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August 24, 2006
September 2006
We’ve been thinking lately…
…about the current events on the international stage. The first event this summer that stood out to us, and not surprisingly since we spent so much time in Central America, was the World Cup, Copa Mundial in Spanish. We call it soccer here in the U.S. but everywhere else in the world it is simply football. It’s the most watched series of sporting events in the world, including the Olympics and Superbowl. We got excited about World Cup Football while we were in Guatemala seeing that it was the passion of students and professors from more than 20 countries. Then the wars in Iraq, Israel and Lebanon and, of course, the plot to bomb airplanes in London struck us that the effects on the international community were almost instantaneous. What a small world we live in!
…that as Christians, we are not only Americans but Internationals. That was God’s intention from the beginning. “For God so loved the WORLD that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but will have eternal life.” We are to be God’s instruments to introduce all people, to Him. This world is in dire need of God’s touch of grace.
…that we are so thankful that God has involved us in His 2 Timothy 2:2 plan to reach the world, the things you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Training leaders for the international community who are already reaching and teaching the faithful, who will in turn teach others also. We know the ministry is the Lord’s and He will do it. We are tools in His hands. So, continue to pray for us and for the work. We’ve been thinking lately that we need a lot of prayer support for the work because things are going so well.
Pray –
• Alvin is in the middle of teaching Deuteronomy, a new class for him. Pray that he will balance his time well and communicate the material to his students, 17 students from 8 countries. Online teaching takes 125% of the time it takes to teach in the classroom.
• The students are all in the ministry, many as pastors, and balancing pressures of family and ministry along with their studies. They need prayer for finding resources, books and articles on the internet, focus on their studies as well as being able to incorporate them into their ministries, an open door for the Word of God, and that God will supply all their needs.
• Women’s Bible Study is starting up again for Laurie. There is always a lot of preparation, meetings with leaders and one on one connections.
• Please continue praying for our regular monthly support need, which is still too low.
Thank you for being on our team. We are counting on your prayers.
Blessings,
Alvin & Laurie
