Linda Sauke (ReachGlobal Connect) facilitates “Kingdom Expansion 101”, a high-quality, online missions course, taken from any location, comes highly recommended by Cal Kierum. The curriculum provides a biblical framework that assists churches and individuals in considering their response to local and global out reach. Each class consists of a few students who go through the course as a cohort, using video, audio and reading media followed by online peer dialog. For further information, contact Cal, or visit http://www.efca.org/reachglobal/reachglobal-ministries/efca-connect/resources/kingdom-expansion-101 Registration for the class is now open.

Report from Mostar

The principal job of the church is missions, both home and foreign. The Missions Team coordinates and directs the missions program of Elim Evangelical Free Church. The church presently supports eight missionary units, families or ministries, and is involved in sending many groups and individuals out to serve Christ for short periods of time. A major factor in the promotion of missions involves informing the congregation of missionary work and needs in a effort to involve each member in correspondence with and prayer for missions.

* Ben and Jeanne Beckner, EFC France
* Child Evangelism Fellowship in Pierce County
* Ernest and Effie Dyck, EFC Venezuela
* Glenhaven Youth Ranch for boys and girls in Arkansas
* Rich and Marla Henderson, Sports Ambassadors, Philippines
* Kyle and Nancy Herr with Awana in Washington
* Kirk and Juanita McKeeth with CAM (Central American Mission) in Panama
* Lynn Maynard with Campus Crusade for Christ training Latin Americans
* Linda Sauke with the Evangelical Free Church Mission

REPORTS FROM OUR MISSIONARIES
December 3, 2006

Ben and Jeane Beckner, EFCA-IM France, benbeckner@efcaim.org

At the summer’s end Ben reported:  “I have just returned to France after one of the most exhilarating short term missions trips I have had the privilege of being a part of. We actually packed 2 outreach French camps with 2 university groups, one in western Russia with the State University of Kursk and the other in southern Ukraine, in Crimea, with the National University of Simferopol, between July 8th and 28th. The Lord has continued to open doors and push us through them! Our mission team of 7 French believers (Jerome and Pia, Danielle, Stephane, Pierrick, Nicolas and Antoine), 2 Americans, and a Russian (Nadya, from Trinity Bible College in Kursk) worked incredibly well together from beginning to end. I am amazed by their enthusiasm, energy, creativity, and engagement in mission.”

Ben has been teaching in Portugal and working with French believers to establish a French mission to Russia.  Recently Ben was able to share the gospel with Iryna who was studying in a masters program at a French university after coming there from Crimea.  Ben is hopeful that will respond to the good news.  Pray for Iryna.

Ernest & Effie Dyck, EFCA-IM Venezuela, edyck@efcaim.org

Ernest had cataract surgery last month.  At the moment he needs gall stone surgery.  Please pray for health and well-being so that Ernest can be about the work of the kingdom!  Both of them have busy schedules teaching.  Please pray for a couple (J & M) that they have been witnessing to.  Also pray for Ernest’s work on the instructional manual for national church planter apprentices that Ernest would like to get finished. Praise the Lord for answered prayer and a great trip to Punto Fijo in October to work with the church planting team.  It is a great start to a church plant there!  Praise also for a great summer of Vacation Bible School programs that Effie worked hard on.

Dan and Carrie Ritzman, EFCA-IM Belgium, dritzman@efcaim.org

The Ritzmans had a team from Bend, Oregon with them during the summer for a two week outreach.  The team spent the first week getting acquainted with the city, doing prayer walks in strategic areas, and sharing their faith in parks and along the way.  The second week was spent teaching an Overseas English Class.  Shortly thereafter, the Ritzmans drove to the “West Europe Family Conference” in France—meeting up with the Beckners, by the way. One of the highlights of the conference was the baptism of eight “missionary kids” (MK’s).   However, a week later, 13 year old Allison Veldt, one of these MKs whose family ministers in Spain, suffered a brain hemorrhage due to weak blood vessels in her neck and went to be with Jesus within hours.  Please pray for Luke and Jody Veldt and their remaining children as they deal with this unexpected loss.

Dan writes, “We are starting a new series on the foundations of our faith at the Iranian Bible study.  This material comes out of Iran and is not translated into other languages.  The beauty of it is that one of the Iranians has to lead it.  We have been praying for teachers to emerge from the group and that a few would take more ownership in caring for each other.  It seems there are a couple men who might be likely candidates.  Pray that the church would be strengthened as we do this on-the-job training.”

After two months of ministry with the Iranian believers Dan adds this follow-up report:  “One of the Iranian brothers started teaching the Bible study in Farsi, and in October we went to weekly Sunday services.  These are encouraging steps forward.  In addition to that, a new family came to Christ two weeks ago!  We have some great complementary gifts on the leadership team (what a potential strength), but some serious interpersonal challenges.  Thanks for your prayers as we bring these brothers together, for me as I preach three times a month and for Carrie teaching Sunday School each week.  bring these brothers together, for me as I preach three times a month and for Carrie teaching Sunday School each week.”

