Dear Prayer Partners,

Over the past month, I’ve had many people in my house from my family to youth workers. When I signed the lease on my house, I was nervous that it was too much house for me. As I began to make this house a home with cozy touches, plants in the garden and seasonal decorations, I felt God saying that this home will be used for my glory. The rooms will be filled, if only temporarily, as a blessing to the kingdom. I am happy to say that it is starting to happen.

My brother, Mark, and his family visited a few weeks ago and the house was full to the brim with the people I love the most in this world. It was such a joy to show my family Ireland for the first time. We did not “have the weather,” as they say but that made it a much more authentic Irish experience. I am so happy that they have a context for my life here and the people I do ministry and life alongside.

Two weeks ago, I welcomed three young women into my home as they lead groups of children for Scripture Union’s Annual CSSM (Children’s Special Service Mission) Youth Camp. It’s been a really great experience to have the house full again with young women building the kingdom locally here in Greystones.

A few weeks ago, my colleague preached on God’s table. He told us that God’s table has, and always will be, bigger than our own. He challenged us to find out who is missing from our table, individually and as a congregation. We have big plans here at the Naz about how to make our building and our property more inviting and accessible to the biggest “table” we can make. God is showing me how big I can make the table, my house, that he has given me here in Greystones. Will you pray with me to keep my eyes open to those individuals and groups that are missing at my table and the Naz’s table?

	I’m Watching…  New Stranger Things Season 4 Vol 2: I got to watch the first episode with my nephew Ethan while he was here because we’re both obsessed. I’m Reading… Lots of preaching books and commentaries on Galatians and Luke. I am preaching about the fruit of the Spirit of goodness on August 21. I will be preaching for the first time at the Naz. Please pray with me.
	I’m Listening To: RTE Radio: I try to put this on in the morning when I’m getting breakfast ready to listen to the local and national news of Ireland.

Praises:

• My family and I had a fantastic time together at the end of last month when they visited for a week. I am so grateful that they have context for my life here now.
• We have a fully booked Craft and Cookery Camp for August. The camp is a time honored tradition here at the Naz and to see so much interest after taking a few years off is very encouraging.
• My rhythms and “work/life” balance are becoming steadier and I feel like my productivity is increasing.

Requests:

• As referred to above, I am preaching in a month and I’m very nervous about it. Praise for colleagues that are encouraging and resourceful about helping me build this sermon. I am grateful but still nervous. Please pray for focus and energy as I write the sermon. Please pray for stamina and slow, clear speaking on the day, I tend to talk very fast when I’m nervous!
• My colleague is in the Unite States right now raising support. Please pray for him and his family as they are travelling, and that God would make divine appointments. My other colleague is travelling to Poland next week for his work with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, please pray for safety and health during his travels.
• I am trying to build a practice of presence, which requires more time sitting listening to God than talking at Him. Pray for this process that it would be good and right and fruitful.

The post Molly Morton July Ministry Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Maria Giron | Missions Mobilizer for Hispanic Friends

As a way to praise the Lord for a successful Luke 10 Exploration Trip to Ecuador, I would like to share with all of you a glance of our many adventurous experiences during our time in the beautiful amazon jungle of Ecuador.

First of all, I would like to express our gratitude to everyone that joined our team by praying and giving. I want you to know that we clearly saw God at work starting by always experiencing his protection over each member of our team. We felt safe all the time, none of us suffered severe sickness (some only had minor stomach issues). It was amazing to see how at only a couple of days before taking off, all the finances needed to cover the trip’s costs were supplied and even above the expected. And at every experience we were able to live, we knew Jesus was present.

Our first experience emerging and touching the Shuar culture was astounding. This happened at the Shuar community Tuwasip near Palora where we were welcome by their tribe’s chief and his son. After dinner we kept sat down and listen to the chief share about their people’s traditions and cosmovision. While we were listening to his stories, something unexpected happened, God surprised us with the visit of the chief’s mother who joined us and sat with us. She started telling us that she was already a Christian and was very happy with our visit!! The most impacting moment was when, out of her own words, she invited us to come and teach their children and grandchildren about the gospel of Jesus. She even mentioned that there is land available to build a church. Those words from the mother had a great impact on our hearts, we knew that it was God confirming why we were there and showing us, at that moment, that indeed the harvest is plentiful and ready.

