March 26 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalms 33:10-11 (ESV)

• Are you coming to the International Wholistic Missions Conference in Phoenix in May? Our vision is to see every community and every country reached with the wholistic Gospel of the Kingdom. Click on the link to find out more.

• Before IWMC, Pastor D.J. and I will be giving a pre-conference on GameLife and Children's CHE. GameLife is a dynamic way of leading children and families to explore the truths of the Bible through games.

• After IWMC, we will have a Global CHE Network service team retreat near Payson, AZ, in the mountains above Phoenix. Thank God for answering prayers and that Debbie Jacobs is joining our team as curriculum manager! Pray for a fruitful and relaxing time together.

• The Ghana CHE internship is beginning. Please pray that this will give strong encouragement and training to new CHE leaders from Western Africa. I will help with some of the online training.

• Our Zihuatanejo ministries are going well. Please pray that the Lord will provide a new pastor for Ixtapa Christian Fellowship.

• We now have two lively online Bible studies--a study for children and youth on God's Amazing Creation on Mondays, and a study on Women of the Old Testament on Tuesdays. Let me know if you would like to take part in either study.

• Meanwhile, I have been busy writing another series of inductive Bible studies on Foolish Decisions of the Bible. My goal is to have these available internationally without cost. Pray that many may come to a deeper understanding of the Bible.

• The cabin in Texas is progressing, with some challenges. Pray that we may finish well and that the cabin may be used to serve the Lord.

Thank God for all He is doing!
Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support!
Let me know how I can pray for you.
Dios les bendiga. May the Lord continue to bless you.

With love,

Jody

March 19 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

Dear Friends & Family, 
We've got some things that need prayer so dashing off a quick update! I'm going for quick bullet point Praise/Prayer format this time around!

1. Outreach Talk - On Sunday, March 3, our friend came to do a Guest Evangelistic Talk at our church titled "Our Search for a Well-Settled Life." We handed out close to 1,000 invites. Pray that those who attended would encounter the Good News of Jesus through our community and through what is said. 

2. Short-term teams of USA University Students (from various RUF chapters) joined our works here in London from March 2-16. Pray for all the gospel seeds they will spread in Harrow and amongst our sister teams. Pray for the students to grow in their vision of how big the Gospel of King Jesus is!

3. Praise God that our monthly "church core planning" meetings started so well last week with 16 people coming. The Lord is at work. Pray that he would continue to nurture and grow this small church.

4. About a month ago new-ish believer A, brought a man (D)  to church whom he had just met and had only been in the country for 3 weeks. He was a victim of an unjust employment agent that took much money from him to bring him to the UK but upon arrival, he realized the agent was breaking promises of what actual work would be provided. He professes faith in Jesus ... newish faith. The Lord has been helping us to help him in small ways. Pray for the Lord to provide more work and better housing for "D."

5. Yesterday at street outreach, we were so encouraged through various discussions, including our teammate who talked to a man who had never heard the gospel. After sharing it the man said, "can you tell me more?" Pray for these seeds being scattered.

6. Jenn was able to make a quick weekend trip several weeks back to visit her mom and brothers just before the one-year death anniversary of her dad. It was a sweet time of fellowship with her mom and brothers but at the same time, she sees her mom declining with Alzheimers. Pray for her mom and for Jenn and the family.

7. Continue to pray for our daughter Arielle as she prepares for her final cumulative high school exams in May/June which will determine which UK university offers will be confirmed in August (which would then begin in September!). Pray for the Lord to encourage her as she studies and to provide for her and direct her and be present and near her with His love.

8. We were so very encouraged and blessed by extra year-end giving in December. We are humbled and grateful for the Lord's provision through so many of you. Thank you!

March 12 — Souls Winning Ministries

Below is an update from Martin Hawley from Reformation Hope.

Key Scripture Text to Guide Our Prayers for Our Haitian Brothers and Sisters:

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4–7)

It is such a struggle for us who serve alongside our Haitian brothers and sisters, not to be anxious. And as the Word of God in Philippians 4 instructs us so clearly, let us be first and foremost a praying people, interceding for our Haitian loved ones with spirits full of thanksgiving unto God. As we make our priestly kingdom petitions known to God in this way, He will give to us His peace, despite the lack of peace in Haiti and the anxiety we carry in our own hearts and minds. Christ will never leave us for forsake us, and here the Holy Spirit promises that He will safeguard our hearts and our minds from besetting troubles.

