This Sunday is week five of our virtual missions conference.  This week’s missionary and VGBC church member is Emily Skinner.  Emily is the Assistant Director for the Compass CHIPs program at Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, Colorado.  Compass is a program which prepares missionaries for long-term work in a cross-cultural environment.  Please take a moment to watch and listen to Emily’s video on our missions web page at 2021 Missions Conference – Vista Grande Baptist Church (vgbc.org).  If you’ve missed any of our previous missionary presentations you will find them all on this web page.

Week of 18 July 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES

Kevin Green: (COS) Pray for Evangelism Explosion’s Equip America plans to educate and equip churches throughout the US on sharing the Gospel message with those who need Jesus.  Pray for Kevin as he partners with more churches in the Colorado Springs/Pueblo area.  Also, as the Western Regional Coordinator, pray for Kevin as he encourages Evangelism Explosion volunteers in the Western US to partner with more churches so they can educate their church members on sharing the Gospel message.

Emily Skinner: (COS) Emily is the Assistant Director for the Compass CHIPs Program at Mission Training International in Palmer Lake, Colorado.  Pray for the staff as they work on sprucing up the MTI property.  Pray for Emily as she deals with back pain.  MTI has several job vacancies.  Pray for the leadership to hire the right people for those open positions and pray the positions would be filled soon.  Pray for Emily’s support raising.  Pray the Lord would give her holy boldness to ask people to help her raise financial support. 

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Ken and Barbie: They are back in their ministry country and have already completed their first week of a fifteen day quarantine.  Pray they stay well.  Their country is in full lockdown due to COVID-19 restrictions.  After their quarantine period is over, it is likely they will have to remain where they are at, because local transportation to other cities is frozen.  Pray they will be able to travel to their home city after the quarantine is over.  Pray other team members will be able to enter their country.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord for the 49 people who attended their church service on Sunday morning including the nine new visitors!  Also praise the Lord for wonderful conversations during recent walking club outings.  Pray the advertisement in the local magazine brings interested people to Grace Baptist Church.  Pray for the couple Mark and Lona are counseling. Pray for Grace Baptist’s Sunday school situation as they strive to cope with the COVID restrictions and keep a normal Sunday school routine. 

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Continue to pray for Robbyn’s mother, Imogene.  Pray new medications and therapies will have the desired effect on her Parkinson’s Disease.  Pray for Reach Beyond’s partners who are providing Christian Arabic radio programming in the Middle East and North Africa.  Pray the listening audience will understand who Jesus is and ask Him into their lives.

Week of 11 July 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES

Brooks Salgado and Matthew and Cassie Allan: (COS) Pray for Brooks and the Allans as they get ready for the 2021 fall semester at UCCS.  Pray they will have opportunities to help move students into the dorms as the semester begins.  Pray for lasting relationships between the Christian Challenge students and newly arriving students.  Pray the Allans will be able to raise financial support to allow them to work full time on the Christian Challenge ministry.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Kent and Elizabeth and their family will be in Texas visiting family and partnering churches for the next two weeks.  Pray new donors/supporters will step up to support the Slacks.  They have been able to participate in several new student orientation events this summer.  Pray contacts with these students will result in students getting involved with Christian Challenge.  Pray for the Christian Challenge leadership selection process and that the Lord would give them guidance in selecting the perfect team for the following school year.  Christian Challenge summer Bible studies have been well attended.  Thank the Lord and pray for continued growth among students.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord – Grace Baptist Church continues to enjoy good attendance on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evening for Bible study.  Thank the Lord for being able to meet in person.  Pray for Luigi as he prepares to preach this next Sunday.  Pray for the couple Mark and Lona have been counseling and also the new believer Lona is discipling.

Herb and Celeste: Pray COVID-19 cases continue to decline and that travel restrictions are reduced.  Their teammates’ visas have been approved but they are still stuck in the US because of travel restrictions.  Pray Herb and Celeste will be used mightily while in the US.  There are organizational changes coming in the next several months. Pray for leadership wisdom as decisions are made.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (Johannesburg, South Africa) The team arrived back in the US on July 3^rd.  They will stay together and debrief their experiences before continuing home.  Pray they are well and remain so.  Pray for the lives they touched.  Pray the Lord would call some or all of these young people into ministry as it delights the Father. 

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Ceuta, Spain is a Spanish city in North Africa on the eastern portion of the peninsula which makes up the Strait of Gibraltar.  The area has been flooded with Moroccan immigrants.  Pastor Pedro recently opened his center to help the refugees.  Eighty percent of Ceuta is Muslim.  The streets are full of hundreds of teenagers and children who are homeless.  The pastor is seeking local officials’ permission to allow these children to sleep in his center. Please pray Pastor Pedro will find favor with government officials and for God’s provision!

This week begins the third week of our Virtual Missions Conference.  This week we high light a couple who has been ministering in Asia for the past ten years.  They have a new role in the International Missions Board (IMB) – that of reporting back what is going on in the trenches all over Asia and nurturing partnerships between churches and missionaries.  They are the IMB’s marketing specialists heading a team of creative professionals documenting how God is moving through IMB missionaries all over the Asian continent.  Please take time to watch Herb and Celeste’s video at …2021 Missions Conference – Vista Grande Baptist Church (vgbc.org). 

Also, if you missed any of the previous week’s missionaries, you may also catch up there as well.  Please plug in with your missionaries.  Send them a card or an e-mail encouraging them.

Week of 3 July 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Kent and Elizabeth and their family will be in Texas visiting family and partnering churches for the next three weeks.  Pray new donors/supporters will step up to support the Slacks.  They have been able to participate in several new student orientation events this summer.  Pray contacts with these students will result in students getting involved with Christian Challenge.  Pray for the Christian Challenge leadership selection process and that the Lord would give them guidance in selecting the perfect team for the following school year.  Christian Challenge summer Bible studies have been well attended.  Thank the Lord and pray for continued growth among students

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Herb and Celeste: Herb and Celeste are in the US visiting family – pray for peaceful fellowship and renewal time with family and friends.  While in the US, pray the Lord will give them opportunities to serve and share this summer.  Pray the Lord will guide church leaders in their country how to navigate this new season of COVID ministry.  Pray the next virtual Zoom Room on July 13^th will go well and that more people will learn about the needs in Japan and other areas in Asia.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (Johannesburg, South Africa) The team has been in South Africa for four weeks.  Jaymee Collins reports of Bible studies in which they were able to talk about the parable of the man who built his house on the rock.  Brooks talks about being involved with a team who has been discipling three businessmen from downtown. He says they are very eager to grow in their faith and want to share the gospel.  Another team member talks about going to a nearby village and starting a soccer game between themselves and some children.  Before long over 30 children were playing soccer.  Halfway through the game they decided to take a break and share some Bible stories with these children. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and truth sharing!

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) In the Middle East it is very difficult to hear about Jesus and Christianity.  But many people in Arabic countries are thirsting for the Gospel!  One ministry partner in an Arabic-speaking country forwarded this testimony.  An Egyptian camera technician reached out to the Christian radio station wanting to know more about Jesus and how to live with Him.  He wanted to know everything to know about Him and Christianity in detail.  Now He is grateful he was shown the road to salvation.  He reads and studies the materials sent to him from the radio partner.  Praise God for new brothers and sisters in these closed countries.  Pray the Lord will provide people to disciple and nurture these new Christians.  Pray these new Christians will share the Gospel with others thirsting for the truth.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord – there were 37 people attending last Sunday’s service and 7 children.  Grace Baptist is grateful for the relationship they have with Saint Oliver’s National School.  They’ve had good relationships with the principal and vice principal over the years.  Recently the principal took a new national position in the Catholic school system and the vice principal retired after 40 years in the school system.  Grace Baptist has purchased Bibles for them.  Pray these men and their families will follow Christ.  Pray for the new principal and vice principal and that Grace Baptist will be able to establish good relationships with the new leadership.  Praise – a lady who has experienced medical issues for the past 16 months has had some relief from pain.  Praise the Lord for a man who will soon start helping with Wednesday night Bible study and Sunday preaching!

This past week we began the VGBC Virtual Missions Conference.  The featured missionaries were Mark and Lona Webb in Killarney, Ireland.  This Sunday, June 27^th, the featured missionary will be Robbyn Booker.  Robbyn’s sending agency is Reach Beyond.  She manages all of the financial, administrative and legal work for the Spain office and handles all the financial matters for the Middle East and all of Africa.  Visit the VGBC web site at 2021 Missions Conference – Vista Grande Baptist Church (vgbc.org) to see the Webbs and Robbyn Booker’s video.

Week of 27 June 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) The New Life program at the Springs Rescue Mission helps men recover from addiction and acquire the skills needed to pursue a career and be a contributor in the community. Staff and volunteers provide spiritual direction counseling and mentoring.  There are also academic and career employment classes and work assignments to ensure that every man gets the support and tools needed to thrive.  Volunteer by calling 719-632-1822 or go to volunteer@springsrescuemission.org.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (Johannesburg, South Africa) While speaking to people on the streets in Johannesburg, Brooks and Jaymee spoke to six men who were connected to the supporting church. The men shared that, because of the COVID-19 virus, they had not been employed for quite some time.  Brooks and Jaymee encouraged these men letting them know the Lord is still in charge and loves them very much.  Jaymee shares they’ve had an awesome week handing out Bibles and sandwiches.  One man on the street makes key chain Bibles and places verses he has memorized in the Bible.  Another man came up to their group as they were prayer walking and asked the team to pray for him.  Jayme commented not only are they (the team) being led to others, but God is leading people to the team.  Pray for these seven young people that they will stay healthy and well.  Pray they will continue to share Christ with others.

Dusty and Ashley: (Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are in the US for a brief stay visiting relatives.  Please pray their travel will be safe and that they get to see their family and enjoy each other.  Pray for the future school season this fall as they will both be teaching.  Pray for unity for the staff and faculty as they come together to make an impact in the student’s lives.

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Radio Vida is the local FM station in Southern Spain where Robbyn worked.  This station was going to be closed but some funding was found and area pastors have stepped up to help.  The station has revived since area pastors and the Reach Beyond staff have begun working on agreements and responsibilities.  There are many Arabic speaking people in Southern Spain.  Moroccans take the 8.1 mile ferry ride across the Strait of Gibraltar routinely to work and live in Spain.  It is illegal to share Christ in North Africa.  Please pray Radio Vida programming will touch the lives of North Africans while they are in Spain and that the Gospel will go back to Morocco and other Arabic cultures to bring Christ to these people.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Thank the Lord new people are coming to Grace Baptist Church.  Pray visitors will experience a welcoming and loving church family and that the church will be attentive to their needs.  Praise the Lord the church has an excellent relationship with Saint Oliver’s National School!  Recently the principal of the school told Mark they (Grace Baptist Church) will always have a place for their church at the school.  This is a blessed answer to prayer since they had to pay rent at their previous location years ago.  Pray for the couple that Mark and Lona are counseling.  Pray also for the emphasis on their ministry in Killarney Ireland here at VGBC.  Pray new church family members here at VGBC will be moved to start consistently praying for Mark and Lona and for needed revival in Ireland.

