Month: January 2023

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International Ministries January 2023

January 16, 2023

Medical Relief in Ukraine

I’m so pleased to share a video with you from IM Global Consultant for Health Kristy Engel. Last month, Kristy, Global Servants Dr. Anita and Dr. Rick Gutierrez, and IM volunteer, Melissa Wolfson, traveled to Ukraine to help provide mobile medical clinics for people displaced by the war, at the invitation of IM partner Hungarian Baptist Aid.
You can hear more from Kristy about what the team saw and experienced in Ukraine through the video below.

Your gifts to world relief through International Ministries made this trip possible! Thank you for your partnership in bringing hope and practical care in Jesus’ name.

Charles Jones, Area Director for Europe, the Middle East and Liberia

Questions for Charles? Email us!

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Today we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

One way in which you could honor his legacy is by supporting the Lott Carey National African American Missions Council (NAAMC) Scholarship Fund. These scholarships for Black missionary candidates help decrease the challenges they might experience in securing funding to serve in ministry. Learn more about the scholarship fund.

Join our Short-Term Mission staff and global servants on trips that will help you discover what God is doing around the world! We invite you to journey with us in 2023.


AMSTERDAM: April 17 – 25, 2023 / Learn more about the Amsterdam team (registration deadline 1/30/23)
JAPAN: April 27 – May 8, 2023 / Learn more about the Japan team (registration deadline 2/20/23)
LIBERIA: May 24 – June 2, 2023 / Learn more about the Liberia team (registration deadline 3/24/23)
NORWAY: July 2 – 9, 2023 / Learn more about the Norway team (registration deadline 4/7/23)
MISSION EXPRESS: March 15, 2023 / A virtual trip with Global Consultant Mylinda Baits on how art can be used for healing and holistic mission / Learn more (registration deadline 3/6/23)

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

House of Hope, Bolivia

This month on our homepage, we are highlighting the opportunity to support mobile medical and dental clinics for indigenous people in Cochabamba, Bolivia, through a project managed by Global Servant Rhonda Reed. The House of Hope partners with local doctors and dentists to bring mobile clinics to serve vulnerable populations in the city and surrounding provinces. Your support provides equipment and supplies for regular medical and dental care, as well as creating a ministry opportunity during the clinics for local churches to reach out to their communities.

THE IMPACT OF YOUR GIVING

Ministry of Accompaniment and Presence
Global Servants to the Dominican Republic Ketly and Vital Pierre

As the two of us continue our service in the Dominican Republic, we have asked ourselves: what is God’s call of service for us in this place and for this time?


We believe the 1.5 years we spent in the USA “in the desert” during Ketly’s breast cancer surgery and subsequent treatments were to prepare us for the present. “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). We experienced so many uncertainties when we went to Boston, yet God provided people with open hearts and arms to welcome us and to provide for us. This outpouring of God’s love to us strengthened us to be God’s hands and feet once again here in La Romana. Also, I (Ketly) feel my ordination prepared me to be an example and an encouragement to other women in the D.R. who are called to pastoral ministry.


We find the spirit of Immanuel “God with us” helps us to accompany those who are sick and broken-hearted. One of our friends in La Romana named Orene is suffering from cancer, and God is giving me the opportunity to walk alongside her to provide spiritual, emotional, and physical support. I feel like I learned so much from the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and that part of my ministry to those suffering from cancer is education – what to eat, how to rest, what questions to ask the doctor. Also, a young man we know named Joel was just diagnosed with stomach cancer, AND his father also just received a cancer diagnosis. God has prepared me to accompany them as they walk through this time of trial. Praise God that the family is strong in their faith, but the path ahead is not an easy one.


Immanuel “God with us” is also present in the start-up of the chaplaincy program at Good Samaritan Hospital in La Romana. In January, twenty-one volunteers from the area churches will work alternatively for several hours throughout the week as “angels of mercy” in the various wings of the hospital. This is a much-needed addition to the ministry of healing at Good Samaritan.


The Talita Cumi Girls Clubs have experienced Emmanuel “God with us” as many girls are finding Christ’s light, joy, and friendship through the weekly meetings in the various bateyes and La Romana. One mother related that her daughter’s attitude has changed from one of criticism and negativity to one of laughter and positivity.


