Greetings,
These past weeks have been heart wrenching as we have watched the events of the unprecedented tragedy in Haiti unfold. Families have been torn apart. People are desperately searching for missing loved ones. These victims need the most basic things that we take for granted; food, water, medical assistance, shelter.
Latest estimates put the death toll at 200,000; approximately 70,000 have already been buried in mass graves. More than one million Haitians were left homeless. It is estimated that over one million children have lost at least one parent. Between 60 and 80 percent of the buildings in Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital, which bore the brunt of the earthquake, were either destroyed or rendered unusable.
Port-au-Prince continues to be plagued by food and water shortages. Fuel, also in short supply, has quadrupled in price. "There are extremely long lines at the few petrol stations" that are opened, said Bela Szilagyi, director of Hungarian Baptist Aid and a leader of the BWAid Rescue24 team.
In a disaster of this magnitude much will be needed. You may be asking how you and your church can be part of the effort to help. Our Disaster Response Haiti Earthquake page on our website www.texasbaptists.org will assist churches and individuals to connect with these needs. Click on the Give, Go, Pray and Connect boxes to see how you can assist.
· Give: This will help you make donations that are crucially needed. On Monday, January 25, we sent a medical team from Temple Baptist in McAllen and medical supplies from Baylor Health Care as the first of our relief teams. Mike Roberts, a member at Park Cities Baptist Church donated the use of his company jet. Recordings of the New Testament in Haitian Creole were included in the shipment. The BGCT has also supplied $80,000 to Texas Baptist Men to send 5,000 water filters and buckets which are ready to be shipped. Texas Baptists working through our Baptist hospitals, child care institutions, universities and Texas Baptist Men will continue to discover ways to stay involved.
· Go: At the "Go" box you can indicate your interest in volunteering. Our Church2ChurchPartnerships office will be in touch as opportunities arise. Currently we are in the response phase that requires military and professional teams. When we enter the recovery phase many others will be needed. Volunteers will be required long after the media has left.
· Pray: This box will include specific prayer requests from Haiti. I believe this is the most important part of our commitment. Pray for God to give strength, hope and courage to the victims and the workers.
· Connect: This will provide information for in-kind donations that are urgently needed.
Dr. Gil Lain, pastor of the Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, told me that their church decided to donate their entire offering from the Sunday after the earthquake which totaled over $60,000. Whether our gift is $10 or $10,000, our prayers, time and money are needed for our hurting brothers and sisters.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
More Than Gold Update - Vancouver 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010… 25 days until the Opening Ceremonies!
More Than Gold FYI ……
Ministry Assignments for mission teams and local volunteers are still changing. Over the weekend we learned that VANOC and Translink both completely reworked the schedules for our hospitality sites. How fun is that! So, we were almost done and ready to send your assignments out to you and now ……you’ll just have to wait a bit longer. Please pray for opportunities to talk with folks and that they will be curious about why we are giving away hot drinks for free. Some volunteers will be serving as greeters and assistants at performing arts concerts – pray that people will be drawn to attend and will think about spiritual things as a result.
For mission team volunteers, “What do we get in our registration packets?” has been an oft-repeated question. As a part of your registration fee mission team members will receive: 1 backpack, 1 toque (hat), 1 lanyard/Id tag, 1 prayer guide, 1 copy of Soul Cravings, 5 Book of Hope , 4 New Testaments, 15 Gospels of Mark, 10 MTG pins, 20 pocket guides, and maybe a couple of other surprises! All of these items can be viewed on the website, www.morethangold.ca.
“Are there still uniform packages/jackets available?” is another question we’ve been getting frequently. The answer is both yes and no. They are sold out but we are also getting a few last minute cancelations. If you have extras your team is no longer wanting please let us know ASAP and More Than Gold will resell them for you if possible. If you’ve decided at the last minute you would like a jacket/uniform package let us know and we’ll pass along the request. We do know that because we have had fewer mission volunteers sign on than expected we have lots of extra backpacks for sale.
Over the weekend we packed an additional 1208 Care Kits and 641 Welcome Kits to be distributed during the Games. Over 600 Care Kits are already in the hands of local agencies for distribution coinciding with the opening of the Games. All the rest are already committed as well. And we’ve still got more Welcome Kits to put together! Thank you so much to all our partners across the US and Canada who have contributed items and cash toward this project.
More next week!
