The Shrivnauth Family to Guyana
The beginning of the year began with uncertainty in the world with many news events about the corona virus and the outcome of the U.S. election. Our son-in-law and daughter, Joshua and Natalie Aaron, are on deputation to go to South Africa as missionaries. They wanted to go on a survey trip, but were not sure that things would open up for them to travel there. If it did, they were hoping to bring their two little daughters to Guyana for us to care for them while they would be away on the trip. The Guyana trip did not work out due to airline and corona virus restrictions.
At the last moment things to South Africa opened for them to travel. With little time for us to plan, we quickly booked tickets to go to Texas to care or our two granddaughters. It took us a couple of days to iron out all the confusing and cumbersome details to travel to the U.S. We praise the Lord we made it, and Joshua and Natalie went to South Africa via Ethiopia because London was closed to overseas airline traffic. They had a great time seeing South Africa, winning souls, as well as visiting several missionary families. While they were in South Africa God spoke to them about the city of Durban. They believe God has called them to work in that city among people of many ethnic backgrounds. We are very happy to have children who are following the missionary call to the nations. By the way, we were there during the deep freeze in Texas. We are quite happy to be back in the warm tropics of Guyana!
While we were away for five weeks, our church in Guyana kept busy. In January through the end of February there were 52 who were saved and 2 who were baptized. Things are beginning to open up in Guyana from the lockdowns in 2020. We have many new ministries we are starting. One has to do with discipling. We will be training many new soul winners and workers for the ministries of the church. We are calling it Disciples of the Messiah training. This will take place in Sunday schools and before the Sunday and Wednesday evening services. On Saturdays we have plans to start teen soulwinning. We will pick them up, bring them to the church, have a meal and train them in different areas that pertain to teens. After this, we will take them out to win souls. We are also starting a Bible college to primarily train men for the ministry. Also, plans are being made to blanket all the nearby villages and towns with a packet from our church and with John and Romans.
Already we have started some new prayer groups. Groups of our people are praying from 6:00 to 6:10 AM for our ministry. We call this the 610 prayer group. They are praying from their homes, but we are all interceding at the Throne of Grace at the same time. We have lots of plans for 2021 and onward. Please pray for us in all these things.
With a note of encouragement: As uncertainty and fear overtake the world, we as saints must not be moved – see II Peter 3:17. Thinking about our God, there is no uncertainty, limit or expiration date on His love for us (Rom. 8:38-39). With all the world throws at us and offers us, we are more than conquerors. We are accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6) as joint heirs (Rom. 8:17). His love will not spoil. This assurance will not fade. His crown is forever (Ps. 2:6-7), and His kingdom will outlast the last of those on earth (Dan. 2:44). To this we can solemnly bow and rejoice without fear of reprisal (Lk.12:32; Rev. 12:12).
In Christ Jesus the Anchor holds,
The Shrivnauth family
Noel, Charlene, Rydal, Gretel, Elsie and Nolan
The Shrivnauth Family
PO Box 9
Harrison, TN 37341
Ph #: 570-837-3693
Email: singwenoel@gmail.com
The beginning of the year began with uncertainty in the world with many news events about the corona virus and the outcome of the U.S. election. Our son-in-law and daughter, Joshua and Natalie Aaron, are on deputation to go to South Africa as missionaries. They wanted to go on a survey trip, but were not sure that things would open up for them to travel there. If it did, they were hoping to bring their two little daughters to Guyana for us to care for them while they would be away on the trip. The Guyana trip did not work out due to airline and corona virus restrictions.
At the last moment things to South Africa opened for them to travel. With little time for us to plan, we quickly booked tickets to go to Texas to care or our two granddaughters. It took us a couple of days to iron out all the confusing and cumbersome details to travel to the U.S. We praise the Lord we made it, and Joshua and Natalie went to South Africa via Ethiopia because London was closed to overseas airline traffic. They had a great time seeing South Africa, winning souls, as well as visiting several missionary families. While they were in South Africa God spoke to them about the city of Durban. They believe God has called them to work in that city among people of many ethnic backgrounds. We are very happy to have children who are following the missionary call to the nations. By the way, we were there during the deep freeze in Texas. We are quite happy to be back in the warm tropics of Guyana!
