ANGOLA

McBeth, Jim and Diane
1. Praise God Jim was able to get our Angolan visas so we will be able to fly to Luanda, Angola.

2 Pray for our trip and those very important first introductions to the leadership of the IEA.

3. Pray for wisdom and grace for us as we make arrangements for where to stay, transportation etc. After a short stay in northern Angola, we will go down to Lubango in the south. We will need to find a place to stay (again) and make arrangements for language study.

1. Praise the Lord for faithful Kusassi co-workers who are willing and eager to take time to help us learn the language, gather linguistic and cultural information, and accompany us on our trips.

2. Praise God we have made some good progress recently in partly writing up a cultural background study of the Kusassi people and in entering language data into our linguistic database and analysis program.

3. Pray for an upcoming week of recording Kusaal words and cultural information, followed by an intense week with each of the nine churches in the Kusassi region during which willing Christians will help us to further build our database of Kusaal words. We need at least 3000 unique words for a good analysis of the language.

4. Please pray for Kathy as she struggles with constant fatigue and back pain.

CAMEROON

Friesen, Dianne (co-appointed with Wycliffe)
1.Praise God for the opportunity to be in British Columbia at Trinity Western Seminary studying advanced phonology and translation principles, and auditing some Greek and Hebrew to keep current. I will be a teaching assistant for the translation principles course. Please pray that God will be glorified in all that I do. Please pray for good connections with people in that area. I haven't seen these people for 9 years.

2. Thanks for praying about my knee. I have an MRI in late April, and tentative surgery booking in June. Please pray for healing from arthritis that they found in my knees. I walked to University five times and my knees swelled, so they are pretty bad. Someone loaned me a bicycle so now I can bike, which is less damaging to the knees, but still good exercise.

3. Pray for God to pour His grace on the Moloko and on the Starrs who are working there. This week is their yearly planning. Please pray that they would be encouraged.

 

Grove, Dan and Melody (co-appointed with Wycliffe)
1. Praise God that we have seen language development begun or finished in all 9 villages we are targeting for Bible translation.
2. Praise God that we have been able to formally engage a Cameroonian colleague for 2 years to help develop one of the languages.
3. Praise God that we have been able to register for our remaining courses for our Masters programs and should finish by late spring in time for our return to Cameroon in July.
4. Praise God that the boys and Anna are finally settled in well in their school and enjoying it. They are still looking forward to going home (Cameroon)!
5. Pray for Jon and Sandra Blackwell, our colleagues who work in the village north of us. The few believers there are being persecuted and it is a dark place of bondage to the spirits and fear.
6. Pray for us as we begin preparations to return to Cameroon. We have lots to do and many details to look after. Pray for safety in travel both this spring as we continue to visit many churches and then as we head back to ministry. We have really enjoyed a snowy New Brunswick and will look forward to the next one in 2010, Lord willing.

 

KENYA

Card, Malcolm and Patty
1. Praise God we are in a completely furnished apartment and adjusting to life in Nairobi. We have just put Jim and Diane McBeth and son Pedrito (4) on the plane to Angola . This is the most recent attempt by CBM to establish a presence with these long standing partners. By the time you read this we will be in Rwanda. Malcolm is going earlier with a teaching team and Patty will follow with a team from Saskatoon, including CBM's president Cal Malena who will sign the new agreement between CBM and the Rwandan Baptist.

2. Praise God for our health-we have been healthy through this stressful time.

3. For the team spirit that is building amongst us here in Africa.

4. Pray for us during this period of a very steep learning curve.

5. Pray for us as we still cannot send or receive email from our home. Therefore communication is difficult and takes a lot of our time.

6. For Jim and Diane McBeth as they establish themselves in Angola.

7. Apparently the Kenyan government is imposing a 30% tax on all salary, living and school expenses for all missionaries. We are not sure what this means, but many are talking of leaving the country. Pray for the government and the churches as they deal with this issue.

 

Carline, Paul and Kelly (currently on home assignment)
1. Praise God for healing for Kenan! Kenan's health is great as he has been seizure free for over two months and is no longer on one of the two medicines he was on.

2. Paul begins a heavy speaking and deputation schedule for the next 4 months. Pray for grace for the kids and I at home! (Oh, and for Paul, too, as he speaks and shares.)

