Stapleton News

We moved into the new office of Team Expansion two weeks ago. Saturday March 28, 2009 was the dedication service. Daphne and I were privileged to lead worship at the service. Best guess is that 150 attended.
I have a nice cubicle that is positioned in a way that I have some extra privacy. However, the morning sun affects my vision and my monitor until after 11 AM. Looking forward to the window coverings that we are told will arrive soon.
The mailing address for contributions to our ministry remain the same. However Team Expansion’s office address is now 4112 Old Route Rd. Louisville, KY. The phone numbers also remain the same.
Please come see us and visit the new facility.
Tim

Thanks for your continues prayers for the ministry.
We decided to do the budget restructure to allow us to go back to the office fulltime. Then, almost immediately, we stopped receiving a $200 a month gift. We have not heard directly from this individual giver, but plan to make contact if the gift does not come this month.
Then, we heard yesterday, that our group insurance policy will go up a whopping 48% this year. That puts it at a level we simply cannot reach. We hope to find a cheaper alternative, but the reality is that we will probably go back on a probationary time frame and will lose some coverage for a while. This will be the third time for that in 4 years.
So, again, thanks for your prayers, not just for the ministry, which is doing great, but for us and in particular, finances. I know we are not alone in this situation and our prayers are with you.
God’s blessing always.
Also, please remember Daphne’s dear friend, Norma Jean as she continues to be in the hospital and her condition worsens.
Tim

Tim is back in the office at Team Expansion on a full-time basis as of Monday February 23, 2009. For some time we have been surviving on our current budget income, so the decision was made, and supported by leaders, to temporarily reduce our budget by an amount that puts us within the 80% range required for office workers. The understanding is that we will reinstate our old budget when the economy turns.
It will be tight, but we feel we can make necessary adjustments and still survive on this budget. We have eliminate some line items that are not essential (international travel, Team Expansion promo, etc.) and a few that simply were not being met anyway (if you really want to know about those give me a call).
Pray for us.
Tim has hot the ground running and is deep into the project to host 48 churches at two luncheons during the North American Christian Convention. The PACE strategy used by Team Expansion to help churches connect with and adopt unreached people groups will be presented and the goal is to recruit at least 25 new PACE churches. If you or your church is seriously interested in taking the gospel where it has never been preached, please contact Tim now for an information brochure.

Daphne is spending several days this week sitting at the bed side of long time family friend Norma Jean West. Norma Jean, a lady in her 70s, had a fall that caused a fracture in her back. Please say a prayer for her as she soon transitions to a rehab facility before returning to her assisted living apartment.

We are having a great week. Hope it is the same for you.
We do miss our friends at Briar Ridge Church. The power outage caused dismissal of Sunday’s service and continued bad road conditions also cause Wednesday to be dismissed.
Even though my Sunday Perspectives Class was canceled, the Monday and Tuesday class went on without a hitch. Several of the Sunday class attended the Tuesday session instead.
I think the material was well received by those in attendance. I certainly enjoyed doing the presentations and hope I get a chance to repeat session 3 in the future.
I also had a chance to attend the weekly tactical meeting of the Equipping Team at Team Expansion. We continue to prepare for the changes in application and orientation.
A large group, including three Team Expansion team mates are in South Asia making a prayer journey in a closed country. The hope is to partner with a Louisville Church in sending a team to this land where the light of Jesus is unknown.
God Bless you always and in all ways,
Tim