Here are our five most pressing requests which you may use to guide your prayers for our mission in Haiti:

• Pray that it might be God’s perfect will to destroy the power of the gangs.

• Pray that God would be pleased to raise up a God-fearing, ethical, and servantminded government to lead the nation back to civil order, stability, and security.

• Pray that the Lord will continue in His loving yet powerful way to protect the New Joy House children and all of the staff who daily look after them.

• Pray that Jesus will be continually glorified and His kingdom grown through the faithful efforts of our network of churches and pastors.

• Pray that God will mightily use the teachers and students engaged in our Bible college in the weeks, months and years ahead for Gospel transformation among the Haitian people.

All of us at Reformation Hope, and the Haitians we support in Souls Winning Ministries, thank God for you and for your partnership with us to reach the Island of Hispaniola for King Jesus.

In Him to Whom All Authority in Heaven and on Earth Has Been Given,
Martin

February 27 — Max & Samantha Herbert with YoungLife

Dear Grace Church Family, 

Our second-semester club is off to a great start!  We kicked off the new year with an ice skating outing.  We rented out the Scottsville Ice Arena and had a blast.  Everyone had fun and it became apparent to me that the Amerks would not be calling anytime soon.  

We have been holding our Monday night outreach meetings and we have had some great attendance.  Every Monday night we gather together to play some games, sing a few songs, and share a message about God's love.  What an incredible gift it is to share our Faith with our friends.  We hope that each week our students will not only hear about the love of Christ but also experience that love through our interactions.  

As I am sure you know, we recently had 5 students travel to El Salvador on a mission trip.  I love that our students get to experience the body of Christ within a new cultural context.  I am praying that this experience will encourage our students’ growth and that they will remember for years to come. 

Our women’s Baskets and Brunch Fundraiser is coming up on March 23.  Please pray that this event would glorify God and also bring a boost to our budget.  If you would like any details on the event please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Our annual summer camp trip will be July 15-20 at Saranac Lake!  We are so excited to be able to spend a week together in such a special place. Please pray for our students to sign up and invite their friends. 

Thanks so much for all that you do to encourage and support our outreach.  We are so grateful to be in this with you!        

February 6 — International Friendships, Inc.

We have some exciting news about IFI – it has been officially recognized as a student group on the RIT campus! This will provide IFI students and staff with access to RIT facilities for meetings and regular connections with the campus life staff, which means an opportunity to serve more international students. There are many great stories from international students who have either come to faith in Jesus Christ or who found a place to grow in their faith through International Friends Incorporated. You can read about Dario, Ellyne and Dami on their web page (https://friends.ifipartners.org/?story=dami/?referrer=eoy23-email-dec13).

Please continue to pray for the international students that IFI serves and for the IFI staff, that they will be effective in reaching more students. Also, please pray for Peter Putz, one of the original sponsors of IFI in Rochester. He has some significant medical issues and is in need of God’s healing touch.

January 2 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayer

1. Thank God for his bountiful provision!

2. My biggest praise is that I can see better now! The laser surgery in Texas was successful. I also enjoyed a time at CHSC with Greg and Candi Seager and spending time with missionaries there. Then we headed to Bourne, TX to celebrate Thanksgiving with their family.

3. The cabin at CHSC is progressing, though a bit slowly. The drywall is finished. Pray for wisdom in our decisions as we finish it.

4. Please continue to pray for Acapulco, which was devastated by the hurricane.

5. Thanks for your prayers for our community health evangelism ministries and for the Global CHE Network service team that often works behind the scenes to support the worldwide community health evangelism ministries. 

6. Pray for the Masai people in Kenya. Many are illiterate and without electricity, so Jo and Palm Ministries are working to get them solar-powered handheld audio players with Scriptures in the Maasai language. Pray that they may hear and respond to the gospel message.

7. I hope to head back to CHSC in January to help with their orientation, children's program, and CHE training. Thanks for your prayers!

8. Pastor D.J. and I have been working together on ways to combine GameLife and Children's CHE. We will also be giving a pre-conference at the International Wholistic Missions Conference in May. Pray that this will enhance both ministries.

9. In January, I plan to begin an online Bible study on Women of the Old Testament. Please let me know if you are interested. 

10. I have been selected to attend Lausanne 2024 (their fourth world conference) as an online participant. (So no travels to Seoul, South Korea!) The Lausanne Movement is a global movement that mobilizes Christian leaders to work together for the worldwide spread of the gospel. We are working online to prepare for the conference

Thanks to each of you who have been praying for me and those who give support. You are an encouragement to me. Let me know how I can pray for you.