It is known that there are still tribes of Shuars held in the remoteness of the Amazon jungle that know very little about the gospel or even have not heard of Jesus Christ. We were fortunate to have the opportunity to get to know a little more about them by traveling in little canoes up the Amazon River for over two hours, arriving at a village where we met a small group of Evangelical Christians. There we learned that for the Shuar it is very significant that visitors accept their drinks and food to be accepted in their village, so we were tested to see if we love the people by how we responded to the food they offered us. We were able to taste from freshly collected alive worms, fish, rooster soup, snails, and other jungle delicacies. We are thankful that we were blessed by meeting Carlos, a Christian Shuar, that was our guide and our way to be able to be accepted and enter the Shuar village.

We are also grateful to have been able to meet leaders and missionaries who are dedicating their lives to the hard work of evangelizing the Shuar people, as was the case of a Korean family that has been living and working with the Shuar for almost eight years. We could see exhaustion in them, she even had the freedom to expressed, with tears in her eyes, some of their great challenges facing as family and the rejection that their nine- and ten-year-old boys have suffered from the local kids. Her testimony touched our hearts, and so we were happy to be able to visit them, encourage them, hug them, and pray for them. We also appreciate the contact we had with other leaders and men of peace that God allowed us to be encountered with so that we could carry out the exploration trip in effective ways.

Please join us in praising the Lord that we were able to have the joy of navigating deeper into the culture of the Shuar people. We surely now have grown in love, respect, and compassion for those that has not yet been reached with the love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Serving Him,

Maria Giron

 Click here to download the full prayer letter…

The post July 2022 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now lockdown restrictions have been removed and after a long time we are able to go out and do the work. Churches are open and therefore the services have resumed. Thank you so much for upholding us and supporting us in this period. Now after pandemic situation inflation has increased and seems like everything is expensive. As small scale and large scale industries were locked down many products were not manufactured and so are not available.

We praise God that he keeps working in the lives of girls who lived in Joyful Children’s Home. Although they were not living with us, we kept in touch with them through conference calls, prayers and zoom meetings. It is encouraging to see so many of them walking with the Lord.

Among the three who live with us in our home at present, Rhema’s marriage was fixed.  She came to us as a four day old child and this year she is 21 years old. She did not know anyone from her family but became a part of our lives. Last June she graduated from college. She met Allan who is an engineer. He is from a good Christian family. They will be married on 12^th of  August. Many of our Joyful girls would like to attend the wedding. Kindly pray that we will be able to make all the arrangements for this wedding. It’s a big change for Rhema to go live in a different set up with her husband and in laws too. Pray for her adjustment.

In this pandemic time we had a wonderful ministry in our farm. Every day they were meeting together and worshiping and praying. People from nearby farms also joined. We saw the Holy Spirit working there and many were delivered from evil spirits. God is good. Despite lockdown we were able to go for overnight stays at the farm. When the monsoon rains began we had to stop as our farm was inundated with water flowing into our farm from the surround farms. The crops were submerged in water. The four families living there faced difficulties due to water seeping into their houses. In spite of power failures, being cut off from people and phone communication they all survived the ordeal. Now the rains have reduced. Praising God for their survival skills and God’s goodness.

All our staff are doing fine. They are still meeting everyday over the phone for prayers and sharing. It looks like that they were able to grow in their prayer life, Thank God that all our staff were kept safe and healthy.

Melissa, our daughter helped as a volunteer in a Christian Camp in Florida this summer. She is a hard and sincere worker. The camp director appreciated her work. After completing her time at the camp she visited her friends in NC and SC. We are so thankful for David Lanzer who provided a car so she could travel for a week to see her friends. She will return to her college in Kansas this week. This will be her final year.

