Greetings from the state of California!
Here is a brief insight into what I’ve been up to this past month and the ways you can join me in praying for this ministry! For more stories and conversations, check out my other blogs!
This month concluded phase one of Cassi and Thomas’s EFM/NCP Disciple-Making Apprenticeship, and they will now begin intentionally looking to impart the tools and training that they received from us in the previous phase. They each have unique ministry plans for the next phase as they gain more ministerial autonomy in the apprenticeship, but the goal and basic tools remain the same. They have already jumped right into this as they’ve begun training a few hand-selected people in discipleship and evangelism. Please pray for them as they continue in this apprenticeship process and will soon be getting married – I’ve heard there’s a lot that goes into that!
This month, along with our regular engagement at CSUF, I noticed a significant increase in the number of pastoral conversations I was having compared to before. Whether it be needing care or challenge in their walk, I couldn’t help but notice an increase in this type of engagement. When I say “pastor”, I don’t mean to describe the generic use of the word in America – rather, I mean to describe shepherding. The American Church really seems to like “teaching pastors”, but unfortunately, it seems that shepherds are in short supply. Maybe it’s not so much that they are in short supply, but that they find themselves in the wrong places – not with the sheep. As I think about this gift that Jesus gave His Church, I can’t help but acknowledge the weighty significance of this role. A shepherd has to really know their sheep to be able to care for them well. Some sheep need discipline due to unruly behaviors, but others need the gentle care to restore after hardship. Misapportion these and the sheep will certainly suffer – the unruly will run rampant in abused grace and the downcast will be burdened with unnecessary feelings of defeat. That to say, this month my engagements have been pleasantly flavored by the taste of pastoral exhortations as I grow in pastoral ministry.
In addition to these, I’ve also engaged with a number of very interesting individuals in my evangelism. One individual that I talked with, pictured above, presented himself as a practitioner of the occult and described many disturbing beliefs and implications – flowing from his seemingly theistic satanism. I’ve since talked with him, and it peculiarly seems that he’s had some sort of reform in this extremely short time. I hold the inclination that there are serious spiritual forces involved with this student, and I pray that this might be revealed as we plan to continue meeting to read the Bible together. Another student, who used to be a Christian, also engaged with me recently – strongly opposing Christianity. As we talked, it became extremely clear that his rejection of Christianity was not for intellectual reasons like he asserted, but rather a mere emotional impulse identifying as logic and reason. This is just a touch into the conversations, but you can read more in my other blog posts (or have more fun and do it for yourself!).
Please pray for these students that we minister to – that their hearts might be drawn to the truth of the Gospel. Please pray for Cassi and Thomas as they continue their apprenticeship and move towards marriage. Please pray that God would cast out of His Church workers into the ripe harvest field! Please be praying for the last two months of my EFM/NCP apprenticeship as I begin a new season of ministry as a part of the NCP staff beginning in July! More information to come on this soon – please stay tuned!
Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support of this ministry! I am blessed to have this privilege of full-time ministry and equipping and pray that it might be in some way beneficial for you in your ministry! May the God of the harvest be with you as you go!
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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