One of our concerns this year is the increase of persecution of Haitian immigrants in La Romana. There is a sense of unease and fear among many of the Haitian community, and the Community Center is a place of rest and an oasis of peace in the midst of this chaos. Vital is accompanying many Haitian construction workers who need brotherly, physical, emotional, and spiritual support so they can live with dignity in the D.R. The goal is to have an organization to unify these men so they can be a mutual support to each other. Vital is also hoping that the Community Center will soon be able to create a “Job Board” so Haitian women looking for work can be connected with potential employers. We keep in mind this scripture: “You shall not oppress a stranger nor torment him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 23:9). Yes, Immanuel “God with us” is essential for these immigrants.


Through your prayers and your financial support you have been accompanying us as we minister. We are grateful and look forward to this continuing investment in our lives.

You help us to know Emmanuel “God with us” – THANK YOU!!

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Nzunga Mabudiga January 2023


Working Our way thru the Bureaucracy.



Dear Loved Ones,

Greetings and Merry Christmas. This past Tuesday Kihomi and I spent almost the whole day in FBI office in Chandler, Arizona for fingerprinting. The whole session went fine but the person in charge told us that to have the FBI report Apostilled it will take 10 to 11 weeks. 

We are here expressing our deep gratitude and thanks to the Smiths in DR for mentoring us in the process.So, we need somebody with more patience to share some with us. We are really tired of waiting.Meanwhile we are in touch with the DR consulate in CA for the requirements we need before we got visit them.
Yours,
Nzunga  

Dear Supporters,
The saga of Nzunga’s and Kihomi’s future ministry goes on and on.  Uprisings in Haiti and bureaucratic changes and delays in the DR.  It can be very frustrating.  Let’s hope waiting on the Lord doesn’t take the time it took the Israelites to be freed from Egypt. 

Thanks for your support and prayers. 
Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.Blessings,

Dennis Shewell and the MPT team.
 
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Matthew 6:10

International Ministries, also known as the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society, works cross-culturally to invite people to become disciples of Jesus Christ and to proclaim, through both word and deed, God’s reign of justice, peace and abundant life for all creation.Unsubscribe or manage your subscription preferences through your donor portal account.International Ministries
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Gabharts Newsletter December 2022


December 2022
It is hard to believe that we are already entering the advent season. As we think about Christ coming, this year we are reflecting on how different Jesus’ arrival was than what was expected of the Messiah. Those expectations contrasted against the reality of Jesus resulted in many missing Him. We had expectations for what this season at Missionary Flights would be like and the reality is very different. In our last letter, we felt things in Haiti overall were improving. The reality was that things were going down hill. The gangs established a blockade that prevented gas and diesel entering the country for over two months. The fuel shortage that followed prevented supplies from getting into the country. Today, food is still scarce. The water treatment companies ran out of diesel to run their plants and cholera is now out-breaking throughout the country. The gangs are still blockading roads in the country and kidnapping people daily. Veteran missionaries are reporting this is the worst they have ever seen things.  Many evacuated for their family’s safety.  Many that stayed are keeping a low profile. Pastors are telling us that some of the Haitian Christians are turning to voodoo rather than Jesus to get through.  Please pray that the Haitian people will find and rely on Jesus through this situation. Pray for wisdom for those in country on whether or not to stay. Pray for wisdom for those that have evacuated on when they should return.

Working together on James’ birthday

Feed My Starving Children cholera treatmentThis time of year we are normally sending lots of boxes of Christmas gifts for the missions. Due to the fuel shortages, many missions have delayed sending the boxes. Instead, we are busy sending water filtration products and cholera treatment products.  As the fuel blockade is now broken, we are starting to see an increase in the amount of cargo that people need us to send. The Christmas boxes are beginning to come. Please pray that we will continue to have the pilots and the planes available that we need to fulfill these needs.  

Packages beginning to resume in volume


MFI Hangar Banquet

Each November, MFI hosts a banquet to celebrate what God has done that year and to fund raise for the coming year. This year, the theme of the banquet was preparedness. It was encouraging to hear stories from missionaries on how God prepared missionaries we serve and how MFI makes their ministry possible. For several years now, MFI has been refurbishing a third turbine DC-3 and God has made a way that we could have it operational by the end of next year. It is awesome to see God working to prepare MFI for the work He has for our future even when it does not look how we expected.

