“On behalf of all EFM, I express our gratitude for your support for the Howells. God, through you, has provided for David and Tricia in every way. We celebrate that they are fully funded, and can now return to Ireland with great expectation that their very best days of ministry lie ahead. Thank you!”

In late December of 2023, we arrived for our deputation. We were excited to visit with you and as many of your churches as we could. What an amazing journey it has been. We have calculated that we have put approximately 18,000 miles on the mission car and another 1,500 miles on the other cars that we have driven so far. We are utterly exhausted but exhilarated at the same time. We have been blessed to share our hearts with you. And you have truly blessed us by sharing yours with us. In our travels, Trish and I have constantly talked about you all. Things like your smiles, your hugs, your encouragement, your questions, your support, your love, your graciousness, and your heart for the Irish and for your own communities, to name a few things. We have come away with an even deeper love and appreciation for you, our partners and teammates.

This last term took a deep toll on us and our family. We came back wounded and in need of restoration. EFM set out an action plan to take the needed steps to help us recover spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially. As we have worked through this plan, you have been an integral part of every step. We have felt the caverns in our soul being filled and strengthened. We have felt the heavy burdens lifted and replaced with hope. We have felt your love and support flow over us and run down our faces. We are restored.

Thank you!! For those of you who have partnered with us from the very beginning 20 years ago, thank you. For those of you who we have met along the way and partnered with us before we arrived in Ireland, thank you. For those of you who we have met on our first few deputations and partnered with us, thank you. For those of you who we have met on this deputation and partnered with us, thank you. We could not and cannot do this without each one of you. We love you all. Thank you for your love, support, and encouragement. What an awesome blessing to call you friends.

As we arrive home in the coming weeks, please pray. Please pray as we resettle and reconnect with our friends. Pray that God may break through in a new and powerful way. In ways that will amaze us and make clear that only God could do it. Please pray as we begin to look for a new house. One with a big kitchen and dining room for the thousand cups of coffee. We would prefer to be in the same area, but we want to be faithful to go where God would have us. Please pray that God’s love for each one of us, Moriah, Jonathan, Tricia, and David, will be overflowing and overwhelming as we enter this new term.

God is on the move. Thank you for your part in it. May God richly bless each one of you, give you grace and peace, and give you a voice to share the good news of Jesus Christ in your own communities. As you meet your friends for one of your 1,000 cups of coffee, may God breakthrough in your obedience.

We love you all. Please reach out and connect with us regularly. We want to be more present with each of you—our partners, our co-laborers, and our friends.

May the people of Ireland be changed with the power of God’s love.

Grace and Peace,

David, Tricia, Jonathan, and Moriah

The post Howell Deputation Update #7: We are Heading Home! first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Two Sundays ago, I had the opportunity to preach at Sherwood Community Friends Church. The main theme was the need for churches and individuals to focus on making disciples not just converts. I was using 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 as my main text.  You can give it a listen below if you choose to.

The term disciple is one that we use regularly in our churches and church communities. Often that term is elevated to represent someone of a deep significant spiritual life. It can represent that for sure. However, I think this misses the intent of the original word. The Greek word breaks it down to simply someone who has the posture of a student, a learner, someone putting in the mental effort to struggle to understand the concepts being taught. In the early Jewish culture, this idea was represented by someone following so closely to their rabbi that they were literally covered with the dust from their teachers’ feet. This is a theme that resonates with me deeply. The idea that we invite those around us to watch and learn from us, to listen and see the good news of Jesus Christ. To walk along so closely together that the dust of Jesus will cover them.

As we have walked among our American friends these last six months, this has been our focus. As we have walked among our Irish friends these last 16 years, this has been our focus. As we have walked in ministry over these last 35 years, this has been our focus. The reason we do this is straightforward.  Verse 14 says “The love of God compels us.” The love of God in us controls, drives, and demands that we make sure all of those around us know that they too are loved. They too are chosen. They too are deserving. When we fully take to heart the plea of Abba’s heart to “Go and make disciples of all the nations,” we are filled to the max with love for those who haven’t yet been shown the right path.

A young woman, who we will call Mary, started attending one of the groups that we facilitated. She was hungry to know God’s word. She asked questions and struggled through the idea of how these words were put into her daily life. What does this budding faith look like in a teenager and in a young adult? It was an absolute joy for Trish and I to watch her assume the posture of a learner, of a student, of one ready to soak in all that the teacher had for her to glean. We lived life together, shared meals together, spent time together, dug into God’s word together, celebrated God moments together, rejoiced, and wept together. Day by day, the role of teacher and student lived out in an authentic way. To see her today is such a thrill and joy to know that she is a blessed and loved child of God. To know that she is now compelled by this love to share with others is such a blessing. God has done a mighty work in her life through the discipleship process.

