The Dunn Family

Dear Family & Friends,

“…and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her…”  NET Eph. 5:21-22, 25

It is interesting how much discussion can come out of certain passages of scripture.  As we discussed this passage last week, it was interesting how none of the ladies had a problem with this instruction to them in this passage.  They admitted that it was not always easy to carry out, especially when the man did not live sacrificially for his family.  They were all in agreement that when they did choose to have a submissive attitude that life was better overall.  Isn’t it wonderful to know that God has blessings for us stored up in obedience to His Word!  Pray with us as we and our Taiwanese brothers and sisters try to live out a witness for God through our families.

We are praising the Lord for a new member of the English Bible Storying group, Mindy.  She is a non-Christian, but considers herself a seeker.  Please pray for Mindy & Grace to be drawn closer to God through learning the Bible stories.

The last two weeks, Cheryl and others at His Hands have spoken to four different expectant mothers.  Some of these moms are still trying to decide whether they will give life to their babies or not.  Pray that these girls will all choose life for their babies.

Christmas sparks interest in many people in Taiwan.  Our congregations are going caroling to families that have already have a relationship to people in the church.  They are inviting people to a joint Christmas service on the 23rd.  Then all of those who attend or are visited while caroling will be invited to an outdoor worship activity the following week.  Pray that God will be honored and people drawn to Christ.

This week a friend’s first baby passed away.  His name was Holden.  Please pray for his parents as they grieve and try to understand what has happened.

We thankful for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that Christian families in Taiwan will have a great witness.

2.  Please pray for Mindy & Grace to be drawn closer to God through learning  the Bible stories.

3.  Please pray for the new moms to choose life for their babies.

4.  Please pray for the upcoming Christmas and New Year activities.

5.  Please pray for Holden’s family as they grieve his passing.

Dear Family & Friends,

“Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go out from your country, your relatives, and your father’s household to the land that I will show you. … So Abram left, just as the Lord had told him to do,…’”  NET Genesis 12:1 & 4b

People look at Abram or Abraham in many different ways.  Some question why he was called the father of faith after seeing all of his times of weakness.  Others just marvel at his willingness to sacrifice his son.  While others just try to understand what it took to follow this call in chapter 12 to leave his family and friends behind.  The way it is recorded here it seems so simple, but we know it was difficult.  Yet, he obeyed.  What is it that God has laid on your heart to do?  What act of obedience has God called you to?  No matter how simple it seems it is always a battle within of serving God’s will or our own.  Which will you choose today?  Let’s pray for each other to choose God’s will.

Little Sunshine continues to be in the hospital.  Her oxygen tube was removed on Saturday.  She has to work really hard to breathe on her own.  Pray for those taking care of her to see the value God places on life through seeing the love of those from His Hands who visit and care for her.

John has been trying to help a man that used to attend the Good News congregation, Fu-hai.  He has had blood clots in his legs, some heart issues, and possibly other problems as well.  There are a couple of other people that are trying to help him, tool.  Since, he has not worked for some time and he is only 58 years old, it has been difficult for him to receive any government assistance.  We ask that you pray for Fu-hai’s health to be restored and for those trying to help him to have wisdom and endurance.

This past week we, John & Cheryl, had conversation with Mr. & Mrs. Lin.  They have a car detailing business near where we live.  Mr. Lin shared with us about his beliefs.  We ask that you pray with us about how to share with the Lins about the one true God.  Pray as well that God will provide other gospel conversations with other people.

Last week Shu Mei’s father was baptized.  Shu Mei was baptized in September.  Her father’s health is not good, so this has concerned her.  Now she says that a weight has been lifted since she knows that he will be in heaven with her mom, who was a Christian.  Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your prayers and concern.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray with us that we will choose God’s will over our own.

2.  Please pray for little Sunshine and those caring for her.

3.  Please pray for Fu-hai’s health to get better and for wisdom for those of us assisting him.

4.  Please pray for us to have more opportunities to share the gospel with people and for wisdom as to how to share with the Lins.

5.  Praise the Lord with us for Shu Mei’s father’s baptism.

Dear Family & Friends,

“But Noah found favor in the sight of the Lord.  This is the account of Noah.  Noah was a godly man; he was blameless among his contemporaries. He walked with God.”  Gen. 6:8-9 NET

The Bible storying class has been working on the story of Noah.  It is such an interesting story it brings up lots of questions.  One question that is asked has to do with Noah being “blameless” or “righteous”.  What does this mean?  The class decided it meant that Noah wanted to do what was right so that He could have a good relationship with God.  Among his contemporaries this made him stand out.  Does our desire to have a good relationship with God cause us to stand out among our friends and neighbors as someone that is blameless of the sins in which they participate?  Pray with us that we will be blameless among our contemporaries and walk with God.  Pray as well for the second storying group to begin soon.