Oswald and Amanda:  Much of their time since they arrived in their new country has been in lockdown mode due to the resurgence of the Coronavirus.  Pray they can continue to be in good health.  They have been creative with their children, playing games and playing outside in their courtyard.  Pray they will be committed language students and that they will be ready to carry on conversations when the lockdown is lifted.  Pray their people group will ask questions about Christianity when their Buddhist beliefs fail them.

This Sunday, June 20^th, we begin the VGBC Virtual Missions Conference.  There won’t be any in-person meetings or seminars.  Instead, each week there will be a short 15 minute video you can access from the VGBC missions web page at Impact – Vista Grande Baptist Church (vgbc.org).  This week our featured missionaries are Mark and Lona Webb at Grace Baptist Church in Killarney, Ireland.  Please take a moment to watch their video.

Week of 20 June 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Jonathan Ferre: (COS) Jonathan is in US Army Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, near Columbia, South Carolina.  He is a chaplaincy candidate for the US Army Reserves.  Pray for Myrna, his wife, and sons Jonatan and Peniel while he is away.  Pray for the pastor who is leading Garden Ranch Baptist Church in bi-lingual services.

Mercy’s Gate: (COS) Mercy’s Gate is a Christian agency which seeks to offer relief, the hope of the Gospel and a vision for restoration to those people who are in crisis.  The Mercy’s Gate ministry touches the community in various ways.  They maintain a food pantry and can provide family funds for paying bills such as rent and mortgage assistance or a utility bill.  Mercy’s Gate also assists families with medical needs and transportation.  Their desire is to show the working poor in Colorado Springs the love of Christ.  Mercy’s Gate invites churches and individuals to partner with them with financial support but also can use volunteers to help in their food pantry and other areas.  Please pray for Jason Dilger, their Executive Director, their staff and volunteers that they will be used as Jesus’ hands and feet to Colorado Springs.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (Johannesburg, South Africa) The team in South Africa have been on the ground over two weeks.  Each team member resoundingly says that people are hungry for the truth.  Some team members taught English as a second language to some Muslim students.  Brooks stated the high light of his last week was teaching English to a Muslim gentleman while the man taught Brooks Arabic – their common language was Spanish.  This past week the team handed out 10 Bibles to people they were speaking to.  Some of the recipients were believers and some were not.  Pray those who were not believers will read with hunger for the truth.  Pray those believers who received a Bible will be refreshed with truth and wisdom.  Pray our team will stay well and safe as they step out of their comfort zones and share the Gospel with non-believers.

Dusty and Ashley: (Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are in the US for a brief stay visiting relatives.  Please pray their travel will be safe and that they get to see their family and enjoy each other.  Pray for the future school season this fall as they will both be teaching.  Pray for unity for the staff and faculty as they come together to make an impact in the student’s lives.

Herb and  Celeste: The Zoom Rooms on June 8^th went well.  The next ones will be on July 13^th, register here…virtual – EastAsianPeoples.com.  Herb and Celeste are in the US visiting family – pray for family health and fellowship.  Pray they can keep up with their duties while here in the US.  The teammate who received visa clearance to travel to their ministry area is now on hold due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.  Pray they will not be discouraged and will be able to travel soon.  A recent college graduate wants to serve on H and C’s team for a semester opportunity of sharing the Gospel.  Because of COVID-19 travel restrictions her travel has been postponed to Spring 2022.  Pray the Lord will use her where He wants her and that she is obedient.

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Robbyn fell almost two weeks ago injuring a hip and requiring stitches over one eye.  The eye is healing but the hip is still painful.  Thank the Lord there are no broken bones.  Additionally, there are important issues she is handling in Africa that has taken much of her time.  Robbyn’s daughter’s father-in-law is dying of cancer.  The son-in-law and son have gone to California to see the father-in-law so Robbyn has been caring for four of the great grandsons for the past week and will for another week.  Please pray for her and her family as they are all stretched as thin as can be!  Pray for Robbyn’s hip and eye to heal.  Pray for the return of her son-in-law so the grandsons can be with their mom and dad again.  Pray for Robbyn’s work in Africa that the Lord would provide wisdom in her dealings in that part of the Reach Beyond ministry.  Pray for Robbyn’s mother, Imogene that the new medications will help her.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord for good attendance at Grace Baptist Church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evening Bible studies. Everyone is happy to be back together! Also thank the Lord Ian has finished one exam and has one more to go before he is done.  Mark and Lona are fully vaccinated and hope to travel back to the US next summer!  Continue to pray for the staff, faculty and students at Saint Oliver’s National School and praise the Lord for the school allowing Grace Baptist Church to meet in their building on Sunday mornings.

Oswald and Amanda:  Their time in their new country has been marred by pandemic restrictions.  Currently they cannot travel in their town unless they are going to the grocery store.  Praise – O and A are able to attend their language tutor sessions on-line.  Pray they will be good students and that the Lord will give them more opportunities to share and speak the language.  Pray the Lord would use the pandemic to turn their people group away from their traditional Buddhist beliefs and to trust in Creator God.  Pray a cancelled backpacking trip planned for May/June to share Christ with villagers can be rescheduled later this year.

Please plan to attend the Equip America workshop on June 19^th at VGBC.  It will be taught by Evangelism Explosion President, John Sorenson and National Director, Randall Wood.  Lunch will be included and then in the afternoon people will have the opportunity to share Christ.

Week of 13 June 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Jonathan Ferre: (COS) Jonathan is in US Army Chaplain School at Fort Jackson, near Columbia, South Carolina.  He is a chaplaincy candidate for the US Army Reserves.  Pray for Myrna, his wife, and sons Jonatan and Peniel while he is away.  Pray for the pastor who is leading Garden Ranch Baptist Church in bi-lingual services.

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Families and church groups can make a huge impact at the Springs Rescue Mission.  There is an on-line application all volunteers must fill out.  Group leaders should schedule a tour with the Springs Rescue Mission.  Then each member of the group should volunteer for a shift to work.  Consult the list of volunteer opportunities.  Pray for the Springs Rescue Mission staff that they can minister to the needs of their guests with love and grace and show each guest they are of great worth before God!  Send questions to volunteer@springsrescuemission.org and get started today volunteering your time.  This is a great place for Sunday school classes to show the love of Christ.

Life Network: (COS) Praise God the Walk for Life fundraiser goal of $430,000 has been met and exceeded!  Over 2,000 people met at Memorial Park to participate and another 1,000 walkers and runners walked and ran across Colorado Springs!  Life Network has some employment opportunities.  Pray for the right people to fill these positions: Life Steps Assistant Director in the Fountain Valley office, Shift Supervisor for the Life Network Family Thrift Store, Part-time Staff Nurse in the Colorado Springs pregnancy centers, and full-time receptionist in the Fountain Valley pregnancy center.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (Johannesburg, South Africa) Our South Africa team has been on the ground for over a week.  They are staying in an air BNB near their hosts in Johannesburg.  Their hosts are urban church strategists who are trying to plant three new churches in the next five years.  The team has canvased and evangelized the area where the strategists are trying to start the first church.  This area is ridden with poverty and hopelessness.  They’ve also evangelized and held Bible studies in the city center.  They have helped a local church teaching English as a second language.  Of the 15 million people in and around Johannesburg, there are 300 different languages and more than fifty unreached people groups.  Pray this team will be emboldened by Holy Spirit to share Christ with these people.

Ken and Barbie: Most of their team is still waiting on clearance to enter their ministry country.  Pray COVID-19 cases will drop, allowing countries to open their doors and that missionaries can gain access to their assigned areas.  Pray for the health of these missionaries – some of them have children and the logistics of an international move is demanding and rigorous.  Pray for K and B as they enjoy their last few months of their home assignment.  They have been bonding with two precious granddaughters – pray for Grandpa’s and Grandma’s stamina as they keep up with these two girls!

Herb and  Celeste: Herb and Celeste are in the US to visit family.  Right now they are in a routine ten day quarantine for international travelers.  Pray for their brief time in the US.  Pray their reunion with family will be sweet!  Continue to pray for their team members as they work on electronic/virtual projects to give more visibility to International Mission Board missionaries in the Pacific Rim area.

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Robbyn’s mother, Imogene, saw a neurologist in mid-May.  She had an extensive evaluation resulting in changes to her medication.  The doctor hopes this new medication along with physical therapy and a more sophisticated walker will improve her quality of life.  Pray Imogene’s response to the new medication will have the desired results.  The Christian radio programming which reaches into Arabic countries continues to turn hearts to Christ.  Recently a thirty year old gentleman replied to a Reach Beyond partner’s web site acknowledging he had questions about Jesus.  In the days ahead a ministry partner reached out to the man and asked him how they could help and listened to his questions.  The following day, the ministry partner followed up with another call.  A conversation continued over several days and resulted in the man praying to receive Jesus as his Savior.  This man continues to get answers to questions about Jesus, Christianity, discipleship and the Bible.  Pray for this man and many others who have listened to Christian programming in the privacy of their home over radio and the Internet.  Pray for the ministry partners who reach out to these people and forge a friendship with those with questions.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) – Praise the Lord for a visitor who attended service last week. Also praise God for Wednesday night Bible studies through the book of Revelation.  Please pray the advertisement in the local Killarney magazine will bring people to their church. Pray for a church member who is dealing with health and stress issues.  Pray for revival in Killarney, County Kerry and all of Ireland.  Pray Irish men will heed the call to preach the Gospel and to plant churches! 

Oswald and Amanda:  Their time in their new country has been marred by pandemic restrictions.  Currently they cannot get out of their home unless they are going to the grocery store.  Many people are concerned about the virus so engaging people on the street in conversation is difficult.  They were able to secure on-line language tutors and they have used their time indoors to continue their language study.  Pray they will be good students and continue perfecting language acquisition.  Pray the virus would subside affording them opportunities to meet and make new friends.

Week of 6 Jun 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Pray for the staff and volunteers as they share the love, hope and salvation that can only be found through faith in Christ.  Pray for Godly wisdom and sensitivity for their staff who seek to provide the mission’s clients with social services.

Emily Skinner: (COS) The April/May COMPASS (adults) and accompanying CHIPs (children) classes went well this past term.  The class graduated families destined to serve in 17 different nations.  As always, Emily’s little charges of two and three year olds were willing and moldable to learn how to help their parents when they serve overseas.  Here’s a comment from one family who participated.  “There has been much growth in our family. The program has prepared us for our journey in ways that we didn’t even know that we would need guidance in.”  There are open positions of service at Mission Training International (MTI), pray for God’s candidates to apply and that the positions will be filled in God’s timing.  Please pray for Emily’s back pain and for correct treatment.