Please pray with us and our Irish friends. That the roots of Christ’s love will dig deep into those that we are discipling. That the love of Christ, displayed on the cross, will bring about a new life in Christ. That their old way of living will no longer have control over them and hold them in bondage. May they embrace their new life in Christ and thrive.

Thank you for your love for the Irish people. Please pray hard and pray often for them. God is at work and unfortunately so is the enemy. May the love, peace, and mercy of God fill us, encourage us, and empower us to go and bear fruit.  Fruit that will last.

Specific Prayer Requests:

• Pray for us as we look for a new house to rent. An added prayer is for the kitchen and dining space.  Pray that this will be a great place to break bread together with our friends.
• Pray for God to break through in the lives of our Irish friends.
• Pray for the remaining balance of our funding to come in. Please pray for God’s prompting to be heard and obeyed by those who are thinking about coming alongside us financially.
• Pray for our health and safety. For our emotional, physical, and mental health.
• Pray for our daily spiritual growth to be so rich and full and transformative that it spills over like a mighty rushing river at flood stage.

Grace and Peace,

David and Tricia Howell

The post Howell Deputation Update #6 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

We need you now more than ever.

Over the last few weeks, our longing to return home has grown more intense. We have loved sharing with each one of you, but it is time. Recently, I (David) was going through many of my past photos of Ireland. The beautiful scenery, the streets of Wicklow Town, the beauty of everyday moments. Along with those were photos of our friends. Each face holds a story. Each face holds a journey. Each face holds a memory of a specific touch of God.

I was looking at one, in particular, who had a violent past. He had a history of sorrow and anger, of pain and vengeance. I am in tears thinking about the thousand cups of coffee I have had with him. To watch him walk the process of releasing that bondage and become a man of peace and gentleness. To see him come to the realization that he is loved and valued.

In my mind, this scene plays out time and time again with each face. With each story. With each journey. Irish lives were forever changed with the good news of Jesus Christ. Through our partnership, God is on the move.

Our return to Ireland is scheduled for July 9. In order to be on that flight, back to the people of Ireland, we need you. We’re in urgent need of additional dedicated partners to support our mission and ministry with a monthly commitment. Your immediate help is crucial to sustain the Lord’s work we are committed to continuing in Ireland so we can reach those who need Jesus.

As we have shared with you these last five months, many of you have been praying about your role in partnership. Now is the time to respond. We need you. Please prayerfully consider and act to join the financial partnership team, however the Lord leads.

We have been greatly encouraged and blessed by your support and engagement as we have shared our stories with you in person. You have said time and time again, what a powerful testimony you have heard. We long to share with you more stories in the future. Please prayerfully consider your role in helping us get back on the field in July.

We love you all.

Grace and Peace,

David and Tricia Howell

David and Tricia

The post Howell Deputation Update #5 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Greetings from Wichita, Kansas.  We have begun our journey in EFC-MAYM. What an amazing opportunity to meet up with so many that we have known since our college days at Barclay. We have shared at Pratt, Rose Hill, and Glen Elder so far. We even had an opportunity to speak at Barclay Chapel, tour the campus, and celebrate all that God has and is continuing to do through a small bible college in rural Kansas.

Even the journey to Kansas was a lesson on being in tune to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. The day we drove in, we were facing 50-60mph gusts that were blowing trucks over. The dry fields were being picked up by the wind and carried over the road to make near-impossible visibility. We came across multiple crashes as a result. On this journey, we were trying to make it to Pratt, KS for dinner with a dear family. But as we drove, I felt a prompting to stop and get a quick bite to eat. So, we did, and we split a meal. As we got back on the road, we came across a long traffic jam. As we got further up the road, it became evident that there was one of the patches with zero visibility. It was so bleak that I couldn’t see the lights from the emergency services vehicles. As a result of this, there was a 15-20 car pile-up. From what we can gather, there were no serious injuries.  After we made it through, we stopped at the next exit to fuel up and stretch. The sheriff was in the next bay over, and I started to talk to him. From what I can deduct from his information, if we hadn’t stopped when I felt prompted to, we would have been in the thick of it all. God is very good.

We have a busy time ahead of us as we leave this week for Colorado for a short time and then back to Kansas. We will be speaking at Colorado Springs, Denver, Willow Creek, Alva, and Northridge Women’s Missionary Fellowship coming up. As well as trying to meet up with as many of you as we can in the midweeks.