We thank you for praying for us over the past two weeks.  Our trip to The Home of God’s Love over Thanksgiving was very enjoyable.  We were able to visit with most of the people that are a part of our mission.  We also were able to learn more about a new crisis pregnancy center that is starting in Taichung!  We are glad that yet another city will have a place where women can come and be supported in their decision to keep their children.  Please pray for this new crisis pregnancy center.

During this past week we have spent a lot of time with Sadie’s adoptive family, the Isaacs.  They are flying back to Canada today, Sunday.  They have a long flight with a five year old and a 15 month old.  We are so grateful for the time we had Sadie in our home.  We are also thankful for the time with her forever family.  We were truly blessed by their sweet spirit.  Sadie has already begun to bond with them.  Pray for the Isaacs as they travel and as they adjust to life together.

Thank you for praying for Sunshine.  She is slowly improving after her heart surgeries.  She still has a difficult road ahead as she tries to gain strength.  Pray that this little life will give everyone at His Hands opportunities to glorify God.

Bethany has been doing very well as she carries the twins.  She is getting more tired now, but what do you expect with carrying twins and caring for a toddler.  Cheryl is making plans to be with there when the babies are born.  Pray that all continues to go well.

Thank you for you constant prayers.

God Bless,

John

1.  Please pray that we will desire to do what is right and have a good relationship with our God.  Please pray as well for the second storying group to begin soon.

2.  Please pray for the new crisis pregnancy center in Taichung.

3.  Please pray for Sadie and her forever family as they go home and adjust to life together.

4.  Please continue to pray for God to use little Sunshine as a means to glorify Himself.

5.  Please continue to pray for Bethany as she carries the Twins.

Dear Family & Friends,

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples.  Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders.  Glory in His holy name; Let the heart of those who seek the Lord be glad.”  I Chronicles 16:8-10

Giving thanks to God is done in many ways.  One way we express our thanks to God is by telling others of the great deeds He has done.  In other words, we need to testify or witness to others about what God has done in us, for us, and through us.  When we tell others of His wonders God is glorified and is glad.  I can’t think of a better way of letting God know how grateful we are for the salvation we have in Christ, than introducing someone else to Him.  Join us in committing to sharing Christ with someone during this week of Thanksgiving!

Our two weeks of Jonathan Training were very profitable.  Our team is all a little worn out, but agree it was worth it.  We feel much more like a team that is heading in the same direction now that we have worked together on a written plan for partnering together to begin a church planting or multiplication movement in Southern Taiwan.  Pray for the Sanford, Stiles, and us as we continue to work out the details of our plan.

Thank you for praying for Sunshine.  She came through her surgery and is doing ok.  She still has too high of carbon dioxide levels in her blood.  Please continue to pray for God’s will to be done in the life of this little one.

Tuesday morning John is to meet with the people that are interested in starting a Bible Storying group at their work place.  They work in a bank.  The study will either happen at lunch or after work.  Pray that God will prepare the way for this group to begin.

This week we get the privilege of going to the Home of God’s love to celebrate Thanksgiving and to hold a ground breaking ceremony for the new building.  This building is needed for the home to continue to meet government standards.  Join us in praising God for what He has done through The Home of God’s love.

We truly appreciate  your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Pray for God to direct us who to share the Gospel with during Thanksgiving week.

2.  Please pray with our team as we continue to work out the details of our plan for church multiplication.

3.  Please continue to pray for Sunshine and her doctors.

4.  Please continue to pray for the opportunity to start a new Bible Storying group.

5.  Please pray as we go to the Home of God’s Love for Thanksgiving and the ground breaking.

Dear Family and Friends,

“I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Eph. 4:1-2 NET

Paul calls all Christians to live so as to bring honor to God by living well with our brothers and sisters in Christ.  How we live with each other in the body of Christ affects how the world views our Lord and Savior.  If we have the same strife in the family of God that the world has in its families why would the world be attracted to Jesus.  This is part of the passage we will be studying in our discipleship class this week.  Pray that your brothers and sisters at the Good News church will be able to apply this scripture to their own situation.  May we as missionaries model for them in our relationships these principles.

Our first week of Jonathan Training has gone well.  We as a team are progressing with our master plan for evangelizing and discipling the people of Kaohsiung.  Please continue to pray for us as we work together this coming week.

