October Prayer Letter

Check out the latest in Literacy Missions in Wisconsin...and how that's extending into other lands! October Prayer Letter

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!!

July Prayer Letter

I've just posted July's prayer letter! Check it out!

Please continue to pray for workers for the harvest! Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and support!

http://www.eslwi.com/prayer%20letters/newsletter%20jul10.pdf

ESL Resources

Check out the Resources page on my website. I updated it this week! If you've found other materials (especially online resources) please share them with me, along with your review of those materials...what did you like, what didn't you like, what levels have you used it with?

Enjoy!

May Prayer Letter

I just finished my May prayer letter. Thank you to those who so faithfully pray for me and for this ministry! God is doing some amazing things through jars of clay...to Him be all the honor and the glory for ever and ever...amen!

Prayer Letter
http://www.eslwi.com/prayer%20letters/newsletter%20may%2010.pdf

Prayer Request - ESL Workshop this weekend!

Please be in prayer for the English as a Second Language workshop hosted by Door Creek Church in Madison, WI this weekend. The workshop will run Friday evening (6pm-8:30pm), Saturday (9am-5pm) and Sunday (12:30pm-5:30pm).

Please pray for:
The 20 participants - that God would enable them to attend without distractions; for alertness; and for God's leading and equipping as they prepare to do His work.
The workshop leader (me) - that God would teach through me giving me the words to share the heart of this ministry and to equip His people; and for energy.
Door Creek Church and Blackhawk Church - that God would guide and direct in the starting of new ESL ministries in the Madison area.
My family - that God would watch over them while I am involved in this workshop...that they would not only 'get through' the weekend but that they would enjoy the time they have with one another and it would be glorifying to Him!

ESL Workshop - Registration Deadline!

The registration deadline for the May 14-16 English as a Second Language Workshop is rapidly approaching! Materials will be ordered on Monday, May 3rd...so if you're planning to attend, please register this week to be assured a seat!

For more information on the workshop, visit my website.

To register, visit Door Creek's registration page...follow the link to either register online or obtain contact info to register over the phone.

Please be in prayer for the workshop and those that will attend!

English as a Second Language Workshop

Door Creek Church in Madison, WI will be hosting an English as a Second Language Workshop the weekend of May 14-16th. The purpose of the workshop is to equip believers to minister to internationals in their communities as they teach English and share their faith as they do so.

Where: Door Creek Church, Madison, WI
When: May 14-16, 2010

• Friday (6pm - 8:30pm)
• Saturday (9am - 5pm)
• Sunday (12:30pm - 5:30pm)

Cost: $30 (covers all materials and lunch on Saturday; only $15 for members of Door Creek)

Please Register by April 30th!

Please pray for this event, and those that will hear the Gospel message through ESL ministries as a result!

March Prayer Letter

I just posted my prayer letter for March. Check it out: Prayer Letter Please let me know how I can be praying for you!

(http://www.eslwi.com/prayer%20letters/newsletter%20mar10.pdf)

Surveys and Schedules

Surveys
In the next couple days, a Literacy Missions Survey will go out to missions advocates for all Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention churches. Please pray for a strong response from these churches. We need their feedback to find out where to best direct our energies, and I also pray this will raise awareness for Literacy Missions opportunities.

Schedules
Several individuals have asked about an upcoming English as a Second Language workshop. I'm hoping to schedule one for May or June 2010 in the next few weeks. Please join me in praying for a church that would step up to host that event! If you know of anyone in the Wisconsin area (not necessarily Madison) that would be interested in attending such a workshop, please pass this on to them as well.

New ESL Ministry in Sauk City!

It's always exciting to hear of new works off to a strong start. This one in particular encourages me because it models something I've been attempting to express for some time...an ESL ministry working together with a language church plant to edify that plant. Jose V. is part of a Hispanic church plant in Sauk City, WI. When he attended an ESL workshop several months ago, he already had a number of people waiting for him to get trained so he could teach them to speak English. He currently has two dozen students that are involved with the new ESL ministry. The beauty of this kind of partnership is that it enables the church to minister to individual's needs that might not have come to the church otherwise. It provides a regular meeting place for believers and non-believers to come together and learn, build relationships, and experience the love of Christ.

Please join me in praying for Jose and all those he is ministering to in Sauk City!

Haiti...so much to pray for!

It's overwhelming! Since Jan. 12th, I've followed every news report, blog, or update I could find with great interest, and with much prayer. While there are glimpses of hope, things seem to be getting worse with each passing day. So many needs, so much suffering. I'm reminded to not let myself become numb to the problems in Haiti. So I continue to pray. A couple weeks ago, God put on my heart a desire to return there someday...but this time, to take the Gospel with me. I trust it will happen, in His time.

There are other things that can be done in the mean time. Buckets of Hope is one way to provide for tangible needs right now. Donations given through SBC churches designated for Disaster Relief - Haiti will also go towards meeting needs in Haiti - 100% of your gift.

And of course prayer! One news story that has been frustrating to read is about the 10 U.S. Baptists that were arrested last week. There have been conflicting reports and so I'm sharing this update and prayer request that will give you some specifics to pray for:

Pastor David and Colette Hardesty of Boise, Idaho, SBC through Treasure Valley SBC Association in Boise, ID writes:

You may have heard (because it's been in the news) about the group of ten Idahoans who went to Haiti to help orphans and have been imprisoned since Friday for trafficking children. Five of the Idahoans are from Central Valley Baptist Church. Others are from Eastside Baptist Church in Twin Falls, including the pastor and his adult son. Please join us in praying for these Idahoans.

There's a lot of conflicting information going around, so we want to fill you in on the mission so you can pray more effectively. Central Valley Baptist was in the process of building an orphanage in the Dominican Republic in order to help Haitian orphans, and have been working with a Haitian pastor who runs an orphanage. When the earthquake occurred and the local pastor was asked how Central Valley could help, he suggested they could take the orphans to the Dominican Republic because his orphanage was demolished. They were led to believe he could approve their transport because he has custody of them. They got permission from the Dominican government to bring kids over, then took 33 of this pastor's kids (NOT just scooping children off the streets, as some have reported). When they got to the border Haitian officials stopped them for not having the documentation to take the kids out. They were going back to Port-au-Prince to get the needed paperwork, but were arrested before they could.

The Haitian Prime Minister wants to set an example of the Idahoans to prevent child trafficking and says they are "clearly" guilty and must be punished. They were supposed to appear before a judge Monday morning, but it has been postponed till today in hopes that they can find a better translator.

Please join us in praying that the Haitian government will realize this has been a misunderstanding and will let the Idahoans go. Pray for officials - such as the Prime Minister - who may find political benefits in keeping them. Pray for the Lord's encouragement on those who are imprisoned, and their families back home.

Thanks for reading all this and for praying with us.

January Prayer Letter

Happy 2010!

My prayer for each of us is that we would walk the path that He lays out before us for His glory! Please take a moment and check out the current prayer needs...I am so thankful for your faithfulness!

Follow the link to January Prayer Letter
or go to: http://www.eslwi.com/prayer%20letters/newsletter%20jan10.pdf