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August 12, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”  John 14:6  NET

 

Introducing your earthly father to someone can be a great joy.  It is one that most of us have enjoyed.  We do so believing that knowing our father is a blessing, and we believe he will be a blessing to others as well.  Think as well of the blessing that our Heavenly Father, God is to us.  When we get an opportunity to introduce our Heavenly Father to someone else how blessed they will be.  Join with us in praying for an opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus and therefore His father this week.

 

Yi Fong and her daughter Hway Jen are both young Christians.  John had the blessing of baptizing Yi Fong a few weeks ago.  They are going through some tough parent and teenager struggles right now.  Pray that they will seek God’s way together.

 

Bev Skiles is dealing with kidney stones.  She has been able rest more recently, so hopefully some of the stones have passed.  Please pray that she can regain her strength quickly.

 

Andrew & Moriah begin a new school year on Monday.  Andrew will be in 7th grade and Moriah will be in 5th grade.  Please pray a blessing upon their teachers and their classmates as they begin this new school year.

 

If you have been on Facebook you might have seen this news already.  Philip and Bethany announced this past week that they are expecting again.  But this time they are doubly blessed.  Twins!!!!!  They will probably be born around the beginning of February.  Juliet is 11 months old now and has just taken her first steps!  Cheryl is planning to go to Canada and help out for a while after they are born.  Please pray for their family!  What a busy home they will have!

 

We are so thankful for your prayers.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray for opportunities to introduce people to Jesus and His father.

2.  Please pray for Yi Fong and Hway Jen as they grow in Christ together.

3.  Please pray for Bev Skiles as she deals with kidney stones.

4.  Please pray for a good start to a new school year for Andrew & Moriah.

5.  Please pray for Philip & Bethany as they are expecting twins.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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August 5, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

He stretched out over the boy three times and called out to the Lord, “O Lord, my God, please let this boy’s breath return to him.”  The Lord answered Elijah’s prayer; the boy’s breath returned to him and he lived.  I Kings 17:21-22  NET

 

Today Paul will be preaching on this passage as we begin a study about prayer with the Eternal Light congregation.  One thing that has always stood out to me in this passage is the simplicity of it.  Look at the the words of his prayer and then the response by our God.  What certainly does matter is that we pray in faith believing that God can and will act.  We desire to model such a life of faith and prayer before the people of Taiwan.

 

Thank you for praying for VBS at Eternal Light.  The week went well.  We had 96 students as a high in attendance.  One day had to be cancelled due to the typhoon, but we still were able share four wonderful stories about Jesus power with the students.  We also were able to begin building relationships with families.  We pray we can continue reaching out to these families with the Gospel.

 

The Home of God’s Love is to have a major inspection at the home on the 17th of August.  This inspection is very important.  If they do not pass they may not be able to keep their license.  One important factor in all of this is receiving a building permit to begin the construction on a new facility.  The permit has been approved, but has not yet arrived.  Please pray it arrives soon.

 

Nathanael made it to Taiwan safe and sound and also began working this past week.  We were very glad to find out that he does not have responsibilities on most week ends, therefore he was able to come home to Kaohsiung on Friday night!

 

The Atkin family returned to Taiwan just after the typhoon.  The rain flooded their house.  Thankfully, the church and missionaries got the worst of it cleaned up before they got home.  Please pray for them as they work on their house and go through jet lag.

 

Thank you for praying for Taiwan.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray that we are able to model a life that is based on faith in God and prayer.

