Oct. and Nov. Update

Dear praying friends and family, we appreciate every one of you who remembers to pray for us. A lot has happened since we last wrote at the end of September.

Discipleship school

About 2 weeks ago we finished our 2nd term at the Disciples of Jesus school. We are pleased to see the 6 students enthusiastic and growing in their knowledge of the Word. Pray that they would be greatly used to fulfill Christ's mission on earth. We were able to make 2 village ministry trips with the students, to give them opportunities to serve the Lord.

Village church start-ups

In mid-June we started meeting with a small group of believers in the Kizenga village, about half an hour out of town. The Gungu town church, along with another neighboring village church, made a rotation schedule for teaching Sunday school, leading the service and preaching on Sundays. We continue to minister there on a weekly basis. Please pray for more people to come, especially those we have visited and witnessed to. Please also pray for the Lord to raise up local shepherds for that flock so that they won't have to depend on ministry from the outside. In November we started meeting again in another village called Kamala. It is a similar situation to Kizenga. Please pray for spiritual fruit and growth in both places.

Praying for the sick at the end of the service in Kizenga.

Teaching on Wednesdays

Luke has been teaching on the Holy Spirit at the town church on Wednesday afternoons. Pray for him as he continues to prepare this series. He will probably finish around the end of January 2019.

Youth Group

This coming Friday we will be hosting a second youth group meeting at our house. John & Jenniffer Kinlaw (new missionaries) and us have been burdened to get to know and teach the youth of the chapel in a more relaxed setting, away from church. We want to address pertinent issues and guide them to make God-honoring decisions in their lives.Please pray for us as we meet with them once a month, that the Lord would use these times to shape them. Our first meeting last month went really well.

Helping with needs

As always, much of our ministry involves helping the needy. The needs and requests are so great that it is sometimes overwhelming. People needing food, medical help, educational help, and even help with small businesses. Also there are many church needs such as chapel buildings, and musical instruments for choirs. Of course we know that the greatest needs are spiritual, but we cannot ignore the physical needs, nor can we neglect to show Christ's love and compassion in practical ways.

Thanksgiving

We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving with a nice traditional meal with other American missionaries in town. Truly, when we look around us we have so much to be thankful for, and most of all we give thanks to our God and Father who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 

We are so thankful for our children.

Esther's baptism

On November 4 our daughter Esther was baptized at the Gungu town church, along with 3 other youth. We are happy for her desire to publicly declare herself a devoted follower of Christ. Please pray for her continued growth.

Ashura, Jenny, Isa and Esther after their baptism.

Upcoming

This month we will be celebrating Esther's and Gina's birthday. This coming Sunday will be a special Sunday school program. Then on Dec. 23-25 our town church will be hosting a 3 day Christmas conference with 3 nearby village churches. Pray that we would be refreshed daily in the Word and not grow weary in doing good.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,

Sincerely,

Luke, Gina and the kids