Greetings from North Orange County!
Here is a brief overview of what I’ve been up to this past month and some of the ways God has been faithfully at work with us! To read more updates, feel free to visit my blog-site here!
Barclay College / Hutchinson Friends Church
This month, Nick, Viany, and I traveled out to my home-state of Kansas to help lead Barclay College’s personal evangelism seminar. While in Kansas, we were also able to visit my dad’s side of the family and preach and teach at Hutchinson Friends Church, where my dad is pastoring. We had a wonderful time leading the seminar with Dan Cammock and Brockie Follette and were grateful for the opportunity to share the Gospel with both believers and nonbelievers. We pray that what was shared and practiced will be used by God in the lives of those who attended.
After the seminar, we spent time with family and had the opportunity to introduce Viany (my wonderful girlfriend!) to them. On Sunday, we preached and taught a version of our Archways Training, a conversational approach to evangelism. We had never done this training in a sermon format, so we were adapting as we went, but it was a meaningful time.
Cal-State Fullerton
This month at CSUF, we tried a slightly different approach to engaging students through an “outdoor classroom,” teaching on foundational aspects of the Christian faith like the Gospel, discipleship, and the resurrection. We have seen mixed results in engagement, but it has been especially helpful for those we are discipling, as many have an insufficient understanding of the basics of our faith. We have had some great conversations with both believers and nonbelievers and are continuing to explore how this can be an effective tool.
Exponential Conference
This month included some travel, including attending the Exponential church-planting conference in Orlando, FL with a group from Mid-America Yearly Meeting. I was encouraged and challenged by the strong emphasis on the importance of healthy leaders in ministry.
The Holy Spirit used this time to deepen my conviction about the necessity of being rooted in the presence of God, not only for myself, but for those I am discipling. We can train and equip people in many ways, but if they are not abiding in the Father, something essential is missing. I have been reminded how important it is to help people encounter God personally and to prioritize that above everything else in ministry. This is something I am continuing to learn and grow in, and I am already seeing fruit from it within our team.
On the way to the conference, I was briefly stranded in Dallas due to flight cancellations, which unexpectedly led to the opportunity to share the Gospel with two different Uber drivers. I wrote more about those encounters on my blog.
Thank you so much for your continued support and prayer for this ministry!
I look forward to soon sharing my plans for the coming year at the conclusion of this 6-month extension!
With love and peace,
Ivan Penrose
Thank You for Your Support. Here’s How to Continue:
I’m currently at 98% of my monthly need, and your continued support helps make it possible for me to serve through June 2026. If you would like to continue your partnership, please let me know as soon as possible so I can plan accordingly.
There Are Four Ways to Partner With Me:
- Online: Visit the NCP Apprentice donation page by clicking the button below. Once there, scroll to find my tile and select your gift amount. You’ll have the opportunity to indicate whether you are giving monthly or as a one-time gift.
- Credit Card: You may give online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office at (303) 421-8100 to provide your information to a live representative.
- Automatic Bank Transfer: Download the form here and email it to Debby McElroy (EFM Bookkeeper) at debby@friendsmission.com. Please note that ACH payments are processed on the 10th or 25th of the month.
- Check: Mail a check to EFM, P.O. Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Please mark your check with “Ivan Penrose NCP Apprentice Support” and indicate if your gift will be recurring (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Make the check payable to “EFM.”
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