His Hands has a new baby.  They call her Sunshine.  She had to have heart surgery this past week.  Please pray for Sunshine as she recuperates from her surgery.  There are presently two families here picking up their precious babies.  Pray for them as they get to know each other.

We are thankful to know that you are praying for us.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for congregations and missionaries to live together in the unity of the Spirit.

2.  Please pray for our team as we continue with Jonathan Training this week.

3.  Pray for Sunshine as she takes recuperates from surgery and for the His Hands families that are here now.

Dear Family & Friends,

Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God.  I tell you the truth, if someone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.  For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. …” NET Mark 11:22-24

“Believe that you have received it, and it will be yours”  Wow!  Can you imagine what might happen for the Kingdom of God if we prayed with that kind of faith and attitude?  Or may be we should ask, “Why don’t we pray with that kind of faith?”  Are we afraid of the results of our prayers?  Are we afraid of the responsibilities that God might give us if we pray believing that God will move mountains or change our city?

Pray for our training this week and next.  We will be in training from Monday to Friday 8:30-5:00 with homework.  This will be a challenge with having the kids’ homework  and schedules as well.  We will need plenty of energy, brain power, and patience.

The Good News & Eternal Light congregations are making plans for an evangelistic outreach for Christmas.  Pray as well for those that will be invited to attend.

We are praising God that the long awaited building permit has arrived for the Home of God’s Love.  The home can now begin construction on the new facility that will keep them within the government’s regulations for a children’s home.

Praise God with us for an opportunity to begin another Bible storying class.  The details are not all worked out yet, but a new Christian wants to start a class with people from her workplace.  We hope this will lead to the opportunity to win people to Christ and disciple them.

We are grateful for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that we learn to pray believing that it has already happened.

2.  Please pray for us during the next two weeks of training.

3.  Please pray for the plans that are being made for Christmas outreaches.

4.  Praise God for the building permit for the Home of God’s Love arriving.

5.  Praise God for the opportunity to start another Bible storying class.

Dear Family & Friends,

“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”  Ephesians 2:10 NET

God’s plan for the good works we would do was already in place before we were created.  Before we gave ourselves over to satan.  Before we chose Christ and were re-made in His image.  God has wonderful plans for our lives of service to Him and others if we would just open our hearts and say, “Here am I, send me!”  This past week in the discipleship class we discussed this passage.  We were then challenged to go out and do what God is calling us to do among our family, friends, and community.  We are all supposed to share how God used us this past week.  Please pray that of all us involved in the class will be obedient to the call God gives us.

Paul returned safely last week with a great report.  He was able to encourage many of the students in the work God had called them to do with youth and children.  He also challenged the men that ministry to children and youth was not only for women.  Please pray that these students will have effective ministries wherever God calls them.

We Yi had her baby this past Tuesday.  She decided to give her baby up for adoption.  She is now at her Dad’s house recouping after having the baby.  We saw her change a lot during the few weeks she was at the House of Hope.  Pray that Cheryl & Sam, as well as others from His Hands, will be able to continue to have a relationship with her.  We pray that she will remember the love that she felt while staying at the House of Hope.

The English class that John is now teaching is using only Bible stories.  Each week they learn a different story and then are to tell it to others during the week.  Some of them do tell the story, but they all are asking good questions.  One lady, Grace, is very close to becoming a Christian.  Join us in praying that as we go through this first set of stories that she will choose Christ as her Savior, and that all of our lives will be changed as we learn from the stories.

We ask that you pray for Cheryl’s Aunt Marilyn again.  She is taking chemo treatments again to fight cancer.  She is presently in the middle of three weeks off.  Please pray for her and all the family as she continues to live as a light for Christ.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for the discipleship class as we learn to be obedient to God’s call on our lives.

2.  Please pray for the students Paul taught, to put into practice what they learned in their ministries.

3.  Please pray for Wen Yi to remember the love of God she received while at the House of Hope.

4.  Please pray for the English Class as they learn the Bible stories and that those stories might change their lives.

5.  Please pray for Cheryl’s Aunt Marilyn as she is taking chemotherapy.

Dear Family & Friends,

“Isaac said to his father Abraham, ‘My father?’  ‘What is it, my son?’ he replied. “Here is the fire and the wood,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ ‘God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,’ Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together.”  Gen. 22:7-8 NET

Today the sermon Chris Sanford preached, and his wife translated, was concerning the faith of Abraham, demonstrated in the sacrifice of Isaac.  The key to Abraham being able to sacrifice was His faith that God would provide.  God would give him the son of his promise even if it meant sacrifice and resurrection.  It was a faith of complete dependance on God’s power.  We need to display such faith in our lives and prayers.  Pray with us with a faith of complete dependance on God that He will use us to bring salvation to the people of Kaohsiung.