Kevin Sigsby and Janet Campbell
More Than Gold Outreach Coordinators
131 E. Kings Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 1H4
604-904-8908
ksigsby@yahoo.com or janet@vancouverfocus.ca
More Than Gold FYI ……
Ministry Assignments for mission teams and local volunteers are still changing. Over the weekend we learned that VANOC and Translink both completely reworked the schedules for our hospitality sites. How fun is that! So, we were almost done and ready to send your assignments out to you and now ……you’ll just have to wait a bit longer. Please pray for opportunities to talk with folks and that they will be curious about why we are giving away hot drinks for free. Some volunteers will be serving as greeters and assistants at performing arts concerts – pray that people will be drawn to attend and will think about spiritual things as a result.
For mission team volunteers, “What do we get in our registration packets?” has been an oft-repeated question. As a part of your registration fee mission team members will receive: 1 backpack, 1 toque (hat), 1 lanyard/Id tag, 1 prayer guide, 1 copy of Soul Cravings, 5 Book of Hope , 4 New Testaments, 15 Gospels of Mark, 10 MTG pins, 20 pocket guides, and maybe a couple of other surprises! All of these items can be viewed on the website, www.morethangold.ca.
“Are there still uniform packages/jackets available?” is another question we’ve been getting frequently. The answer is both yes and no. They are sold out but we are also getting a few last minute cancelations. If you have extras your team is no longer wanting please let us know ASAP and More Than Gold will resell them for you if possible. If you’ve decided at the last minute you would like a jacket/uniform package let us know and we’ll pass along the request. We do know that because we have had fewer mission volunteers sign on than expected we have lots of extra backpacks for sale.
Over the weekend we packed an additional 1208 Care Kits and 641 Welcome Kits to be distributed during the Games. Over 600 Care Kits are already in the hands of local agencies for distribution coinciding with the opening of the Games. All the rest are already committed as well. And we’ve still got more Welcome Kits to put together! Thank you so much to all our partners across the US and Canada who have contributed items and cash toward this project.
More next week!
Kevin Sigsby and Janet Campbell
More Than Gold Outreach Coordinators
131 E. Kings Road, North Vancouver, BC V7N 1H4
604-904-8908
ksigsby@yahoo.com or janet@vancouverfocus.ca
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
SUNDAY NIGHT - ASKEY Missionary FamilyThe Askey family is in the States visiting and sharing the exciting things that God is doing south of the border. Due to the recession and many circumstances, this last summer saw fewer churches visit the Children's Home and help with building and ministry projects. Now is the time to make up for that short fall in service and giving.
The Evening Worship will be devoted to missions and involve music, specials and the Philip and Rebecca Askey family, our missionaries to Mexico. God is doing amazing things in the Children's Home in Mexico. Come here Philip share and pray about giving to a special offering that will be taken for this family. First Baptist Church also has a Mission Fund for Mexico in which money is being received to build another dorm for the children. The goal is $50,000. See you Sunday Night @ 6:oopm in the Worship Auditorium.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
FIRST TEAM goes to PARAGUAY
Please pray for our team as they leave Monday, September 14th to help with the Evangelistic Crusade in Paraguay. They will be staying in Ascunsion and working with Pastor Roberto de Lugo and his wife Nancy.
First meet Roberto and Nancy several years ago on Mission in Brazil. Since that time they have visited First and shared what God is doing in Paraguay. Pray for safety in travel and for God to do amazing things as our FIRST TEAM lifts JESUS up to the nations. Special thanks to Adult 5 for their love offering and the laptop. Thank you First Baptist Church for giving every week to our Mission Offering.
Take a moment and read the names to the left and lift up our Missionaries at home, in Mexico, Canada, Africa and S. America. They are on the front lines and our job is to hold the ropes through prayer, going and giving. What is God calling you to do today!!!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday Morning, August 10thPray for Bobby & Rosemary, Charlie & Carol, and Billy as they are in Canada serving the Lord and representing First Baptist Church of Decatur. They left early Sunday Morning and flew to Seattle. Picked up a car and crossed the border. Sunday Night they meet with the leadership at Westlynn Baptist Church and this morning will begin work on a shower for the facility and renovation of the fellowship hall. The ladies will be working with the Sports Camp and providing food for the Camp and Construction Workers. Let's lift up our missionaries as they serve the Lord. Pray for the boys and girls who will be in the VBS Sports Camp -- that many will be drawn to the Lord.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
From the Ruhls - On Mission 2009
March 13, 2009
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.'" John 14:6
Dear Friends,
Just when you think you have it right, someone sends an update, and the 2008 report has to be changed. So finally, for 2008 there were 624,525 people who indicated they had prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That brings the 1973-2008 total to 5,026,647. Praise the Lord!!! And we praise Him for what He has done so far in 2009.
