Sue and I appreciate you, for showing us how much you love and care for us.  Thank you for your notes of encouragement, praying for the work in the United Kingdom and for your financial gifts.  Your prayers make a difference in our lives and work. And, of course, your faithfulness in funding this ministry is so helpful and encouraging.  I hope you know what a joy you are to us. 

Thank you, for your wonderful encouraging Thanksgiving cards, Christmas cards, funny and thought provoking E-mails, and financial gifts. Thank you, for praying for Sue and I, Luke, and Sarah.

"First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers,  making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." Romans 1:8 - 10

CHRISTMAS NEWS

We had a real nice family Christmas this year. Luke and Sarah wanted a much bigger Christmas tree this year, so we pickED up a 7 foot tree.  Once we returned home with the tree. Sarah was starting to get the itch to setup the tree, so that is what she did. The next thing we know Sarah was decorating the tree as well as the whole house. 

On Christmas Day we unwrapped some of our gifts, than we went to church. After church Sue’s mum came over for dinner and more unwrapping gifts.   

FAMILY NEWS

Six months ago we started to attend another church.  The name of this church is Christ Church Lye.  Just so you know that Christ Church Lye is located in the town of Lye. This is a Church of England Church.

Luke and Sarah like the church, because of their youth group. Shortly after Luke stared to go to the Youth Group they made Luke a staff member.  This was a wonderful thing for Luke since he his desire is to be a youth worker.  Then they asked Sarah if she would like to be a helper in the youth group. Which of course she said yes.  The kids are getting good opportunities at this church.

Luke is now 18 and in his last year of college.  He is planning to take a gape year before finishing his education.  Sarah is 16 and will start college in August.  

JOB OF AN EVANGELIST

The work that I do as a Global Challenge Team Evangelist at OM Life Hope has many different roles.  They are:

 (1) manage the  book shop

(2) over see the evangelist literature

(3) support  the Global Action Team in their churches. Currently we have six Global Action teams working in Wales and England. 

(4) order evangelist supplies

(5) help with evangelist training both with Global Challenge and Global Action and

(6) Sue and I work with and support our church in anyway that we can.   

Sue is helping out on reception at OM Life Hope and joins me when she can in the street work. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Here is what the Global Challenge Outreaches is looking like for 2009. *Community Encounter 24 Jan. 09 to 22 May 09,* Mission-net In2 England 13 Apr. 09 to 19 Apr. 09* Community Encounter 23 May 09 to 17 Aug. 09* Reach the City-Cardiff, Wales 06 June 09 to 14 June 09*Shine your light into Black Country 4 July to 12 July 09*Elco—English Language and Community Outreach 12 July 09 to 25 July 09* Teens in Mission 25 July 09 to 1August 09 *Teens in Mission 8 Aug. 09 to 16 Aug. 09* Europe Special 8 Aug. 09 to 16 Aug. 09*Community Encounter 31 Aug. to 18 Dec. 09 *New Year Outreach—Joy in the City 27 Dec. 09 to 3 Jan. 10 

HOME ASSIGNMENT 2009 

Wow, it is rather hard to believe that it has been three years since my last home assignment.  Sue and I will be in the US from the end of June to the end of August.  During our time in the states Sue and I will be attending all of the Southern Methodist Church conference. 

Sue and I are looking forward to coming to your church and WMS meetings  to share more about of what is happening here in the United Kingdom.  I will let you know when I know the dates that I will be in your area, so you can check you dairy (calendar) to see if we can come to your church or WMS meeting. 

I am now in the process of applying for my two year spouse visa.  I hope to have my new visa before the start of my home assignment.  Please pray for my home assignment and for my visa.  Thank you for your support.

ANSWER TO PRAYER

Praise report from the OM Lifehope Training team.  We have just received I think the largest number of new people coming to work with us since I came in 2002.    This intake of new people might even surpass the number that came in with me.  Currently we have 23 students going through our Global Action training program.  

Another praise report from the Global Challenge team.  We had our New Year outreach for 08-09.  There was around 50 people in attendance for this outreach.  They were divided up into three teams.  The name of the teams are the Joy In The City team, Cradley Team and Christ Church Lye team.  I will have out to you soon the report from this mission to you as soon as I can.  Thank you for praying for this outreach.  

 PRAYER REQUEST FOR ENGLAND

(1) Britain need to regain a sense of purpose and direction for the 21 century.  The nation is torn between its European geography and its Atlanticist culture. Pray that political leadership may have the moral integrity and courage to give the correct lead. Membership of the EU and differing views on the degree of federalism desirable and its impact on national life is a matter for intense public concern and debate. (2)Tolerance is the ‘in’ word. The influx of non-Christian religions has affected the worldview of the population. The spokesmen for Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc., push for legislation that will favour their religions, and demand freedoms they would never grant Christians in their lands of origin. Astrology, the occult, reincarnation, old world paganism (Druid/Wicca) and even Satanism have become popular, with a massive increase in literature promoting their ends. The mission field has come to the UK — and many non-Western Christians perceive the UK itself as a mission field.

 PRAYER REQUESTS

· Pray for Sue that she will get stronger in her confidence in  sharing Jesus, and in trying new things.

· Pray for Luke that he will finish up his time in college well.  Pray that God will reveal to Luke what it is Luke should do as far  as his continue education.  Luke wants to be a youth worker.

· Pray for Sarah she will be starting college in August.  Pray that she will finish her high school well.

· Pray for my church Christ Church Lye.  Sue and I are getting more and more involved in this church.

· Pray  for England knife problem.  Last year a lot of teenagers died from knife crime.  All ready this year we had one teenage died by a knife.

· Pray for me that I will start to have a long term goal in what I am to do in my ministry.