With love,
Jody

December 26 — International Friendships, Inc.

You have probably heard about IFI at the church during conversations, announcements, Kingdom Prayer, the bulletin or the website. This update contains some links that may stir you to get involved in ways that you are not expecting.

Would you like to attend an IFI event to learn more about their activities? Please talk with Dave Beinetti or Paul Craig and we can help you connect and attend.

Have you considered inviting an IFI guest to your home for a meal? This could range from a regular evening meal to a meal during spring break (March 9-17, 2024, when the campus is nearly empty - sometimes a very lonely time for international students) or even for an Easter celebration with your family. Again, please check with Dave or Paul.

Would you like to read more stories about IFI students. Here is a link to a story about Dami, a PhD student from Nigeria (https://friends.ifipartners.org/?story=dami/?referrer=eoy23-email-dec13)? Would you consider taking an international student along on a trip? https://www.ifipartners.org/cross-cultural/traveling-with-internationals. Please contact Christine Maali Amiri atc.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org or Mason Pell (m.pell@ifiusa.org).

Please continue to pray for IFI

• That Christine and Morgan will have greater impact on international students on the RIT campus

• That more international students would attend IFI events and desire to follow Jesus

• That the international students will find companionship during the semester break, including Christmas and New Years Day

December 19 — CompassCare

The efforts of CompassCare have resulted in 2,049 babies saved from abortion in 2023 and 321 women who have received Christ as Savior. During the 2023 calendar year, CompassCare has been supporting abortion-minded women in Rochester, Buffalo, Albany, and throughout the United States and the world with Telecare. If you are interested in Telecare, please follow this link to Star's Story: Telecare Victory: https://www.compasscarecommunity.com/2023/12/stars-story-telecare-victory/.

“I don’t think I can do this…” Star told her TeleCare Nurse. Star came to a CompassCare TeleCare appointment, like women throughout NY, across the nation, and around the globe, considering abortion. Star scheduled her virtual appointment with her Care Coordinator and, within minutes, was talking to a caring and compassionate Nurse.

CompassCare has a new opportunity to expand into New York City, with medical services in Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx during 2024. The strategic efforts of CompassCare are crystallized in their D.E.E.P. theme, which stands for Deliver, Expand, Educate and Protect. Here is how they describe it on their CompassCare Community page (https://give.compasscarecommunity.com/campaign/go-d-e-e-p-with-compasscare/c524653):

• CompassCare continues to DELIVER care to women facing an unplanned pregnancy with ethical medical care and support.

• We are also EXPANDING service throughout the abortion capital of the world, New York State, by opening a medical office in five NY State regions, plus expanding across America through TeleCare.

• And, we continue to EDUCATE the public on why everyone, everywhere needs to be pro-life.

• Finally, we aim to PROTECT pro-life pregnancy centers in the public square from violence, vilification and censorship.

Please continue to pray for CompassCare to have a lasting impact on the lives of women who are considering abortion and their babies. If you would like to learn more about CompassCare, please talk with Paul Craig at church or contact him by email (paca8612@gmail.com).

December 7 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

Fresh Grace - 1 Dec 2023, Irvine Prayer Update

Dear Friends & Family,

I've found myself asking the Lord to pour fresh encouragement, fresh faith, a fresh sense of His Love and Grace, and a fresh perspective into our hearts. Well, usually there is a gap between starting to feel the need to pray for these things and then starting to feel the effects of "Empty" and only then am I moved to pray.

I was reading a book on Evangelism the other day. In the context of giving examples of Jesus encountering people in Luke 18, this sentence really struck my heart: "There is nothing that we give up for Christ that isn't returned many times over." Not a new thought. But something about the reminder that God generously and lavishly and continues to pour Himself out for us - all undeserved - was such good news for me. It really just got me. Pray for more of this Good News to be real to us even as we seek to hold out the words of life to others.

A Few Update Snapshots & Prayer Points

(1) The 3rd consultation on 16 Nov in Oxford concerning outreach to our religious group context went well. It was a smaller group but very good discussion and mutual learning. One fact that keeps being highlighted is that there has been a 260% increase in Indian Student Visas to the UK in the last 5 years. Pray for some who are considering how to get good outreach training resources into the hands of Christian Students.

(2) Last night two of us New Life Suwarta Sangat elders met with two younger men for Leadership / Elder / Preaching Training. What a joy it was to unpack a passage together and encourage our younger brothers to consider how the Lord could use them in Preaching and Elder ministry. Pray for the Lord to protect and encourage and help them to grow.