3. Pray for Somalia as they try yet again to set up a new government in Mogadishu.

 

Steeves, Michael and Bernadine (co-appointed with AIM)
1. Praise God for the effectiveness of co-appointment with CBM. This has opened doors in many churches and has given us much encouragement.
2. Praise God for more bookings with churches and church groups to share about Kenya and missions. We are looking forward to meeting new people and sharing our vision for missions.
3. Praise God for the building of a support team for our mission to Rift Valley Academy.
4. Pray that people's eyes will be opened and will respond to the great needs of Africa.
5. Pray for strength, guidance, and wisdom as our family prepares to go to Kenya in early August.

ASIA

CHINA

Ho, Ivan and Victoria
1. Praise God for the Christmas Celebration on Dec 18, 04. We had a good time getting to know many people. (230 attendants) Some made conversions. We were also invited to share more at a professor's home after the celebration.

2. Praise God for the reunion of the former Hudson Taylor International fellowship of Trinity Baptist Church (Vancouver) in HK on Dec 27th. It was a great time to share with each other after many years. May the Lord continue to guide them.

3. Pray for a work training trip on Feb 16-18 in Shenzhen for a partner company.

4. Pray for us as we speak at different churches in HK and will have CBMHK committee meeting with Frank and Jane Byrne. A visiting group will go to visit HK from China on Feb 9 -15. Pray for churches to host them and the whole journey will be smooth.

5. Pray for the preparation of a conference of Sichuan University Christianity Research Center at the end of April 2005. The topic is on Christian Ethics and Management.

6. Pray for Victoria as she does premarital and marital counseling. (Especially pray for a couple to have good adjustment with their Muslim parent toward Christians as they are going home during Lunar Chinese New Year-Feb 9.)

7. Pray for us as we look for a house and vehicle for our furlough (Vancouver & Toronto) in mid June to August. We need your continuous prayers for our preparation.

8. Pray for the Logos International Company as we encouraged someone to set up a coffee club combined with a reading corner for a new ministry. Pray especially for sisters Liu and Lau as they help Victoria set up the resource and consulting room. Praise the Lord the work is smooth.

1. Praise the Lord for the faithfulness and the vibrant work going on in India. Last week Ron and I, Babu Rao and Rev. Lalitha Kupa Rao were visiting villages and pastors and wives in the Bobbolli area.
2. Shirley and Ken Knight stayed with us for four days. We had a wonderful time sharing stories. They are writing a book about the Oriya work. We thank the Lord for their work and friendship.
3. Pray for our safety as we travel by jeep to Tuni and Kakinada areas for the next six days. Pray for clarity and vision as we meet with the staff of Eva Rose York Bible School, Kakinada Seminary, Bible Women, Pension fund staff. We will be working on the evaluation process as part of meetings with CBM's General Secretary Gary Nelson and Terry Smith, director of Partnerships & Initiatives, in the middle of February. We are also taking in some special services.
4. David Sarma has shingles and is really suffering. Please pray that he will rest and the medicine will work quickly and he will heal.
5. Pray for the Canadian team coming the middle of February, for safety, that the workshops will run smoothly and be a blessing,that the evaluations and India team retreat will go well.

Sarma, David and Chinni
1. Praise God for Marilyn Smith's (director of The Sharing Way) visit from 14th January to 27^th to assist in relief and rehabilitation efforts here. Praise God for travel mercies during this time and her safe return to Canada.

2. Praise God for the dedication and commitment of our Community workers and several other people who are involved in the relief and rehabilitation work.

3. Praise God for the fruitful work that is going on in the Community Development projects and all the dedicated staff and the way they encourage people to be result oriented and work towards sustainability.

4. During Marilyn's visit we visited villages that were affected by Tsunami in Machilipatnam and Pithapuram areas. We heard stories of the shock and trauma of the people who had gone through this experience. We are planning rehabilitation work in 8 villages in these two areas and in 2 villages in Akiveedu area. Pray for the people of these villages and our staff who will be helping in the rehabilitation.

5. From 18th February till 1st March Gary & Carla Nelson, Terry Smith, Sam and Cindie Chase and Ger Schinkel will be visiting India. Gary, Terry, and Geri will be participating in the International Partners Consultation of the Andhra Christian Theological College in Hyderabad. Please pray for them and the Consultation. b) They will also do a consultation for the Baptist Theological Seminary in Kakinada. c) Carla, Cindia and Sharon Harris will be doing two workshops (one in Visakhapatnam on and one in Kakinada) for teachers. d) Sam and Ron Harris will be in Serango, Orissa to do a Consultation with the three CBM Partners Associations (Soura, Oria and Kui). e) Sam, Cindie, and Geri will be doing a workshop for Vizag area Pastors and their spouses. f) Gary and Terry will be doing a retreat for CBM/TSW India field staff about the strategic planning. Please pray for the above programs, travel and other arrangements.

