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April 2025
News & Updates
Happy Easter season! I know it has passed – but we get to celebrate Easter every day – He Arose – He Lives – Forever!!!
***Exciting Opportunity***
Interested in a 3-to-6-month mission experience? Be sure to read about it at the end of this newsletter.
SRI LANKA
In March, I traveled to the country of Sri Lanka for a time of training four new church planting couples. We spent four days together getting to know one another, talking about the future, and beginning our training.
So let me introduce you to our church planters there (I received their permission to post this, but please do not share or repost anywhere).
During these days of training and fellowship, we also spent many moments in prayer and worship, and celebrated some recent baptisms that occured. We had the opportunity to host a kickoff service in the city of Mullaitivu. This city is just 14 years out of terrorist occupation and is in desperate need of hope and life (and we know who truly brings that).
FIRST MOTORCYCLE DONATION
From our 2024 year-end campaign funds, we were also able to purchase a motorcycle for a ministry couple there in Sri Lanka. Thank you for helping us do that. They were so grateful. You planted this seed and look at it now!
The ministry is now able to go farther, faster, and with greater joy!
In April, I traveled to India for the anniversary of Word for the World Marthandam. Pastor Bright planted this church 13 years ago. I was there on their 5th anniversary and since then God has blessed them.
The church has now bought property and has plans to build a Bible school that will also serve as their church meeting place. It was such a joy to be with them and celebrate the goodness of God.
While there we also had a chance to pour into some young men who are considering ministry (some full-time, others on how to shine their light in the marketplace).
Shortly after Marthandam, I was on to Chennai, India where we recently helped a church get started and they just celebrated their one-year anniversary in April. I am so proud of Pastor Joshua and the work he has done.
(*pictured right, in the photo below)
While in Chennai I also spent time with Pastor Able (*pictured left) – who is starting small groups to develop into a church plant in early 2026. We also met with Pastor Ranjith, a potential church planter in the early assessment phase. Our hope is to have three churches in different areas of Chennai by the end of 2026. I know we will all be praying together for this!
MORE MOTORCYCLE DONATIONS
I posted some pics on social media during this trip – but here are a few more of two of our pastors receiving their gift from you all. We were able to buy motorcycles for these two young men and the work of ministry. One of them told me that this is the very first purchase of something completely in his own name. What a moment it was! The gift was so much more to them than just a motorcycle. Thank you for blessing these pastors and their families. Together, we’re moving the mission forward—one mile at a time. Thank you for being a key part of this journey! 😄
COMING UP IN 2025
CHURCH LAUNCHES
We will be beginning our work in Bangladesh and Vietnam this fall. We have been meeting with these families as they finish up their master’s degrees here in the Philippines. Please keep these families in your prayers as they transition back home to these areas and begin this new work. If you would like to make a gift to these particular church plants, you can donate here under the "church planting" memo.
CHURCH PLANTING NETWORK
In other exciting news, we are launching our official network for church planters in Asia, called City Church Network! We are currently working on our website, citychurchnetwork.asia and will have it running soon. The name was developed with the pastors and leaders we are currently partnered with. They liked it because it was simple and straight to the heart of our mission. Stay tuned for more to come on this relationship network as it is being developed, and please keep it in your prayers!
IN MEMORY
Elaine’s big brother, Kevin, passed away in March. She was able to travel there to see him, and to be with her family as Kevin passed. Please say a prayer for Elaine as being so far away from family during times like these is especially difficult.
COMING TO THE US
Our family will be in the US from mid-June to the end of July. We would love to be able to say hello to as many people as we can. I will update you soon on where we will be – and if you are near, we would love to catch up over coffee. Feel free to reach out so we can make it happen this summer!
