Everett &Evelyn McKinney
Your Partners Abroad -- September 2011
Our Work is like Riding on an Elephant!
It's a CHALLENGE to get and stay on,
but the Ride is EXCITING!"
We were in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, recently for a conference. There we had the opportunity for an elephant ride up and down some steep muddy mountain trails. It was exciting! But we stayed on! We heard that years ago missionaries rode elephants for 3 weeks to get there from Bangkok. Thirty minutes was enough for us! Yes, our work is challenging and exciting, but we are not ready to get off!
CHALLENGING:
- To work out travel details.
- To sleep in 12-20 dfferent beds each year.
- To prepare courses for different levels and different cultures.
- To check mountains of papers.
- To counsel students with complex needs and questions.
- To prepare students to plant churches in their own nations and across borders.
EXCITING:
- To get to destinations and KNOW we are there for God-appointments!
- To wake up refreshed anyway!
- To have students say: “It’s just what I needed!”
- To see growth/maturing of students.
- To later see them in productive ministry, counselling others with like problems.
- To see them reaching and discipling many people
At Bethel Bible College in Manila, Philippines, we taught classes composed of seasoned pastors as well as young people eager to begin ministry—a good mix as they worked and shared together. One couple came from Denmark to study and will return to that “post-Christian” nation where so many people are living in spiritual complacency.
The spiritual emphasis week was “over the top” as students responded to the cleansing/filling work of God.
In Malaysia, we taught classes in Jeremiah and Christian Education of Children. Most of these students work fulltime in churches or in secular jobs, yet set aside 2 weeks to come for classes every evening 7:15-10:45! Amazing, and so rewarding to see them drink in so they can be better prepared for the work of the Kingdom. Two ladies from Brazil! We were blessed to minister in several churches, pastored by former students. One couple pastors a thriving church, but now also reserves Sunday and Friday evenings to plant a church in another area. Brand new believers there are so eager to hear and practice the Word, and to reach others as well.
PRAISE and PRAYER
- PRAISE for a wonderful month of reconnecting with a fwe supporting churches!
- PRAISE for some who have given extra for the support of our ministr--a real answer to prayer!
- PRAISE for the milestone of our 49th Anniversary--and still going STRONG!
- OCTOBER - PRAY for teaching in Ufa, Russia - a class of about 25 pastors and church workers who have little or no training. This is one of 18 extensions throughout Russia from the Bible College in Moscow.
- November - PRAY for teachinf at the Bible College in Bangalore, India - a school with 300 students from all over India and surrounding nations. It is our delight to be a part of their adjunct faculty.
- December - PRAY for a church camp and for miniatry in a District Council in the Philippines.
A special blessing!
In Malaysia we met Elizabeth Ai, daughter of former A/G General Superintendent of Vietnam—who was forced to leave his nation. She is now ministering to Vietnamese refugees in this country! Pray for her!
A HUGH CHALLENGE
we face in dimminishing support, due to death of donors, changes in church's mission philosophy (away from long-term missions), pastors who don't know us, economic downturn, etc.
We try to be low-key about financial needs. But at this time, we truly asre in need of monthly support and/or extra offerings. When we see how and through whom God will meet this need, it will be EXCITING!
Does He want to use you?