Our fast-paced and highly-transitional summer came to a sudden stop a few weeks ago with the beginning of a new school year. The weather is already changing -- cold mornings, rainy days, and colorful leaves are beginning to show. Our boys are enjoying being home-schooled, and it doesn't appear to be interrupting their social life in the least. Our house continues to be the "children community center" every afternoon when the public schools let out. (We were warned by some that our decision to home school our boys would be detrimental to our mission, but this just hasn't been the case at all!) We are actually considering starting an after-school Bible club for the neighborhood kids.
One neighborhood girl, in particular, has really taken a liking to April. She is a Muslim from Pakistan and comes from a strict Muslim household, but she's not intimidated at all by the fact that we're missionaries. Almost every day after school you will find her in our kitchen, helping April cook dinner and full of questions about the Bible, marriage, raising children, our culture, etc. April has met with her mother a few times to exchange recipes and now they seem to exchange food on a regular basis. They love our baking and we love their curries and kabobs. April has also connected with some other neighborhood ladies and is considering starting a Bible study with them. One woman (a white Canadian) said she's never been to church a day in her life but would like to meet with April regularly to study the Bible, as long as it's in our home. Her fear of church has not kept her from allowing us to take her son to Sunday services every week, however. In God's time....
Jeremy has been busy passing out Bibles in downtown Mississauga and trying to connect with people. At first we didn't see much of a response, but the last few times have been very productive with a lot more people taking the materials and asking questions. One day Jeremy took our son, DJ (10 yrs), with him and they really had fun together. We were very proud when DJ passed out Bibles to a group of kids in a park and clearly explained the Gospel to them. When we returned a few days later the kids recognized us and asked for more Bibles for their friends. We have yet to hear back from anyone -- please pray for some responses via phone/email (contact info is in each Bible), but many people are open to talking about the Bible for a few minutes on the sidewalk. We have only met six or seven people (out of hundreds) so far that own a Bible or have read any of it. The area we are targeting is definitely unreached!
We have a "vision team" from Emmanuel Baptist Church, Billings MT, coming to Toronto next week. We plan on showing them the area, doing some street evangelism together, and discussing how we can develop a solid and on-going partnership with their church. Please pray that this time will be productive and blessing to all of us. We also have a couple from Lifeway Church in Billings coming soon (Oct. 10-24) to help us with our ministry. Pray that the Lord will prepare them for this trip and allow them to plant several seeds. Of course, they will be here at harvest time and it would be great to see a harvest of souls! Pray also as we "scout" new unreached areas in the Toronto area to begin planting seeds.
Here's how you can pray:
Pray that our ministry and influence in our community among children will result in even more open doors and that hearts will be softened and genuine trust will develop between us and our Muslim and Hindu neighbors. Pray for the salvation of the Muslim girl we told you about (and her household), and for Pam, our white Canadian neighbor.
Pray that people will begin to respond to the contact info in the Bibles we're passing out on the streets. Pray again for a "person of peace" and for "gatekeepers" in the community that are open to studying the Bible with us. Pray that a discovery Bible study will develop SOON -- before the weather gets too cold and we're not able to pass out Bibles on the streets anymore.
Pray that the upcoming mission teams will be fruitful and that the Lord will speak powerfully to all of us while they're here.
Continue to pray for Jeremy's health. You can read the details in the post previous to this one (Parasites Part Three). Pray for more answers and pray that the new medication will work. Pray for miraculous healing too (please!) -- and that the enemy's plans will be thwarted.
PRAY FOR A KINGDOM MOVEMENT to begin right here in Mississauga! Pray that all the seeds that are being planted will come to fruition. Pray for a harvest of souls, and that many churches will result.
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