6. Pray for our children, Saranya and Reeka who are writing their MBA exams.

1. Pray that a new principal will be found for July 2005 for the Kodaikanal International School (KIS).
2. Pray that the Christian presence at KIS would offer an increasingly strong witness.
3. Pray that God would continue to provide wisdom and strength to us in this intense, complex, rich environment -- a Christian, multicultural, international residential school. Bob is part of the administration in the capacity of Chaplain. Kathy is Human Resources Assistant and teaches Elementary School Piano.
4. Pray that the staff would be mobilized to share devotions in our 16 dorms, where 58% of the student body are non-Christian.

1. Praise God that we were able to share Christmas and New Year's this year with Darrell's parents. His dad is on the CBM Board, so we were able to visit several ministry sites with them and provide a pretty good view of what goes on here in West Kalimantan as well as in places in East Kal, too.

2. We are very overwhelmed and grateful for all the emails and inquiries, as well as prayers, that have been made with regard to our safety after the tsunami hit. Although we are not in that area it has been a hard thing for the country to see the utter devastation in two of its provinces.

3. Pray for Pastor Ronny Welong and his son Vabro as well as CBM field staff Bill Dyck and others that are traveling and helping with reconstruction efforts.

4. The seminary semester is underway, and Darrell once more is busy preparing 4 new lectures every week. Please pray for the ongoing work involved in this as well as other speaking opportunities from time to time. (Praise God for an excellent graduation on Jan. 20th with 55 graduates from 16 denominations and 10 tribes.)

5. Linda Hassell, CBM's Third Culture Kid Coordinator will be able to visit with Bronwyn and Caleb (and us, too!) from Feb. 11th - 15th. Pray for her safe travel and a good time with those of us serving in Indonesia.

6. Pray for Caleb and that he would enjoy going to school at home. Praise God Bronwyn is very happy at school with two other New Tribes girls.

 

1. Pray for Johnny and Frank Byrne (retired CBM personnel), for their health and safety during a five day visit to some of the damaged areas. For their language and translation work during this visit - that God will give them both the vocabulary and the words, and assist them in being this vital link between the care givers and the tsunami victims. That God will open up the opportunities for them amongst the mainly Muslim victims to be an example of Jesus.

2. Pray that God will lead them to make the contacts with the leaders, organizations, and the victims that will enable CBM to plug into programs and communities that can bring relief to this devastated area.

3. Don't forget to pray for the many victims of this natural disaster for the many grieving parents and orphans and the many who were injured and hurt.

 

Dyck, Bill and Janice
1. Praise God for the 55 students that graduated on January 20th. Pray that they will be effective in their places of ministry.

2. Praise God for a good time with Jonathan and Marigan. They arrived safely back at school and are beginning a new semester. Pray that they will adjust to the changes in their dorm well. Two families have gone home over the Christmas break.

3. Pray for Bill as he leaves for Nias and Aceh (February 2 - 10) to take part in a survey of needs and possible CBM involvement. He will be traveling with Ronny Welong and Vabro. Pray for safety on the roads and the boats. Pray for God's grace in coping with possibly disturbing sights and experiences.

4. Pray for STK students and staff as they begin a new semester of classes.

1. Praise for the good checkups we've been getting as Elly's pregnancy develops. Pray for continued good health for Elly and the baby as we get close to the final month of her pregnancy.

2. Please pray for our medical health cards -- after almost five months since first applying, we still have no clarity on the status of our application, and we had to resubmit it at the end of January. Please pray that we will get confirmation of coverage before the baby is born.

3. Please pray for Bina Kasih Press, which is having a difficult transition since several new people joined the board of directors last July. Pray especially for the director of Bina Kasih, who has diabetes and is still recovering from a stroke.

4. Pray for OMF and many organizations as they demonstrate the love of Christ to victims of the tsunami in the province of Aceh and elsewhere. Pray that the people may receive God's comfort and a new start in the face of such great loss.

 

THAILAND

Neily, Darlene (associate field staff)
1. Praise God for a strong school board and dedicated administration team who seek to lead us in serving the students of our school. We have recently been challenged as a teaching staff to meet each day in prayer for our school. This is helping us focus together each day on some individual and group needs.

