This week we’ve received the Gerber’s latest newsletter called ‘Melting Moments’ – November edition.

Click on this link to be informed and hear their news, stories, prayer points and praise points.  ‘Melting Moments’ Philip & Deanne Gerber: Nov 2011 Newsletter

Dear brothers and sisters,

Sadly Bronwyn is back in hospital with her second bout of pancreatitis. Also her latest CT scan shows slow growing recurrences of her cancer in her liver and left lung. But as always she remains in good spirits which enables us all to cope well. God willing she will be out of hospital in a few days.

Rachel finished her HSC last week. Thank you for praying for her.  She was dissapointed with a couple of papers because although she knew all her work, she ran out of time.  But it was wonderful to see her entrust herself to God in all this.  Very kind friends have paid for her to join a Scripture Union mission to Vanuatu next week. She will also join us for our AFES National Training Event in Canberra soon after.

Naomi, Grace and Thomas remain busy and well.

So between hospital visits, music exams, school, preparations for Vanuatu and work, life is a little hectic.  But God continues to care so wonderfully for us.

On the AFES front, it’s the countdown to our National Training Event in early December.  We are expecting around 1500 people in an ever increasingly complex conference with multiple parallel programs.  I’m due to give 2 talks at the main conference, and 3 other addresses at pre-NTE events.  Over 60 campus teams will then partner 60 plus local churches throughout Australia on various missions.

Please thank God that:

• Bronwyn is in good care and in good spirits.
• Our family is coping relatively well through this trial
• We are being wonderfully supported by our church family and friends.

Please ask God:

• to heal Bronwyn’s pancreatitis quickly and keep her cancer at bay.
• grow all of us more like Jesus through these trials
• transform the lives of all those attending our NTE in Canberra
• save many lives in the missions we take part in afterward with local churches throughout Australia.

Thanks for loving us

Abiding in Jesus,
The Chin Family

This week we’ ve received two newsletters from them click on the links below to view them.

September 2011 – Newsletter No. 82:  Newsletter 82

October 2011 – Newsletter No. 83:  Newsletter 83

Do take the time to read them, be informed and pray for the work they are doing under God in Chile.

Click on this link to hear about the latest work by the Gerbers: Gerber – Newsletter Sept 2011

We’ve just received 3 newsletters in quick succession from the Charles family in the field in Santiago, Chile.

They’ve had a busy few months with friends Rev Andrew & Heather Reid (Holy Trinity Doncaster, Melbourne) joining them leading up to Easter for an intensive course on the book of Exodus.

Great news about Jo’s women’s bible study group.  The ladies decided to continue meeting while Jo was in Australia.  A very big step for these ladies!  They discovered that they didn’t need Jo to run this group and learnt instead to  trust God.  They are studying Isaiah and while a little bogged down are making great links from the Old and New Testament.

More recently, Michael reports on a mission to Antofagasta where they spent a week in evangelistic events. A highlight for Michael was being able to preach in English at a service held for nearby miners. It was great for the students with him to see a very different part of Chile and experience the difficult reality of a minig city where there is a high turnover of congregation members due to short-term contract work.

Why not check out their newsletters #77 to #79 for yourself by clicking on the links here.
Charles – Newsletter #77 April 2011
Charles – Newsletter #78 May 2011
Charles – Newsletter #79 May 2011

Richard writes the following:
Dear brothers and sisters, I am so sorry for being out of touch.

Bronwyn’s father sadly passed away early on Easter Sunday.  Although he never professed to be a Christian, he read a long letter from Bronwyn explaining the gospel a few days before, and prayed with us in response to Psalm 23. He even asked God to have mercy on Bronwyn with regard to her cancer.

His funeral is on at 1:30 pm Tue 3rd May at St. Matthews Anglican Church, Manly. Bronwyn will be praying and I will give a brief talk from Psalm 23 at the service.

In the mean time:
* Bronwyn’s mother is still recovering from a triple bypass.
* Bronwyn is well enough to receive chemotherapy
* Her sister (Michelle) will be with our family whilst I am speaking at a convention for medical students and staff in Queensland this weekend (on  the theme of suffering – teaching the
book of Habakkuk).
* Our children started back at school after a busy and fruitful break.