While we were away for five weeks, our church in Guyana kept busy. In January through the end of February there were 52 who were saved and 2 who were baptized. Things are beginning to open up in Guyana from the lockdowns in 2020. We have many new ministries we are starting. One has to do with discipling. We will be training many new soul winners and workers for the ministries of the church. We are calling it Disciples of the Messiah training. This will take place in Sunday schools and before the Sunday and Wednesday evening services. On Saturdays we have plans to start teen soulwinning. We will pick them up, bring them to the church, have a meal and train them in different areas that pertain to teens. After this, we will take them out to win souls. We are also starting a Bible college to primarily train men for the ministry. Also, plans are being made to blanket all the nearby villages and towns with a packet from our church and with John and Romans.
Already we have started some new prayer groups. Groups of our people are praying from 6:00 to 6:10 AM for our ministry. We call this the 610 prayer group. They are praying from their homes, but we are all interceding at the Throne of Grace at the same time. We have lots of plans for 2021 and onward. Please pray for us in all these things.
With a note of encouragement: As uncertainty and fear overtake the world, we as saints must not be moved – see II Peter 3:17. Thinking about our God, there is no uncertainty, limit or expiration date on His love for us (Rom. 8:38-39). With all the world throws at us and offers us, we are more than conquerors. We are accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6) as joint heirs (Rom. 8:17). His love will not spoil. This assurance will not fade. His crown is forever (Ps. 2:6-7), and His kingdom will outlast the last of those on earth (Dan. 2:44). To this we can solemnly bow and rejoice without fear of reprisal (Lk.12:32; Rev. 12:12).
In Christ Jesus the Anchor holds,
The Shrivnauth family
Noel, Charlene, Rydal, Gretel, Elsie and Nolan
The Shrivnauth Family
PO Box 9
Harrison, TN 37341
Ph #: 570-837-3693
Email: singwenoel@gmail.com
The Owens Family to Bulgaria
We thank the Lord for the 3 souls (Rozen, Emilia and Maria) who recently accepted Jesus as their Savior. Rozen and Emilia are planning to get baptized next week. We also have 3 new students taking our Bible institute course.
Some have asked about my recovery from back surgery last year. It has been a year since the surgery and praise the Lord I am completely recovered. As expected, I am still slightly limited in some activities, but overall happy with the results.
A big thanks to all those who have helped with the funds for the purchase of property for our church in Fakuteta, Sofia. To date, we have raised $31,500. We made an offer on one property, however our offer was not accepted, so we are again searching. I feel like we are at a better position now to make a serious offer, but we will still need around $13,500 plus closing cost. We have seen God’s hand at work and are confident that God has the right place for us.
We have experienced a great spirit in the church among the young people whom we have led to the Lord and baptized over the past 2 years. It is such a great encouragement and brings us much joy to see them grow in the Lord.
Thank-you for your specific prayers for the following young couples God has allowed us to influence through the church. Martin and Aleksandra; Mladen and Ani; Trajcho and Emi; Tsetsi and Kristina; Toni and Gabi; Trajcho and Tanya; Isak and Toni; Tsvetko and Maria; and recently saved Rozen and Emilia. We are at war with the devil in a dark place. Praise the Lord we are on the winning side and our prayers are being answered. Thank-you for your faithful support.
Serving for Jesus,
The Owens Family
The Owens Family
PO Box 1861
Pacifica, CA 94044
Ph#: 410-202-8845
Email: owensbulgaria@gmail.com
We thank the Lord for the 3 souls (Rozen, Emilia and Maria) who recently accepted Jesus as their Savior. Rozen and Emilia are planning to get baptized next week. We also have 3 new students taking our Bible institute course.
Some have asked about my recovery from back surgery last year. It has been a year since the surgery and praise the Lord I am completely recovered. As expected, I am still slightly limited in some activities, but overall happy with the results.
A big thanks to all those who have helped with the funds for the purchase of property for our church in Fakuteta, Sofia. To date, we have raised $31,500. We made an offer on one property, however our offer was not accepted, so we are again searching. I feel like we are at a better position now to make a serious offer, but we will still need around $13,500 plus closing cost. We have seen God’s hand at work and are confident that God has the right place for us.
We have experienced a great spirit in the church among the young people whom we have led to the Lord and baptized over the past 2 years. It is such a great encouragement and brings us much joy to see them grow in the Lord.