We both are doing fine. God willing if travel is open we would like to come to USA in September. We would like to meet you. Kindly pray that this pandemic will not affect our travel.

We are really very thankful for your support and prayers for us. Some of you called us and some have written to us to encourage us in our hard time. Thank you so much for your friendship and partnership in the ministry. Continue to pray for us.

Yours in his Grace,

A. and S. M.

The post August 2021 A. M. Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

I don’t know how we got this far without letting you know that we are leaving for Rwanda in 2 days! I guess we’ve been busy preparing, but we’re sorry we haven’t sent you an update lately. We fly out of Wichita at 2:30 this Thursday. We will arrive in Kigali at 7:05 pm on Friday.

We are also thankful that we’ve been able to see many of you “in Zoom” and in person this past year. Your love and support mean the world to us. Thank you for being on our team, working together with us toward what God is doing in Rwanda (and her neighbors) right now!

We’d love for you to join us in prayer for a few specific things if you would:

1. That God would provide for our Rwandan Pastors and friends during this current surge of COVID-19 cases and lockdowns. They are struggling.
2. That God would also provide for us as we return in the middle of this surge – so many logistics have to work out in order for us to be able to get back home and start settling in.
3. For God’s mercy on us as we travel with young kids and lots of stuff. It’s a lot, but we will do our best to trust him every step of the way

We look forward to the next time we can see you again, and we are really looking forward to being where God has called us!

In his Love,

Brad & Chelsea

Sarai, Gideon, and Ian

The post July 2021 Carpenter Family Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Each year we prepare an annual report for the representatives of those yearly meetings/regions that meet during the summer. We call it the “Summer Update.” Through this post we are sharing the EFM Summer 2021 Update.

We are sharing this report with you because of your interest in and support for the ministries of EFM. We pray that the report will not only help to keep you informed but that it will also be helpful to you in praying and giving. There is an important announcement on the first page of this report that reminds us that missions is not just about praying and giving, however. It’s also about going! May you be open to the ways in which the Lord is leading you to be part of the answer to the prayer for more workers in his harvest fields.

Click here to read.

The post EFM Summer 2021 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Dear EFM partners,

I have some very exciting news to share with you! After a long and thorough search process, the EFM Board has asked Stan Leach to join the EFM team as our new Executive Director. I’m sure that Stan is no stranger to many of you. He has served the Friends Church for many years in several different capacities, as a missionary in Guatemala and Honduras, the General Superintendent of EFC Southwest, and as a member of the EFM Board. Most recently Stan has served as President and Founder of Equipping Leader Ministries, Inc. Stan brings a wealth of ministry experience and expertise to this role. More importantly, the Board believes that Stan is a man of great character who loves the Lord and His Church and who is uniquely called to lead EFM at this time.

Stan joins a great team, which includes Dan Cammack (Field Director) and Matt Macy (Director of Mobilization), a very gifted and devoted support staff, and not least of all, our missionaries on the field. I know that many of you have been praying for the Board as we have gone through this search process. Thank you. I believe God has been faithful to answer those prayers by leading us to a place of great confidence and genuine unity.

Please pray for Stan and his wife, Sandi, as he steps into this new role. He will officially begin on August 1. I know he is anxious to get started; and I am very excited to see how God continues to use EFM to make disciples of Jesus and gather them into churches all around the world in this next chapter of ministry.

Rusty Savage

Board Chair

The post Special Announcement first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

1. Kathurani Friends, Nuwakot: Two people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
2. Amptar Friends, Nuwakot: Nine new believers took a public testimony of baptism. There are three home cell groups as well as a group that prays every morning in the church an hour.
3. Darbung Friends, Gorkha: Two people have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Eight new believers took a public testimony of baptism and now 11 house churches are being conducted.
4. Kathmandu Friends: There are a couple new believers added. All the ministry is online. Through online ministry, many new people are reaching out the gospel in and out of Nepal. We conducted a Pastors and Leaders Seminar on the theme of “I am a Gardener.” We also distributed relief food packages for 70 families who lost their jobs because businesses have closed down and labor work is unavailable. Thankfully the local church members provided funds.
5. Kathmandu Regional Meeting: Just one day before lockdown was imposed, Kathmandu Regional meeting had been held in Saurah, Chitwan.
6. COVID relief packages have been provided to 101 families.