Please pray that
* the funeral service will glorify God and turn Bronwyn’s wider family back to him.
* the chemotherapy keeps Bronwyn’s cancer at bay and she has enough energy for the funeral.
* Richard will speak faithfully and well this weekend.
* Our children keep looking to Jesus.

Thanks for loving us,
Richard Chin.

Philip & Deanne Gerber serving Christ in the Northern Territory

No buts, no maybes. We were recently encouraged at St Peter’s Nightcliff to remember that despite all the BUTs of our questions, doubts and excuses there is also the BUT of certainty … BUT I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day.

Deanne’s Mum, Heather Rose Quinn, went seriously downhill and then into palliative care at Mt Gambier and we received news on Sunday 20th March that she has gone to be with the Lord, aged 77. Deanne said her goodbyes a few weeks earlier on a trip to Mt Gambier. Though Mum was very demented and physically fairly wrecked, she still had her faith in Jesus. As Deanne left Mum said feebly “Good-bye Love”. Bitter-sweet.

Enrolments at Nungalinya continue to increase. Aboriginal folk are hungry to study God’s word and keen to do courses.

Flooded rivers and demands on peoples’ time often make it hard logistically and present Deanne with many challenges …the government funding requires 50% of the training to occur away from the College at the student’s community.

The new Principal, Dr Jude Long, is gently but purposefully leading the college in a clear Biblical direction. A suitable Assistant Principal with the required VET experience has not yet been found.

The proposed aboriginal clergy conference was postponed because of logistical and travel problems…. Another example of the difficulties of supporting remote aboriginal ministry.

The annual appearance of the dragon flies has commenced heralding the approaching “dry” season & reminding us of God’s unfailing, recurring sovereignty & His love shown to us in Christ.

Give thanks for:

• His abiding & unfailing Word by which  see.
• Keenness of faithful Aboriginals to do Nungalinya theology courses.

Pray for:

• Overcoming of the logistical difficulties in getting students to Nungalinya.
• The Spirit to move in the hearts of those who read the Gospel material distributed through Darwin Life Expo.

Click on this link to see the Gerber’s newsletter in full Gerber – April 2011 Newsletter

Dear brothers and sisters,

Bronwyn was hospitalised twice in recent weeks. Humanly speaking her first admission involved a comedy of errors that ultimately left her with an infection. This required a second admission. Although frustrating, we know that God is in control.

The upside is that the eventual gastroscopy showed that everything in her stomach was healthy. She is now home and her vomiting seems to have settled. Praise God. She even returned in time to celebrate Rachel’s 17th birthday!

But she remains weak and her back pain has returned. It’s been a hard road for her. Yet she remains in relatively good spirits.
Rachel is surviving Yr 12 exams (so far!), whilst Naomi, Grace, and Thomas continue to survive well despite Bron’s condition.

As always we bathe in God’s grace and are so very grateful for your prayers.

Please ask God our Father to
*  nourish Bronwyn’s soul and body for his glory.
* alleviate her back pain
* keep us all looking to Jesus.

All our love,
the Chin family.

They’ve come full circle now and have moved back home to Mauritius after completing their study.

Eric has now been ordained (27th February) and appointed to take charge of the parishes of St. Paul, Plaine Verte and St Peter, Cassis.

Eric writes to say what a honour and privilege it was to have Archbishop Peter Jensen and Bishop Peter Tasker visit for this important event and be able to welcome them to Eric’s church.

This exert is taken from the current Northwest Network March 2011 newsletter.

Carnarvon’s “Summer of Tears”
Carnarvon was one of those towns caught up in the devastation of the floods and cyclones of this “summer of tears” as one leader has called it. It has been a time of overwhelming experiences not only for those flooded but also those involved in the “flow on’ affects: cleaning up; distribution of basic essentials; re-establishment of power and water, roads and communications; dealing with different personalities under stress. Then as the adrenaline flow slows, the reality of the hard slog ahead and long term sense of loss (personal items, photos etc).

Members of the Carnarvon MU decided it would be helpful if, two months “down the track”, folk who have been too busy and stressed to talk to each other, could be given the opportunity to enjoy a night out away from the cleaning and clearing of destroyed homes and property. Consequently, with money received from Geraldton MU and many others, we were able to issue a number of “dinner for two” vouchers. Invitations were sent out including the vouchers, an MU prayer note and a copy of Mark’s gospel.

