updates!

There's a lot going on, and instead of talking about all of it, I feel like I should just put the prayer/planning/physical needs out there, and then you know and are praying and are with us!

If you haven't read our most recent EBS update, you can here!...some neat testimonies of what our students were up to over Easter break!

1) Graduation is in three weeks...which means these are crazy days of wrapping up classes, getting ready for graduation, final exams, thanksgiving services, fourth year banquet, another IWU Master's program, 50th anniversary concerts...Whew!  

We are grading and planning and preparing like crazy, and meanwhile I'm so blessed to be talking to students this week, and at student dinner last night, about all the many ways God used them over Easter break, the many mission fields they are feeling called to this summer, and even the ministries they are heading into after graduation.  It's GOOD work.

Please be praying for the 13 men and women graduating and heading out into full-time ministry, well-equipped and READY.

2) Our calendar's a little nuts. 

Pray for everybody approaching Graduation, on May 12th.

Pray for Matt the end of May as he heads to Russia to come alongside Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary for their graduation and to meet and encourage some of the men and women we've been praying for for many years along with the honorable reverend doctor Harold. For years we've had our students hearing about and praying for their students, and this is going to be a special time!

Pray for Matt mid-June as he heads to One Mission Society HQ in Indiana for a week of IMAC, International Ministry Action Committee meetings. 

Pray for us in July as he preaches at Seeds of Greatness Bible church on July 9th, and at Sharptown Church on July 30th (the girls and I will be there for those...you should come!).

Pray for him as he serves as the evangelist at Eaton Rapids Camp Meetings in Michigan July 20-30th.  

Pray for him as he works with the EBS Board for board meetings the start of August.  

Pray for him as he heads to South Korea to encourage our brothers and sisters there in October, and to give a series of lectures on "what the new perspective of Paul brings to bear on Wesleyan Theology." If you're not sure what that means and wish you did...email Matt.  Because I cannot tell you :)

Standing on the promises of God, and grateful for the faithfulness of your prayers, one day at a time.

3) I'm just gonna say it : We need some support.

We committed several years ago to put all our funding focus on EBS.  All the speaking, preaching, traveling and support-raising we have done the past 3 years has been all about Emmaus!  

God continues to be so faithful through many of you to help provide the funds needed every day to feed everybody, to pay all the staff, to send out groups with Bibles, to support student ministries and church plants, etc. 

It's exactly as we would have wanted.  And many of you faithful faithful supporters have been vital in God carrying and providing for our family in the background.   THANK YOU. We are so incredibly grateful for you.  Keep on, dear family!

However, with a few donors naturally falling off each year, and without searching out new supporters for our family for several years...we have gotten to a place where we need some help.  We have been and still are completely funded by donors like you.  We are not paid by Emmaus, we are not paid by OMS.  We raise every penny we need for every element of life. 

The thought of adding more to the above schedule to go on some kind of funding tour makes me want to cry.

So instead, we're going to step out on faith and put it out there:  We need some help.  If you have been looking for a place for your tithe or have been feeling led to get more involved or if you are passionate about what God's doing through our family in Haiti (and elsewhere!) or if you simply want to be a part of all that God's doing in His World, we would be so grateful. 

You can support our family through One Mission Society, here.  

You can support our family through Emmaus, here.  

Very grateful.  Living on support with three little girls keeps us constantly reminded and humbled and reliant--it is God who cares for our every need, He who provides, He who calls, He who is faithful. 

One day at a time on his faithfulness, family!