Thank-you for your specific prayers for the following young couples God has allowed us to influence through the church. Martin and Aleksandra; Mladen and Ani; Trajcho and Emi; Tsetsi and Kristina; Toni and Gabi; Trajcho and Tanya; Isak and Toni; Tsvetko and Maria; and recently saved Rozen and Emilia. We are at war with the devil in a dark place. Praise the Lord we are on the winning side and our prayers are being answered. Thank-you for your faithful support.
Serving for Jesus,
The Owens Family
The Owens Family
PO Box 1861
Pacifica, CA 94044
Ph#: 410-202-8845
Email: owensbulgaria@gmail.com
The Navato Family to the U.S. Military in Japan
Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Truly, the LORD is good! HE blesses Maranatha Baptist Church (MBC) and Maranatha Baptist Academy (MBA). MBA high school grads Itsuke-san and Taku-san recently flew to Pensacola Christian College. MBA has 44 enrolled students. We praise GOD for the promotions, re enlistments, awards, and honors for our MBC members. Brother Brenden re-enlisted for four more years in the USMC. The Saskowski family dedicated their new home to CHRIST. The Collazo family dedicated their newborn Eschelle to CHRIST. Brother Alex was awarded the USAF 18th Wing First Sergeant of the Year. Pray for our members who are in the field here in Okinawa and those deployed in other countries. Pray for their families too.
Truly, the LORD is so good! HE allows us to go forward. In January, we started our annual ministries training for volunteers and recruited others for Sunday School, Soul Winning, Bus Ministry, and other ministries. We are currently conducting pre-marital Biblical counseling sessions for 3 pairs of MBC members! Pray for Anthony and Rhenalyn, Kade and Fatima, and Aldrin and Eden to follow GOD’S directions for their futures.
JESUS still saves! Many get saved and baptized during the Sunday morning and evening preaching services. Last Wednesday evening service, Brother Anthony brought a fellow Sailor, Immanuel, a first-time visitor to MBC. Brother Danny led him to CHRIST! Ms. Charity led two students in MBA! Brother Danny and Ms. Josie led first-time visitors Richard and Aki-san to CHRIST in the Sunday morning service! Ms. Precious led four of her co-teachers to CHRIST, near her workplace! The men or boys preach in the last Sunday evening service of the month. Brother Adam preached. He was a single Marine when he first visited MBC about 15 years ago. He came back to MBC with his family! Brother Damien and family re-joined MBC by statement of faith. They were here in MBC three years ago. Many prior MBC Okinawa members come back!
We continue to have our annual Missions Conference. Pray for the MBC “March for Missions!” Pray for more souls to be saved, baptized, discipled, and surrendered to US Military Missions more so than ever before. Pray to the LORD of the harvest to send more laborers in MBC. We praise the LORD JESUS CHRIST for allowing us unworthy sinners to be HIS servants in World Missions. For more information, search in technology. Simply type “BIMI Ed & Elvie Navato” For financial support, send to: BIMI Ed Navato (account 1248), P.O. BOX 9 Harrison, TN. 37341.
Your missionaries to the US Military in the Island of
Okinawa,
Ed and Elvie Navato
Ed & Elvie Navato
PO Box 9
Harrison, TN 37341
Email: nav2japan@gmail.com
Nahum 1:7 “The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.” Truly, the LORD is good! HE blesses Maranatha Baptist Church (MBC) and Maranatha Baptist Academy (MBA). MBA high school grads Itsuke-san and Taku-san recently flew to Pensacola Christian College. MBA has 44 enrolled students. We praise GOD for the promotions, re enlistments, awards, and honors for our MBC members. Brother Brenden re-enlisted for four more years in the USMC. The Saskowski family dedicated their new home to CHRIST. The Collazo family dedicated their newborn Eschelle to CHRIST. Brother Alex was awarded the USAF 18th Wing First Sergeant of the Year. Pray for our members who are in the field here in Okinawa and those deployed in other countries. Pray for their families too.
Truly, the LORD is so good! HE allows us to go forward. In January, we started our annual ministries training for volunteers and recruited others for Sunday School, Soul Winning, Bus Ministry, and other ministries. We are currently conducting pre-marital Biblical counseling sessions for 3 pairs of MBC members! Pray for Anthony and Rhenalyn, Kade and Fatima, and Aldrin and Eden to follow GOD’S directions for their futures.
