Pray | Free Methodist World Missions

February 21, 2012 – Missions Hotline

Click here for printable version of Hotline

AFRICA

Nigeria: Rev. Mathias Emenike and the Free Methodist Church in Enugu are thankful for your prayers. The church met on Sun., Feb. 12, without police interruption. Church leaders have been hoping the landlord would extend a grace period while they searched for another meeting location. However, God has provided for the church in an amazing way: a donation has come in for three new schools in Nigeria, including one at Enugu that can be a school and church building.

ASIA

India: Pray for the family and congregation of Pastor Rambabu of the Hydershacourt FMC. The pastor died last week as a result of injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident.

Taiwan: The second semester of classes begins this week at Holy Light Theological Seminary. Pray for God’s presence and guidance for faculty, staff and students. Missionaries David Clemente and Becca Doyle teach there. Susan Yu serves as the seminary’s vice president.

EUROPE

Ukraine: Pray for Nadya, a contact of the Ukraine Mission Team, who is helping distribute Christian literature in her community. The team requests prayer for Nadya’s healing; she has a brain tumor.

LATIN AMERICA

Venezuela: On Sat., Feb. 4, an oil pipeline near Maturin ruptured. VISA missionary Paul Frazier (New Creation FMC, New Castle, PA) reports oil spilled into the main river, the Guarapiche, which supplies water for the entire city. Protests have been held because many people have been without water for more than a week. Some schools and universities have also been closed. The river is so contaminated it may take six months to a year to clean it up. Pray for clean water. Pray for peace. To God Be The Glory Church in Maturin is the largest FMC in Latin America with more than 1,000 members. Students at the ICCM school are also affected by the crisis.

MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA

Pray for MENA Area Director Pastor Henry and his wife, Bonnie, who are traveling this month in the Middle East. Pray for travel safety and good meetings with leaders.

MISSIONS FAMILY

Transition: For the last three years Dick and Sheila Dickinson have been in Belgium. They have been sharing their faith with new friends, equipping youth and adult leaders from five different nations for ministry, dedicating babies, leading people to the Lord, planting the Nueva Esperanza FMC, conducting several outreach events and establishing a Bible study in a neighboring city. The Dickinsons have also been struggling with the Belgian government overtaxing their U.S. income. The Dickinsons write: “The government has forced a difficult decision – stay and continue to pay between $10,000 to $11,000 a year more in income tax to the Belgian government or leave, trusting that God will take care of His church. After much prayer and seeking wise counsel, we have decided it is best to return to the states in early 2012.” Beginning April 1, Dick and Sheila will pastor the Colville (WA) Free Methodist Church.

SEED LIVELIHOOD

Directors David and Rose Brewer will visit current and potential livelihood groups in Asia over the next month. Rose will spend time with Dorcas Design at the end of February, while David will visit Dorcas, Reaksmei (Cambodia) and Hands & Hearts for Missions (Philippines), along with the Amparo Swine Project and a siomai (food) cart group. David will also explore in Vietnam and Thailand with an eye toward developing SEED partnerships there. Pray the trip will be fruitful for increasing economic sustainability for more families, groups and communities. And watch for photos, videos and stories over the next few months, appearing at www.seedlivelihood.org and on SEED’s Facebook page.

FREEDOM SUNDAY 2012

Pray for FM Church efforts to participate in Freedom Sunday this Feb. 26. For more information to raise awareness and funds to combat slavery, click here: www.freedomsunday.org

VISA MINISTRIES/MOBILIZATION

Teams:

A team of five teens and three adults from Cedar Springs, MI, is currently ministering in Peru until Mon., Feb. 27. This team was specifically invited to minister along with Peruvian youth at the annual Youth Congress in Lima. Shila Kiander is leading the team.

Deer Flat FMC, Boise, ID, has sent a team of six to minister in Dessalines, Haiti. The team is working at the hospital under the direction of Vahn Sipantzi. They return Sun., Feb. 26.

Rev. Bruce Kellar of Through The Roof Church, Flinton, ON, leaves for Haiti today, Feb. 21, with a team of 11. This team will minister through school construction until Mon., March 5.

A team of three from the Brantford FMC, Brantford, ON, also leaves for Haiti today, Feb. 21. These men will be working at the hospital in Dessalines with Ian Van Norman until Tues., March 6.