1. Kuleni Friends, Nawalpur: Started church building by faith, little by little, the land is donated by its Pastor Jit Narayan.
2. Relief Packages: In partnership with EFM funds, they distributed Rice to 35 families.
3. Evangelization and Fellowship: Despite the COVID Pandemic, they had evangelism programs and fellowship.

1. Eight people took a public testimony of baptism.
2. Tapariya Friends, Bardiya: Church building completed to some extent. They can gather together and have fellowship without getting scorched by the sun or getting wet by rainfall.
3. Surkhet Friends, Surkhet: Started church building by faith. The land is donated by its Pastor, Amrit Sunar.
4. COVID relief packages were distributed to 110 families.

1. COVID Relief: With the funds from EFM, Bhandara Friends and Jhurjhure Friends, they have distributed relief food packages to 334 families.
2. Ministry: All the ministry is being held physically in person and online.

1. Weekly regular fellowships are being conducted via zoom due to COVID-19 Pandemic.
2. Blood Donation Program had been held as a yearly event on Good Friday. They distributed relief food packages to 49 families in this province.

1. Physical and online ministry due to COVID.
2. COVID relief packages provided to 15 families

During the lockdown, due to COVID 19 pandemic, we are continuing to conduct physical classes. One of the students went through many problems and we all were at risk of transmitting the sickness, but by the divine grace of God we all are safe.

Worship services, youth meetings, pastors and leaders seminar, prayer meetings, combined worship services, healing prayers, evangelism, etc. took place via Zoom, Facebook live, YouTube, and Messenger.

1. Gospel sharing by various ways and church growth holistically.
2. Gorkha’s Pastor Rudra Dawadi’s resettlement and Parkhal Friends members resettlement due to flood and landslide.
3. Protection of Associate Pastor Adam Subedi’s home from landslides.
4. Complete recovery of COVID positive pastors and leaders and believers, so that there will be no post COVID symptoms.
5. To plant new churches and cell groups in all provinces.
6. For provision and finances for church buildings to be completed soon. For more church building to be rebuilt as members increased in number and more new church buildings to begin build.
7. Pastors and evangelists’ financial needs for their children’s school fees. Let God open the ways for finance, so that they will not be distracting from their call and vision because of physical and financial needs.

If you would like to support the ministry of EFC-Nepal, you can:

• Give online to EFC-Nepal here. Please make sure to note that you would like your gift designated to EFC-Nepal.
• You can give by credit card over the phone at 303-421-8100.
• You can mail a check marked with EFC-Nepal designation to EFM, PO Box 771139, Wichita KS 67277.

The post April-June 2021 EFC-Nepal Report first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

As we sit here writing this update, we are so filled with gratitude. God has been abundantly faithful, and we are so very thankful. The newest member of our family, Benjamin Henry, entered our lives on June 11^th, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. As we anticipated his birth, there were quite a few unknowns—we did not know if he was a boy or girl, how the rest of the family would respond to him, or when he would even come. But we looked ahead with joyful anticipation. And as soon as he was born, we were all so full of rejoicing (even our daughter who was set on having a little sister). When we came home from the hospital we were welcomed in with balloons and sidewalk chalk and the sweetest little five faces waiting to meet their newest brother. As a parent there cannot be much more that fills your heart than moments like this. Thank you for each of your prayers, we are so very thankful!

