Luther Meier, MVI Vice-President-at-Large, shares his testimony courtesy of Influence Living
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•Luther Meier Shares His Testimony
Luther Meier, MVI Vice-President-at-Large, shares his testimony courtesy of Influence Living
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When Choices Really Tear Us Up Inside
Article submitted by Brad and Camie Matlack, Field Coordinators in Kenya A 32-year old lady has been sharing her dream since the day we met her. As we studied God’s Word together in a ladies’ Bible group, her prayers were consistent. She just wanted to FINISH school! Without even a primary education, this dream appeared [...]
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Growing and growing in the Marshall Islands!
Article submitted by Steve & Shawn Clark, Field Coordinators in the Marshall Islands We are seeing so many changes in the lives of people in Majuro and in the church. One of the areas under going change is our children’s department at Majuro English Assembly (MEA) headed up by Edna our Christian Education Coordinator. Edna [...]
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Article submitted by Elisabeth Elliott, Field Specialist in Nicaragua We’re 3 months into school, and we have settled in to about as much of a “normal” routine as we will this first year. We celebrated International Book Day here last week by dressing up as our favorite book characters and visiting the library. I can’t [...]
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Renutrition Center in Nicaragua
Brenda Rose Opener from Harborside Christian Church on Vimeo.
Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Luther Meier Shares His Testimony
Wednesday, May 8th, 2013When Choices Really Tear Us Up Inside
Monday, May 6th, 2013Article submitted by Brad and Camie Matlack, Field Coordinators in Kenya
A 32-year old lady has been sharing her dream since the day we met her. As we studied God’s Word together in a ladies’ Bible group, her prayers were consistent. She just wanted to FINISH school! Without even a primary education, this dream appeared lofty to the rest of the ladies. Yet, we PRAYED together!
One day she arrived with complete JOY! An aunt had offered to pay the fees for her to complete her high school degree. We were all amazed at God’s faithfulness! We knelt in our thanksgiving together.
She walked over 5 miles each day over a very hilly road to get to school. She worked at one of her aunt’s businesses in the evenings to repay her for the school fees. And she smiled!
But one day, she arrived at our center – right away, we knew something was wrong. She should have been in school at that time! Through her tears and brokenness, she shared. The night before, her aunt had met her and guided her to the bar instead of the business she had been working at. There, they met a man. The aunt had promised Stella to him as a prostitute for the night. As Stella reeled back in shock, the aunt looked on in surprise. “How did you think you were going to pay for your school? You are beautiful – we can’t waste your beauty!”
Stella left the bar. Left her dreams behind. That night, she read and reread her Bible. No matter how strong her desire for an education, she remained strong. She called her aunt and cancelled her schooling.
Her story has grabbed my heart. Following GOD, following TRUTH is no joke! Stella inspires me to pursue GOD in new, committed and deeper ways!
To read more about the Matlacks’ ministry in Kenya, follow their blog!
Growing and growing in the Marshall Islands!
Friday, May 3rd, 2013Article submitted by Steve & Shawn Clark, Field Coordinators in the Marshall Islands
We are seeing so many changes in the lives of people in Majuro and in the church. One of the areas under going change is our children’s department at Majuro English Assembly (MEA) headed up by Edna our Christian Education Coordinator. Edna and Shawn have been working together to put in place a new curriculum and transform the children’s department. Since they kicked off the new program, the place has been packed. Now we are going to have to expand the children’s area soon. What a great problem to have. The children’s ministry is growing and growing.
A couple of months ago we kicked off the new program in our main service to give the parents a taste of what is happening in our children’s ministry. On that day 44 volunteers signed up to be a part of the program. Edna divided them up into 4 teams to work with the children. They then took the leaders and have been training them to lead the teams.
It is going to be awesome. They have been trained in puppets, drama, object lessons, teaching and leading children’s ministry. Please keep our children’s ministry team in your prayers. Soon we will begin mobile outreaches and a feeding program for children. We thank God for what He is doing among the children here in Majuro, Marshall Islands.
Library Books for Nicaragua
Wednesday, May 1st, 2013Article submitted by Elisabeth Elliott, Field Specialist in Nicaragua
We’re 3 months into school, and we have settled in to about as much of a “normal” routine as we will this first year. We celebrated International Book Day here last week by dressing up as our favorite book characters and visiting the library. I can’t say I’ve really ever cared much about International Book Day before, but in a country where there is so little access to books, it certainly took on a new significance. I have taken for granted how much books have shaped my life: they have taken me on journeys around the world, they have ignited passions, and maybe more than anything, books have given me the images that define my faith. We are really excited to be able to offer a lending library to our students, something very rare in Nicaragua, and it has been exciting to see them devour book after book.