We arrived in Ashland just before the snow storm hit. In fact, we got dad to the hospital in plenty of time, but had some trouble getting back and forth to be with him.
Physically dad did great. He has had little or no pain. The incision in his neck is healing great. However, he had lots of trouble mentally. The anesthesia and other meds caused him to have long periods of confusion which led to extreme anxiety as he thought he was in the waiting room to see the dr. or at home. The worst of it was when he started having hallucinations.
It was finally decided to send him home a day early to put him in usual surroundings. Mentally it was a good decision (though my sister, the nurse, really questioned the decision on a physical basis). Now he is only having some short term memory loss and that was already a common thing for dad. Our hope is that the surgery will help with that memory loss over time. We finally decided dad would be OK and the roads would be passable and headed home to Taylorsville Thursday. My sister hopes to arrive in Ashland Friday evening and spend the weekend. Sorry we did not have our camera as we traveled. What a beautiful Winter Wonderland. Beautiful, yet deadly.
As we traveled toward Taylorsville we realized we were headed toward a home with no electricity. As many know, much of KY is without power. As we drove into our little town we commented on how all the downtown shops were closed and dark. We approached our one traffic light and saw they had set up a 4 way stop sign. Just as we slowed the light suddenly activated and turned green. The electricity had just been restored. Daphne commented on how she had prayed all the way home that the power would come back on.
We immediately called Daphne’s mom and she, (Rosaline), JW and our son Russ joined us in Taylorsville. They have been without power since early Thursday. Our house was only 46 degrees and it took all night to get it up to 70, but we are so thankful to have power and be able to offer a warm place for our family.
Thanks for your prayers for dad. Please continue to remember him as he still lives alone, works two jobs and tends to all his own business (with the help of one VERY special niece; the same one responsible for me being a Christian. Please say a prayer of praise for Rita Queen as she has sever physical challenges of her own) at the age of 76.
Blessings to you all.
Tim

Daphne’s sister and her husband have lived in Michigan City, IN for several years. Daphne’s brother-in-law, Kim Cole, serves as minister at Earl Road Christian Church. Kim’s dad had moved in with them several months ago and finally lost a battle with cancer around Christmas. This past Saturday a memorial service was held for his dad, Leonard Cole.
Daphne and I were able to spend a few days with Lenny back in September and were honored to make the journey north to attend the memorial. We were a bit concerned with the weather, but in the end, the 8″ of snow that came did not prove to be a problem.
We were able to arrive a day in advance and help Kim and Darlene with the arrangements for the service. Kim was a bit overwhelmed with prep for both the memorial service and Sunday’s worship service, so I offered to preach on Sunday. At first Kim thought that would not be necessary, but by the end of the memorial service Kim had cleared it with the elders and I was scheduled to preach the next day.
As it turns out it was a God ordained invitation. As Saturday wore on, Kim got more and more ill with stomach problems. By evening he was in the emergency room and finally diagnosed with a kidney stone.
When Daphne and I arrived at Earl Road Church Sunday morning we were also asked to take Kim’s Sunday School class. Earl Rd. is a supporting church and it was suggested we give a ministry update. So, with 10 minutes notice I planned and facilitated a presentation and question and answer time. The wonderful result is that an individual stepped up to be a prayer and financial partner.
When we got back to the house after the service we found Kim up and felling better. Just waiting for the stone to pass.
We arrived home late Sunday evening. A little weary but so happy to have been able to serve.
Tim

We are nearing the end of another great week of Launch. Six candidates are completing their orientation with Team Expansion and will continue their education, fund raising and preparation for cross-cultural ministry abroad and at International Services. I am unable to upload a photo but hope that problem is fixed soon.

Daphne and I hope you are having a joyous holiday.
We have enjoyed a great trip to Nashville, Tn to spend time with Ryan. Russ also joined us for a few days.
We also got to spend time with some of Daphne’s family and friends from Madison Christian Church.

Here is a family shot while we sport our D & R Rockies shirts (Daphne’s brother Darrell and wife Ruthie raise Rockie Mt. Saddle Horses).

Here are my wild and crazy Rock Band mates.

We had a great time with Russ Sunday evening at the Kenwood Heights Christian Church Christmas program. Russ’ children sang, he accompanied the choir playing djembe’ and sang with a men’s barbershop chorus.
Here he is in action, or is he sleeping?

We woke this morning to our first snowfall. BEAUTIFUL!

Here is our backyard

Here is a shot through our front window.

Today I had the chance to help Karl Halverson and family move into an apartment in Shepherdsville. The apartment is over a four car garage and is being provided by a great Christian family FOR FREE. What a blessing to the Halversons and ultimately Team Expansion. It will be great to have the Halversons in the office. I remember having Karl as a missionary in camp back in Tennessee. He was the best missionary I ever had in camp. They have done a great job in Europe and will be a great asset to International Services.
We are looking forward to being in Nashville for Christmas. Hope to see all our Tennessee friends and family.
Tim