We began January with 15 Americans going to Mbabane, Swaziland. One participant had to return home due to the death of his father, but the Lord used the others and the nationals from Zimbabwe and South Africa to record 3,693 people as having prayed to receive Christ.
As we moved into February, we had our annual staff retreat at Mt Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill, TX. The weather was great. The fellowship was heartwarming. Or was that food? No, the food was fulfilling. And the teaching by Dr. Bob Utley was beyond words. I don't have the words to properly describe it. I just enjoyed it so much.
After the retreat, it was time to get folks back out in the harvest fields again. We sent 11 people to Sierra Leone and 6 people to Southern Asia on the same day. Only one of the 11 was originating out of DFW as were two of the 6. So it was sort of an easy day at the airport.
Those that went to Sierra Leone worked in two different cities, Bo and Kenema. In a country still healing from a long civil war and where the majority of the people are Muslim, the participants found fathers allowing their children to hear about Jesus. The team recorded 4,996 people indicating they had prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts.
Praise the Lord!!!
Reyburn Ruhl
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.'" John 14:6
Dear Friends,
Just when you think you have it right, someone sends an update, and the 2008 report has to be changed. So finally, for 2008 there were 624,525 people who indicated they had prayed to receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. That brings the 1973-2008 total to 5,026,647. Praise the Lord!!! And we praise Him for what He has done so far in 2009.
We began January with 15 Americans going to Mbabane, Swaziland. One participant had to return home due to the death of his father, but the Lord used the others and the nationals from Zimbabwe and South Africa to record 3,693 people as having prayed to receive Christ.
As we moved into February, we had our annual staff retreat at Mt Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill, TX. The weather was great. The fellowship was heartwarming. Or was that food? No, the food was fulfilling. And the teaching by Dr. Bob Utley was beyond words. I don't have the words to properly describe it. I just enjoyed it so much.
After the retreat, it was time to get folks back out in the harvest fields again. We sent 11 people to Sierra Leone and 6 people to Southern Asia on the same day. Only one of the 11 was originating out of DFW as were two of the 6. So it was sort of an easy day at the airport.
Those that went to Sierra Leone worked in two different cities, Bo and Kenema. In a country still healing from a long civil war and where the majority of the people are Muslim, the participants found fathers allowing their children to hear about Jesus. The team recorded 4,996 people indicating they had prayed to ask Jesus into their hearts.
Praise the Lord!!!
Reyburn Ruhl
Vancouver News & Prayer
March 17, 2009
Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you: Luke 11:9
GANG ACTIVITY IN METRO VANCOUVER - "As police, we've always been told by media experts to never say or admit that there is a gang war," Vancouver police chief Jim Chu says "Well, let's get serious. There is a gang war and it's brutal." Since late January there have been 29 shootings (NOW 36) in the Vancouver region, 12 (NOW 13) of them deadly. There is a shooting reported almost every day. PRAY that God’s people will become light in Metro Vancouver and cry out in desperation of a mighty movement of God across the city. PRAY for safety of innocent children and families as many of these shootings take place in public places. ASK that God replace fear with hope and security that only comes from a relationship with Jesus. PRAY that God will raise up labourers for people associated with gangs.
ROCK SOLID SUMMER SPECTACULAR 6 – LOVIN” THE COAST Begin to PRAY for our young people be involved in a summer of worship and servant evangelism. Friday, July 3 there will be a rally with partners from Southwest Park Baptist Church in Texas inspiring young people with worship, drama and more. The following three weeks will be a time to love their community with servant evangelism and then on Friday July 24 a celebration rally with partners from First Baptist Church of Biloxi Mississippi. ASK that God will stir the hearts of leadership in our churches to spur their young people to be involved in this opportunity for corporate worship; fellowship with other young people and be involved in servant evangelism in their community. Conrad Au conradau@intergate.ca
PRAY for the prayerwalking team from North Carolina (March 25-28) under the leadership of Glenn Walker who will be walking in the community in Surrey among Hindu & Sikh’s; Simon Fraser University and University of BC. ASK that the Spirit will alert them to where He is working. PRAY that God will provide many divine encounters.