2.  Please pray that we will be able to continue to touch the families of the VBS students with the Gospel.

3.  Please pray for the ministry of the Home of God’s Love.

4.  Thank you for praying for Nathanael as he traveled to Taiwan.

5.  Please pray for the Atkins as they clean after the Typhoon.

 

 

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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July 29, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

When Jesus saw their faith he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”  Then the experts in the law and the Pharisees began to think to themselves, “Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”  When Jesus perceived their hostile thoughts, he said to them, “Why are you raising objections within yourselves?  Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and walk’?  But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralyzed man – “I tell you, stand up, take your stretcher and go home.” Immediately he stood up before them, picked up the stretcher he had been lying on, and went home, glorifying God.  Luke 5:20-25

 

This passage shows the amazing power that Jesus has to heal and His authority to forgive sin.  But it also shows the heart of the teachers of the law, the Pharisees.  They were unable to see the that Jesus’ power to heal was confirmation of His declaration of the paralytic’s sins being forgiven.  We, at times, seem to have a poor attitude as well.  We look at certain people with the attitude that their sins are too many too be forgiven.  We also look skeptically at people’s testimonies of being healed.  Pray with us that we will have the attitude of the paralytic and glorify God for His amazing power to heal and His willingness to forgive all our sins.

 

The passage above is the the story John will be sharing at VBS on Monday morning.  Please pray with us each day this week for the children to believe the stories they hear about Jesus.  Pray that they will share the stories with their families.

 

Nathanael will be leaving for Taiwan on the 30th of July.  He begins work on August 1st.  Please pray for him to have a smooth transition into his job.  Please pray for him as he gets to know his new roommates as well.

 

Phyllis Watkins has improved to the point that she is now able to move to a rehab center.  Please pray that no more infection occurs.

 

Thank you for your prayers.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray that we will learn to glorify God for His great power.

2.  Please pray for our students to believe the stories they hear at VBS this week.

3.  Please pray for Nathanael as he leaves the States for Taiwan on the 30th of July.

4.  Please pray Phyllis Watkins as she has moved to the rehab center.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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July 22, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

“He said to them, ‘Go and eat delicacies and drink sweet drinks and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’”  Nehemiah 8:10

 

There are times when the reading of the Word of God brings sorrow to our hearts as we recognize our sin or the sin around us, but the same passage should also bring joy as we realize that it also brings life to those who hear it.  We should also remember the joy of knowing the Lord is greater than all our struggles.  We should learn to live, expressing that joy in the face of our difficulties, sadness, and pain.  Let us pray to encourage each other to always be joyful as we rely on the strength of our Lord.

 

Thank you for praying for the conference this past week.  We were challenged, encouraged, and confirmed by the week.  The major topic of discussion for the conference was church planting movements.  Particularly simple church planting strategies, such as we shared with you this past year that we were planning to use here in Taiwan.  We are fired up and ready to get to work.  Please pray that we learn to listen to the Spirit’s leading as we seek to do his will.

 

Eternal Light’s VBS will begin in one week on July 30th.  Please pray that the hearts and minds of the teachers and students will all be prepared to receive the Word of the Lord.  Almost all of these students will be from non-Christian homes.  Pray that their families will be open to our continuing a relationship with them after VBS as well.  We hope that we will have some new small groups start from this week of VBS that will eventually become simple churches.

 

Nathanael will be traveling to be with Bethany’s family this Monday.  He will then attend a friend’s wedding in Denver on the 28th before leaving Taiwan on the 30th of July.  Please pray for his safety as he travels.  Please pray for his adjustment back to Taiwan and his new job/ministry with Overseas Radio and Television.

 

Phyllis Watkins continues to slowly recover as she fights off the infection and takes some physical and speech therapy.  We ask that you also pray for the Watkins family as they now mourn the loss of Dave’s younger brother Tim.  He had battled cancer for the past few years.  The Watkins family are not all Christians, so please pray for the witness that Dave, Jenny, Chris, and others can be to those who do not have the joy of the Lord to be their strength.

 

We are so grateful for your prayers.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray for us all to learn to rely upon the strength of the Lord and to show His joy as we live before others.

2.  Please pray that we learn to be attentive to the Spirit’s guidance as we work to plant churches.

3.  Please pray for Eternal Light’s VBS that begins on July 30th.

4.  Please pray for Nathanael as he travels in the States, Canada, and to Taiwan.

5.  Please continue to pray for the Watkins family as Phyllis recuperates and as they grieve the loss of Dave’s brother, Tim.