Please continue to pray for us as we endeavor to reach our fully funded goal. It is going slower than we would anticipate and we really need prayer in this. Pray for people to step up in ways that even they didn’t know was possible to achieve the goal. Also, please pray for our continued safety as we travel. As well as for strength and endurance for our tired old bones.

It is truly a blessing to be able to visit and share with each and every one of you about the ministry in Ireland. If we are not able to meet in person, we would love to set up a video conference with you in whatever format works best for you. Please, reach out and we will set it up.

Thank you again for partnering and walking this journey with us. We are truly blessed to have you as teammates.

Grace and Peace,

David and Tricia

The post Howell Deputation Update #4 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Hello Dear Friends,

It’s been another amazing month of meeting up with so many of you. We have traveled the width and breadth of the Northwest Yearly Meeting over the last few months. What a joy to be able to worship and share what God is doing in Ireland. We have been truly blessed.

We are currently on the road, heading east, towards Mid America Yearly Meeting. Over the course of April, we will be in Pratt, Rose Hill, Glen Elder, and Colorado Springs. We would love to meet with as many of you as we can.

One of the highlights of this last month was Tricia being able to travel back to Ireland for a few weeks. She had several pending things that needed to be addressed before our return in July. While she was there, she was able to meet up with many of her friends. During one of these meetings, a friend looked at Trish, paused, and said, “You are a woman of faith who lives like that every day. We all need to be more like you. Would you be willing to be on a panel at a women’s event next year and share about this?” What a blessing to be able to share the hope and good news of Jesus to our Irish friends.

Please continue to pray for us. We have and will continue to travel many miles during this journey. Please pray for our safety, stamina, and health in this time.

Please continue to pray for our friends in Ireland. Pray that the Holy Spirit will be speaking and preparing their hearts as we are here in the States.

And please continue to pray for the financial support to come in.

Thank you so much for your care and support for our family. We are praying for you as well.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

The post Howell Family Deputation Update #3 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Greetings dear friends,

Firstly, I would like to say what a blessing it is to be able to visit so many of your churches and groups in the Northwest Yearly Meeting so far. I am reminded every time of your love, compassion, and faithfulness to missions and to fulfilling the Great Commission around the world. What a joy to hear your love for the people of Ireland. You have enriched our souls.

We look forward to sharing with folks in Newberg, Friendsview, Margaret Fell Women’s Group, and Peninsula Evangelical Friends Church to name a few of the stops over the coming weeks.

One personal highlight over the last month was the ability to celebrate with Moriah on her 21st birthday. We were able to spend a bit of time in the snowy mountains and have her surrounded by family for a giant pizza celebration. What a joy to spend that time with her.

Tricia has flown back to Ireland for a few weeks. She will return to the States on March 14, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. I was talking with her the other day, and she shared with me that she met up with one friend for a short visit and ended up talking for almost five hours. Then met another one of our friends for a short visit and only stayed an hour and a half. Then ran into another friend and only chatted with them for an hour. All total, she left the house at 10:30 and didn’t get back until after 8:00 pm. What a blessing it is to love on our friends and share the love of Jesus. Please continue to pray for our friends in Ireland.

Thank you for praying and interceding for us. Please continue to pray:

• For strength, endurance, and safety as we spend the next four-plus months on this journey.
• For the financial support to be back up to fully funded before our tentative departure date in July.
• For our family as we are on different continents in different endeavors.
• That this time will be one of deep and significant team building and prepare all of us for the next term together.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

The post Howell Family Deputation Update #2 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Since then, we have started speaking at churches, met with the EFM Directors in California, and begun catching up with our dear partners in ministry. We have loved sharing the stories of what God is doing in Ireland. Stories of transformed lives. We have shared in Central Point, Medford, Rosedale, and Scotts Mills. We are looking forward to upcoming trips to Sherwood, Talent, and West Chehalem to round out February. We still have a few dates available if you would like us to come and share with your small group, men’s or women’s groups, home group, or even a group of friends who want to hear more about EFM-Ireland. We would love to meet up with you individually as well. We love to share the impact that God is having in Ireland through all your prayers and support.

On a personal note, one of the highlights for me (David) so far was spending a few days at Sabbath by the Sea in Twin Rocks, Oregon. It ended up being a shortened time due to the ice and snowstorm. It was a blessed time in the chaos of traveling, speaking, separation from home, organizing (which isn’t my strong suit), and preparing for all that is to come, to take a moment to pause and rest in the stillness of God’s love and peace. It was a pivotal time for me. Deputation can be a very difficult time with all that it holds, and it was special to have space and time to set aside to be still.

