First of all, I continue to marvel at how when people are praying for you, there's a real sense in which you can "feel" them. It sounds kind of corny, but it really does work. So thank you, thank you, thank you. Your partnership is priceless.
Sending these updates always makes me think of the apostle Paul, who must have felt and known the prayers of the church for him, and who always mentions his thankfulness in response. Pray for me to be like Paul in communication.
October and November were busy months, with a trip to Uganda, as well as to England and Wales. Two things, in particular, stand out as I look back on the past two months.
First, I really do believe that through partnerships with national churches, as well as through relationships with local ones, we can best serve the church to see and discover more of Jesus. We continue to see a small cohort of Ugandans taking initiative, using the Person of Jesus in their churches, which bodes well for future training. Meeting with the General Secretary of the Baptist Union for Uganda, I was encouraged by his desire to see the church there mature and grow, and how the inductive method of teaching is picking up steam among many Ugandan church leaders. Pray for that to continue.
Second, the British church is primed and ready to use our material. The interactive nature of the Person of Jesus study is attractive to the church in a post-Christian context, because it engages the group and encourages dialogue. It welcomes questions and conjecture - all in a way that promotes self-discovery and ultimately, we pray, worshipping Jesus. Pray that seeJesus would have additional opportunities to resource the church, throughout the world, to that end.
Having just passed Thanksgiving, I wanted all of you to know how thankful I am for your prayers for Jaime and our kids while I was on the road. She and they didn't just survive; they thrived. What a blessing. On that note, please pray for Ethan, that he would develop more self-control and not be afraid to admit his sin. Please pray for Elli, that her joy would increasingly be in Jesus, and not the things of this world.
Also - continue to pray for courage and discipline in finishing my fundraising. I have approximately one third to go.