 

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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July 15, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

“Jesus replied, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”  John 14:6  NET

 

The verse above was one of the many verses that the campers memorized this week.  Jesus’ statement about being the only way to the father or to heaven really makes waves in a society like Taiwan.  All of the major religions here talk about, “The Way,” in their teachings.  Most do not claim to be the only way, possibly a better way, but not the only way.  One camper had gone to Buddhist camp last year.  She told her mom that she wanted to return S&E Camp next summer.  Another girl did not want to memorize scripture at first because she was not a Christian.  Later on she did memorize scripture without complaining.  We hope these girls were able to see that there is truth in the words they were learning.  Please pray that we can show the true Way to the people of Taiwan.

 

We had 140 campers this week for camp.  We had one baptism and few others that were talking about making a decision for Christ.  There were several others that talked about desiring to learn more about Jesus.  They were certainly questioning what they had been taught before, as well as what they were taught this week.  We also saw return campers who came back as staff and older campers step up as leaders.  Please pray for all our campers to continue to desire a relationship with Jesus.

 

Please pray for the Dzao family.  Grandpa Dzao died after hitting his head when falling.  He and his wife were in New York visiting one of their daughters when the accident happened.  Please pray for the family and the Good News congregation as they mourn his loss.

 

His Hands is starting their first case under the new adoption laws.  His Hands is beginning to work under the license of The Home of God’s Love in order to process adoptions.  Please pray that this case will be accepted by the courts and that all goes smoothly.

 

This coming week we will be attending the annual Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference.  We look forward to some good teaching and fellowship during this week.

 

Thank you for praying.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray for our witness to be true before the people of Taiwan as we show them the Way to the Father.

2.  Please pray for the campers to continue to learn of Jesus and the life giving water he offers.

3.  Please pray for the Dzao family and the Good News church family as they mourn Grandpa Dzao’s loss.

4.  Please pray for the new adoption case that is starting under the new laws.

5.  Please pray for the TMF conference, that we and many other missionaries will attend this week.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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July 8, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

On the last day of the feast, the greatest day, Jesus stood up and shouted out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Just as the scripture says, ‘From within him will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:37-38  NET

 

Jesus is the source of life giving water, a water that quenches the thirst of our soul for eternity.  Jesus promises if we come to Him and drink that we will have rivers of living water flow from within us.  This refers to His Spirit that is promised to all who believe and are baptized in Him.  For Christians this is the source of our strength to face challenges.  This is the source of the joy in the midst of bitterness.  This is the source of all we need for life.  This is what we need to share with the world that is dying of thirst around us today.  Please join me in praying for opportunities to share the gift of life with others.

 

This week is Sports & English Camp.  The above scriptures is part of what we will be teaching this week to the campers.  Please pray that many of them will accept the invitation that Jesus offers to come and drink.

 

Phyllis Watkins has had a rough couple of weeks after developing an infection.  She is doing much better now.  She is now able to begin doing therapy again to regain lost speech and strength.

 

Nathanael is working for a few more weeks in Tennessee and then will begin his trek to Taiwan.  He plans to attend two weddings and visit with Bethany and her family before leaving for Taiwan at the end of the month.  Please pray for him as he makes these transitions.

 

Thank you for the prayers.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray with us for opportunities to share with others about the gift of living water Jesus promises.