2. Our seniors graduate on Feb. 13th (26 students), pray they will carry with them all they have learned and witnessed of Christ here in SCA. For those who have accepted Christ pray they will find churches and student groups to join when they go to University. For those who haven't made a decision that they will also have believers nearby to encourage and teach them.

3. Praise God that I have been granted 7 months (March - Sept.) to study and refresh in Canada. Pray that details left to attend to will be managed wisely and that I will use this time well. Pray for wisdom and encouragement for the team left here at school.

4. Praise God for the opportunity I have had in introducing some older students to mission work outside of school. We partnered with another mission group and go most weeks to teach children in a nearby slum area. We will consider whether this is a project we as a school would be willing to assume responsibility for later in the year. Pray as we discuss this opportunity.

5. Pray for new English language teachers to join our team. The school wants 10 people and recruiting from Thailand has challenges. Pray God would prompt and people would respond. We are looking for university graduates, with a mature faith, interest in children and desire to adapt, grow and serve Christ here.

1. Pray that I will finish well here at Atlantic Baptist University where I work until the end of May. It's going to be an emotional time as I say goodbye to the students, staff and faculty as well as my church and family.
2. Pray for the process of raising team support. Pray that this goes smoothly and that the funds come in as needed as well as the prayer support.
3. Pray for my move to Vancouver probably in July to begin my internship in leadership and church planting. Pray for a smooth transition and a feeling of home.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Carter, Jeff and Deann
1. Praise God for the immensely profitable meetings in Turkey at the annual European Baptist Federation's Youth and Children's conference where Jeff presented the two year report on his research into the areas of the 40 countries that participated in the study.

2. Praise God for a wonderful time with Deann's mom over Christmas. We were blessed that she was able to come on her own and navigate two or three airports and find her way here. Since arriving home she has been asked by churches to speak on our behalf, something she has never done before and she completed one such engagement and was totally thrilled to share what she observed first hand while here! Praise God for miracles in the everyday!

3. For a great visit with Slovakian General Secretary Tomas Kriska over the possibilities in their youth work and potential for some partnerships and cooperation.

4. For contacts Jeff made with the leadership of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry. As a result of this endeavor there is a strong chance that a new experimental youth leadership training curriculum via the Internet that will be developed in Russian, Bulgarian and Arabic.

5. Pray for Jeff as he works alongside the national leadership on drafting a strategy of the various partners for a training program and new youth coordinator for Lebanon. This is an exciting opportunity and there are many things that need to be worked out various levels. Pray for smooth application of the strategy and hopefully what will serve as the template for a new person for the role. Pray for the Lebanese leadership as they pray for the right person for the new youth coordinators role. This next month is critical for this process.

6. Pray for the incoming executive Chairman Nick Lear for the European Baptist Federation Youth Committee that he will be able to manage his full time work with the Baptist Union of Great Britain and this new role of giving direction for the greater EBF youth work. Pray also for the rest of the committee as they work at trying to give assistance to youth secretaries and planning the conference for unions to attend.

7. For Rob Nylen Associate Director of Youth Ministry for the Atlantic Baptist Convention as he leads a team of 20 youth leaders in May to participate in the ministry of Bethel Mission in Litomerice, Czech Republic. They will be involved in working within the community that is there sponsored by the Baptist Church that is involved in street mission, a half way house for former state orphanage youth as well as other possible ministry possibilities. Now that the team is set, pray that they can raise the necessary funds and that the team in Litomerice will be prepped for the experience.

8. For our family that we will continue to enjoy health and safety as we go about our daily lives. Pray that we will grow closer together in love for each other and our Lord.

1. Praise God for a wonderful send-off on Sunday, Jan 30th. This was our last day at Trinity Baptist Church in Vancouver after seven years of ministry and fourteen years as members. This was not an easy parting with so many dear friends and so many precious memories.

2. Pray for Trinity as this very diverse congregation navigates the transition and begins to search for a new senior pastor.

3. Pray for us also as we adjust to a different chapter in life. So far we have speaking engagements up to mid March in BC and Alberta. We need to be flexible, bendable, adjustable, yet also remain ourselves as God has made us for this time.

4. Our main task in these next few months is to speak about the work in the Middle East and encourage people to pray and support financially. Please pray that we make our presentations with warmth and clarity. Pray that we will receive the support we need in order to go out to the field by the target date of late July.

5. Pray for the work of Christians among Muslims. God is opening doors--may we walk forwards with the right combination of boldness and respect!