REGION 1 – VANCOUVER (Advocate Gary Loudermilk)
THE OPEN HOUSE (Pastor Kyle Martin) PRAY for their time of transition in the move to a new meeting place. THANK God for Pastor Kyle & Anna’s beautiful baby boy Jude Russell. PRAY that the community would be flexible and supportive of Kyle’s new role as a father. ASK for God’s wisdom as the church continues to look for ways to give away money, time and energy in their community. PRAY for God’s direction as they develop partnerships with other ministries. ASK God to bless many through their giving. PRAY that the group would continue to develop deeper relationships with each other and learn what it looks like to live out their mission of ‘walking in a Jesus direction’.(info@theopenhouse.ca)
CITYVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH (Pastor Craig O’Brien) Loving people some times has challenges. 20 brave adults and children were challenged with rain, wind, snow and cold on Sunday to “Love Main Street” The streets were cleaned and gifts with a Celtic prayer were given out in love and with smiles. Thank you for your prayers. PRAY for our next “Love Main Street event in May. ASK that the church be faithful as they take part in a 14 day “Watch & Pray” leading up to Easter. PRAY that God would encourage the church and show that He indeed answers prayer.. (craig@cityviewchurch.ca)
REGION 3 – UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE (Advocate Kelly Manire)
BAPTIST STUDENT MINISTRY NETWORK – Suzanne Perry sperry17@interchange.ubc.ca and Rich Carruthers rcarruth@interchange.ubc.ca (* The Baptist Student Ministry Network is comprised of the Born For More student club, UBC Baptist Chaplaincy, English Corner, and the Point@UBC church planting "seed.") THANK GOD for the many opportunities for significant spiritual conversations through Meal with Matthew, English Corner, and social events; God is raising up partners for the work among international students. Some of the Persian and Korean graduate students are showing a new openness to discuss spiritual things; the porn debate and lecture was a display of genuine Christian love; God spoke through Tony Campolo, addressing issues of seeking first His Kingdom. PRAISE GOD for the fresh things happening on campus; and for opportunities to love and serve people within their circles of influence. PRAY for the Iranian New Year celebration the next two weeks; game night this Friday; “Free Books & Study Bags” giveaway/end of term outreach; planning for Chaplains-sponsored outreach early in the fall. PRAY for students as they complete the semester finishing papers, projects, and writing exams. PRAY for God to continue to show the team how to take their current relationships with students to the next level. PRAY that God will resource the personnel and ministry activities at UBC. ASK Him specifically for a housing solution for everyone on the team. PRAY for God's guidance in a possible mission trip to the Middle East this summer.
THE POINT CHURCH, Simon Fraser University – Burnaby (Pastor Victor Thomas) PRAY that they finish the Spring semester well and see many of the students they have been walking with come to know Him. PRAY for the planning for the summer break, as they make a large effort to grow their morning family service. PRAISE Him for 3 baptisms and 1 salvation this past month. God is good!
PRAY for Awakening Expo Day 2009 March 28 at Blusson Hall/SFU. ASK that God’s people will come together to be inspired and equipped to get out into your community and make a difference. The church is hosting a prayer vigil on Good Friday April 10, 6 pm to Saturday April 11, 6 am (SFU – West Mall Complex). Local churches will unite for prayer to focus on the message of Easter to take root in the hearts of individuals and in the fabric of the city, nation and world; pray for children and families; for each other’s churches and to intercede for the needs in the city and the whole world. .. Contact the awakening office 604.980.4911 or email: Vancouver@fusioncanada.ca for more information on these two events.
REGION 9 – DELTA/SURREY
LAOTIAN BAPTIST CHURCH (Pastors Pheng Sundara & Tounkham Honsombath) PRAY for God’s will to be known as they seek affordable property to buy. ASK that members would be faithful to share the Gospel with the lost. PRAY for Pastor Sundara as he mentors Pastor Honsombath. PRAISE God that for the baptisms that will take place Easter Sunday. (psundara@telus.net)
His Student,
Glenna Heidt
Ask and it will be given to you: seek and you will find: knock and the door will be opened to you: Luke 11:9
GANG ACTIVITY IN METRO VANCOUVER - "As police, we've always been told by media experts to never say or admit that there is a gang war," Vancouver police chief Jim Chu says "Well, let's get serious. There is a gang war and it's brutal." Since late January there have been 29 shootings (NOW 36) in the Vancouver region, 12 (NOW 13) of them deadly. There is a shooting reported almost every day. PRAY that God’s people will become light in Metro Vancouver and cry out in desperation of a mighty movement of God across the city. PRAY for safety of innocent children and families as many of these shootings take place in public places. ASK that God replace fear with hope and security that only comes from a relationship with Jesus. PRAY that God will raise up labourers for people associated with gangs.