Kevin Green: (COS) On June 19, VGBC will be hosting an event called Equip America. The goal of this event is to get area pastors and church leaders excited and passionate to share the Gospel.  The training will be taught by Evangelism Explosion President, John Sorenson, and National Director, Randall Wood.  After the morning training the entire group will have lunch and then fan out across Colorado Springs to share Christ!  Please pray for the pastors and church leaders being trained to have open hearts to learn.  Pray they will make sharing Christ a passion in their churches.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Herb and  Celeste: Please pray for their friends on the mainland as churches have come under increased scrutiny. Family churches can only meet in small numbers and their old international church now must turn in a list of everyone who attends their church to the government.  Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions newly approved teammates are still unable to travel to H and C’s location. H and C left their country this past week. Pray their time in the US is beneficial and restful!

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) Last year VGBC made a contribution to an organization which needed a generator to allow 24 hour Christian radio programming in Turkey and neighboring countries.  Recently the radio station staff shared a family who has been listening to a foreign language broadcast came to faith as a result of these programs.  Their decision to come to faith in Jesus has had consequences.  Their people group does not condone Christianity and so this family has had to leave their city and assume new identities.  God has been faithful providing them fellow believers who have assisted and encouraged them.  It is said the father in this family is studying God’s word and growing!  Pray for this family (the Lord knows who they are) that the Lord will protect them and nourish them in their new walk with the One True God!

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: Praise God – Brooks and Jaymee (and team) are safely in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Pray for the team’s health and safety as they make themselves available to develop relationships and share Christ with those who do not know Him personally.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord Mark received both virus vaccinations and no adverse reactions.  Please pray for revival in Killarney, County Kerry and all of Ireland. Please pray the advertisement in the local magazine will bring interested people to Grace Baptist Church. Pray for the couple Mark and Lona are counseling. Ian had his math exams this past week.  Pray the government will continue to lift COVID-19 restrictions.

Oswald and Amanda:  Pray for them and their new teammates as they work together to meet their people group, learn the language and customs and develop relationships with them.  Pray for Oswald and Amanda as they raise their children.  Pray the Lord would bless their marriage.

Week of 30 May 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Emily Skinner: (COS) The April/May COMPASS (adults) and accompanying CHIPs (children) classes went well this past term.  The class graduated families destined to serve in 17 different nations.  As always, Emily’s little charges of two and three year olds were willing and moldable to learn how to help their parents when they serve overseas.  Here’s a comment from one family who participated.  “There has been much growth in our family. The program has prepared us for our journey in ways that we didn’t even know that we would need guidance in.”  There are open positions of service at Mission Training International (MTI), pray for God’s candidates to apply and that the positions will be filled in God’s timing.  Please pray for Emily’s back pain and for correct treatment.

Kevin Green: (COS) On June 19, VGBC will be hosting an event called Equip America. The goal of this event is to get area pastors and church leaders excited and passionate to share the Gospel.  The training will be taught by Evangelism Explosion President, John Sorenson, and National Director, Randall Wood.  After the morning training the entire group will have lunch and then fan out across Colorado Springs to share Christ!  Please pray for the pastors and church leaders being trained to have open hearts to learn.  Pray they will make sharing Christ a passion in their churches.

Life Network: (COS) A fourteen year old girl recently came to one of the Life Network clinics for a pregnancy test.  The staff immediately noticed the “sing song” way this girl was approaching her potential pregnancy.  She was handling a potential life-changing pregnancy as if she had skinned her knee.  One of the veteran client advocates really connected with this young woman.  Her pregnancy test was negative which relieved her, but the conversation with the client advocate continued.  She assured this young woman that she was valuable to God and how she could make valuable decisions to protect that value.  When the young woman left the clinic she was a believer in Jesus Christ!  Saturday June 5^th is the Walk for Life fundraiser.  Every dollar raised makes a life-saving difference.  Every $50 raised by a walker or runner covers the cost of one life-saving ultrasound for a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy.  And 85 percent of the women who receive ultrasounds at the Life Network pregnancy centers choose life after meeting their babies!

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Africa/Middle East) As Robbyn has been getting acquainted with the new countries she oversees as the financial administrator for the entire continent of Africa, she has discovered Vox Radio.  Vox Radio is a Christian station in Liberia who targets young people.  Since the end of the Liberian civil war over 60 percent of the Liberian population is now under 25 years of age.  The future leadership and the future of Christianity in Liberia rests on these young people.  Vox Radio has children’s programming about Jesus.  There are programs for young women which answer questions about families, relationships and day to day family living.  There are Christian dramas produced by Christian young people in the area.  The radio station wants to be used as the hands and feet of Jesus.  Pray for this radio station and its outreach to the young people of Liberia.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: Praise God – Brooks and Jaymee left for Johannesburg, South Africa this past Thursday.  Pray the Lord will use them in a way which brings Glory to Himself and the gospel message.  Pray the people they contact and witness to will ask Jesus into their hearts.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Grace Baptist Church had thirty people (three on Zoom) attend their second “in person” meeting of 2021 last Sunday!  And soon they will start meeting in person on Wednesday evenings for Bible study.  Please continue to pray for the couple Mark is counseling and also the families in their church whose family members are not believers.  Pray for the staff and teachers at St. Oliver’s National School and for revival in Killarney and in Ireland as a whole.

Week of 23 May 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Kevin Green: (COS) On June 19, VGBC will be hosting an event called Equip America. The goal of this event is to get area pastors and church leaders excited and passionate to share the Gospel.  The training will be taught by Evangelism Explosion President, John Sorenson, and National Director, Randall Wood.  After the morning training the entire group will have lunch and then fan out across Colorado Springs to share Christ!  Please pray for this entire event on June 19^th.  Pray for the pastors and church leaders being trained to have open hearts to learn.  Pray they will make sharing Christ a passion in their churches.

Life Network: (COS) Saturday June 5^th is the Walk for Life fundraiser.  Every dollar raised makes a life-saving difference.  Every $50 raised by a walker or runner covers the cost of one life-saving ultrasound for a woman facing an unplanned pregnancy.  And 85 percent of the women who receive ultrasounds at the Life Network pregnancy centers choose life after meeting their babies!  Log in or simply donate at elifenetwork.com.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: Praise God – Brooks and Jaymee are headed to South Africa.  Pray the Lord will reveal details of this trip and what their ministry will look like.  Pray for them as they prepare their hearts and minds for ministry.  Pray for their funding to come through.  If you can help fund a portion of this ministry outreach, please designate missions funds in a pink envelope from our foyer brochure rack earmarked for summer FOCUS ministry.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Next year Ashley will move back into the classroom as a music teacher in the elementary school.  It has been ten years since she taught in a classroom.  Pray for her as she prepares for this new role.

Herb and Celeste: Pray for the many details which need to fall into place before their return to the US next month.  Pray for the process to renew their resident cards and receive COVID vaccinations.

K and B:  Pray for their teammates as they are in various phases of waiting for visas into their assigned country.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord – this past Sunday was Grace Baptist Church’s first “in person” meeting in 2021!  Thirty-five people attended their service.  Ian had a lovely graduation ceremony!  Retail stores are reopening and restrictions are gradually relaxing.  Pray for new and better ways to connect with the Killarney community.  Pray Grace Baptist’s advertisement in the local magazine will bring people to Grace Baptist.  Pray for the staff and teachers at St. Oliver’s National School

Robbyn Booker: (Southern Spain) Last month Robbyn told us about the devastating fire at the Rohingya refugee camp on the Bangladesh border.  Since the fire it has been difficult to get medical teams into the area to assess the situation.  One partner is a nurse we will call Hannah.  Hannah teaches young Rohingya women about prenatal education such as nutrition, pregnancy complications, childbirth and breastfeeding.  The medical program also allows Hannah to make weekly home visits to these women to simply “do life” with them – which means cook, eat, play with their babies, go to the market.  Most of these women are not allowed to leave their homes, so Hannah really becomes a friend who can share Christ with them.  Pray for these Rohingya women and the relationship they have with Hannah and others like her who want to share the love of Christ.

Thank you for helping our church reach the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goal of $35,000!  The final amount received was $35,221!  This is the first time in recent times we reached and surpassed this goal.  Thank you, church family, for encouraging missionaries and church planting efforts in the US and Canada!

Week of 16 May 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Thank You, VGBC, for allowing Christian Challenge (CC) to use your facility for Bible study gatherings.  CC will continue to meet for study this summer but at the Slack’s home.  The FOCUS team continues to prepare for their overseas mission trip.  The sending organization will make a final decision soon on what country the team will be ministering in based on whether the country is open to receive travelers and their in-country support.  Pray fervently that this team will be able to serve overseas!  The Slacks will soon be selecting student leadership for the next semester.  Pray the Lord would bring them the right leaders willing to serve.  Matthew and Cassie Allan will join the Christian Challenge staff in late May.  Pray for their support raising.  They have found a home to rent.  Pray the Lord will use this couple mightily at Christian Challenge.

Life Network: (COS) There are new mothers in the Pikes Peak area who just celebrated their first Mother’s Day because of Life Network.  Recently a young woman came to one of their pregnancy centers for an ultrasound.  The young mom told the Life Network volunteer she had made an appointment for an abortion.  The Life Network team prayed for this woman and her baby.  The ultrasound revealed the vibrant life inside her!  The young woman asked questions about her baby’s health and her own.  The Life Network volunteer shared the fact the mom was asking questions about her baby revealed she was already a great mom!  The young mother later shared it just was not right to go through with the abortion.  Days later this young mother came back to the Life Network clinic with a thank you card signed by her and her boyfriend.  They were so grateful for their advocate’s kindness, compassion and reassurance that made the difference in their decision to keep the baby and step into parenthood with confidence.  Pray for numerous couples like this one – that they will choose life – that they will experience the love of Christ.

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, CO) Isaac and Becca are just back from the Collegiate Summit in Nashville.  Pray this time was a restful and insightful time for them and the Christian Challenge ministry at the University of Northern Colorado.  Pray for them as they develop and invest in their leadership team of eight students who will return in the fall.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Oswald and Amanda:  They are finally in a home they can call their own.  Praise the Lord for their supervisors and team who have helped them know where to shop and find the things needed to set up their home!  Many of the team families have children and O and A’s boys have enjoyed playing with them and making new friends.  They are getting involved in their neighborhood and with their people group.  Amanda is participating in a lady’s Bible study – pray for relationships to grow.   Oswald is partnering with other ministry people and learning how to share the Gospel message with the target people they are trying to reach.  Their country has had an increase in COVID-19 cases and now is in lockdown.  Pray for O, A and family, for their safety and wisdom in how to navigate this new place and witness to their people in the midst of a lockdown.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (COS) Pray for the details to their overseas missions trip to come together.  The exact location is being decided soon.  They are both trying to raise $5,000 for this trip.  Pray for them as they get ready to minister wherever the Lord is leading.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are previous VGBC members.  They both teach music at Gyeonggi Suwon International School.  Some of Dusty’s students have come to him for guidance on issues they are dealing with.  One student shared she was struggling with an eating disorder.  Pray for Dusty as he counsels this girl.  Pray she will be released from this addiction.  The Jackson family will be returning to the US for a short three week visit this summer.  Contact Doug Wamble if you would like to help them defer some of their travel costs.  An international, round trip ticket for a family of six is huge!