JESUS still saves! Many get saved and baptized during the Sunday morning and evening preaching services. Last Wednesday evening service, Brother Anthony brought a fellow Sailor, Immanuel, a first-time visitor to MBC. Brother Danny led him to CHRIST! Ms. Charity led two students in MBA! Brother Danny and Ms. Josie led first-time visitors Richard and Aki-san to CHRIST in the Sunday morning service! Ms. Precious led four of her co-teachers to CHRIST, near her workplace! The men or boys preach in the last Sunday evening service of the month. Brother Adam preached. He was a single Marine when he first visited MBC about 15 years ago. He came back to MBC with his family! Brother Damien and family re-joined MBC by statement of faith. They were here in MBC three years ago. Many prior MBC Okinawa members come back!
We continue to have our annual Missions Conference. Pray for the MBC “March for Missions!” Pray for more souls to be saved, baptized, discipled, and surrendered to US Military Missions more so than ever before. Pray to the LORD of the harvest to send more laborers in MBC. We praise the LORD JESUS CHRIST for allowing us unworthy sinners to be HIS servants in World Missions. For more information, search in technology. Simply type “BIMI Ed & Elvie Navato” For financial support, send to: BIMI Ed Navato (account 1248), P.O. BOX 9 Harrison, TN. 37341.
Your missionaries to the US Military in the Island of
Okinawa,
Ed and Elvie Navato
Ed & Elvie Navato
PO Box 9
Harrison, TN 37341
Email: nav2japan@gmail.com
The Holt Family to Chile
In Chilean culture, many sign up for classes at the Chile Training Center in the last 2 weeks of February. Our first trimester starts on Monday, March 1st, and we will be broadcasting classes online. These next 20 days are key. Decisions will be made that will mark eternity. Please pray!
On Sunday, February 7th, millions of Ecuadorians headed to the polls to cast their vote for Ecuador’s next president. Residents from the age of 18 to 65 are required to vote or pay a fine, but many people are eager to see a change in the presidency this year. Many have to wait for hours in long lines to throw their support behind a candidate; sadly, they will have to repeat the process in a few months. No one candidate received enough votes to be declared a winner, so the top two candidates will be heading to a runoff. The winner of the first round was a young, leftist protégée of now ex-president Rafael Correa. His name is Andrés Arauz. He is promising to increase government programs and spending on the way to boosting Ecuador’s economy. He will either be faced by a conservative rival, Guillermo Lasso, or an Indigenous environmental activist, Yaku Pérez. They will need to confirm the vote totals to see which one will be going to the runoff with Andrés Arauz.
Please be in prayer for Ecuador in this election time. We are praying that the Ecuadorians will realize that the solution for their problems is not found in a government or a president, but in the one and only God Who sent His Son to die on the cross for them.
Jason and Ashley King have been busy updating and presenting the ministry in churches throughout Georgia and Florida. They have received their youngest son Nolan’s passport and are waiting on his Argentine visa. Pray for Nolan’s paperwork to be approved soon and for the Kings as they making preparations to return to Argentina!
The Holt Family
Vision Baptist Missions
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Email: holt@biblicalmissions.com
In Chilean culture, many sign up for classes at the Chile Training Center in the last 2 weeks of February. Our first trimester starts on Monday, March 1st, and we will be broadcasting classes online. These next 20 days are key. Decisions will be made that will mark eternity. Please pray!
On Sunday, February 7th, millions of Ecuadorians headed to the polls to cast their vote for Ecuador’s next president. Residents from the age of 18 to 65 are required to vote or pay a fine, but many people are eager to see a change in the presidency this year. Many have to wait for hours in long lines to throw their support behind a candidate; sadly, they will have to repeat the process in a few months. No one candidate received enough votes to be declared a winner, so the top two candidates will be heading to a runoff. The winner of the first round was a young, leftist protégée of now ex-president Rafael Correa. His name is Andrés Arauz. He is promising to increase government programs and spending on the way to boosting Ecuador’s economy. He will either be faced by a conservative rival, Guillermo Lasso, or an Indigenous environmental activist, Yaku Pérez. They will need to confirm the vote totals to see which one will be going to the runoff with Andrés Arauz.
Please be in prayer for Ecuador in this election time. We are praying that the Ecuadorians will realize that the solution for their problems is not found in a government or a president, but in the one and only God Who sent His Son to die on the cross for them.
Jason and Ashley King have been busy updating and presenting the ministry in churches throughout Georgia and Florida. They have received their youngest son Nolan’s passport and are waiting on his Argentine visa. Pray for Nolan’s paperwork to be approved soon and for the Kings as they making preparations to return to Argentina!