(3) This past Sunday after worship - as sometime happens - a number of us ended up grabbing lunch at a local "Masala Dosa" place. Some relatively new followers of Jesus were with us and our conversation led to some mutual discipleship and encouragement regarding how to reach out to friends and family. Pray for the Lord to open doors for them for outreach to friends and family.

(4) This week I attended a British Gospel Centred Church Planting Network gathering to get a feel for it and see if it might be a good idea for our church plant to join up since we are in a bit of a "re-vitalising" mode. It was so encouraging! Pray for wisdom as to whether we should join. But also at the gathering I got to sit in on a seminar led by a younger pastor from a British Gujarati Indian background who is in the process of planting a multi-ethnic church in North East London (we are in NW London) in the past 3 years. It is so encouraging to see what they have learned and are now sharing with a larger British Church Planting Network. So much of their experience resonates with ours. He is also starting to raise up some younger British Indian trainees. There is a possibility of perhaps some mutual encouragement and partnership. Pray that the Lord would bless that specific CP work and also continue to raise up more young British Indian gospel laborers.

(5) Two weeks back we had another church plant "games night" outreach event which is functioning very much like a "Gospel Porch" that Tim Keller wrote about and was also discussed recently on a podcast. It's so good to see unbelieving friends and believers from our small church just mixing it up in a safe place. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with our friends.

(6) We are preparing for a Christmas Outreach on Sunday 17th December that will involve a Nativity Play featuring both children from our church and kids who don't come to our church normally. Pray for the gospel to be "heard" and "seen" by all who come on that day.

(7) We had a special time of giving thanks at church two weeks back and then at our home on Thanksgiving Day (mostly family/team but also a few church friends.) So much to give thanks for, which has been brought back to me again even as I've typed the above. I had a chance at the church Thanksgiving to have a gospel conversation with some visitors from other faith backgrounds]. Pray that the seeds planted would grow into true repentance and faith.

So thankful for all your prayers and partnership in the Lord!

Matt Irvine (and Jenn)

November 28 — Souls Winning Ministries

Haiti Souls Winning Ministries (SWM) of Haiti

The Seminary in Jacmel is training pastors in the south of Haiti. It is lead by Maxito Raphaël often joined by David Bruno, both graduates of the 2017 Class of the Seminary in Marin. They meet for a week of teaching every 6 or so weeks, as funding allows. Grace’s special offering allowed them to meet again the week of November 13-17.

Rich Kennedy was part of the teaching for the first 3 days, presenting on Making Biblical Decisions. “There’s an App for That!”, APP lying Gods word to the situations on our path, with special attention to God’s work on transforming our hearts and strengthening our discernment. The Last 2 days were an overview of the wisdom literature.

Our special offering also sent funds to the school Cenet Joseph has started on the Island off the coast of Haiti, La Gonave. 

The main SWM campus is in the middle of 2 gangs battling the Chien Mechant (Evil Dogs) vs a branch of The G9 Coalition of gangs. Pray for safety and peace to return. 2 of the kids of the New Joy House Orphanage need to retake national exams in December. Pray they pass and move on in possible directions for their lives. 

Pray: 

1. That the Jacmel Seminary flourish and the gospel spreads through the south of Haiti. 

2. That the gang warfare stop in the vicinity of the SWM work, and throughout Haiti.

3. That a transitional government can form and bring order and stability to the country.

4. That the students of the orphanage stay safe, and flourish educationally and spiritually.

5. That if God wants Osseille and family to come to the US, that He open up those doors, and if not, that He shows the plan He has for them in Haiti. 

November 7 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

John 13:17 (ESV) “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

1. Praise God that, in this time of world upheaval and unrest, He is sovereign and in control. Pray for the people who are suffering, in areas of conflict, in areas of persecution, and in areas where the gospel has not yet penetrated.

   2. Thank God for several specific answers to prayer:

• Thank God for the tropical storm and much-needed rain in Zihuatanejo. But there was little wind, so homes were not damaged much.

• Thank God for our ministries in Zihuatanejo with children, parents, and grandparents.

• Thank God for the lives and communities transformed by Christ through the spread of community health evangelism ministries.

• Thank God for his provision of a car for Texas.

• Thank God that the work on the cabin is progressing.

