invited many pastors and ministry partners that have witnessed the Lord's work to join with us in the celebration.
We have been thrilled to have been able to return in time for the Summer camp season; where we can see firsthand the work of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit in the lives of hundreds of young kids.
****
William George Devenney V (or, Liam) was born March 17th at 1:28 pm! Both he and Mayra are healthy and well. We praise the Lord for this gracious gift of new life in the midst of such worldwide chaos. God is truly faithful and worthy of all praise.
Psalm 7:17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.