The Holt Family
Vision Baptist Missions
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Email: holt@biblicalmissions.com
The Tolson Family to China and Taiwan
Last year, on Sunday, March 1st, by the grace of the Lord, we hosted the first service of our new church plant in Taiwan, Victory Baptist Church. Within the next three weeks, the USA would declare COVID-19 a national emergency, and Taiwan would bar foreign nationals from entering the country to mitigate the pandemic’s spread to the island. It was an unusual time in our world. We were unfamiliar with pandemics and uncertain about what was going to happen. Everyone dealt with unexpected situations, especially as governments started taking unprecedented actions, and the future was unknown.
It was in this environment the Lord called us to plant a new church. As many church doors were closing around the world, ours was opening, and we haven’t had to close it since. The next year would be a wild ride! We would end up moving church locations after launching in a particular area and were forced to take a two-month “visa furlough” to the States when the church plant was only five months old. But amid the chaos, Jesus started building His church; people visited the services, Bible Studies were initiated, souls were saved and discipled, and believers are growing in the Lord.
As I look back over the past year, I am in awe of what the Lord has done. I can understand a little more clearly now what the Lord was doing when it was too dim for me to understand it all. As the pandemic is still raging around the world and there are hopeful whispers of change this year, whatever the outcome, I will continue taking small steps of obedience, following God’s leading on this amazing journey.
We are excited about all God is doing and will do through this church, especially with the opportunity to purchase a building. The Lord has already provided $25,236 for the Victory Building Fund. As we go forward with this, we’ve been reminded our trust isn’t in man, but we trust God every step of the way. Will you pray with us about this? If the Lord leads you to give towards this church building fund, you can give online, www.TaiwanMinistry.org, or by sending a check to Vision Baptist Missions, PO Box 442, Alpharetta, GA 30009, with a note in the memo: “Tolson – Victory Building Fund.”
Although some are still making online services available, the situations where our team’s churches are in China has improved, and they are meeting in-person again. I am encouraged to see them making these wise decisions on their own as they seek the Lord and His guidance. Every week I have the opportunity to teach our small team of Chinese pastors on the mainland over the internet. Currently, I am teaching them verse-by-verse through Proverbs, and my teammate, Austin, is teaching them Soteriology—the study of the doctrine of salvation. One of my favorite times with them each week is to hear the “reports from Sunday” and everything that has happened since the last time we talked. I hear of their struggles in ministry and family and get to rejoice with them over the stories of God blessing them. In our last online meetup, they told of being able to meet again in-person; one of them was excited about a new visitor at church; another was recounting a story from that week of taking a group of church members out to the village to minister to some who don’t have a church near them and how someone was saved during that trip. Thank you to all who pray for and give to support and encourage these works in China!
We know that we couldn’t do anything without the help of God’s people. Thank you for giving, praying, serving, and being a part of our “China Ministry” team. We are especially fond of you! Let us continue pressing forward and keep fighting the good fight. May we strive every day to know Jesus, to be happy in Him, and to make Him known!
In His Joyful Service,
Mark Tolson
The Tolson Family to China
Vision Baptist Missions
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Email: mark@chinaministry.org
Last year, on Sunday, March 1st, by the grace of the Lord, we hosted the first service of our new church plant in Taiwan, Victory Baptist Church. Within the next three weeks, the USA would declare COVID-19 a national emergency, and Taiwan would bar foreign nationals from entering the country to mitigate the pandemic’s spread to the island. It was an unusual time in our world. We were unfamiliar with pandemics and uncertain about what was going to happen. Everyone dealt with unexpected situations, especially as governments started taking unprecedented actions, and the future was unknown.
It was in this environment the Lord called us to plant a new church. As many church doors were closing around the world, ours was opening, and we haven’t had to close it since. The next year would be a wild ride! We would end up moving church locations after launching in a particular area and were forced to take a two-month “visa furlough” to the States when the church plant was only five months old. But amid the chaos, Jesus started building His church; people visited the services, Bible Studies were initiated, souls were saved and discipled, and believers are growing in the Lord.
As I look back over the past year, I am in awe of what the Lord has done. I can understand a little more clearly now what the Lord was doing when it was too dim for me to understand it all. As the pandemic is still raging around the world and there are hopeful whispers of change this year, whatever the outcome, I will continue taking small steps of obedience, following God’s leading on this amazing journey.