3. But I do have a specific prayer request for you. I have been having more vision problems, and it probably is a side effect of my cataract surgery. So, in November I am scheduled to go to Texas for an eye exam and probable laser surgery on my eyes. Please pray for all the travel and clear vision. (And please forgive all my typos now!)

4. Thank God for our Global CHE Network service team, and for all the work behind the scenes to support the worldwide community health evangelism ministries. Please pray for God’s provision of a new bookkeeper and for new curriculum staff.

I want to thank each of you who have been praying for me and those who give support. But our address for support has changed. Please send any donations to:

Global CHE Network
200 W Frontier St., Suite Q
Payson, AZ 85541

Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Let me know how I can be praying for you.

With love,
Jody

October 31 — International Friendships, Inc.

IFI continues to grow and thrive on the RIT campus. We have been asking you to pray that IFI will be recognized as an official student group on the RIT campus and are happy to report that this prayer has been answered. As an RIT student group, IFI now has access to campus spaces and limited funding for student events. Christine Maali Amiri (c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org) and Mason Pell (m.pell@ifiusa.org) are both working with international students on the RIT campus. 

On Friday, October 20, Ridgeland Community Church hosted an informational meeting and fundraiser for IFI. We had a great meal together (catered by Mission BBQ) with about 65 people in attendance, including about a dozen members of Grace Church PCA.  

The meeting was led by Peter and Hannah Putz, who have been with IFI Rochester from the beginning. We heard a brief history of IFI in Rochester from our very own Dave Beinetti. A young man who grew up in Canada/India/Dubai told us how he experienced a much-needed sense of belonging from the IFI Christian community after his travels in multiple countries. A young woman from the Republic of the Congo provided a very inspiring story about the joy she experienced as she shared her faith with her roommates at RIT. Rich Mendola, the nationwide director of IFI, pointed out four important principles in the ministry of IFI.

• It is Biblical - starting with Abraham, God has been raising up people from within cultures to carry His message.

• It is strategic – the ministry of IFI has the potential to impact future leaders all over the world, including the children and advisors of presidents, premiers, and prime ministers.

• It is economical – missionaries to a new country typically require more than two years of language and cultural training and frequently take four or more years to have an impact on arrival. Students returning to their homes can have an immediate impact. 

• It is effective – students who come to faith in Jesus Christ and those who have their faith strengthened and renewed return home to start Bible studies and home churches, even in countries where Christian missionaries are not even allowed.

There will be opportunities during the coming year to host international students for dinners at home, especially during Thanksgiving, over Christmas break, spring break, and Easter, when many IFI students cannot return home. Please contact Paul Craig (call him at 585.305.5557, email at pac8612@gmail.com, or just stop him after service on Sunday) if you would be willing to be added to a list of potential host families who can be contacted when these opportunities arise. 

Please pray for the international students that IFI serves and for Christine and Mason as they minister to these students.  

If you would like to receive regular updates about IFI,  to volunteer with IFI, or to support the ministry of IFI at RIT, please contact Christine Maali Amiri at c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org. Please talk with Dave Beinitti (dbeinetti@gmail.com) or Paul Craig (paul.craig@rit.edu) to learn more about IFI at RIT. You can also learn more from their website (https://rit.ifiusa.org/). 

October 24 — CompassCare

There is a great need for prayer to support the ministries of CompassCare, particularly through the PrayerNet team. This team sends out weekly updates that provide data on the number of women served by CompassCare in the Rochester, Buffalo and Albany offices, and by Telecare, which reaches women around the world. Here are the highlights from a typical update. Please note that there is also a request to pray for the nurses who work directly with the women in all of these settings.

They also include prayer requests that are specific to the situations of women who are visiting CompassCare, such as these from the October 17, 2023, PrayerNet update:

Please pray for CompassCare's patients this week. Please pray specifically for the women who are experiencing the following:

• Negative experience with foster care—pray for healing and Christian mentors/caregivers.

• Domestic violence—pray for protection, reconciliation, and transformation.

• Abandonment by family—pray for provision and love.

• Boyfriend wants an abortion—pray for a change of heart.

The Church through CompassCare shows women loving sacrifice, giving them the ethical medical care and comprehensive community support they need to get a vision of their life after having their baby. When a woman experiences that love, care, and sacrifice, it becomes easier for her to face the tensions in her life, protecting her baby.

CompassCare is a Christ-centered organization, committed to "Erasing the need for abortion by transforming a woman's fear into confidence.” You can follow them at CompassCare Community on Facebook. Please contact Paul Craig by email pac8612@gmail.com or text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

October 10 — Max & Samantha Herbert

We are off and running!