On that note, if you are interested in helping us stock our library, we have access to a shipping container that ships at the end of May. Follow these instructions if you are interested in donating new or used Spanish language books.
- Scour your community for Spanish books, set up a collection box at your church or in your small group.
- Once the box is full. Make a list of all of the book titles packed in the box and write a letter to Susan Hall stating that these books are a donation for Nicaragua Christian Academy. Print the inventory and the donation letter and put them in the box.
- Send an email to Susan Hall at hsprincipal@nca.edu.ni and cfranklin@nca.edu.ni with an electronic copy of the letter and the box inventory attached.
- Mail the books to the following address. NOTE: If you send the box with USPS get delivery confirmation. Last year many books were lost and never recovered by USPS.
- Nicaragua Christian Academy c/o TAN Cargo Edgard Toruño 7215 NW 41st St. Bay E Miami, FL 33166 305-470-9730 Contact person at TAN Cargo: Edgard Toruño
Ship the books to the freight forwarder in time for them to arrive by May 31, 2012.
Renutrition Center in Nicaragua
Friday, April 26th, 2013Farming in Peru
Monday, April 22nd, 2013Article submitted by Joseph Tice, MVI Field Specialist in Peru
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” Psalm 34:8
We recently held a five day conference at the farm with over forty participants and their children. Two and half days were spent on instruction related to children’s ministry, which was taught by putting the adults through the program that would be used for a children’s camp, so that they were able to experience some methods for working with kids. This portion was taught by a group of teachers from Lima, Peru. The other two and a half days were used for training on cacao (chocolate bean) which most of the participants have already planted or are about to plant. Once in production, cacao will be their main cash crop.
Last month, I went to visit the farms of the leaders we work with that live in remote communities. We monitored the progress of the cacao project and conducted informal interviews to gather information so we can begin to work on customized food security plans for each family. A food security plan helps families determine how they are going to produce the right food in the right proportions in order to have a balanced diet all year. It was encouraging to hear the ideas and initiative that some of the leaders already have in this area. It was also exciting to see the impact the cacao project is having. The people we are working with directly are using what they have learned to help others within their communities to start orchards of their own. Our hope is that the same thing will happen with the food security plan initiative. We visited a total of six leaders in five different communities.
Prayer Points:
- Pray for Joseph Tice as he trains and recruits more leaders in remote communities
- Pray for the current leaders to have wisdom and creativity
- Pray for more educators and leaders to help with this outreach
- Pray that this farming program will open more doors to the Gospel
Be part of God’s pioneer soul-winning work in Fiji!
Friday, April 19th, 2013Article submitted by the MVAustralia Office
If you’re at all interested in introducing people to the Gospel in the most unreached places in the world, then read on. Last December, Nicolette Morris from MVA and our field coordinator in Fiji, Ben Tui, hiked into the Fijian mountains around the Navua River. With them was Tuks, a young Christian man who knows the area very well. In this area are many villages where the people don’t know Christ.
Tuks knows all the chiefs in this area. Nicolette, Tuks and Ben came back from their trek excited about the possibilities for outreach there. They want to train and take in a team of young Fijians to further open the way into the villages of the Navua River region.
Nicolette Morris will go back to Fiji in May (26 April – 9 May) to train a team of up to 10 Fijians. They will be trained in prayer, devotions, worship, listening to God and spiritual warfare. Then they will trek into the upper Navua River region visiting villages, taking in medical & school supplies, and praying over the people to prepare the way for a soul harvest.
Please understand the team may not be doing outright evangelism at this stage. (Although if opportunities arise, they’ll take them!) They are going in to build relationships with the local people and open doors for future trips where the Gospel can be shared. This is evangelism in its earliest stages. This is not a quick fix. This is about building up God’s Kingdom.
MVAustralia has been working in Fiji for 10 years. Now there’s a door opening in a new area of Fiji. We’re in it for the long term – for as many more years as it takes to get a pastor established and a church built in the upper Navua River region.
This is about groundbreaking evangelism and we’re looking for faithful partners who will support this with prayer and finances. The way is opening and I’m asking you to be part of it at these very earliest stages.
If you can contribute $60, $100 or even $300, then:
- Your gift will help raise up a group of young on-fire Fijian disciples
- Your gift will start to open the way into the upper Navua River region so thousands of unreached Fijians get the chance to hear about and accept Jesus Christ in future
- Your gift will support this pioneer evangelism model that we hope to use in trips planned to SE Asia, Malaysia and Northern Territory in Australia. The end goal – more souls won for Christ!
