In It for the Long Haul: God's Work Around the World

Career Missionary Edition

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:9-10)

CURT & KAREN COLE

Curt and Karen serve with Avant Ministries, based in Kansas City, Missouri. After serving with Reach Beyond (formally HCJB Global) for 27 years, Curt now leads the human resources department at Avant Ministries, and Karen helps support educational options for Avant’s missionary kids around the world.

CURT & KAREN COLE

A good portion of Curt’s time is spent traveling, visiting and supporting the missionaries of Avant around the world. He wrote an update of one such trip in February.

“I met Pedro earlier this week when I was in Belize preaching at an association of evangelical churches event. Pedro is the director of Kings College, a high school started by GMU (Avant) missionaries in 1967. He is also a graduate of the Guatemala Bible Seminary.

“About a year ago a student at King’s College died in a tragic motorcycle accident. Because of the way Pedro and others cared for the family, they invited him to start a church in their community.

“This church without walls has now grown to 40 people! Another church in Belize gifted them one bench and they used that as a model to make more benches.

“Pedro gets church planting. He is already discipling and training two other men to lead this new church in the small town of La Pasadita, Belize.

“What a joy to be able to see how God is building his church through his people.”

Would you take a minute to pray for Curt and Karen in the following ways?

• Pray for Curt and Karen as they support ministry around the world. Pray that the Lord would use them to encourage missionaries and missionary kids.

• Pray for a good community to come around them in Kansas City and for them to be supported well through transition.

• Pray for God to grow his church around the world, drawing more and more people to himself.

JOE & HOLLY GREESON

Joe and Holly work in member care with SEND North in Alaska and Northwest Canada. Based in Anchorage, Joe and Holly travel to 21 different villages in the far north. They encourage SEND workers and their families who are called by Jesus to live and make disciples in this region. They also have a special heart for missionary kids isolated in remote villages who face many of the same issues as third culture kids around the world.

JOE & HOLLY GREESON

In the fall, Joe and Holly watched over a family’s home and ministry so the family could take a furlough. On January 23 they wrote, “Praise God for our time in Ross River, Canada. We were there from late September to late December and saw God do something wonderful almost every day. We will never forget the wonderful people we met from every age group. Your and our prayers for safety in long travels were answered and our Subaru held up in the cold nights and on the unpaved roads. There were only a few new, minor cracks in the windshield. We did get sick with some type of flu with a lingering cough but had plenty of good food (mostly moose) and exercise in walking and splitting wood. We were privileged to serve and witness the church God is building in this little Canadian village.

“What we learned in our short time in a remote village gave us deeper appreciation for our SEND North families who faithfully serve and raise their families in these small communities. We pray for God's grace and love to be evident in the sacrifices they make to serve in these difficult places of inconvenience and darkness. We thank God that there are still families in this world who are willing to face all the obstacles of answering God's call to these out-of-the-way places of great need.

“Pray for our people in inland villages, who have been soldiering through a long January cold snap. One report said it was -73° F, while in another village it had been around -50° F for two weeks. Also pray for wisdom for our pilots and their planes. Some of our small planes cannot take off or land safely when the temps are this extreme. Even a short trip on a snow machine (aka snowmobile) can be hazardous at these temperatures. Also, the cold and dark can sap spiritual vitality, especially when combined with power outages (as reported from another village).”

Joe and Holly have asked for prayer in the following ways. Would you lift them up with us?

• Praise God for his provision of meat and heat this winter.

• Pray for health, safety and energy for Joe and Holly and for others serving in the far north.

• Pray for people to find hope in Jesus. Pray as well for a renewal of faith for those who were growing in faith but are now far from God.

MIHAI & TAMMY LUNDELL

Mihai and Tammy live in Italy and serve with One Challenge International. Locally, Mihai helps church leaders reach the community with the gospel using sport and music as discipleship strategies. Mihai also serves on the executive committee of the European member care board, offering care and support to mission workers in Italy, Romania, Hungary and Poland. Tammy serves as a spiritual director for several young leaders locally and across Europe, cultivating prayer ministry for revival and organizing retreats for individuals and small groups. Within One Challenge, she develops cross-cultural mission experiences (both short and long term) for individuals and small teams in Europe.