Thank you for your love, prayers, and support as we serve at MFI.

James and Sam Gabhart
Family News
Good news, friends, we have survived, not just our first hurricane, but our first two.  Hurricane Ian gave us quite the insight of how hurricanes can look. It was quite the learning curve as a homeschool family to learn the balance between what we want to do compared to what we feel like we have to do.  Forty-two days later, we got to put into action the things we learned from Hurricane Ian as we went through Hurricane Nicole.  While in each storm we had some minor flooding, Nicole brought some new challenges to us – losing power for 19 hours.  Jesus brought us through, and our neighborhood fared well overall.  Learning to trust through the storms on a different level brought one worship song to mind most, “Firm Foundation”.  The bridge of that song says, “rains came, winds blew, but my house was built on You.  I’m safe with you, I’m going to make it through”. Those words brought comfort, especially as the winds blew outside.

Chris turns 12!



Birthday Celebration Day

Birthday Celebration Day

November ends for us with celebration.  James turned 40 the beginning of Thanksgiving week.  Chris turned 12 the end of the same week.  We are so grateful to be able to celebrate them.  We took a trip out to Busch Gardens the week prior to their birthdays and had a spectacular day riding coasters and spending time with a dear friend from church. Having the passes we do has been such a gift, over and over, with spending time doing something different from our daily lives.  It has also been such a joy to take friends with us as our guests.

As we come to the end of the year, Sam is finding opportunities to take pictures for families.  It’s a blessing to have a little extra income, especially with a decline in our regular support from some and the ever rising prices.Prayer Requests
Praise for the winter volunteers coming to MFIPrayer for wisdom and opportunity for Sam as we prayerfully consider her getting a part time jobPrayer for the Christmas outreach activities at church and the families that can be impacted by themPrayer for Haiti and the missionaries serving there to have wisdom and safety as they do what God has called them to doPrayer for Sam and I as we seek to be good examples to our children in our walk with JesusPrayer for God to bless our ministry partners in their consistency to support the work He is doingMinistry UpdateWe are so thankful to all who are following God’s leading in supporting us. We are currently receiving $5,000 (81%) monthly. We need an additional $1200 monthly to be fully supported.Online Giving:
www.missionaryflights.org/gabhart OR

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Staton Update January 2023

ungarian Baptist Aid 25th Anniversary Jubilee

We were honored to join Hungarian Baptist Aid for their 25th Anniversary Jubilee in Budapest on December 2nd, and Larry and I were especially honored to be recipients of their presidential service award!

HBA President Béla Szilágyi and Hungarian Baptist Union President János Papp presented us with the awards—we are the first internationals to be given these awards since they started giving them 10 years ago!

Larry’s is the Cserepka János Award, in memory of a Hungarian Baptist missionary to Bolivia in the last century. Mine is the Presidential Recognition Award. We both received the beautiful glass award, and one will come home with us at Christmas to be placed in my aunt Aldine’s curio cabinet that now lives at Pate Chapel Church. Wouldn’t she be proud? And Larry’s grandma Ruth who supported missionaries her whole life? What an honor to get to do these things!

Our dear partners in ministry celebrated with a beautiful event at one of the large arenas, and it was three concerts, a mission report, and a renewal service all in one! Staff and students from their 50 schools came together to celebrate. Every school was given a banner to hold up during shout-out roll call.

The teachers from our school in Téglás are on the left (somehow Elizabeth scored front row seats!) and on the right you can see my colleagues from the high school in Debrecen where I teach once a week.

With our awards we were given beautiful coffee table books commemorating HBA’s 25 years of service. Truly mission-minded, HBA has sent relief and teams around the world in addition to the educational and healthcare services they provide in Hungary. A beautiful part of the evening was the touching tribute to former president Sándor Szenczy who passed away this year. He and Elizabeth and I all share the same birthday, and he was the catalyst of her decision to have HBA take over the management of the Téglás school AND to pursue her Master of Diviniy.

We are grateful for his life’s work, and for the opportunity to be part of the work that continues. Thank you for your prayer and financial support that keeps us here!