Please be in prayer for us at this time.

• For strength, endurance, and safety as we spend the next five-plus months on this journey.
• For the financial support to be back up to fully funded before our tentative departure date in July.
• For our family as we are on different continents in different endeavors.
• That this time will be one of deep and significant team building and prepare all of us for the next term together.

Thank you so much for your love and support. We look forward to meeting with as many of you as we can.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

We are currently in the Northwest through March. After, we will visit MAYM and RMYM during April and May. If you would like to schedule an opportunity to visit, please email us at davidh@friendsmission.com.

 We currently have 856 prayer partners and have a goal of raising it to 1,100. If you know anyone who would like to pray for our ministry, please forward this form to them.

We are currently at 74% of our ongoing monthly need. If you are a current monthly supporter, thank you. It is important to let EFM know that you plan to continue or increase your giving. If you are not currently giving, please prayerfully consider supporting our ministry in Ireland.

Thank you for supporting us through prayer and financial giving. We need and appreciate both so that we can reach 100% in both areas before heading back to Ireland.

There are four ways you can partner with us:

• Online. Visit https://catalog.friendsmission.com/howell. You’ll be given the opportunity to indicate whether you are making a recurring or one-time gift.
• Credit Card. This may be given online (as stated above) or by calling the EFM office (303-421-8100) to give your information to a live person.
• Automatic Bank Transfer. Download the form aquí and email it 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. Make sure to mark your check “Howell Support” and note if you will be giving on a recurring basis (monthly, quarterly, etc.). Pay to the order of “EFM.”

The post Howell Family Deputation Update #1 first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Here are the latest updates on life and ministry in Ireland. Please continue to pray for God to be made known in a real way among our Irish friends.

Grace and Peace.

“May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.”

Life in Ireland Snippet

Driving around the lush, green, and picturesque scenery is one of the perks of living and serving in Ireland. We are still overwhelmed and amazed at the beauty around us after all these years. However, there are always two sides to the coin. These jaw-dropping views and scenic byways are usually only accessed by roads more suited to horse and carriage than motorized vehicles. It is a common occurrence for visiting guests to try and climb onto my side of the car for fear of the wall or brambles or buildings mere inches away, it seems, from their window. Added to this are the speeds that are more suited for the motorway and not these rough roads. It’s also common, in the countryside, to be driving on a two-way road that isn’t suited for one car. Yet that is a part of life that we are accustomed to. Even in big cities, the width of the roads is smaller than we were used to. This brings with it its own challenges. Living and driving in Ireland took a bit to get used to. But we did, and with that, every drive is a new adventure.

Ministry Glimpse

The relationships that we have made over the years are special. We got a call from a friend who had access to a surplus of food and asked if we could help distribute it to those in need. Tricia rang another one of our friends and set it up. Tricia spent the next two days sorting and preparing, packing, and loading and delivered 30 food hampers to help at-risk families in our communities.

Recently we were talking with a young man who comes from a home filled with addictive substance abuse. He was sharing with us how much our family has meant to him getting through school. We were always there for a chat or a word of encouragement. He especially appreciated the discussions with David on theological issues; books that he had read, questions about the Bible, and topics that he had no other person to wrestle through with. We were a solid foundation for him.

“You are like a beam of sunshine in human form.” Recently a friend was joking with me about the way I try and bring joy and peace into everything. I smiled and said I like to try and reflect the hope and joy that I have inside. They asked where that came from and I smiled and said, “My faith in a loving God.”

I was sharing with a friend in the States recently how I feel like I am still a pastor of a church; just my flock doesn’t meet in one place. As I am writing this, I’m sitting outside at a café and several of the local schools have let out. One of the teens that I have worked with over the years had attended the Alpha course we ran in the schools last year. After the initial hellos, they were excited to say that they went to CU that day. (CU stands for Christian Union and is a student-led school group). We chatted about this for a bit and then they were off. I love the way that God has given us opportunities to plant seeds, nurture them, and watch them grow.

Prayer Requests

Please pray for the presence of God living in us will shine bright and penetrate the darkness around us as we proclaim the good news.

Please pray for our funding. We will be traveling back to the States, starting in January, for deputation and meeting up with past, present, and future partners in ministry in Ireland. We would love to meet up and chat with you about what God has and is doing in Ireland.