MIHAI & TAMMY LUNDELL

Tammy wrote to College Church saying, “Happy February! I hope this note finds you well and somehow protected from the ‘February Fever’ (this is something I’ve become aware of living in Latin culture – the root word for February in Latin is the word for “fever,” so they associate February with illness). Thankfully we are doing well in body, mind and spirit these days. Praise God for that!

“In January we became official members of our home church in Genova, and with that, accepted new ministry responsibilities which include participating in and helping to coordinate outreach ministries, preaching, community development, discipleship and music. We are thankful for our church home in Genova and the friends we have made.

“After a big first year in Italy filled with many moves and growth, we were glad to take a few days after the Revive conference to visit Valle d'Aosta, a region of Italy, bordering France and Monte Bianco. It was a great time to relax and enjoy the beautiful Italian Alps. Mihai passed his C-1 level language exams, which is the second highest level after full fluency (C-2) and will finish up a full year of language school in February. We both have been able to make new friends, dig deeper into relationships and integrate ourselves into various aspects of life here in Genova. We are thankful!”

Would you join us in praying for the Lundells?

• Pray for wisdom as they prepare for the next European member care consultation this month as they are leading seminars and have leadership responsibilities.

• Pray for them to grow in trust and dependence on the Lord as they take on new ministry responsibilities in their home church and meet with pastors about new impact ministry ideas.

• Pray for guidance as they research possibilities for further developing sports ministry in Genova and greater Italy. They are currently networking with Italian and European leaders about potential opportunities.

RICK & JANICE MCKINLEY

Rick and Janice serve with Missionary Athletes International (MAI). Rick is the senior director of MAI’s Chicago Eagle’s office. Rick also directs the Eagle’s Summer Academy that enables players to apply their training through coaching kids at soccer camps, playing in a summer league and ministering for two weeks with a church in Brazil. They have been with MAI for over 30 years and served as leaders of the Chicago ministry for more than 20.

RICK & JANICE MCKINLEY

In the end of January, Rick wrote, “For the three months leading up to Christmas 2019, Janice and I experienced our first sabbatical in 34 years of ministry! We are so grateful for the leadership of MAI for providing this time for us to rest, renew and refocus!

“It was strange, in that we had never experienced a complete stopping of our normal activities. Yet, it was also wonderful, as we experienced God doing some tremendous things in our lives. It’s as if we’ve had a deep cleaning of our spirits. Or, as I told someone, the dirt, grime and fingerprints of life had built up on the windows of our souls–and God took his amazing cleanser and squeegee and wiped them completely clean. Everything seems sharper, colors seem more vibrant! In other words, it was an amazing time! Here are a few of the thoughts/experiences from our sabbatical:

1. We were unplugged. My email was turned off and monitored by a friend. What a gift! Although I fought it at first, it was one of the most freeing, eye-opening parts of the three months.

2. I read more in three months than I had in three years. Books recommended by a couple friends seemed to carry a common theme that was very timely.

3. I don’t rest well. But God has reminded me of its value. Sabbath - not only the longest of the Ten Commandments, but also the only one that is a spiritual discipline, one I hope to continue learning.

4. Our first marriage retreat in over 30 years. Jeff and Lora, our leaders (and friends) are counselor “rock stars!” Highly recommend. (www.wellspringtn.com)

5. Time away gave me the time to grieve Dad’s passing, something that was difficult during busy days. So thankful for his fingerprints on my life.

“We returned to action in early January, ready for what God has in the coming months and years ahead. I was thrilled to discover that in 2020, MAI will train coaches in 14 different countries! Even as I write this letter, two of our leaders are on their third visit to the Middle East, training refugees who are coaching 1,300 boys and girls in sustainable sports ministry programs. We are also continuing to see an increase of staff in our U.S. offices, with a large number of those staff members under the age of 30. Our next generation of leaders! God is on the move.