We are excited about all God is doing and will do through this church, especially with the opportunity to purchase a building. The Lord has already provided $25,236 for the Victory Building Fund. As we go forward with this, we’ve been reminded our trust isn’t in man, but we trust God every step of the way. Will you pray with us about this? If the Lord leads you to give towards this church building fund, you can give online, www.TaiwanMinistry.org, or by sending a check to Vision Baptist Missions, PO Box 442, Alpharetta, GA 30009, with a note in the memo: “Tolson – Victory Building Fund.”
Although some are still making online services available, the situations where our team’s churches are in China has improved, and they are meeting in-person again. I am encouraged to see them making these wise decisions on their own as they seek the Lord and His guidance. Every week I have the opportunity to teach our small team of Chinese pastors on the mainland over the internet. Currently, I am teaching them verse-by-verse through Proverbs, and my teammate, Austin, is teaching them Soteriology—the study of the doctrine of salvation. One of my favorite times with them each week is to hear the “reports from Sunday” and everything that has happened since the last time we talked. I hear of their struggles in ministry and family and get to rejoice with them over the stories of God blessing them. In our last online meetup, they told of being able to meet again in-person; one of them was excited about a new visitor at church; another was recounting a story from that week of taking a group of church members out to the village to minister to some who don’t have a church near them and how someone was saved during that trip. Thank you to all who pray for and give to support and encourage these works in China!
We know that we couldn’t do anything without the help of God’s people. Thank you for giving, praying, serving, and being a part of our “China Ministry” team. We are especially fond of you! Let us continue pressing forward and keep fighting the good fight. May we strive every day to know Jesus, to be happy in Him, and to make Him known!
In His Joyful Service,
Mark Tolson
The Tolson Family to China
Vision Baptist Missions
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Email: mark@chinaministry.org
Sam Ward to Croatia
Greetings once again from the beautiful land of Croatia!
Something truly amazing has transpired since my last letter. The Lord has enabled me to purchase a home of my own here in beautiful Croatia, and I am so grateful to Him for it. I had outgrown my apartment a few years ago and had hoped and prayed one day the Lord would lead me to the perfect house for me, and He has. Over the past couple of years an elderly couple across the street from Brother Johnny had each passed away several months apart. Brother Johnny recently saw what looked like the children of the couple working around the house and he inquired if it might be for sale. Sure enough, they were preparing to put it on the market.
We looked at it and it was obviously the perfect place for me. The house is not big, as so many houses here are. It’s exactly the right size for me. It’s in relatively good condition, and has a number of high quality outbuildings for storage. We have enough room now to store several container loads of Bibles! That is an answer to a great need. I’m in the process of making the necessary repairs right now, and although we have encountered a few surprises along the way, all in all everything is moving in the right direction. I hope to move in within a month. I’m so excited to have a peaceful place of my own. When I first left America for Croatia eleven years ago, I truly never anticipated this would be possible. What a mighty God we serve!
We are still operating under some rather stringent COVID restrictions over here but we are hoping for some relief in April. Currently we are limited to the number of people we can have in each service, but thankfully we can still have in-person services. We are also excited about the number of people who watch our Facebook live services each week from all over the country, and in other countries as well. But, we sure are looking forward to the day when all the restrictions are gone, and we can hit the streets and start giving out Bibles all
over the country. What a glorious day that will be!
I seem to have finally made a complete recovery from COVID-19. I had some nausea and a few other crazy symptoms that hung on for months, but, Praise the Lord, those symptoms have dissipated.
Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.
Sam Ward
2212 N David Dr
Arlington, TX 76012
Ph #: 817-460-7940
Email: Sam.ward@godsavecroatia.com
Greetings once again from the beautiful land of Croatia!
Something truly amazing has transpired since my last letter. The Lord has enabled me to purchase a home of my own here in beautiful Croatia, and I am so grateful to Him for it. I had outgrown my apartment a few years ago and had hoped and prayed one day the Lord would lead me to the perfect house for me, and He has. Over the past couple of years an elderly couple across the street from Brother Johnny had each passed away several months apart. Brother Johnny recently saw what looked like the children of the couple working around the house and he inquired if it might be for sale. Sure enough, they were preparing to put it on the market.