Please pray for our family’s safety, both mentally and physically. We will be traveling a great deal over the coming months. Please pray for traveling protection as well as for the mental toll that these times take.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

The post Howellclan Connection: November 2023 Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Recently I was walking down Grafton Street in Dublin, a street that at one time held a top ten spot for most expensive rent in the world. A shopper’s delight filled with high-end stores and buskers (musicians and performers) dotted along the way. I walked along and it wasn’t the opulence that caught my eye, but something down a side street. Tucked away was a church that has stood since 1720. In the middle of this bustling city and across this island are reminders of a once prominent system. The beautiful stone and glass work on display. Some still standing regal and proud. Most in ruins dotting the landscape. In many ways, all of them in ruins.

When I speak to people about topics of faith or God or Jesus, I am often met with this same mentality. Comments along the line of “Oh, that thing from bygone past. The system that no longer has any place or is not wanted in our modern culture.” I remember one friend came up to me and said, “You’re that religious guy, right?” I said I was. He said, “You know you’re wrong, right?” I smiled and replied, “I know you think I am.” This conversation went on for over 30 minutes. Him walking away and coming back, over and over again. Sometimes a question of faith was added to that statement. But that statement was the foundation with which everything else was being built on. One of the core goals of EFM Ireland is to show a Jesus that is present and relevant in a culture that has moved past. A culture that has been wounded and betrayed by those they trusted with this precious gift. A people who are strong and passionate, yet timid and indifferent in matters of faith. In this, our hearts are heavy.

Matthew 9 says, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” This passage resonates with me. This is a people group that has been harassed and left helpless on matters of the greatest importance. It has been a hard row to hoe as the remnants and rubble try to trip us up and get us off track. But we move forward. And lives are being impacted and forever changed.

Would you continue to pray for us in this. Our partnership together has allowed our presence and words of life to be planted deep. To dig through the hard and fallow ground and see life spring forth. Pray that our friends will continue to be open to the hard conversations. That the Spirit of God will speak truth into their hearts. Please pray for our current financial situation as well. We are well below what is needed to be fully funded. We can’t thank you enough for your support throughout the years. I (David) will be returning to the States this autumn and would love to connect with as many of you as I can. As well as others who you may know who may want to come alongside us in this ministry.

When the conversation with my friend ended, he looked at me and said before walking away with a sly grin. “Your faith is different, huh.” May this be the sentiment shared by everyone we have the honor of coming into contact with.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

The post Howellclan Connection: August Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Opportunities have come up recently that I never would have dreamed possible in 2004. Ever since my home church put on “Sir Oliver’s Song” in the mid ’80s, I have been enthralled with performing. I found a love for all artistic expression through acting or music or even speaking in public. One positive that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic was a reigniting of this in me. I have been painting, writing, and even taking acting classes at the Gaiety Acting School in Dublin. Each of these endeavours creates a new avenue to help fulfill the mission of EFM-Ireland. The first part of our mission starts with a purpose and passion to fuel a worldwide movement of people who seek first the kingdom of God. This only happens when we can come alongside people and proclaim the good news. I want to share a bit more about how God is using one of these areas.

Last year, I put my name out to do some background extra work and have been selected for a few productions. This opportunity has been a lot of fun, but more importantly, it has allowed me to meet a group of people that I never would have had the opportunity to meet before. People from all corners of the island and from every background imaginable. Executives, crew members, actors, background actors, caterers, construction, stunts, etc., I’ve had the honour to have a conversation with each of them.

Recently one of them asked me what I do when I’m not doing this, since this is such a sporadic and random industry. I said this is what I do only when my schedule allows. My real gig is that I am a Quaker minister who finds opportunities to meet with people who are hurting or lost. People who are asking questions and who are looking for hope. I look for ways to help people who are broken and try to have an impact on their life.  He smiled and he looked at me and he said, “Oh, so you mean everybody on this set.”  We laughed together and, in my mind, I thought, “Lord here are my tools, what do you want to use today?”

On these sets, I’ve had countless opportunities to hear the hearts of those around me. I have been invited to share my faith in a real and personal way. The conversations that take place are such a blessing for me. From the comical and trivial to honest and soul-searching. The seeker who has no idea where to go for the truth. The beauty is that in all of this, I see God at work in a mighty way. Placing people and opportunities in front of me that I never would have been able to connect with. Enabling me to speak truth in love, to continue “to carry out the Great Commission in the spirit of the Great Commandment.”

Would you please pray with us that these conversations will be a catalyst for change? Please pray that as God uses the tools that are in our open hands, that lives will be transformed and that it won’t be contained on this island, but will grow and go forth throughout the world. Pray that I will be in tune with what God would have me do. God is truly at work in Ireland. God is truly at work in me. God is moving. Thank you for being our partner in this work. We love you all.

Grace and Peace,

The Howell Clan

The post Howell Clan Connection: May Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.