We are so grateful for another Fall season with YL!  Pictured above are most of the leaders for Young Life, Wyldlife, and Young Lives in our area.  We had the chance to go to Saranac for a leadership weekend getaway (sadly a few could not make it).  We spent our time planning out the club schedule for the year, checking in on personal health, and most importantly finding encouragement in the Word. The mission we are leaning into this year is to "know Christ and make Him known to teens."  Please pray for our team as we reach out to teens in middle school, high school, and teen parents!  

Club is in full swing!

Pictured above is one of our volunteers, Marissa, giving the club talk at the end of an amazing hour together.  Marissa shared a personal story from her childhood of a time when she was lost in the woods and needed help finding the way home.  As she sat with tears in her eyes she felt a nudge on her back, she turned around to see her dog sitting behind her.  She followed her dog all the way home!  Marissa related that story to our condition of being lost, of wandering on our own, leaving us in a state of brokenness and confusion.  She pointed the teens to Matthew 18 as Jesus speaks about leaving the 99 to find the 1 lost sheep.  She challenged the kids to think about where they are spiritually and encouraged them that no matter how lost they may be that Christ is pursuing them. Would you pray for club on  Monday nights as we get the opportunity to continue to share the truth about the love of Christ in word and deed. 

What Joy!!

   Pictured above is our son Luke and our neighbor Gavin.  The first picture is from October 2017 at Saranac on an outreach weekend and the more recent picture is from this most recent trip to Saranac for leadership weekend.  It has been such a joy to see the Lord work in hearts of these two young men.  What a gift it is to be able to have a front row seat watching them mature in wisdom and stature.  Luke is a freshman at Roberts this year and is helping to lead our high school ministry, Gavin is a senior at Churchville Chili this year and is using this last year as an opportunity to make a difference for Christ among his classmates.  

Fall Weekend!!

Our Fall Weekend trip this year will be at Camp Bethany! We will be joining Buffalo YL, Geneseo YL, and Roc East YL for an incredible weekend. To Register just scan the QR code below!  Would you pray for our outreach weekend? 

September 28 — Souls Winning Ministries

Grace will be collecting a special offering for the next two weeks for the work of Souls Winning Ministries in Haiti.

We would like to see at least:

• $1950 toward supporting the work of the Seminary in Jacmel, to bring the 25 students from the South of Haiti for a week of teaching at Jacmel.

• $500 to $1000 toward the collecting and sending by DHL laptops, books, supplies to the Seminary.

• $500 to $1000 toward the work of Cenet Joseph supporting a church and school on the large island of La Gonave off the coast of Haiti.

• $2000+ toward the general funds of Reformation Hope supporting the many ministries of Haiti, including the orphanage, school, health center in Marin.

Total: $4950 to $5950

Also, if people are interested in hearing about opportunities to assist with specific needs or ministry opportunities as they come up, be in contact with Rich Kennedy. Some are one-time needs and others are ongoing opportunities. Recent needs were for a student unable to afford school in Mirebalais, and a deacon killed by a gang leaving a wife and four beautiful young children. Pastor Maxito’s church has many members who can’t afford food, etc. Just today 9/28/23, a member urgently needs funds to get out of the crossfire of gangs. Staff and their families, having been displaced from their homes by gangs and leaving everything behind, must start over again. There are also ongoing opportunities on the Reformation Hope website to support a child of the orphanage, a student at the seminary, etc.

See the latest Reformation Hope newsletter. Printed copies will be available in the foyer.

History of the organization

Souls Winning Ministries in Haiti was started by Pastor Jean Jacob Paul.
At age 9 he was selected to come to the US for schooling, Bible College and to return to Haiti. In 2003, he returned to his home location of Marin, just north of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Over time, he began an orphanage, a school, a church, and a seminary.

After the 2010 earthquake, teams for Mission to the World started to go to Haiti, and in December 2010 went to Souls Winning Ministries. Soon thereafter Grace started supporting Pastor Jean Paul.

September 19 — Jody Collinge

Praise and Prayers

"And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom
for such a time as this?” (ESV, Esther 4:14)

1. Our online Bible class has nearly finished Esther. Like Esther, we are living in an unusual time. How is God calling you to respond?

2. We celebrated with a games night and will begin studying God's Amazing Creation, focusing on Genesis 1 and 2. Please let me know if any of your children or teens would like to join us.