Herb and Celeste: This past week they had three virtual events – pray each event served the Lord’s purpose in strengthening the body of Christ and encouraging believers to be more involved in missions as individual believers and as a church!  Praise the Lord – teammates have received approval to move to H and C’s location and join their team!  H and C are leading an English Corner group for the next three Thursday evenings.  Pray each of these evenings will be a time to practice English and prompt spiritual conversations that encourage believers and “not yet” believers!

K and B:  Pray for their teammates as they are in various phases of waiting for visas into their assigned country.  Only one of the seven units comprising K and B’s team are actually in country.  Pray the COVID-19 virus will subside and borders to be accessible.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Their son, Ian, graduated from secondary school this past week!  Thank you for praying for him over the past ten years.  Please continue to pray for him as he transitions to university where he plans to attend Munster Technical University to study animation.  Praise the Lord many COVID restrictions have been lifted!  This means retail stores are opening and churches can resume meeting in person in limited numbers using social distancing.  Grace Baptist Church will meet in person on Sunday, May 16^th.  Pray for a couple Mark has been counseling.  Pray for revival – that the Lord would move in people’s hearts throughout Killarney and Ireland!

Robbyn Booker: (Southern Spain) For the last few months we have been praying for the pastors and their churches in Southern Spain to partner with Radio Vida which transmits Christian programming on the FM spectrum in Southern Spain.  Please pray for the missionary staff and pastors as they draw up legal documents between Reach Beyond, Radio Vida and the pastors as they bring this partnership into a legal reality.  Pray for a unified spirit amongst all participants.  Pray they will all have a singleness of purpose to reach the lost for Christ and to encourage believers in this area.

Prayer For Prisoners International is holding a Golf Benefit Friday, May 14^th at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club.  To register or for more details contact the PFPI office at 719.275.6971 or Rick at 719.371.0591.  You may also email Rick at rick@prayerforprisoners.org.  Please see the Prayer for Prisoners web site about this event at PFPI Golf Benefit (prayerforprisoners.org).

Week of 9 May 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) This has been a great semester!  The Christian Challenge (CC) leadership continues to meet new students and see spiritual growth.  This growth is so encouraging.  It is time to begin selecting leadership for the fall semester.  Pray the Lord would lead them to the right students and pray these students will be willing to accept this responsibility.  Brooks Salgado will be returning next year.  Also pray for a new couple (Matthew and Cassie) as they come on staff at CC and move to COS.  Pray for their fundraising.  They hope to move here by end of May.  Five of their students/staff will participate in missions trips this summer.  Pray for open borders, fundraising, airfare and expeditious visa/passport processing.

Life Network: (COS) Life Network is celebrating the mothers in our lives!  Pray for their clients who come in for pregnancy tests and ultrasounds.  Pray for God’s intervention as they see their little one on the screen realizing they are already mothers.  Pray the Life Network team demonstrates compassion and encouragement as their clients go through a series of emotions to process their next steps.  Pray for the moms who go through Life Network’s parenting education program.  Often they are on this parenting journey with very little support outside of Life Network.  Pray these moms feel validated, encouraged and equipped in their motherhood journey.

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Pray for the spiritual health ministries at Springs Rescue Mission.  Pray for Sunday morning services led by Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  Pray for these believers as they teach from the Gospels and pray for residents at the Rescue Mission.  Pray for other ministries such as the Monday and Thursday morning Bible study and the Monday evening Bible study.  Pray these ministries will impact the homeless of Colorado Springs for Christ.  Pray for those who minister in Jesus’ name that they convey the genuine love of Christ.

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, CO) They had their last Challenge night Tuesday, April 27^th and this past Saturday, May 1^st, was the last event of the semester.  Pray for their students as they break for the summer.  One student is participating in an overseas missions trip.  They have already started plans for the fall semester.  They should have a leadership team of eight students returning in the fall.  The University of Northern Colorado has already made a decision to come back “in person” in the fall.  Pray for their wisdom as they make their plans for the fall semester.  Eight of their students are graduating.  Pray these students will be strong and resilient in their walk in the Lord as they take their faith into the work place.  Pray for Isaac and Becca as they attend Collegiate Summit meetings in Nashville 5-9 May.  Pray for them to be able to recharge by themselves.  Pray for marriage renewal, fun and laughter in the midst of fellowship and learning.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are previous VGBC members.  They both teach music at Gyeonggi Suwon International School.  The week of 26 Apr, their elementary school grades held their spiritual emphasis week.  The COVID-19 cases have been spiking – they were concerned they might have to move into a hybrid (distance learning) protocol before ending the spiritual emphasis week.  Praise the Lord they were able to finish the week in person!  All the students received Bibles and were shown how the Bible is the source of the answers to their questions.  They were also given tools on how to navigate their Bibles.  It has been rewarding to see these students in the halls reading their Bibles.  Pray these students will find the Bible is the source of all truth.  The Jackson family will be returning to the US for a short three week visit this summer.  Contact Doug Wamble if you would like to help them defer some of their travel costs.  An international, round trip ticket for a family of six is huge!

Herb and Celeste: There is a prayer zoom room coming up on May 11^th at 7:00 PM Eastern Time.  Pray for participants and all technical aspects to go flawlessly.  Pray for divine appointments that people would trust in Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Pray for two teammates’ visa paperwork to process quickly without problem.  Pray for another teammate to pass a language examination so they can join Herb and Celeste’s team.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord meeting restrictions are being loosened!  Grace Baptist Church will meet in person on Sunday, May 16^th – the first time since December 2020!  Pray the local magazine advertisement pricks people’s interest in Grace Baptist.  Pray for Lona as she prepares the children’s Sunday school lesson.  Pray for Mark as he prepares and finishes preaching through Isaiah.  Pray for revival – that the Lord would move in people’s hearts throughout Killarney and Ireland.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (COS) They have been approved to attend this summer’s Asian short term missions project.  They are both trying to raise $5,000 for this trip.  Pray for them as they get ready to minister in Asia.  Brooks will be the team leader.  Four other students will join the team from other schools.  Pray for the missionaries their team is supporting.  COVID -19 precautions will likely cause this project to be very fluid.  Pray for a valid ministry to the people in this area.

Week of 2 May 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Life Network: (COS) Join Life Network’s Walk for Life, Saturday, June 5^th and help raise funds for this ministry!  This year you can walk at Memorial Park or in your own neighborhoods.  They will hold a 5K Fun Run at 8:00 AM, followed by a kid’s race at 9:00 AM.  The Walk for Life goal is to raise funds for the ministry, educate community members about Life Network and make a strong life-affirming statement to our community.  Pray for the success of this event.  Pray the people of Colorado Springs will make a bold stand for the sanctity of life.  Life Network hopes to raise $430,000!  Register for this event on their website at elifenetwork.com. 

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Pray for the spiritual health ministries at Springs Rescue Mission.  Pray for Sunday morning services led by Christians of Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  Pray for these believers as they teach from the Gospels and pray for residents at the Rescue Mission.  Pray for other ministries such as the Monday and Thursday morning Bible study and the Monday evening Bible study.  Pray these ministries will impact the homeless of Colorado Springs for Christ.  Pray for those who minister in Jesus’ name that they convey the genuine love of Christ.

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, CO) Pray for Isaac and Becca as they parent three year old “Little Dude.”  He has been a part of their household for the past two months and he has brought such joy to their lives.  Pray the Lord will help them as they parent this little boy.  Pray for the upcoming core team meeting.  This meeting brings together Christian Challenge leadership who has demonstrated they are not the typical college student.  They have testified their college experience is not all about them but about serving others.  This leadership cadre has obediently stepped out of their comfort zone and has responded to Christ to make His name known to the lost at the University of Northern Colorado. 

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) Pray for Robbyn as she continues to get a grasp on her new duties as the main administrative and financial professional for Reach Beyond’s ministries in the Middle East, North Africa and now the new responsibility for the entire African continent!  There has been a learning curve adding central and southern Africa to her plate.  There are different currencies and exchange rates and she has had to consult Google Maps to gain an understanding where these new ministry areas are.

Herb and Celeste: The prayer zoom rooms from April went very well!  Thank you for “attending!”  The next one will be May 11^th and will focus on the big country and its large neighbor.  This will be a one hour time of prayer concentrating on needs and updates directly from the field.  Register for this next virtual time of prayer at this web address… virtual – EastAsianPeoples.com …pray the Lord is honored and that there are no technical glitches.  The new English corner which met in their local church went very well.  Celeste introduced a new evangelism tool – everyone is excited about meeting again to test the tool!  Pray they will encourage this local fellowship and clearly present the Gospel in their English discussions.  Their new teammate’s visa paperwork is now in country – pray they are cleared to enter country soon.  Pray for the details surrounding H and C’s return to the US this summer to fall into place.

K and B:  The eight units which make up K and B’s team are making progress entering their countries.  One couple just came out of quarantine and is now in their ministry country.  Pray the other seven units will gain access to their ministry assigned areas with no complications.  K and B are enjoying their granddaughters – pray for relaxation and fun grand parenting!

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Travel restrictions have been lifted within Kerry county where they live.  Pray for more loosening of restrictions as the COVID-19 virus subsides.  Ian interviewed at Muster Technical University two weeks ago – he finds out the results of the interview this week (week of April 26^th).  He has several tests until the end of school, then will have the Leaving Certificate exams.  Pray he is not stressed and does his best.  Pray the Irish government will allow churches to meet.  Pray for revival in Killarney, Kerry county Ireland.  Many spouses of Grace Baptist Church members are not believers – pray for their salvation.

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (COS) They have been approved to attend this summer’s Asian short term missions project.  They are both trying to raise $5,000 for this trip.  Pray for them as they get ready to minister in Asia.  Brooks will be the team leader.  Four other students will join the team from two other schools.  Pray for the missionaries their team is supporting.  COVID -19 precautions will likely cause this project to be very fluid.  Pray for a valid ministry to the people in this area.

Week of 25 Apr 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Brooks Salgado and Jaymee Collins: (COS) They have been approved to attend this summer’s Asian short term missions project.  They are both trying to raise $5,000 for this trip.  Pray for them as they get ready to minister in Asia.  Brooks will be the team leader.  Four other students will join the team from two other schools.  Pray for the missionaries their team is supporting.  COVID -19 precautions will likely cause this project to be very fluid.  Pray for a valid ministry to the people in this area.

LifeNetwork: (COS) A huge praise: the LifeNetwork thrift store has expanded by 40% – now there is nearly 5,000 square feet to house the gently used items for their clients.  This thrift store is located at 5406 North Academy Blvd.  Also, please plan to walk for life on Saturday June 5^th!  The LifeNetwork pregnancy center in Fountain, Colorado will soon be open.  Thank you for donating to this incredible cause.  It is a vote for life!

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Thank the Lord for the completion of their welcome center.  Springs Rescue Mission is grateful for city officials, donors, community partners, volunteers and staff.  Please pray for the leadership team for wisdom as they lead this ministry.  Pray for clients, guests and residents that they will cooperate with staff in accomplishing their desires for good health, housing and work!

