Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Middle East Trip


 I wanted to update you on an opportunity.  As most of you know, Jim is serving as the Senior Pastor at the Evangelical Free Church in Bozeman, Montana (www.efcb.org).   We’ve thoroughly enjoyed the ministry at the church since moving here in July of 2008.  Jim’s also enjoyed being involved with Cru@MSU (http://www.crumsu.com/) a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ on the campus of Montana State University.   Every Wednesday night, during the academic year, around 400 students gather at our church building to worship, learn from God’s Word and just spend time together.  It’s a very exciting, high energy environment! 

Here’s the exciting opportunity, during this coming Spring Break, our family has been invited to be part of a team of college students from Cru@MSU that is going to a Muslim country in the Middle East.  We will be meeting with local university students and serving local churches.  There are several reasons we’re looking forward to this ministry. 

1). Great Commission: To be directly involved in the Great Commission of Jesus Christ, which is “to make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20).
2). Cru@MSU:  Serving alongside the staff and students from the Cru@MSU team. Jim and I have always enjoyed campus ministry and this could be an opportunity to serve.
3). Friends: While in the Middle East we’re planning to visit a family, supported by our church, which is ministering there.  We’re also planning to visit a summer exchange student, from the Middle East, who lived with our family over a decade ago.  She is now married and she and her husband have a set of twins. 
4). Family:  If it is financially feasible, we would like to take our two youngest children, Grace and David.  They’ve never experienced an overseas experience.  We would love for them to see God’s big picture for the world and develop a heart for the nations. In addition, on our return trip we would like to take a brief layover to visit our son Andrew.  He is currently working at a resort for U.S. military personnel in Garmisch, Germany.  

Please remember us in your prayers as we prepare for this trip: 
·         1. Grace and David have never experienced a mission trip like this, and it is our prayer that the Lord would use this time to change their lives forever. 
·         2. We are in the process of raising the $8000 that is needed for our whole family to go.  If you would like to bless us in that way, go to https://give.ccci.org/give , then enter our project number #1993213.  Next click on the "Give a Gift" button. Please click on the "Add Comments for Montana State University, Bozeman Scholarship" link, and enter our names in the comment field.  Or if you prefer, you many send a check made payable to: “Campus Crusade for Christ” and mail it to our home address.
·         3. We want to be an influence not only to the people we will meet in the Middle East, but also to the Cru@MSU team members.  Our hearts still love college students!

Thanks for praying for us,
Kim

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