3. Thank God that Chrissy was able to escape the fires in northern Canada.

4. Pray for two Zihuatanejo friends who are going through health challenges.

5. Several members of our Global CHE Network Service Team are getting ready for a series of trainings around the world, focusing on the Million Village Challenge. One way to describe community health evangelism is "Christ-centered community development in a million villages." Please pray that Christ will bring his transformation of children, parents, families, and communities to a million villages. 

6. I have been learning new strategies for Children's CHE. GameLife has the goal of "Connecting Jesus to every child in every nation". They use games as a focused entry into Bible stories, helping the children apply the truth to their own lives. Like Children's CHE, their goal is to engage the family, multiply churches, and bring Christ's transformation to communities.

7. A second dynamic ministry we are working with is KIDStory, a ministry of Kids Around the World. Their goal is "Sharing God’s transforming hope with kids and their communities through food, play, and story." As you can see, both of these ministries have much in common with Children's CHE. Pray that we can "encourage one another and build one another up", as 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says.

8. Zihuatanejo has been hot and steamy, so I have enjoyed our small pool. Please pray for more rain.

Nuevo Amanecer 

Many thanks for your prayers, encouragement, and support! Let me know how I can be praying for you. ¡Dios les bendiga! May the Lord continue to bless you

There a quite a few links in this prayer update. Please follow some of them to explore these ideas.
 With love,
Jody

September 12 — International Friendships, Inc.

International Friends Incorporated held a fall welcome picnic for international students at Ridgeland Community Church on Sunday, August 26. There were about 30 international students in attendance – about 10 were new to the RIT campus this fall. A few are active and outspoken Christians but many are watching and, we hope, considering the Christian faith.

 There will be opportunities during the coming year to host international students for dinners at home, especially during Thanksgiving, over the Christmas and spring breaks when they cannot return home and around Easter. Please contact Paul Craig (call him at 585.305.5557, email at pac8612@gmail.com, or just stop him after service on Sunday) if you would be willing to be added to a list of potential host families who can be contacted when these opportunities arise.

Please pray for the international students that IFI serves and for the IFI staff. Also pray for the ongoing process of IFI becoming officially recognized on the RIT campus.

If you would like to receive regular updates about IFI,  volunteer with IFI, or support the ministry of IFI at RIT, please contact Christine Maali Amiri at c.maaliamiri@ifiusa.org. Please talk with Dave Beinitti (dbeinetti@gmail.com) or Paul Craig (paul.craig@rit.edu) to learn more about IFI at RIT. You can also learn more from their website (https://www.ifiusa.org/). 

September 8 — CompassCare

This story is taken from a recent CompassCare email:

“Courage is a big part of ministry to women and babies.

Recently an abortionist in one of CompassCare’s service areas passed away. His widow courageously donated an ultrasound machine to the ministry. A CompassCare nurse was determined to redeem this equipment for the Kingdom and courageously put it to use as soon as it was delivered to the office after regular hours.

A nervous patient courageously reached out to CompassCare after taking the first of two abortion pills. She came to the office directly. On the same day. After hours. The patient, the nurse, and the repurposed machine came together. The baby's heartbeat was still strong. The mother was overwhelmed. The nurse shared the Good News and a different regimen was initiated to save the baby's life.

And with an even deeper courage, this mother also made a commitment to follow Jesus for the rest of her life. Your generosity fuels the mission. Courageously.”

By the start of September of this year, 1521 babies have been saved from abortion, 227 women have prayed to receive Christ, and women in 15 countries are being served by the Telecare ministries of CompassCare. Follow this link to read the story of the first life saved through Telecare.

There will be CompassCare tours at their facilities on the following dates:

• Thursday, October 20 @ 7 PM

• Saturday, November 5 @ 9:30 AM

Please talk with Paul Craig if you would like to attend a tour.

And please continue to pray for CompassCare and pro-life groups everywhere.

• Pray that many women in crisis will find the CompassCare offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Albany and through Telecare and receive the care that they need.

• Pray for God's protection on all pro-life centers from attacks.

• Pray for grace, humility and truth as individuals, groups and a church in our ongoing conversations about abortion in all settings.

• Keep praying for plans to expand CompassCare into Brooklyn, NY.

• Pray that God will raise up Christians in New York, and across America to pray for the unborn every day. 

CompassCare is a Christ-centered organization, committed to "Erasing the need for abortion by transforming a woman's fear into confidence.” You can also follow them at CompassCare Community on Facebook or ErasingTheNeed.com/RebuildBigger. Please contact Paul Craig by email pac8612@gmail.com or text (585.305.5557) to learn more about getting involved with the Walk for Life, and the PrayerNet ministry of CompassCare.