Fifteen couples were present on the evening of February 14 at the Eascine Lodge for a lovely three course buffet meal, provided at a 25% discounted price by the proprietors of the motel. Other couples who have been invited may take up the opportunity to attend on a different evening, either by themselves or with others who have shared the experience of loss from flooding. It has been a very worthwhile initiative, and was most appreciated by the couples who have shared a meal together as our guests to date.

Thank you again for your prayers and your generosity. We are very conscious of Sod’s hand in all of this as we hardly had a cent We cant help thinking of the saying “out of little things big things grow”.

Carnarvon MU

You can read this and more in their latest newsletter – so why  not pick up a copy from your service today and be informed.

]]> http://www.daptoanglican.org.au/2011/03/carnarvons-summer-of-tears/feed/ 0 http://www.daptoanglican.org.au/2011/03/church-mission-society-prayer-focus/ http://www.daptoanglican.org.au/2011/03/church-mission-society-prayer-focus/#comments Thu, 24 Mar 2011 22:25:24 +0000 Hilary Brown http://www.daptoanglican.org.au/?p=3234 Join us as we pray and focus in on the Church Mission Society.  Church Mission Society trains, sends out  and supports its missionaries, both in prayer and financially. Their objective is to work for the coming of God’s Kingdom through the proclamation of the gospel of Christ throughout the world in fellowship with local churches.

Dapto Anglican Church supports and is linked directly with two of CMS’ missionaries.  We supoprt Michael & Jo  Charles and their family living and working in Santiago in Chile and Philip & Deanne Gerber serving in the Northern Territory of Australia.  Do join us as we gather together and pray for these missionaries and more.  All welcome!

WHEN: Saturday 9th April, 8.30am to 9.30am.
WHERE: at 42 North Terrace,  Dapto, in the home of Peter & Joan Tasker
Refreshments will be served at the conclusion of prayers.
Please bring a small plate of goodies to help with the morning tea.
More details from: Peter & Joan  4260 9896 or Allen & Gae 4261 5047.

On the health front, many of you have been praying for Jo’s eye, as she suffered a corneal ulceration and inflammation in New Zealand on our way back to Chile.  The decrease in vision has still not resolved, although there has been no repeat of the inflammation.  An appointment this week will determine if the cornea has settled enough to get a new script to correct the changed vision, or if we need to wait longer.  Please pray for patience for Jo, functioning with reduced clarity of vision.

We give thanks as well, that the Sound Therapy for the Auditory Processing Delay which was diagnosed, just as we left Australia, seems to be making a  real difference, especially for Lola. We will keep you up to date with progress.  Please pray for discipline to keep up with listening, and that we will find time for the exercises.

Love from Michael, Jo Sam, Caleb, Emma & Lola.

Prayer Points:

• Pray for Michael’s work with CEP, for the preparation of lectures and classes with students, that the Bible and lesson written in English then translated into Spanish is meaningful and accurate.
• Thank God that the children have settled so well back into school and back into speaking Spanish.
• Pray for Jo’s eye, that God would heal it and that in the mean time she has patience as she has unclear vision.
• Pray for Lola, and the family as the family help Lola with exercises to improve her Auditory Processing Delay and as the family listen well to her.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!!

Our Easter at the Lake Celebration is focused on the theme of ‘Rescue’.
We will be honouring members of our community’s Emergency Services.
Stephen will be speaking about how Jesus is the ultimate rescuer.

Please have beautiful feet and pass on today’s invite.

Our church is also intending to have beautiful feet in ongoing ministries.  We will be continuing last year’s practice of delivering an Easter bag or basket to DAC contacts.  We want to extend this outreach and have an ongoing visitation and support program. We are aiming to develop a ‘Welcome to Dapto” bag of goodies for delivery to people moving into our area.  We also are endeavouring to secure food donations form the Mall which can be distributed on an adopt a block/family basis.

If you want to get your feet moving in this life transforming way…
please indicate on the insert in today’s bulletin.

Stephen Semenchuk,
Senior Pastor

They write to tell us of two opportunities at Nungalinya College Darwin.

Nungalinya College is a dynamic Christian training college for indigenous adults which is run by the Anglican, Catholic & Uniting Churches.

