December 2009
I’ve just come from a planning meeting for next summer’s “Celebration 2010” – the 150th celebration of God’s faithfulness to the Mennonite Brethren movement around the world. I’m excited about what is in store for us as we gather in Vancouver July 12-17.
I’ve just come from a planning meeting for next summer’s “Celebration 2010” – the 150th celebration of God’s faithfulness to the Mennonite Brethren movement around the world. I’m excited about what is in store for us as we gather in Vancouver July 12-17. The confirmed list of presenters includes some of our most anointed servants from India, Congo and North Africa who will be bringing a fresh perspective from the leading edge of what God is doing in and through MB’s in mission.
The country of India is where our first missionaries went over 100 years ago. One of our presenters this next summer, and our leader in evangelism and church planting in India, is John S Rao. In a recent email he encouraged me with the hundreds of new missionaries that are being trained and sent from within India. He is focusing more of his energy on the least reached in the north of India where literally thousands of distinct “people groups” exist with no church. Our MB churches in Central India are sending workers to respond to this growing vision.
We are also responding by sending four current long term workers who are graduating from our Mission Training and Equiping to join John and this work in the north of India. They will begin by learning language and culture alongside Mark and Amy K who are also serving in that region.
Our mission story in India continues to come full circle. Those who have been reached with the gospel are now partners in mission and are inspiring us to run the race marked out for us together. This reminds me of the verse I read this morning, “in Christ, we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” (Rom 12:5) I encourage you to join us in Vancouver next summer and rediscover who you belong to, and be inspired by the vision for mission we are on together Randy Friesen You can reach me at randyf@mbmission.org
Ministry Highlights
A new church is being planted in Ukraine! John & Evelyn Wiens plan to begin worship and teaching services at New Hope Church in December. Praise God for the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, and pray that many Ukrainians will also come to know this hope through the ministry of New Hope Church. www.mbmission.org/ukraine
This fall, 18 missionary candidates entered MB Mission’s Mission Training and Equiping (MTE) where they experienced training for cross cultural mission. They are now entering a period of support-raising before being sent out to 6 different locations: France, Japan, India, Burkina Faso, Thailand, and Mexico. Praise God for the willingness of these servants to follow Him wherever He calls them. www.mbmission.org/MTE
Items for Prayer
Earlier this year, Phil Bergen and his coworker Maliki went to the village of Silorola in Burkina Faso to tell Maliki’s family and fellow villagers about Jesus. They were interested in being taught more about the way of Christ, so Phil and Maliki are returning to Silorola along with scripture that they have translated into Nanerige. Pray for the power of the Holy Spirit as they teach from God’s word, and pray that the villagers’ hearts will be open to believing and receiving the truth. www.mbission.org/burkinafaso
There are many opportunities for our missionaries to share the gospel during the Christmas season. Pray that God’s Kingdom will grow as the good news of Jesus Christ is shared. Pray also for joy and peace for our missionaries as many are away from family and friends at Christmas time.
Until He comes,
Randy Friesen
Vision for Mission