You can give your gift by calling the Missionary Ventures Australia office (03) 9872 5114. Or you can give online by visiting www.mvaustralia.org and clicking on the orange Donate button on the home page. Thank you so much for your generosity.
Remembering Julie and Timmy Kurrle
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
I will never forget the day I received the phone call that knocked me to my knees. Linda and I, along with the MVI family, were broken hearted when Norberto and his two-year-old daughter were in a terrible car accident that took the life of his wife and young son. Below is Norb’s recent blog.
“One year ago this month my life changed forever. I still wish so badly that I could go back to my former life, connected to Julie and Timothy. I struggle, I wrestle, but at the same time I’m aware I have to embrace and accept the new life God is giving me. It’s so easy to think we’re in control, and life as we know it will last forever, nobody lives expecting tragedy. We avoid it. But there is an appointed time. This alone should give us direction and purpose. In Julie’s ten years in Paraguay, she saw the fruit of her labor for the Lord.
- The Christian Radio station which Julie administrated became self supportive and put into capable hands.
- Timothy gave his heart to the Lord at age five while driving back from Asuncion.
- Esther Anahi came to us after two years of waiting and paper work. One more orphan in a loving home.
- The Christian Bible school was inaugurated with 5 full time and 20 part time students training to become Christian leaders.
Today I admit healing is taking place. The pain has subsided, and I am beginning to hope, to create new habits. I’m enjoying my little Anahi, who still prays for her mommy, with no prompting, looks up to heaven and says, “Mommy.” I’m thankful for my sister who has been by my side since the accident. I thank God for each one of you within the MVI family who prayed for me. You are one reason I am standing here today. One side of me wants to go back to my former life with Julie and Timmy. Another side of me wants to live again and hope and dream, aware that I have been given another chance to live and make the most of it. I pray I can be faithful to the end and God can turn these ashes into beauty.”
This is your Missionary Ventures. Thank you for your prayers and gifts of support as we continue the huge task of going to the ends of the earth with the Gospel. May we all be faithful and live as Julie and Timothy did being conformed into the image of Jesus.
May your ashes be turned into beauty,
Glen P. Dubois, President Missionary Ventures International
… and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. Isaiah 61:3
Advent Mission Team to Nicaragua
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013Article submitted by Mike and Lauren Deibert, Field Coordinators in Nicaragua
A few weeks ago, we got to host a team of young ladies from my (Lauren’s) home church, Advent, and a partner school, Restoration Academy. In a complete understatement, I’ll say that Mike and I were impressed with and humbled by them. They were so willing to do whatever task we set before them. We visited Tesoros de Dios (a school for disabled children) and played with children and helped with therapy. We got to visit Matagalpa, where we saw our very own Elisabeth Elliott in her new role as teacher at NCA Matagalpa. Then the ladies painted a bit of ESVO’s school building and tried their hand at blacksmithing. We got the chance to hear from the ladies of Nueva Imagen and work on a craft with them as we talked about our God and our lives. The last day was spent in Los Brasiles, loving on children and praying in the community. More than anything, these young ladies (much thanks to the leaders they brought with them) understood that God wants us to learn and serve in relationship; they grasped that they, like our Nicaraguan friends, are sinners saved by grace on a journey that is tough, but completely in His hands. Thank you, Advent and Restoration Academy, for walking with us! You are a blessing.
Adriana Returns to the Renutrition Center
Monday, April 15th, 2013Article submitted by Brenda Rose, Field Coordinator in Nicaragua
Renutrition Center/Clinic Update
Thank you for all the prayers for the Renutrition Center. God has been answering them and opening doors. As I have stated before, I sure wish He would send me an email to let me know what He has in mind. I know what I would like to do, but not sure what His plan is. I am certain though that He doesn’t want to see children suffering.
We had a new addition at the Center. Adriana came to us for the 3rd time. She originally came to us when she was 2-years-old with such a bad case of parasites she had to have surgery to remove them. She recovered in the Center when it was at the Matagalpa site. Now she has returned at 6-years-old and is only 20 pounds! She is nothing but bones. I held her when we took her to a specialist, and she couldn’t even hold her head up. She just flopped her head on my shoulder. She had no strength to do anything, but she wanted to play. She remembered the play room from when she was here before and she wanted to get back in to play with the other children. Adriana didn’t understand that she needed to be stronger in order to play. The next day when I went back to see her she was sitting in the play room with a pillow on her chair and coloring a picture in a coloring book. She was so happy to be back playing.
I know that Adriana and her parents would appreciate your prayers for her quick and full recovery.
To help children like Adriana recover from severe malnutrition and other related ailments, please click here and use the MVI Gift Catalog to sponsor a child in one of MVI’s Renutrition Centers.