If you’ve thought about serving in ‘mission’, here are two opportunities: one for a retired or long-service leave Christian couple and one for an experienced person in the TAFE/VET sector.

• If you are interested, then call the church office 4261 1001 for a copy of the details.

2011 is a year of great change for the Global Impact Team.  Ron Litchfield (the coordinator for the last 10 years), Phil Weston (member for 13 years) and Helen Stephens (member for 13 years) have all decided to concentrate on other ministries. We have taken the opportunity to reorganise.

Team members will now be allocated as the main contact person for each of our link missions.

Peter Crossing will be the coordinator of Team Indo and OMF and the mission initiatives to the least evangelised parts of the world.

Keith and Elizabeth Langridge will be the CMS people including the Charles in Chile and the Gerber’s in the NT.

Max Mackay will be the link person with AFES and the Chins.
Stephen Semenchuk is the coordinator of the support for people in theological training and other churches we support.

We have a need for someone to take on oversight of Bush Church Aid. If you are interested please contact Stephen Semenchuk.

We are looking forward to two big events with the Team Indo Indonesian Experience dinner on  Saturday 19th March and the Farewell Service on the 9^th April at the Ministry Centre.

Update on Bronwyn:
Bronwyn will be admitted to hospital to try and overcome her malnutrition in the next day or so.   She now wavers between 45 – 46 kg and is unable to keep her food down very well. It could be a fungal infection of her esophagus which is easily treated. But either way, she needs to be nourished. Our surgeon wants to examine her with a gastroscope and then feed her through a naso-jejunal tube (that goes from her nose into her small intestine) for a few days.  It’s disappointing after a valiant an exhaustive effort to recover well in the last month. She’s tried everything including thinking “fat thoughts” ☺  Despite valleys of deep sadness, her sense of humour has never gone!

We know God is good and sovereign. To Him be all glory.

Please pray that
* God will grant Bronwyn a continual joy in Him that will be her strength.
* Her tests and treatment in hospital will happen smoothly and she is home quickly.
* She will be healed to serve Him much longer for God’s glory if it is His will.
* together with our children we will keep looking to Jesus no matter what happens.

Thanks for loving us,
the Chin family.

Richard Chin, AFES National Director

Dear brothers and sisters,
Thank you for your ongoing prayers.

Bronwyn:
Is recovering very slowly. Since coming home on Christmas day she has not really been able to keep her food down very well. She has lost a significant amount of weight. Last week she needed 2 litres of fluid through a drip because of her dehydration. Subsequently we have had a long break from the chemotherapy that she commenced earlier this year.  However in God’s kindness she seems to have (just) turned a corner with a new regime of medication to help her absorb food, and contain her discomfort. She even managed to get to bible study this morning! We are due to have another CT scan this Wednesday, but so far the scans have been clear. Praise God.

Our children:
Remain well in the Lord. The high school our 3 daughters (Rachel, Naomi, & Grace) attend has a Christian group with 40 plus people attending on Friday lunch times, despite a very anti- Christian vibe in many of their classes. They have a school Christian camp coming up in mid- March. Our son Thomas is enjoying his Yr5-6 class at a Christian school.

On the AFES front in Universities around Australia…
Sadly one of our staff (James Poland) died in a hiking accident after falling off a cliff in New Zealand, leaving behind his dear wife and 4 children. He served in Launceston, Tasmania. (Some of the DAC members will remember James Poland and his wife from their time  as part of your DAC Staff).
Tony Rowbotham has started as the Part time deputy National Director whilst remaining Campus Director of Griffith University Gold Coast.
13 new senior staff have joined us, despite the ripples of the Global financial crisis.
I continue to serve with the national and local teams through speaking engagements and meetings. Bronwyn encourages me to do so despite her slow recovery.  Our children and dear friends care for her if I am not at home.

Please thank God for his ongoing kindness to us in

• Bronwyn’s very slow but tangible progress.
• Keeping our children in him.
• Growing the number of good AFES staff.

Please ask God our Father to

• Comfort the Poland family in their time of grief.
• Use and heal Bronwyn for His glory.
• Keep our children trusting Jesus.
• Fill me with His spirit to serve the AFES family faithfully and well.

Thank you for loving us.

All our love,
The Chin family.