August 29 — Matt & Jenn Irvine

On the Ministry Front:

Pray that the good news of Jesus would run in the lives of those who heard it and experienced it during our summer outreaches including our LEAP (London Evangelism and Prayer) Week outreach in early July (about 75 short-term visitors from USA were there to help us) and our kids club week at the end of July. A number of local people heard the gospel for the first time ever and had some contact with our church for the first time ever.

Pray for a ladies’ outreach being planned for September which includes some testimonies related to cancer survivors who know and love Jesus and their desire to share about their journey.

Pray for some elder/leadership training we plan to resume in September

Pray for encouragement and vision for the committed core of the church plant after some long-term local leadership retired earlier in the year and as we ask the Lord to provide for the next steps.

Pray for the beginning of fall ministry programs including our weekly youth clubs and mums and tots ministry and ladies' and men's bible studies.

On the Personal Front

Praise God for a good time of mini-home assignment during the last four weeks in the USA as we've had good connections with supporting churches and friends and family, including Jenn's mom who is now in a memory care unit in Tennessee near one of her brothers.

Praise God that a cash offer was made and accepted on Jenn's mother's (and late father's) house in upstate NY. Pray that this would close smoothly by late August/early September. 

Pray for our kids this autumn:

• Malachi (19) is starting his second year of a Maths/Philosophy degree at  the University of Edinburgh and is helping with leadership in the student "Christian Union" ministry moving into an apartment with three friends and will be cooking his own meals. Pray for continued growth and learning & longer term direction for his further Calling.

• Arielle (17) is starting her senior year of High School and has to apply to Universities by the end of September. Pray for guidance.

• Luke (13) is starting eight grade. Pray for encouragement and inspiration at school.

Pray for Jenn and I to walk closely with the Lord Jesus this Autumn and to continue to grow and mature in every area of our lives that He would want to grow us.

Thanks!

Matt

August 22 — Max & Samantha Herbert

Best Week of Your Life! 

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come..." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Throughout the school year during the announcements at each club as we are sharing the details of our camp trip I always end with the same line - "I promise this will be the best week of your life or I will give you your money back."  Week after week for over 20 years I have shared this line with the students in the room and we have never had anyone ask for their money back! Maybe they are so tired by the time they get off the bus they forget my promise but I think there is more to it.  

I know that every student who steps foot on camp property is going to have a great time tubing, zip lining, hanging at the pool, conquering the ropes course, eating great food, and sharing lots of laughs.  Those are all great things but they are not the catalyst for the promise.  I promise the best week because I know that at camp our students (and leaders) are going to be in a place where they are loved, hear the Gospel message, and have an encounter with Christ.  For some, I know that this will be a week where their lives will be changed forever, Christ will grab their hearts and they will truly become a new creation!  

I asked one of our students, Lauren, if she would share a little bit about her journey and how this camp week changed her life: 

"Going into my first year of camp I didn't really know God or wholeheartedly think I could give my heart to Him. But this year at Lake Champion changed my whole perspective. A few months before graduating high school I was struggling with addiction. I was vaping, smoking weed up to 4x a day, and drinking every weekend. The day before camp my parents found out about everything and I feared what my life would look like going home after camp. 

 I have never felt so vulnerable as I cried every night at camp. The withdrawal I felt at camp only made my emotions that much stronger, but as I shared with my leaders and friends I felt the weight slowly lifting.  With every cry, every hug, and every conversation I knew I wanted to quit for good. I dedicated my life to Christ this year, walking up to the stage to give my life to Him had me so emotional, I knew it was the best decision.  Walking back to my seat balling my eyes out, getting hugs from friends and strangers, people who don't even know my story.  I felt seen and I felt heard.  My family has been super supportive and has helped me quit.  I am going on 3 weeks sober and I'm just getting started.  Without YL I would be going down the wrong path, slowly losing myself."

 It has been such a gift to be able to see God at work in Lauren's life, I am so grateful that God would invite us into this miracle!  We are so excited to walk alongside Lauren as she begins this walk. 

As summer winds down and as we approach another school year I hope you are encouraged.  We look back over the summer with gratitude as our faith is deepened by seeing God at work and we look forward to the school year with anticipation as we get to share His love and His story with our friends.  

We are grateful to be in this with you, thank you for all that you do to keep this ministry going!  

For Christ and kids,
Max and Sam