 

LATIN AMERICA

CHILE

Passi, Don and Ruth (co-appointed with Navigators)
1. Praise God for those individuals who, after a year or more of investigating the scriptures, made significant steps of faith, choosing to follow Christ. Thank God for the step of faith taken by Danilo & Marcia to facilitate a group of 3-4 couples in their home and provide direction to their discussions of faith issues. None of these people yet know Jesus.

2. Praise God for the new young men's bible study and the new marriage study that started last year. People are getting rooted in Christ.

3. Praise God for Rod & Jess' move into their own home in our neighbourhood last year. Their move greatly facilitated our friendship and our working together as team.

4. Pray for Southern Chili. Ariel reached Adam with the gospel. Adam then reached his mother-in-law and brother-in-law with the gospel. Thank God for raising up laypeople in the south of Chile who are multiplying their lives spiritually.

 

EL SALVADOR

Pearce, Larry and Lynn (associate field staff)
1. Praise God for the teams returning this year to build with Habitat at Easter. Pray for Habitat and Emmanuel's preparations to receive them. Continue to pray for the 25th Anniversary Observance of the Martyrdom of Monsenor Romero at almost the same time. This promises to provide unusual opportunities to connect with the theological reality of Latin America. As things are developing we anticipate a real time of exchange and sharing between the CBM Team of Canadian Baptist Pastors and our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. Pray for that experience.

2. Praise God for the newly established Emmanuel Academy of Theological and Biblical Studies. In agreement with SEBLA, the Salvadoran Baptist Seminary and the Biblical University of Costa Rica, 20 people from Emmanuel's congregation and missions are starting a new diploma program. This is the beginning of more intentional leadership training which is very necessary at this point.

3. Pray for us as we return to El Salvador on February 21st. Pray that we may be prepared both physically and spiritually to serve in the ministries of Emmanuel Baptist Church and Habitat for Humanity El Salvador during the next six months. Some new opportunities await us and as usual they contain potential for success or failure. Pray that God may guide and empower all of us who are involved in these undertakings.

4. Pray for a young family in one of the missions who lost their 5 month old baby to pneumonia and chagas on January 1, 2005. The great need for better preventative health care is obvious. Give thanks for the team of 30 medical students and a fully qualified doctor from a sister church in Indiana who ministered in Cuscatlan during January. They worked in conjunction with three medical people from Emmanuel.

1. Praise the Lord for keeping us in good health. Our high blood pressure is now close to normal.

2. Praise God that almost all of our congregation members now attend Sunday school as well. We have two classes for adults and two classes for children.

3. Praise the Lord for sending two young sisters from the Chinese Alliance Church to help out with our children Sunday school during the three months when the Bible School was closed for the summer holiday and our regular helpers were home for the summer break.

4. Pray for the application process to register our Gospel Center as Panama Chinese Baptist Church. We are expecting to hear of the results by next month.

5. Pray for the sisters whose husbands still reject the Gospel. Pray that they will have strength and patience so they can be light and salt at home.

6. We need a long term Spanish speaking helper to teach the children. About 25 children come to church every Sunday and to fellowship every Friday night. We were told that it is almost impossible to find such help, but we know that with God all things are possible. Keep praying!

1. Please keep in prayer these CBM personnel currently in Canada on home assignment. Attend a visit in your area and be encouraged by their stories. And in return, be a source of encouragement to them. Contact your regional CBM office for more details. In February:
-- Paul Carline is in Ontario (Feb. 5-20) and Alberta (Feb 25-Mar. 2)

-- Lynn and Larry Pearce are in Alberta (till Feb. 20, then onto El Salvador)

-- Debbie Mamani is in Saskatchewan

-- John and Betty Forrester are in BC and Alberta (Feb. 18-20). The Forresters are new field staff going to Turkey later this year.

-- Ricky & Christina Chan, Rob & Norma Coe are in Ontario. The Chans and the Coes are new associate field staff appointed to Venezuela and Philippines, respectively. They are expected to go in March.

2. Praise God for such a generous outpouring of compassion for relief efforts in South East Asia. We've received well over half a million dollars, the largest response to relief in CBM's history. Like so many other organizations, we are amazed and grateful, but we are also now concerned about our long-term community development programs which deal with such huge and difficult issues of poverty, inequality, HIV/AIDS, spiritual despair, to name just a few. Pray with us for increased levels of support for these programs and for our field personnel, to now build more long-term commitment to our everyday, grassroots partnership with the poor and suffering in countries around the world. For an update on how your relief funds are being put to good use, see www.cbmin.org.

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