Lynn Maynard, Campus Crusade For Christ, Florida and (for 3 months) Bolivia, Lynn.Maynard@ccci.org

Lynn traveled from Florida to Bolivia for three months this summer.  She reports:  Her main goals were to improve her Spanish and teach a class on Apologetics (Defending the Faith). She was totally immersed in the culture of Santa Cruz, living with a Bolivian Campus Crusade senior staff member Chavela and her sister Julia. None of her Bolivian co-workers spoke English, and her Spanish is “good enough to be dangerous” as she puts it, so there were some interesting moments.

In August Lynn taught a seminar on the DaVinci Code to about 50 Christians.  Next she worked with Delma Lopez, the Director of Campus Crusade’s ministry Impacto Profesional in Bolivia. Delma gave a three-day leadership seminar at the Japanese University Hospital. Attendance ranged from 20 to 27. On the last day Lynn gave a presentation that talked about the need to have God at the center of one’s life. Seven people indicated on the response cards that they made decisions for Christ!  Lynn had a number of other speaking engagements, including her Apologetics class for Campus Crusade staff members. 

Now back in Miami, Lynn writes, “In a tragic and sad event, one of our Campus Crusade for Christ family here in Miami went to meet the Lord. John Spracklin, a campus staff member working in the Metro Miami area suffered a heart attack at the age of 34. The already small local campus staff team of 5 was immediately reduced to 3, since John’s wife, Jenny, has taken a leave of absence and is staying with family in another state. Since the campus team is so small, all of us at our office have made the decision to do whatever we can to help them out during this period of adjustment.”  Please pray for Jenny and her family, as well as Lynn, as she will undoubtedly be going through some changes in her responsibilities as a result of this.

Cal Kierum, Congo Trip, Elim Elder Board, kierum_c@msn.com

Update from Cal on the Congo Vision Trip:  Rachel Martin and Kevin Kompelien from the national EFCA-IM will be our leaders.   From Elim, Martin, Linda McCoy, Nathalie Poelman, and myself will go.   I am excited as this gives us a pretty diverse group of people for the first trip.   We have a wide variety of gifts and perspectives that will be useful while in the field as well as when we report back to Elim afterwards.  For updated information, Larry Short has set up a blog at http://www.congoblog.org/  We hope to raise roughly $12,000 to cover costs.   We have fundraisers tentatively planned for Jan, March, and May of 2007...more to follow. Please remember to pray for our group, the fundraising, and for the spiritual warfare that can surround a trip such as this.   We will continue to greatly appreciate any help or insight you can provide us.

Kirk and Juanita McKeeth, Panama, kjmckeeth@gmail.com

The McKeeths have now returned to Panama City, but have had an arduous time preparing the house and then moving in.  Olmedo Abrego was with them for several months, and was a big help. For example, Kirk described one day:  “Olmedo and I picked up a rental truck at 9 am, loaded 30 50 gallon drums to take to the camp for water storage projects among indigenous groups. We arrive at camp about 3:30 pm.  We unloaded and then loaded until about 9:30 pm, furniture and books to be brought to Panama City. We left camp at 7 am and arrived in a driving rain about 11:30 am.  We unloaded until about 4 pm, took the truck back and I rode the bus home, arriving about 8:30 pm.”  Olmedo has made a firm faith commitment to participate in the program next year.  Kirk believes that his time with the McKeeths has equipped him to be a spokesman in encouraging others to make a significant commitment for what undoubtedly will be an important chapter in their lives.

Please pray for Olmedo and for all the young people that are participating in the McKeeth’s ministry.  Also pray for the upcoming youth camp in January, in which Kirk will be the scheduled speaker for 10 sessions.

Linda Sauke, EFCA-IM Outreach English Classes, USA, LRSauke@efcaim.org

In September Linda was in Minneapolis for meetings with the leaders of the new Connect Division.  These sessions were very foundational in working out structure, functions and how the new division will “work”. Pray for God's clear leading and direction as Connect takes form. Pray for the Connect leader, Brian Cole.

Kyle and Nancy Herr, AWANA, awanaherr@comcast.net

Kyle and Nancy are excited about the new AWANA year and the many clubs that are underway.  The area training conference was held in October and a number of Elim leaders attended.  At Elim’s AWANA the “Great Shakeup” event was held a couple of weeks ago, like in many other clubs under the Herr’s leadership.  At Elim, 14 children made decisions for Christ, and a 15^th made a re-commitment as the gospel was presented at council time.  Please pray for these new young Christians as they grow and continue in AWANA.

Marlene Stoll, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Pierce Co., cefofpierce@yahoo.com

CEF in Pierce County had remarkable results through the summer.  Through all its clubs and ministries, CEF shared the gospel with 2,632 children and 173 of them made salvation decisions!  A number of these were through Elim’s people.  Just two weeks ago, at the Good News Club sponsored and led by Elim at Zieger Elementary School, three children made salvation decisions.  Pray for all these children that they will continue in the Lord.