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, CO) This year they will be losing two of their core team members as they graduate from school. But the exciting part is they are welcoming three new core team members to the campus ministry. These new members have gone through a process of applying, interviewing and praying about their commitment for the next year.  Please pray for these students as they have already demonstrated faithfulness, availability, and hearts for people to know Jesus as their Savior.  Also please pray for Becca as she takes care of little dude who is three years old.  Pray for her patience and grace as she desires to teach him that he is loved and safe.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

K and B:  Continue to pray for the eight units on their team as they are trying to get into their ministry country.  Pray their visa paperwork will find favor with their governments where they are applying.  Pray for K and B as they have fun with their granddaughters and give Mom and Dad a break from them.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Ian’s interview last week with Munster Technical University went well.  Praise the Lord – there is a slight loosening of travel restrictions in Killarney.  Grace Baptist has placed an ad in a local magazine for people to receive a copy of the Gospel of Luke.  Pray people will contact the church for this booklet and for the interest generated about spiritual things.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) As most of you know, Robbyn is the main administrative and financial professional staff member at Reach Beyond who keeps the Middle Eastern, North African and now the entire African ministry running smoothly.  It is a full time job. In the past year several of her senior donors have gone home to the Lord!  She needs some replacement supporters to come alongside her to keep her on the mission field.  Please pray about how we can keep her in this vital role as the people she administratively supports are ministering to a critical region!  

Herb and Celeste: Thank the Lord for the virtual technology that has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Last week’s monthly East Asian prayer zoom rooms exceeded expectations – praise the Lord and thank you for participating! The next prayer zoom rooms will be on May 11.  Pray for H and C’s return to the US this summer. Pray for vaccinations and details to come together.  Pray for their teammate’s application for visas.  The teammates are being asked for additional documents not normally requested.  Pray there will be no more issues.

This coming Sunday (11 Apr) is the last Sunday we will collect the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  Thank you for support of this vital offering!

Week of 11 Apr 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Jonathan Ferre: (COS) The work at their church continues. The men continue to meet monthly to encourage each other and the women have done so as well.  Their church takes every opportunity to share together as a family in the faith.  This past January their son Jonatan celebrated his ninth birthday and Myrna recently published a new devotional book for women based on the book of Psalms.  Peniel has found a new hobby that he enjoys – chess.  Jonathan is now a chaplain candidate in the Army reserves and will go to training this summer for three months at Fort Jackson in Columbia, South Carolina.  During this time their church will meet with the Garden Ranch congregation and services will be bilingual.  Pray for Myrna and the family while he is out of town during this training.  Jonatan has autism and is becoming more of a challenge each day for Jonathan and Myrna.  Pray for their wisdom and patience as they parent him each day.  Pray for a miracle in this boy’s life!

Emily Skinner: (COS) Emily returned to the recent COMPASS and CHIPs program where 28 missionaries and their 13 children have been training for overseas ministry.  Emily has been caring for and training two precious girls for their part of their parent’s ministry.  They are slated to minister in Argentina and Indonesia.  The entire class of missionaries will deploy to 15 countries around the world.  Please pray for these families and their effectiveness on the mission field.  Pray for Emily as she ministers to families and as she raises her own financial support.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) Because of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions, the Reach Beyond missionary in Southern Spain who is responsible for Radio Vida FM has not been able to connect with local pastors until recently.  Now that those restrictions have been lifted the missionary has met area pastors to engage them on how they can become the principle resource for programming.  Pray the Lord will use this programming to encourage Christians and also to bring others searching for Jesus to know Him more fully.

Oswald and Amanda: They are now in their new ministry country.  Pray for them as they get settled in their new city.  Pray the Lord would help them stay well after the many hours of travel – several airplanes, airports and cars/buses.  Pray they will assimilate well into their new surroundings.  Pray they will be able to set up their new home.  Pray for unity of their new team as they discover best ways to engage their new people group and their language.

K and B: Pray for their team members as they apply for visas into their ministry countries.  Pray they can all be in country by August 2021.  Pray for K and B as they hike and relax here in the US.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Who would’ve thought Grace Baptist Church would be meeting for a second Easter Sunday on Zoom?  Pray the government will reduce restrictions and allow churches to meet in person again.  Praise the Lord citizens can now travel within the county and they are able to gather outside in small groups.  Pray the Holy Spirit would move in the hearts of the people in Killarney, County Kerry and all of Ireland.  Pray the Lord would bring a revival across Ireland!

Herb and Celeste: Two Uber drivers on Easter Sunday told H and C about their knowledge of Jesus Christ!  One became a believer over ten years ago and shared how difficult it is for his people to go against cultural heritage.  But he also shared about the amazing difference Jesus has made in his life!  The other Uber driver confessed he had never heard of Jesus until H and C’s ride with him!  Pray for him – the Lord knows his name!  Praise the Lord, the all-day online training for missionaries went well!  And the beta test for the East Asia Prayer Zoom Room went very well!  Thank the Lord for H and C’s team and for the use of this technology which brings team members from several countries into one “room.”  Their new teammates are waiting on visa paperwork approval.  Pray for rapid approval.

So far we have collected $16,531 for the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  The church goal is $35,000.  There are only two more Sundays to collect this special offering.  Please pray about your part of this vital offering!

Week of 4 Apr 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Emily Skinner: (COS) Emily returned to the recent COMPASS and CHIPs program where 28 missionaries and their 13 children have been training for overseas ministry.  Emily has been caring for and training two precious girls for their part of their parent’s ministry.  They are slated to minister in Argentina and Indonesia.  The entire class of missionaries will deploy to 15 countries around the world.  Please pray for these families and their effectiveness on the mission field.  Pray for Emily as she ministers to families and as she raises her own financial support.

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, Colorado) Isaac and Becca are VGBC-sent missionaries ministering as directors of Christian Challenge at the University of Northern Colorado.  Recently a young woman came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior as a result of the Christian Challenge ministry!  Pray for Mary as she continues to grow in the Lord.  Christian Challenge is beginning the Core Team application process for the upcoming year.  Pray the right students will be interested to apply.  Pray for Isaac and Becca’s wisdom as they select students to lead the ministry for the next two semesters.  Isaac and Becca have been taking care of their Foster son for the past seven weeks.  Pray they can parent him well as he works through his trauma.  Pray also for their relationship with the biological mother and that they can be a light leading her to Jesus and all those involved in the case.

Kevin Green: (COS) As of April 1^st, Kevin is taking on new responsibility at Evangelism Explosion as Western Regional Coordinator.  He will be responsible in growing the EE ministry in most of the western states.  Please pray for him as he develops more financial support.  He will be traveling to these states to encourage EE efforts in churches and developing more field workers to teach EE workshops throughout the western region of the US.  Pray for him as he takes on these new responsibilities.  Pray for the Equip America all day seminar in Colorado Springs coming up on June 26^th.  There will be several churches connected and receiving this simulcasted presentation.  Pray the attendees will receive the vision of sharing Christ with others and that this will be the start of revival in Colorado Springs.

LifeNetwork: (COS) LifeNetwork is opening a third pregnancy center in Fountain, Colorado.  They have raised $175,000 to fund the renovations and furnishings for this building that they recently purchased for this pregnancy center!  They would be very grateful for your partnership in the day-to-day operations of this third very important location.  Please pray for them and their leadership for protection and the Lord’s favor in this ministry.  Pray for building permits to be secured quickly to allow renovations to begin.  If you have a skill set to help this ministry please volunteer at this email address kellsworth@elifenetwork.com or call 719-355-1176.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Praise the Lord Kent and Elizabeth and their family are back home after camping out in a hotel/motel for several weeks while their home was repaired from water pipe damage!  It has been exhausting to live in such tight quarters with three children and a dog!  Pray the repairs to the home allow them to rest and spread out again in their home.  Pray for the Christian Challenge ministry.  Lift up the students who are busy raising money for their summer mission trips and pray for these missions to actually go!  Pray for visa applications to be quickly approved for all team players!

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Oswald and Amanda: They arrived in their ministry country this past week with all twenty bags of luggage!  Praise God for their safe arrival to the mission field.  Already they have been meeting teammates and surveying their minority group.  They are in a temporary apartment.  Pray for the details to come together – permanent living quarters, furnishings, shopping to stock the home and getting to meet the people group they want to meet.  Pray the Lord will give them opportunities and relationships to build on.  Oswald says the jet lag has been minimal – pray they will all be able to rest after so many hours of endless travel.

K and B:  Pray for the eight units who make up their team.  They are poised and ready to enter their countries for ministry.  Pray for the countries to open and pray for their paperwork.  Pray their paperwork would find super natural favor through the different governments that are involved.  Pray for these family’s health and wellness.  Pray for K and B’s health clearance to allow them to return to the mission field.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) Mbingo Baptist Hospital, in Mbingo Cameroon, part of the Cameroon Baptist Convention is in the process of building a radiation therapy building to hold two radiotherapy machines.  Reach Beyond Regional Director, Bill Cheung and his wife Emily are civil engineers and have provided the engineering design for this building.  When patients are treated at this facility they hear the clear Gospel message from a team of chaplains and through televised Christian programming and music.  The staff also hold daily worship meetings each morning when shifts begin.  Unfortunately a funding source for the materials of this building has stopped donating funds partly due to civil unrest in Cameroon.  When this building is completed it will be the only location in Cameroon to receive radiation treatment.  Please pray for donors to pick up the responsibility for these crucial donations!

Herb and Celeste: Pray for the virtual mission tours coming up in April.  Pray the Lord would use these tours to help Christ followers and churches here in the US see how they can be used in Asia.  Pray participants who watch these virtual tours will catch the vision and sense a call to go to Asia to help in ministry.  Pray churches will desire to get involved.  Pray Herb and Celeste and their team will have more opportunities to share Christ during the Easter season.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Pray the government of Ireland will loosen the restrictions soon so churches can meet personally again. Pray for Ian and his mental health to grow ever stronger! Praise God he and has two weeks off from school.  Pray young families will find a church home at Grace Baptist Church and help this congregation grow!

We will receive gifts designated to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering through mid-April (11 April).  Please pray about your part of this vital offering!

Week of 28 Mar 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Isaac and Becca Herold: (Greeley, Colorado) Isaac and Becca are VGBC-sent missionaries ministering as directors of Christian Challenge at the University of Northern Colorado.  Recently a young woman came to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior as a result of the Christian Challenge ministry!  Pray for Mary as she continues to grow in the Lord.  Christian Challenge is beginning the Core Team application process for the upcoming year.  Pray the right students will be interested to apply.  Pray for Isaac and Becca’s wisdom as they select students to lead the ministry for the next two semesters.  Isaac and Becca have been taking care of their Foster son for the past six weeks.  Pray they can parent him well as he works through his trauma.  Pray also for their relationship with the biological mother and that they can be a light leading her to Jesus and all those involved in the case.