We looked at it and it was obviously the perfect place for me. The house is not big, as so many houses here are. It’s exactly the right size for me. It’s in relatively good condition, and has a number of high quality outbuildings for storage. We have enough room now to store several container loads of Bibles! That is an answer to a great need. I’m in the process of making the necessary repairs right now, and although we have encountered a few surprises along the way, all in all everything is moving in the right direction. I hope to move in within a month. I’m so excited to have a peaceful place of my own. When I first left America for Croatia eleven years ago, I truly never anticipated this would be possible. What a mighty God we serve!
We are still operating under some rather stringent COVID restrictions over here but we are hoping for some relief in April. Currently we are limited to the number of people we can have in each service, but thankfully we can still have in-person services. We are also excited about the number of people who watch our Facebook live services each week from all over the country, and in other countries as well. But, we sure are looking forward to the day when all the restrictions are gone, and we can hit the streets and start giving out Bibles all
over the country. What a glorious day that will be!
I seem to have finally made a complete recovery from COVID-19. I had some nausea and a few other crazy symptoms that hung on for months, but, Praise the Lord, those symptoms have dissipated.
Thank you so much for all your support, whether financial, or through prayer and encouragement. Without you, this would not be possible. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing.
Sam Ward
2212 N David Dr
Arlington, TX 76012
Ph #: 817-460-7940
Email: Sam.ward@godsavecroatia.com
The Miyashita Family to Japan
Two years seems like a long time until you stop to look back. We’ve been here 2 years and two months now, and it’s about time for the next phase. Rosie took her final exams at the end of February and passed with flying colors (mostly upper 90’s on her tests) She has one final presentation and then a graduation ceremony on March 9th. Thank you for your continued prayers for her. She continues to absorb new idioms, phrases, and even makes jokes. I am blown away by her progress. Thank you to each of you who have financially and prayerfully made her studies possible. While learning the language is only part of the battle, it is a very big part, and each of you have had a hand in that.
During February, I visited Nagoya twice. In meeting with over 18 people who are in ministry positions, I spent a grand total of about 30 hours listening to what people on the front lines have to say about the city and the work there. I learned about the different needy areas and growing areas of Nagoya. Please continue to pray with us for the Lord’s direction as we pray about where in Nagoya to plant a church this fall/winter.
The state of emergency that went into effect in early January is not completely lifted yet. While all areas except the Tokyo area are not technically in a state of emergency anymore, Aichi Prefecture (where Nagoya is) has declared its own state of emergency independent of the national government that will be extended through mid-March.
We will be leaving for the U.S. in mid-March. Before that time, we will be 1) streaming the stay home church online crusade (March 8-10), 2) packing for furlough, and 3) moving out of the house we currently live in. Please pray that God will use the streaming event to stir hearts for Christ. Please listen to our podcast for details: reachingjapan.com/podcast
There are a lot of details to handle for each of these items, so we are in the middle of an especially crazy season. Please pray for us to continue to rest in Jesus and keep our focus on Him during this time. We look forward to seeing many of you soon!
Yours for Japan,
James Miyashita
James Miyashita
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Ph#: 470-278-7415
Email: james@reachingjapan.com
Two years seems like a long time until you stop to look back. We’ve been here 2 years and two months now, and it’s about time for the next phase. Rosie took her final exams at the end of February and passed with flying colors (mostly upper 90’s on her tests) She has one final presentation and then a graduation ceremony on March 9th. Thank you for your continued prayers for her. She continues to absorb new idioms, phrases, and even makes jokes. I am blown away by her progress. Thank you to each of you who have financially and prayerfully made her studies possible. While learning the language is only part of the battle, it is a very big part, and each of you have had a hand in that.
During February, I visited Nagoya twice. In meeting with over 18 people who are in ministry positions, I spent a grand total of about 30 hours listening to what people on the front lines have to say about the city and the work there. I learned about the different needy areas and growing areas of Nagoya. Please continue to pray with us for the Lord’s direction as we pray about where in Nagoya to plant a church this fall/winter.
The state of emergency that went into effect in early January is not completely lifted yet. While all areas except the Tokyo area are not technically in a state of emergency anymore, Aichi Prefecture (where Nagoya is) has declared its own state of emergency independent of the national government that will be extended through mid-March.
We will be leaving for the U.S. in mid-March. Before that time, we will be 1) streaming the stay home church online crusade (March 8-10), 2) packing for furlough, and 3) moving out of the house we currently live in. Please pray that God will use the streaming event to stir hearts for Christ. Please listen to our podcast for details: reachingjapan.com/podcast
There are a lot of details to handle for each of these items, so we are in the middle of an especially crazy season. Please pray for us to continue to rest in Jesus and keep our focus on Him during this time. We look forward to seeing many of you soon!