ROCK SOLID SUMMER SPECTACULAR 6 – LOVIN” THE COAST Begin to PRAY for our young people be involved in a summer of worship and servant evangelism. Friday, July 3 there will be a rally with partners from Southwest Park Baptist Church in Texas inspiring young people with worship, drama and more. The following three weeks will be a time to love their community with servant evangelism and then on Friday July 24 a celebration rally with partners from First Baptist Church of Biloxi Mississippi. ASK that God will stir the hearts of leadership in our churches to spur their young people to be involved in this opportunity for corporate worship; fellowship with other young people and be involved in servant evangelism in their community. Conrad Au conradau@intergate.ca
PRAY for the prayerwalking team from North Carolina (March 25-28) under the leadership of Glenn Walker who will be walking in the community in Surrey among Hindu & Sikh’s; Simon Fraser University and University of BC. ASK that the Spirit will alert them to where He is working. PRAY that God will provide many divine encounters.
REGION 1 – VANCOUVER (Advocate Gary Loudermilk)
THE OPEN HOUSE (Pastor Kyle Martin) PRAY for their time of transition in the move to a new meeting place. THANK God for Pastor Kyle & Anna’s beautiful baby boy Jude Russell. PRAY that the community would be flexible and supportive of Kyle’s new role as a father. ASK for God’s wisdom as the church continues to look for ways to give away money, time and energy in their community. PRAY for God’s direction as they develop partnerships with other ministries. ASK God to bless many through their giving. PRAY that the group would continue to develop deeper relationships with each other and learn what it looks like to live out their mission of ‘walking in a Jesus direction’.(info@theopenhouse.ca)
CITYVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH (Pastor Craig O’Brien) Loving people some times has challenges. 20 brave adults and children were challenged with rain, wind, snow and cold on Sunday to “Love Main Street” The streets were cleaned and gifts with a Celtic prayer were given out in love and with smiles. Thank you for your prayers. PRAY for our next “Love Main Street event in May. ASK that the church be faithful as they take part in a 14 day “Watch & Pray” leading up to Easter. PRAY that God would encourage the church and show that He indeed answers prayer.. (craig@cityviewchurch.ca)
REGION 3 – UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE (Advocate Kelly Manire)
BAPTIST STUDENT MINISTRY NETWORK – Suzanne Perry sperry17@interchange.ubc.ca and Rich Carruthers rcarruth@interchange.ubc.ca (* The Baptist Student Ministry Network is comprised of the Born For More student club, UBC Baptist Chaplaincy, English Corner, and the Point@UBC church planting "seed.") THANK GOD for the many opportunities for significant spiritual conversations through Meal with Matthew, English Corner, and social events; God is raising up partners for the work among international students. Some of the Persian and Korean graduate students are showing a new openness to discuss spiritual things; the porn debate and lecture was a display of genuine Christian love; God spoke through Tony Campolo, addressing issues of seeking first His Kingdom. PRAISE GOD for the fresh things happening on campus; and for opportunities to love and serve people within their circles of influence. PRAY for the Iranian New Year celebration the next two weeks; game night this Friday; “Free Books & Study Bags” giveaway/end of term outreach; planning for Chaplains-sponsored outreach early in the fall. PRAY for students as they complete the semester finishing papers, projects, and writing exams. PRAY for God to continue to show the team how to take their current relationships with students to the next level. PRAY that God will resource the personnel and ministry activities at UBC. ASK Him specifically for a housing solution for everyone on the team. PRAY for God's guidance in a possible mission trip to the Middle East this summer.
THE POINT CHURCH, Simon Fraser University – Burnaby (Pastor Victor Thomas) PRAY that they finish the Spring semester well and see many of the students they have been walking with come to know Him. PRAY for the planning for the summer break, as they make a large effort to grow their morning family service. PRAISE Him for 3 baptisms and 1 salvation this past month. God is good!
PRAY for Awakening Expo Day 2009 March 28 at Blusson Hall/SFU. ASK that God’s people will come together to be inspired and equipped to get out into your community and make a difference. The church is hosting a prayer vigil on Good Friday April 10, 6 pm to Saturday April 11, 6 am (SFU – West Mall Complex). Local churches will unite for prayer to focus on the message of Easter to take root in the hearts of individuals and in the fabric of the city, nation and world; pray for children and families; for each other’s churches and to intercede for the needs in the city and the whole world. .. Contact the awakening office 604.980.4911 or email: Vancouver@fusioncanada.ca for more information on these two events.
REGION 9 – DELTA/SURREY
LAOTIAN BAPTIST CHURCH (Pastors Pheng Sundara & Tounkham Honsombath) PRAY for God’s will to be known as they seek affordable property to buy. ASK that members would be faithful to share the Gospel with the lost. PRAY for Pastor Sundara as he mentors Pastor Honsombath. PRAISE God that for the baptisms that will take place Easter Sunday. (psundara@telus.net)
His Student,
Glenna Heidt
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