As we reflect on that time of waiting (sometimes not so patiently – especially for Mom as the due date came and went and went and went) it reminds us so much of the rest of life and ministry. There are so many unknowns, so many questions that we have yet to get answered. Those times of anticipation and waiting can be challenging and overwhelming, but even in the waiting, God is there. We do not have to have the answers or all the details. And we know that just like when Benjamin finally made his appearance, and we were all so filled with joy, God is so full of joy when we rest in him and trust him during the times of waiting. Now, we have a time of waiting on paperwork to return, and a time of waiting for those we serve to come to know Jesus. And just like with Benjamin, we know that there will be great rejoicing and we long for the day when our friends and neighbors will enter into the family of God.

The post July 2021 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

In Bardia we got involved in an electric welding project to make “Contactless Hand Washing Stations” which are in great demand these days in all the offices, banks, schools/colleges, hotels and shopping places. We continue to be involved in a Bio-Sand Filter Project in Bardia.

Please pray for our son Prateek Joshua who is currently living in Newberg, Oregon. We just heard that his status for the next year at George Fox University is safe for the second year in the Honors program as the college has decided to provide hybrid courses for all their international students. He unfortunately could not move anywhere for the summer due to travel restrictions (domestic and international) and, not having a job, he had to stay put in the accommodation provided by the college. He is 21 years old this month and we thank God for him and all the people who are involved in encouraging him by talking to him or sending gifts during these lonely days in the summer as he waits for college to re-open in September.

Samson & Priscilla

The post July 2020 Retnaraj Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

As a believer of Christ, I do believe that my Lord is always with me and I am not a helpless person. He is always there to help me in any kind of need. He listens to our prayer and answers our prayer.

In April and May, we could do anything except for a prayer and telephone ministry. The whole country was on lockdown. We could not visit any field or any house. But, our prayer time increased. We prayed personally, with local believers and through the telephone.

In the month of June, the lockdown relaxed a little and we could start our church services, though the attendance was very limited. In the beginning of the month it was only ten and by the end of the month it became twenty-five. Now in the month of July, it fifty are back attending. I praise God for his wonderful blessings.

We give thanks to God that none of us have been affected by the Coronavirus in these three months.

During this time, we also had two Zoom meetings with our staff. The meetings were fruitful and we are blessed by the fellowship with each other.

During this lockdown period we gave some rations to our church people and the poor people of the church areas. We provided rice, puffed rice, lentils, oil, salt packets, soap, etc.

We have a brother in our church named Raju Ekka. He is a driver and he has a license to go to any place with his vehicle during the lockdown period. I was thinking and praying about how to get the money to different places for relief work. I shared this problem with my church members and Raju offered himself for the task. I gave him the money and the list and he did the job quickly and faithfully. I thank God for his willingness to serve the Lord on behalf of our church in this time of emergency.

Phani Bhusan Dutta is a victorious believer of Jesus Christ. He is 86 years old. In 2018, he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior and took a public testimony of baptism at Kolkata Friends Church. Then, the other household members became believers. I have visited this family and shared the Good News with them. Dan Cammack has also visited the family. Unfortunately, during the lockdown period, I could not visit the family.

At the end of June, the family called me and said that Phani Bhusan Dutta had Coronavirus. The hospital staff came and took him to a hospital. We were spellbound.

Immediately, I informed all my church members to pray for this man. Everybody knew about him and started praying. Everyday they were asking, “How is he?”

We were not getting any information from the hospital, as no one was allowed to visit patients; our prayer was deeper and deeper.

On a Friday, the hospital informed them that Phani Bhusan Dutta was okay, but the senior doctor would still be coming to check on him the next day. If the doctor certified him, then he would be released. We were happy but we did not stop praying.

On Saturday, the senior doctor came, checked him, and released him to go home. There was a flood of joy in the family and also locally. We were all very happy.

Sunday, in our worship service, we offered a very special thanks to our Lord for this wonderful healing. The doctor had said that because of Phani Bhusan Dutta’s age, it was impossible to be healed. But he was healed; it was a miracle!

We know our God is a wonder working God. All glory to him.

I thank you, our friends, for your sincere prayers for our mission. God bless you all.

Yours in Christ,

D K Sarkar

West Bengal, India

The post July 2020 Sarkar Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.