Yours for Japan,
James Miyashita
James Miyashita
PO Box 442
Alpharetta, GA 30009
Ph#: 470-278-7415
Email: james@reachingjapan.com
The Porterfield Family to South Sudan
What a joy it has been to step into a new year! We are excited about what God has in store for our ministry in the next 12 months. He’s already been so good, and we are grateful for His continual working in our personal lives and the life of our ministry. We greatly enjoyed the Christmas season. It was a refreshing end to a turbulent year. Beth’s Blessings, our daughter’s annual Christmas project, was also a great success. This project is helping sustain basic needs for many families in our churches in Africa along with the pastors. It is a great encouragement, and I am so thankful that Beth & Jessica continue this project year after year. With the coming of the new year, we also set aside time to outline some goals for Blind Faith Ministries to accomplish in the next 5 years. We are looking forward to sharing those with you as times goes by.
Within the next couple of months, James and Abby Baxter, the young missionary couple partnering with us in Africa, will be headed to Uganda to begin work among the South Sudanese refugees. We have been making plans and working on filling containers to be sent ahead to Africa for them. This family has a great heart for the Lord and the African people, and we are looking forward to them being able to make the transition from deputation to the field very shortly. Please pray that their departure date would not be pushed back due to COVID.
We want to thank Bro. Tom Green and Direct Line Ministries for their commitment to cracking a tough nut by getting supplies and Bibles into Venezuela. We also desire to thank Bro. Tim Carte, former missionary to Venezuela and mentor of mine, for his painstaking work to get them into the country. Only eternity will tell what his behind-the-scenes work will mean to the people of that region. Please pray that these Bibles would be used by God to help many grow in Him. Due to the vaccine now being available for COVID, we are praying that God will open up more doors for us to travel. I would like to be able to visit several of our national pastors this year as well as continue travelling within the United States to both supporting and potential supporting churches.
Once again, we are humbled and grateful for your faithful prayers & support. You all are likewise in our prayers. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with you.
In Christ,
The Porterfields
The Porterfields to South Sudan
PO Box 1102
Princeton, WV 24740
Ph #: 304-487-5551
Email: eric.e.porterfield@gmail.com
What a joy it has been to step into a new year! We are excited about what God has in store for our ministry in the next 12 months. He’s already been so good, and we are grateful for His continual working in our personal lives and the life of our ministry. We greatly enjoyed the Christmas season. It was a refreshing end to a turbulent year. Beth’s Blessings, our daughter’s annual Christmas project, was also a great success. This project is helping sustain basic needs for many families in our churches in Africa along with the pastors. It is a great encouragement, and I am so thankful that Beth & Jessica continue this project year after year. With the coming of the new year, we also set aside time to outline some goals for Blind Faith Ministries to accomplish in the next 5 years. We are looking forward to sharing those with you as times goes by.
Within the next couple of months, James and Abby Baxter, the young missionary couple partnering with us in Africa, will be headed to Uganda to begin work among the South Sudanese refugees. We have been making plans and working on filling containers to be sent ahead to Africa for them. This family has a great heart for the Lord and the African people, and we are looking forward to them being able to make the transition from deputation to the field very shortly. Please pray that their departure date would not be pushed back due to COVID.
We want to thank Bro. Tom Green and Direct Line Ministries for their commitment to cracking a tough nut by getting supplies and Bibles into Venezuela. We also desire to thank Bro. Tim Carte, former missionary to Venezuela and mentor of mine, for his painstaking work to get them into the country. Only eternity will tell what his behind-the-scenes work will mean to the people of that region. Please pray that these Bibles would be used by God to help many grow in Him. Due to the vaccine now being available for COVID, we are praying that God will open up more doors for us to travel. I would like to be able to visit several of our national pastors this year as well as continue travelling within the United States to both supporting and potential supporting churches.
Once again, we are humbled and grateful for your faithful prayers & support. You all are likewise in our prayers. We are thankful for the opportunity to partner with you.
In Christ,
The Porterfields
The Porterfields to South Sudan
PO Box 1102
Princeton, WV 24740
Ph #: 304-487-5551
Email: eric.e.porterfield@gmail.com