Kevin Green: (COS) As of April 1^st, Kevin is taking on new responsibility at Evangelism Explosion as Western Regional Coordinator.  He will be responsible in growing the EE ministry in most of the western states.  Please pray for him as he develops more financial support.  He will be traveling to these states to encourage EE efforts in churches and developing more field workers to teach EE workshops throughout the western region of the US.  Pray for him as he takes on these new responsibilities.  Pray for the Equip America all day seminar in Colorado Springs coming up on June 26^th.  There will be several churches connected and receiving this simulcasted presentation.  Pray the attendees will get the vision of sharing Christ with others and that this will be the start of revival in Colorado Springs.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) The three students who applied to FOCUS (international missions for the summer) have been accepted!  A team has been formed with three other universities and has begun team meetings via Zoom to start team building.  Please pray for these students as they prepare for an overseas trip at a time when so many countries are aren’t open.  Pray they will be able to go!  Pray for their financial support raising.  Pray for the details to fall into place.  Pray for Brooks Salgado who is the team leader and overseeing all team training.  He will attend team leader training in Kansas on March 26-28.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

K and B:  Pray for the eight units who make up their team.  They are poised and ready to enter their countries for ministry.  Pray for the countries to open and pray for their paperwork.  Pray their paperwork would find super natural favor through the different governments that are involved.  Pray for these families to be well

Herb and Celeste: Herb and Celeste will begin teaching an English speaking Bible study in April in a small church in their town.  Please pray for them as they lead the Bible study.  Pray the Bible study will bring in people who will trust in Christ and be discipled!  Their teammate’s application for visas is being processed.  Pray there will be no delays or issues.  Pray for the virtual Bible study which continues with friends in the big country.  Pray they will have more opportunities to share Christ during the Easter season.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) The surgeries on her eyes have helped immensely – she can see again!  Praise God for these procedures and new glasses.  Earlier this month Robbyn had her gall bladder removed.  It has been painful and hard to rest.  Please pray for her to get a full night’s sleep.  Please continue to pray for Robbyn and her financial support.  Some of her donor/supporters have gone home to the Lord. 

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Thank you for praying for the spiritual emphasis last week.  It was a little strange to have chapel services in homeroom classrooms, yet God still used this time.  During this time Dusty and his students had deep and meaningful discussions resulting in two students confessing belief in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins!  Other students who did not commit to Christ have become more open and are discussing their thoughts.  Dusty’s students come from Russia, Korea, China and Japan.  Pray for these students that they will be open and have a thirst for knowledge about Jesus.  Pray for Dusty as he desires to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to share the love of Christ with these students.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) New cafes and food vendors are opening up to serve customers and make money as COVID restrictions loosen.  Most of these vendors are mobile and “take out” only.  They are all trying to make a little money and the Webbs are only too happy to boost the economy by sampling their wares!  Grace Baptist Church continues to have a good relationship with St Oliver’s National School.  Pray the Lord will help reduce the virus to the point where the church can meet in person again at the school.  Pray for Ian to finish the school year well.  Pray people in Killarney will see the advertisement in the magazine about Grace Baptist and contact Mark.  Pray for the couple Mark is counseling.

The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) directly funds Southern Baptist missions work in North America.  Please designate your special offering in a pink envelope in the brochure rack in the foyer.  Or annotate your check memo line AAEO if you’re mailing in your gift.

Kevin and Gina Green celebrate their anniversary 24 March.

Kent Slack celebrates his birthday 26 March.

Week of 21 Mar 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Kevin Green: (COS) Lots of news from Kevin.  He is just back from Phoenix, Arizona where he attended an Equip America conference where senior Evangelism Explosion leaders taught attendees how to share their faith.  The event was simulcasted across three time zones with 30 churches and 150 people virtually attending.  After the teaching portion, teams went out and shared their faith – 63 people heard the Gospel and 17 people professed Christ.  VGBC is going to host the same Equip America here at VGBC on June 26^th!  Start praying now for this one day conference, for the churches that will join us, the attendees who will share their faith and the people who will have an opportunity to ask Jesus into their lives.  Pray for the pastors who will be asked to participate in this event.  Pray for those churches, that they will truly embrace how important it is to share Christ with others.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Kent Slack is the director of Christian Challenge at UCCS and here in the Springs.  Kent and Elizabeth have been encouraged in the past month. First they had planned a retreat for their students but decided against the retreat because they did not have the minimum number of people required to attend the camp. The Slacks realized the students probably needed downtime and recreational time. They get spiritually fed Tuesday nights during Bible study. So they did a day trip to a Denver mall and the IKEA.  Then there was a game night.  Finally they hiked the Painted Mines. They ended the week at the Slacks house with ice cream! Everyone had a great time and everyone felt refreshed.

The Slacks have seen spiritual growth during Tuesday night Bible studies.  They’ve seen new students each week and they generally return.  Pray for continued growth in the number of students who attend Bible study and spiritual growth in their lives.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Osawld and Amanda:  They are hoping to leave the US around 26 March.  Please pray for them as they get ready to leave.  Pray for all the details that go into an international move.  Pray for their children.  Pray for Rocky and the special support he needs.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (South of Seoul, South Korea) This past week the secondary school students where Dusty teaches observed three days of spiritual emphasis in his homeroom classroom – chapels were zoomed into those classrooms.   Pray the seeds sewn in these students will soften their spiritual hearts and help them be open to Christ.  One of Dusty’s students that he has been teaching since their arrival in South Korea is moving to Japan. Please pray the spiritual foundation that has been established in this young man will keep him and his walk solid in Christ.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) The Ephraim Project is on-going in one of the most restrictive countries in the Middle East.  One facet of the project teaches English to build relationships with those wishing to learn English.  Friendships develop and the Gospel is shared and people come to know Christ and are discipled in their new faith.  Sam and Dana are indigenous to this country but they are asylum seekers in Europe.  Before they left their country they planted five churches.  They reach back into their country remotely.  They have been witnessing to a man and his wife.  Recently this man came to Christ – his wife is very close too.  Please pray for this couple and for their discipleship.  Pray also for the Christians and pastor’s safety.  The government is investigating the churches and who attends them.

Herb and Celeste: The virtual prayer room comes on-line on 13 April.  Pray their team gets all the moving parts working.  The next Discover East Asia virtual event is 22 April.  Pray for H and C’s team as they work on this presentation.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord Ian has been in school for three weeks! Grace Baptist Church has run an advertisement in the local magazine offering free copies of the Gospel of Luke. Please pray that someone will take advantage of this and express a desire to talk about this advertisement or the Gospel of Luke.  Please pray for the couple that Mark has been counseling. Also pray for Jim and Barb who have been longtime supporters for many years they are dealing with health issues.  Please pray for the government to allow churches to meet in person again.

Week of 14 Mar 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Brooks Salgado: (COS) Two student leaders start their Ministry Initiatives this month on campus.  Both initiatives involve engaging students in prayer and evangelism.  Pray for the details to fall into place and that the Lord would use these efforts to minister to the campus.  Pray for Brooks and two other student leaders who are raising funds for an eight week mission trip to South Asia over the summer.  Pray the Lord would prepare their hearts and bless their preparations. 

Mercy’s Gate: (COS) Mercy’s Gate has been serving El Paso County since 1982 by providing life-affirming direct services support, ongoing resources and education and a growing network of community referrals and partnerships to individuals and families facing crisis.  Mercy’s Gate is a Christ centered organization following Jesus and leading and seeking to share His love with others. Their desire is to see people flourish and walk with Christ in the local church.  Mercy’s Gate is comprised of several areas:  a food pantry to the working poor in our community; financial counseling; they also share Jesus with those people who come into their office. For information about volunteering your time or donating goods and or funds to this ministry please call 719-277-7470 or contact them at info@mercy‘sgatescs.org

Springs Rescue Mission: (COS) Homeless men, women and children sleep in tents along Fountain Creek.  They battle frigid temperatures and driving snow and many experience complete isolation and painful loneliness.  Please pray for the staff and volunteers at Springs Rescue Mission as they provide men and women struggling with homelessness and hunger a safe place of comfort and warmth at the Springs Rescue Mission.  To become a monthly sponsor please visit springsrescuemission.org or call 719-632-1822

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (South of Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are teachers at Gyeonggi Suwon International School (GSIS).  The school is committed to educating the whole child within the context of a faith-based Christian School environment.  Please pray for the Jacksons and their four children as they connect and share Jesus with international students from cultures that have never heard the name of Jesus.  The school is now meeting in person again – pray for Dusty and Ashley to be able to reconnect with students.  Pray for them as they answer student’s questions about Jesus.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) The missionary who takes care of the accounting in the Africa region of Reach Beyond is leaving.  Leadership has asked Robbyn to take over the responsibility in addition to her normal duties of keeping the books for the North Africa and Middle East areas.  This will mean learning about their on-going projects, new currencies, new missionaries and new processes.  She will essentially be handling all of Africa and the Middle East.  Pray for her as she manages her time that she can keep up with the added demand of these new responsibilities.  Pray for new donors who would come alongside Robbyn to pray for her and financially support her.

K and B:  The little six year old girl who was swept away in the river during her mother’s baptism ceremony last year is doing very well!  You may remember this girl was found down river and likely under water for approximately 40 minutes.  She essentially died.  But her mother, a nurse, was able to resuscitate her.  Since then she has made great progress.  Many of the girl’s relatives condemned the baptism as a worthless cult act, criticizing her mother for participating in something that might have led to the child’s demise.  The Saints have prayed day and night and this little girl has made great progress.  The doctors say she is about seventy percent of what she was.  She is able to remember the event – she talks, sings and reads!  Her walking gait is a little uneven.  Pray this little girl would continue to defy worldly odds and that the Lord would use this event to bring many people (including skeptical relatives) to a saving knowledge of a loving and miracle working God!

Herb and Celeste: New team members in the US have been told their paperwork can be sent to their ministry country to apply for visas.  Thank the Lord for this open door!  Pray the paperwork will be found in perfect order and this couple can return to the mission field ASAP!  This couple must be out of their current home by 12 March.  Pray for temporary housing as they await visas.  A local pastor has asked H and C to start an English Bible study as an outreach of their church.  Pray the Lord would give them direction as to what to do.  This past week H and C’s team conducted the beta-testing for a virtual prayer room for their missionaries in this part of the world.  If this goes well they are hoping to provide a prayer room once a month for missionaries to lift up needs in concert with one another.  Imagine the fellowship of believers praying for one another, lifting up each other’s needs before the Lord?  What a powerful encouragement to our missionaries overseas!

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Pray for Mark as he counsels a couple.  Lona virtually attended a CrossWorld women’s conference last week.  Several women who attended the virtual conference were part of the Bosnian CrossWorld team who had the COVID-19 virus.  The ladies are recovering and feeling better.  The virus has disrupted the last two years of secondary school.  The Department of Education has given sixth year students several options.  Students can take the leaving certificate exams, go with their classroom scores, or opt for both.  If they opt for both, they will get the higher score between the two.  Pray the Irish government will allow churches to meet.