“Your investment in the ministry of MAI, through your finances, prayers and words of encouragement, are what has enabled us to continue to train and disciple young men and women for these past 34 years. We are so blessed by your partnership in the gospel and pray that you will be encouraged by the anticipation that comes from knowing the promises of God.”

Praise God for his faithfulness.

Please join us in lifting up the McKinleys this next year:

• Praise God for the blessing of this sabbatical and for the rest and renewal Rick and Janice experienced through taking time away.

• Pray for the coaches of the Eagles to be a tangible witness for Christ in both word and deed. Pray that many would come to know Jesus through the work of Missionary Athletes International.

ISAAC & JENNIFER STOUGH

Isaac and Jennifer work with Youth for Christ (YFC) in Barcelona, Spain. Isaac teaches English and helps run the English academy at the YFC center. Jennifer also helps run the English academy and a theater program for young people. They both disciple those who attend the weekly YFC outreach events, which include youth groups, retreats and camps.

ISAAC & JENNIFER STOUGH

Working with students, they never know what will trigger spiritual conversations. In mid-January they wrote, “It is truly amazing to see the way God works in our ministry and lives in the least expected moments. Sometimes we expect God to do great things and when he doesn't act in the way we think he should, we feel discouraged.

“Well, God's timing is certainly not ours, and his ways are better than ours. We have a story from Isaac's class that illustrates this. But, first, a verse that I (Jenn) discovered this week that makes me grin every time I remember it, and that is embedded in this story, is 1 Corinthians 1:25. ‘God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.”

Isaac writes, “This week at the English Academy in one of my classes, we listened to the song “Baby” by Justin Bieber. Yes, the song that goes, ‘Baby, baby, baby oooohhh!’ Not only is it one of my favorites from when I was in middle school, it also covers a theme that promotes a lot of conversation; it talks about love and the broken heart.

“In this particular class, we happened upon the question of 'what is marriage really all about?' It was very interesting to hear what my middle school students had absorbed from their home environments and surrounding culture. Basically, they were sharing that marriage isn’t worth the time, because who wants a restrictive, oppressive institution to govern a relationship? But then something happened that rarely happens in a class of 14-year-olds. I was asked the question in return. I volunteered the example of Jenn's and my marriage and opened up about what it means to be married in the Christian sense. I explained that the best marriages are modeled after the love and commitment that we see in the God of the Bible.

“In the class of three, two of the students didn’t seem interested in talking more about it, but one student looked at me and muttered something in Catalan under her breath. Curious, I asked what she had said. And reluctantly she confessed, “I think that if I died today, I would go to hell.” Looking at her, I seized the opportunity to preach the good news that God has saved us from ourselves and that if she desires to accept this as reality, she has no reason to fear. Again, the other two weren’t having any of it but she kept looking at me, and I could tell something was moving in her.

“As most conversations with 14-year-olds are, we jumped to something else in a flash: from hell to heaven and back again to Justin Bieber."

Jenn finished the letter by saying, “Isaac has been teaching these kids for years, and the topic of faith hasn't really come up. But in God's timing, he allowed Isaac to plant a seed in this girl’s heart. And God uses us in our daily interactions all the time, when we are aware, in his timing.”

Please pray with us for Isaac and Jenn.

Here are some specific requests to be bringing to the Lord on their behalf:

• Pray for more opportunities to speak into student’s lives and for students to be open to having spiritual conversations.

• Pray for God to bless Isaac and Jenn’s marriage. Pray that their love for one another might be a witness to their community of the love between Christ and the church.

• Pray for eyes to see the ways that God is at work around them and for wisdom as they seek to follow God’s leading.

If you’re interested in learning more about any of our missionaries or talking about the process of being sent by College Church, please call the church office or email missions@college-church.org. We would love to hear from you and talk with you about missions.