Our team, as well as a few other missionaries in Taiwan, will be taking Jonathan Training in November.  This training helps a team to prepare a detailed plan to make disciples of a target people group.  Join us in praying that this training will make a great impact upon our ministry in Taiwan.

Our co-worker, Paul, has been training students in a nearby land how to use story telling to teach children and adults alike.  He called this week saying that he was greatly impressed  by their ability to tell the stories from the Word.  The were going out over the weekend to put what they had learned to practice.  Please pray that they will have great results from their efforts in sharing the truth through stories.

There is one mom living at the House of Hope at this time.  She could give birth at anytime.  We ask that you pray for her to have a safe delivery.  Pray as well for her not to bee too anxious as she waits.

We certainly covet your prayers over all aspects of our life and ministry.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that we will place full dependance on God to use us to bring salvation to people of Kaohsiung.

2.  Please pray that our team will be greatly impacted by Jonathan Training.

3.  Please pray for there to be continuing results from Paul’s teaching at the training school.

4.  Please pray for Wen Yi as she waits for the arrival of her child.

Dear Family & Friends,

And the Lord God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave me, she gave me some fruit from the tree and I ate it.”  So the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” And the woman replied, “The serpent tricked me, and I ate.”  Genesis 3:11-13 NET

Adam & Eve, just like us, usually look to put the blame on someone else.  We don’t want to own up to our wrong doing and accept the consequences.  They both knew that eating the fruit was forbidden, but they ate it anyway.  Because of their choice to sin all of creation has a judgement upon it.  Cheryl and Samantha recently shared the account of the temptation and fall of man with two of the mom’s staying at the His Hands’ House of Hope.  After hearing the account, they had some very good questions.  Pray that we will be bold as we share the gospel with the Taiwanese.  Pray as well for the moms at the House of Hope to accept the truth of the Gospel.

Tomorrow will be the second meeting of the discipleship class.  The class was given the assignment to share a portion of the Gospel message or part of what they had learned with someone that week.  Besides studying the Bible together we will be learning to share the Gospel and serve others together.  Pray that each person will desire to learn to be a true disciple.

This past week our children had fall break.  We spent part of the week at the beach relaxing and visiting with fellow missionaries.  We had good time swimming, snorkeling, searching out tide pools, eating together, and more.  We also spent some time discussing ministry together.  We always enjoy learning from each other.  Join us in thanking God for this time of encouragement and rest.

Your prayers are very important to us.  Keep up the good work.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for our boldness in sharing the Gospel and for the mom’s at the House of Hope to accept the truth of the Gospel.

2.  Please pray for all those attending the discipleship class to desire to become true disciples of Christ.

3.  Please pray for the Sanford’s and Stiles as they reach out to their communities with the Gospel.

4.  We praise God for the time to discuss ministry and relax with our friends.

Dear Family & Friends,

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Gen.” 1:1 NET

The answers to so many of people’s questions concerning life begin in Genesis.  God having created us with a purpose of glorifying Himself through His creation is the basis for many answers.  When people realize that they have a creator and that their creator gave them a purpose for life many things come together in their minds.  Even we as Christians get off course at times.  It is this fact of our being created for a purpose that straightens us out.  Pray with us we try to live a life of purpose and teach others to as well.

The first night of the discipleship class had 14 people, including Chris Sanford & John.  It is obvious that getting most people to share will not be an issue.  We are praying for God to be glorified as the class seeks to become better disciples.

His Hands has a number of babies whose paperwork went to the courts under the old law.  Please pray that all of these little ones will soon be able to go home with their forever families.  Join us in praying for these cases to come to a close quickly and for God to prepare the hearts of everyone involved for the changes ahead.  Currently we have one baby whose paperwork is going in under the new laws.  Please help us pray that all will go smoothly and that God will show us how we need to handle the adoption process under these new laws.  We are praying that His Hands can work together with the Home of God’s Love to process these adoptions.  No matter what happens please pray that all that is done is to God’s glory!

From November 5th to the 16th our team as well as some other missionaries will be taking part in Jonathan Training.  We will work as a team to design a strategy to make disciples of the people God has called us to.  This training will challenge all of us to change our thinking about many things concerning church planting.

We are very grateful for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for us to live lives with the purpose of glorifying God as we seek to teach others.

2.  Please pray that the discipleship class will bring glory and honor to God.

3.  Please pray that the His Hands babies will be with their forever families soon.

4.  Pray with our team as we prepare for Jonathan Training.