During the month of March the Missions Committee asks you to pray and consider your support of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goes directly to fund Southern Baptist missionaries in North America.  Our goal this year is $35,000.  Please pray about your investment in Southern Baptist missions work in the US and Canada.

Mark Webb celebrates a birthday on 16 March; please place your birthday cards in the missions box (church office) NLT than this Sunday morning’s last service, 7 March and the Missions Committee will mail it to him!

Monday, 8 March, is Elizabeth Slack’s birthday!

Week of 7 Mar 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Brooks Salgado: (COS) Pray the club fair this past week at UCCS will bear fruit and that the students they connected with will join them for studies and activities.  Two student leaders start their Ministry Initiatives this month on campus.  Both initiatives involve engaging students in prayer and evangelism.  Pray for the details to fall into place and that the Lord would use these efforts to minister to the campus.  Pray for Brooks and two other student leaders who are preparing to raise funds for an eight week mission trip to South Asia over the summer.  Pray the Lord would prepare their hearts and bless their preparations. 

Emily Skinner: (COS) Emily is Mission Training International’s, Assistant Director for the Children’s Pre-Field Program (CHIPs).  This program teaches children (missionary kids – MKs) how to be prepared to live in cross cultural environments.  The CHIPs program is normally presented in conjunction with the Pre-Field Training (COMPASS) course which teaches the adult missionaries how to minister overseas.  The January COMPASS course was lightly attended and there were not many children attending so MTI’s leadership allowed Emily extra time off to concentrate on raising financial support.  Emily spent Christmas with her parents in North Carolina and she stayed there in January to present MTI’s ministry to local pastors and their congregations in her parent’s area.  Pray for Emily’s fund raising – pray the Lord would bring new donors and prayer warriors to help her meet her needs.

LifeNetwork: (COS) Pray for the raising of $175 by mid-April to open their third pregnancy center in Fountain Valley, Colorado.  Pray for the renovation and construction project that is on-going in that facility and that they can open this pregnancy center in April completely debt-free. Pray permits and approvals through the city go expeditiously so that their doors can open up and minister to others by late spring

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) You will remember Radio Vida is Reach Beyond’s FM station in Southern Spain.  This is an economically depressed area of Europe. Reach Beyond has connected with local pastors, missionaries and Christian volunteers to follow-up with radio listeners who respond to Gospel message productions on this radio station.  There’s a lot of work and coordination needed to ensure there is timely follow-up with people interested in the Gospel.  Pray for the leadership of this group in Southern Spain that they will make a huge impact for an area of Spain that needs to hear the Gospel.

K and B:  There are reports out of Swirl Land that authorities are interviewing believers.  The questions have been centering on the Swirl people’s finances and reports of their meeting to read from a book.  Pray for these Saints to be safe, protected and that Holy Spirit will blind the eyes of those doing the questioning and accusing.  Pray the innocent explanations of these Saints satisfy the accusers and warrant no further questioning.

Herb and Celeste:  The virtual Discover East Asia event last week had over 350 people in attendance!  One attendee remarked the presentation was impactful and encouraging to hear what others are doing around the world.  Another person commented that, “It helped to visualize what I have been praying for as I pray for the International Mission Board prayer requests.”  If you attended this event thank you so much for the success of the event.  There is another virtual missions tour coming up on April 22 at 8 PM Mountain Time.  Please pray for Herb and Celeste as they are working on that production at this moment.  Also please pray for videographers and other technicians who can help them in organizing the media presentation. Pray for Celeste as she has been asked to lead a Bible study in their community.  Pray for the women who will respond to God’s prompt to participate in this Bible study.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord for the good attendance to this past week’s Bible study, Prayer meeting and worship service – all Zoom meetings.  Pray for the day this church can meet in person again.  Pray for the health and safety of students as they return to school over the next several weeks.  Pray for Mark as he counsels a couple.  Lona is virtually attending a CrossWorld women’s conference this week.  These ladies represent team members throughout Europe.  Pray these ladies will be encouraged by what they hear during the conference.  Several CrossWorld team members are suffering with COVID-19 in Bosnia.  Pray for their recovery.

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering: Thank the Lord for the gifts given by God’s people during the LMCO 2020 season.  Our church sent $104,234.57 to the International Missions Board this past week.  Thank you all for your selfless gifts to keep our missionaries in the fight on the mission field.

During the month of March the Missions Committee asks you to pray and consider your support of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering.  The Annie Armstrong Easter Offering goes directly to fund Southern Baptist missionaries in North America.  Our goal this year is $35,000.  Please pray about your investment in Southern Baptist missions work in the US and Canada.

Week of 28 Feb 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Emily Skinner: (COS) Emily is Mission Training International’s, Assistant Director for the Children’s Pre-Field Program (CHIPs).  This program teaches children (missionary kids – MKs) how to be prepared to live in cross cultural environments.  The CHIPs program is normally presented in conjunction with the Pre-Field Training (COMPASS) course which teaches the adult missionaries how to minister overseas.  The January COMPASS course was lightly attended and there were not many children attending so MTI’s leadership allowed Emily extra time off to concentrate on raising financial support.  Emily spent Christmas with her parents in North Carolina and she stayed there in January to present MTI’s ministry to local pastors and their congregations in her parent’s area.  Pray for Emily’s fund raising – pray the Lord would bring new donors and prayer warriors to help her meet her needs.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Normally Christian Challenge (CC) plans a Spring Break trip or project that centers on providing a service to others or sharing the Gospel.  This year because of the COVID-19 pandemic they decided on a staycation spring break last week.  They had over twenty students participate.  Several students remarked they really enjoyed their time growing and connecting to others.  Pray for Kent, Elizabeth and their leadership team as they try to connect with students while also obeying school restrictions on meetings and where they can meet.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) You will remember the US Reach Beyond office could no longer underwrite the property costs for the Spanish offices in Southern Spain.  Then it appeared the Dutch offices for Reach Beyond would be able to pay for the property and use it for ministry purposes.  Unfortunately that deal fell through.  But the Lord was not done with this valuable property.  A Canadian organization wants to underwrite the costs of Reach Beyond’s Southern Spain office for the next two years!  Praise God!  It looks as if Reach Beyond will continue to utilize this facility at least for the next two years.  Pray these facilities will continue to be used to send the Gospel to the Region Beyond.  Pray hearers of the word would also come to know Jesus as Savior.  Pray for Robbyn’s upcoming gall bladder surgery on March 8^th.  Pray for the surgery to go well and for her to recover quickly.

K and B:  There are reports out of Swirl Land that authorities are interviewing believers.  The questions have been centering on the Swirl people’s finances and reports of their meeting to read from a book.  Pray for these Saints to be safe, protected and that Holy Spirit will blind the eyes of those doing the questioning and accusing.  Pray the innocent explanations of these Saints satisfy the accusers and warrant no further questioning.

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord there were over 30 people who virtually attended Grace Baptist’s Zoom church service this past week.  Ireland is in strict lockdown through the end of April.  Pray the country’s COVID-19 cases drastically reduce so the country will begin opening up.  Pray Grace Baptist Church will stay focused on God’s word and remain encouraged and upbeat about the digital meeting.  Pray for church members whose spouses and family members are not believers.  Pray for young families to find a home at Grace Baptist.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are seeking the Lord’s wisdom and leading as they explore other areas of ministry.  Dusty has interviewed for a youth pastor position in a church in the US.  Please pray for them as they seek what God has in store for them.

Herb and Celeste:  Pray for visa paperwork for new team mates to be processed as quickly as possible.  A mentor to Herb for forty years is being treated for cancer.  Pray for this man’s healing.  H and C were able to reconnect with friends from the mainland.  Pray for more intentional connections with them.  The bi-lingual Bible study at their church is growing.  Pray the Lord will guide H and C to foster community and closeness with these members.

Please consider a one-time gift to help the Casas Por Cristo Team as they build a house for deserving people in Juarez, Mexico.  Your funds will help this team purchase much needed supplies and building materials.  Simply place your gift in a pink envelope earmarked for “Mexico Missions Trip.”

Week of 21 Feb 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Jonathan and Mryna Ferre: (COS) Church planters with the North American Mission Board and the Pikes Peak Baptist Association, Jonathan pastors Gracia y Verdad, a Spanish speaking church.  Pray for their membership class – the candidates and their preparations.  Jonathan recently quit his part-time job to concentrate more on his family and pastoring the church.  Pray the Lord will provide for the families in their church.  Pray church members would place their total faith in the Lord no matter what challenges and difficulties this year might bring.

Mercy’s Gate: (COS) Behind every service offered to community neighbors, Mercy’s Gate’s common goal is to share the Gospel of Christ to the lost and suffering. Testimonial after testimonial documents Mercy’s Gate’s impact on our community – helping to pay electrical bills, rent, providing groceries and sharing the love of Christ with the lost!  Please pray for and consider a donation to their ministry. Also, consider personally getting involved.  Plan to attend a volunteer orientation tour on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00PM – 2:00 PM so you can learn how your gifts and talents can be used at Mercy’s Gate.  Contact Mercy’s Gate at 719-470-2503 or volunteer@mercysgatecs.org.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) This current semester has been the most challenging in their ministry!  Because of the fluid nature of managing COVID-19 precautions, UCCS leadership has had to make changes sometimes affecting others with little notice.  Normally Christian Challenge (CC) plans a Spring Break trip or project that centers on providing a service to others or sharing the Gospel.  This year they planned to minister in Mexico.  However, the university changed Spring Break to only three days.  When the university changed their Spring Break plans, CC had to change abruptly and energize students to get involved.  So CC had a “staycation” here in the local area 17 – 19 Feb.  This time was used for students to connect and form relationships and go deeper in their walk with Jesus.  Pray the weather allowed for some outside activities and that everyone will stay well and healthy.

Kevin Green: (COS) Kevin is teaching On The Job Training next week in Phoenix, Arizona as part of the Equip America event.  Pray for the pastors and church leaders who will attend.  Pray they would be encouraged to share the hope of the Gospel one on one with others.  Kevin is leading a Share Your Faith workshop at Springs Lighthouse church on March 20^th.  Pray for this event – pray for good interest and attendance.  Also, pray this church will want to continue through an eight week semester of Everyday Evangelism.

LifeNetwork: (COS) The new administration is once again planning to use federal tax dollars to finance abortions overseas and they plan to reinstate federal funding for abortions under Title X, increasing federal support to Planned Parenthood.  These are sad times yet LifeNetwork is choosing to look beyond these developments to minister to women “one life at a time.”  When you pray and financially support LifeNetwork you are investing in the lives of mothers, fathers and their pre-born babies who need your help.  Soon LifeNetwork will open their Fountain Valley pregnancy center, their third pregnancy center in Colorado Springs.  This pregnancy center is located in the heart of an area where women and men are facing crisis pregnancies every day.  Use this link Give the gift of life! – Life Network to help LifeNetwork minister to others or volunteer your time.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Mark and Lona Webb: (Killarney, Ireland) Praise the Lord there were 34 in attendance this past Sunday morning at Grace Baptist Church. Also praise – Ian has the week off and will be preparing for midterm exams.  Pray for the government to allow churches to meet physically.  Pray Grace Baptist Church will focus on God’s word and be encouraged during this lockdown.  The church recently placed an advertisement in a local magazine offering free copies of the Gospel of Luke.  Please pray this advertisement will be seen by people who need to know who Jesus is and that they will contact the church.  Pray for the couple that Mark is counseling.  The French government is trying to pass a law restricting Muslim autonomy in France. If this proposed law passes this could adversely impact other faiths such as evangelical churches. Please pray that this will not pass in the French government.  Pray for the staff, teachers and students at Saint Oliver’s National School.

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) The missionary who has been handling the financial records for Reach Beyond’s Sub –Saharan Africa Region is leaving at the end of this month.  Reach Beyond’s leadership has asked Robbyn to take over this responsibility and Robbyn has accepted the position.  She’s really going to be busy!  Pray for her time management and, of course, she is handling these responsibilities on two different continents and she is about eight time zones away from the actual people she’s helping.  Also pray for her upcoming gall bladder surgery on March 8^th.  Pray for the surgery to go well and for her to recover quickly.

K and B:  They are now in COS – give them an elbow bump when you see them these next few weeks!  One unit (couple) has arrived in their ministry area from the US and is in quarantine.  Pray for five other units waiting to enter their ministry country.  Pray for B’s father as he recuperates from a heart procedure.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Dusty and Ashley are seeking the Lord’s wisdom and leading as they explore other areas of ministry.  Dusty has interviewed for a youth pastor position in a church in the US.  Please pray for them as they seek what God has in store for them.

Oswald and Amanda: Rocky’s surgery on 26 Jan went well but he is healing slowly and encountering more swelling than anticipated.  Oswald and Amanda will likely hold off coming back to COS until Rocky’s swollen leg subsides.  Pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to fit into his prosthetic.  Pray for their wisdom as they think about returning to COS and eventually to their new home of ministry.

Herb and Celeste:  One of their teammates has to pass a language exam.  Pray this will happen so she can join H and C’s team full-time.  Pray for the borders to their country to open up so new team members can arrive.  Another virtual missions tour occurred this past Wednesday evening.  Pray for its outcome.  Pray the Lord would use these virtual tours and that Holy Spirit would lead others to the missions field.

Please consider a one-time gift to help the Casas Por Cristo Team as they build a house for deserving people in Juarez, Mexico.  Your funds will help this team purchase much needed supplies and building materials.  Simply place your gift in a pink envelope earmarked for “Mexico Missions Trip.”

Week of 14 Feb 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Mercy’s Gate: (COS) Behind every service offered to community neighbors, Mercy’s Gate’s common goal is to share the Gospel of Christ to the lost and suffering. Testimonial after testimonial documents Mercy’s Gate’s impact on our community – helping to pay electrical bills, rent, providing groceries and sharing the love of Christ with the lost!  Please pray for this ministry and consider a donation to their ministry. Also, consider personally getting involved.  Plan to attend a volunteer orientation tour on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00PM – 2:00 PM so you can learn how your gifts and talents can be used at Mercy’s Gate.  Contact Mercy’s Gate at 719-470-2503 or volunteer@mercysgatecs.org.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Kent and Elizabeth have formed a Christian Challenge club independent of the UCCS club to provide more ability to minister to students without the COVID-19 regulations on campus.  The UCCS Christian Challenge club will continue but will be less active due to the COVID-19 health precautions.  All college students are invited to all activities; the Slacks simply can’t promote them through the school.  Pray they will be able to connect with more students because of this move.  Pray they will be able to figure out how to actively use their club status at UCCS.

Kevin Green: (COS) Kevin is leading a Share Your Faith workshop at Springs Lighthouse church on March 20^th.  Pray for this event – pray for good interest and attendance.  Also, pray this church will want to continue through an eight week semester of Everyday Evangelism.  Kevin will be teaching on the job training in Phoenix, Arizona as a part of the Evangelism Explosion Equip America event on February 27^th.  Pray many pastors will attend and find the one on one method of sharing the Gospel still works today.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) Robbyn recently reported she had lost nine supporters and was $350 below normal monthly funding.  A generous donation came to the Reach Beyond ministry which was meant for underfunded missionaries.  This amount has helped Robbyn immensely.  Still, please consider reaching out to Robbyn to pray for her and financially support her.  Thank you for praying for her physical ailments.  The cataract surgery has helped her distance vision and reading glasses are helping her “close up” work.  She must have her gall bladder removed but this is not possible until her platelet count comes up.  Pray for the timing to be right for this procedure.

K and B:  One unit (couple) has arrived in their ministry area from the US and is in quarantine.  Pray for five other units trying to enter their ministry country.  K and B are due in COS the last two weeks of February.  Wish them happy anniversary when you see them, it is 16 February.  Pray for B’s father as he recuperates from a heart procedure.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Their school has been totally on-line for the past month.  The only exception to this is parent families where both mother and father work outside the home.  In those cases the student can come to school for emergency childcare provided by Teacher’s Assistants like Ashley.  Recently Ashely received a new girl in her second grade class and has gotten to know her.  She’s one of eight emergency childcare students.  Ashley took this girl to the school library to check out some books.  The girl told Ashley she was interested in books about Jesus!  Ashely helped the girl check out a Bible and some picture books about Jesus.  Pray for this little girl as she asks questions about Jesus.  Pray for Ashley that she will be ready to answer questions and mentor this child.  Pray this child’s interest in Jesus will also open the door to taking the Gospel to her parents.

Oswald and Amanda: Rocky’s surgery on 26 Jan went well but he is healing slowly and encountering more swelling than anticipated.  Oswald and Amanda will likely hold off coming back to COS until Rocky’s swollen leg subsides.  Pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to fit into his prosthetic.  Pray for their wisdom as they think about returning to COS and eventually to their new home of ministry.

Herb and Celeste:  Herb and Celeste’s creative team is holding another virtual missions tour Wednesday, 17 February at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.  To “attend” please register at this Internet address: Meeting Registration – Zoom – you must have a Zoom account which is easy to set up.  The tour will feature missionaries from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other locations.  One of the featured couples is on K and B’s ministry team.  Even though this virtual tour is late, please take the time to watch and listen to the work that is going on in these areas of the world in Jesus’ Name!  One of their teammates has to pass a language exam.  Pray this will happen so she can join H and C’s team full-time.  Pray for the borders to their country to open up so new team members can arrive.

Please consider a one-time gift to help the Casas Por Cristo Team as they build a house for deserving people in Juarez, Mexico next month.  Your funds will help this team purchase much needed supplies and building materials.  Simply place your gift in a pink envelope earmarked for “Mexico Missions Trip.”

Week of 14 Feb 2021

HOME MISSIONARIES                                                                            

Mercy’s Gate: (COS) Behind every service offered to community neighbors, Mercy’s Gate’s common goal is to share the Gospel of Christ to the lost and suffering. Testimonial after testimonial documents Mercy’s Gate’s impact on our community – helping to pay electrical bills, rent, providing groceries and sharing the love of Christ with the lost!  Please pray for this ministry and consider a donation to their ministry. Also, consider personally getting involved.  Plan to attend a volunteer orientation tour on the second Wednesday of each month from 1:00PM – 2:00 PM so you can learn how your gifts and talents can be used at Mercy’s Gate.  Contact Mercy’s Gate at 719-470-2503 or volunteer@mercysgatecs.org.

Kent and Elizabeth Slack: (COS) Kent and Elizabeth have formed a Christian Challenge club independent of the UCCS club to provide more ability to minister to students without the COVID-19 regulations on campus.  The UCCS Christian Challenge club will continue but will be less active due to the COVID-19 health precautions.  All college students are invited to all activities; the Slacks simply can’t promote them through the school.  Pray they will be able to connect with more students because of this move.  Pray they will be able to figure out how to actively use their club status at UCCS.

Kevin Green: (COS) Kevin is leading a Share Your Faith workshop at Springs Lighthouse church on March 20^th.  Pray for this event – pray for good interest and attendance.  Also, pray this church will want to continue through an eight week semester of Everyday Evangelism.  Kevin will be teaching on the job training in Phoenix, Arizona as a part of the Evangelism Explosion Equip America event on February 27^th.  Pray many pastors will attend and find the one on one method of sharing the Gospel still works today.

FOREIGN MISSIONARIES

Robbyn Booker: (Spain/COS) Robbyn recently reported she had lost nine supporters and was $350 below normal monthly funding.  A generous donation came to the Reach Beyond ministry which was meant for underfunded missionaries.  This amount has helped Robbyn immensely.  Still, please consider reaching out to Robbyn to pray for her and financially support her.  Thank you for praying for her physical ailments.  The cataract surgery has helped her distance vision and reading glasses are helping her “close up” work.  She must have her gall bladder removed but this is not possible until her platelet count comes up.  Pray for the timing to be right for this procedure.

K and B:  One unit (couple) has arrived in their ministry area from the US and is in quarantine.  Pray for five other units trying to enter their ministry country.  K and B are due in COS the last two weeks of February.  Wish them happy anniversary when you see them, it is 16 February.  Pray for B’s father as he recuperates from a heart procedure.

Dusty and Ashley Jackson: (Near Seoul, South Korea) Their school has been totally on-line for the past month.  The only exception to this is parent families where both mother and father work outside the home.  In those cases the student can come to school for emergency childcare provided by Teacher’s Assistants like Ashley.  Recently Ashely received a new girl in her second grade class and has gotten to know her.  She’s one of eight emergency childcare students.  Ashley took this girl to the school library to check out some books.  The girl told Ashley she was interested in books about Jesus!  Ashely helped the girl check out a Bible and some picture books about Jesus.  Pray for this little girl as she asks questions about Jesus.  Pray for Ashley that she will be ready to answer questions and mentor this child.  Pray this child’s interest in Jesus will also open the door to taking the Gospel to her parents.

Oswald and Amanda: Rocky’s surgery on 26 Jan went well but he is healing slowly and encountering more swelling than anticipated.  Oswald and Amanda will likely hold off coming back to COS until Rocky’s swollen leg subsides.  Pray for his complete recovery and that he will be able to fit into his prosthetic.  Pray for their wisdom as they think about returning to COS and eventually to their new home of ministry.

Herb and Celeste:  Herb and Celeste’s creative team is holding another virtual missions tour Wednesday, 17 February at 8:00 PM Mountain Time.  To “attend” please register at this Internet address: Meeting Registration – Zoom – you must have a Zoom account which is easy to set up.  The tour will feature missionaries from Japan, Korea, Taiwan and other locations.  One of the featured couples is on K and B’s ministry team.  Even though this virtual tour is late, please take the time to watch and listen to the work that is going on in these areas of the world in Jesus’ Name!  One of their teammates has to pass a language exam.  Pray this will happen so she can join H and C’s team full-time.  Pray for the borders to their country to open up so new team members can arrive.