2.  Please pray for all those attending Sports & English Camp to be changed by the gift of living water.

3.  Please continue to pray for Phyllis Watkins as she continues to heal.

4.  Please pray for Nathanael as he works and prepares to return to Taiwan.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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June 24, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

“What we have heard and learned – that which our ancestors have told us – we will not hide from their descendants.  We will tell the next generation about the Lord’s praiseworthy acts, about his strength and the amazing things he has done.  He established a rule in Jacob; he set up a law in Israel.  He commanded our ancestors to make his deeds known to their descendants, so that the next generation, children yet to be born, might know about them.  They will grow up and tell their descendants about them.  Then they will place their confidence in God.  They will not forget the works of God, and they will obey his commands.”  Psalm 78:3-7

 

What a great reminder of our responsibility to teach those coming behind us.  These could be our physical or spiritual children.  We have a responsibility given to us by God to teach who He is and what He is like.  Without our faithfulness in teaching our children about God why would they worship Him?  Join us in praying that we hear Holy Spirit’s constant reminder for us to teach the next generation.

 

Thank you for praying for John and all those involved in the Kairos course last week.  Even with the typhoon they were able to complete the course.  We are hoping a group from our churches will attend the next session in August.

 

During this past week we had a house guest from the House of Hope.  His Hands has been helping a 15 year old un-wed mom.  She stayed with us during the typhoon.  The very day Cheryl took her back to the House of Hope she went into labor.  That night just before mid-night she gave birth to a baby boy.  There were four ladies, including Cheryl, connected with His Hands there supporting her.  We hope their testimony of love will speak to the hearts of her family.  This young mom is already coming to faith in Jesus.

 

Dave Stiles is going to Vietnam July 5-18 with a Christian friend he met in Kaohsiung.  Dave wants to go and encourage the Christians there as well as to see how God might want the church he works with to partner with these Christians in Vietnam.

 

Phyllis Watkins had to have surgery to remove infection in her brain is was the infection started from a piece of bone.  Please pray for Phyllis as she continues her recovery.

 

This week we will be going to Taichung on Tuesday and returning on Wednesday.  We will be connecting with others that are involved with Sports and English Camp.  John will be helping to lead the biking activity.  He hopes to meet with another man that will also be leading in this area to plan out the routes that they will use that week.  Please pray as well that all these campers will be affected by the word of God during the week.

 

Thank you for praying for Moriah and our family.  She is all better.  No one else has contracted the flu.

 

Thank you for praying.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray for us as we desire to teach well the next generation of believers in Taiwan and our family.

2.  Thank you for your prayers for last week’s Kairos course.

3.  Please continue to pray for His Hands as they minister to these mom’s and babies.

4.  Please pray for Dave Stiles as he seeks God’s desires for partnering with these Vietnamese Christians.

5.  Please pray for Phyllis as she continues her recovery.

6.  Please continue to pray for all the preparations for the upcoming S&E Camp.

7.  Thank you for praying for Moriah and our family.

 

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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June 17, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family and Friends,

 

“Then Jesus came up and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’”  Matthew 28:18-20

 

Since we have returned to Taiwan, we have had lots of expectations placed upon us by people.  Everyone wants a little bit of our time.  People think they know what we should be doing.  We already have certain plans in our own minds, but with so many people approaching us with other ideas we begin to question whether we are hearing God clearly or not.  Over the past few days this familiar passage of scripture has been brought to our attention and confirm certain aspects of our plans.  We know for certain that God wants us to make disciples that make disciples.  We must concentrate on those activities that will produce disciples that will then produce more disciples.  Please join us in praying that we will be focused on modeling discipleship that produces more disciples.

 

John will be assisting with a Kairos course this week here in Kaohsiung.  John will be presenting on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning.  This will certainly challenge his Chinese that has recently be awakened after being dormant for almost a year.

 

Cheryl has jumped back into working at His Hands.  It is almost as if she never left.  Actually, she and the directors have been discussing her role.  At this point, she will be working more with the moms.  Part of her responsibilities will be to develop a discipleship program for them.  She will still have some time to spend helping with the babies too.

 

Thank you for praying for Phyllis Watkins.  She has moved to a rehabilitation center that is closer to her daughter’s home.  Thanks to your prayers, she is progressing daily.

 

Sports and English Camp begins July 8th.  Please pray for the students and faculty as the time approaches.  We will have a team to work with, English Bible classes to teach, and a sport or activity to coach.  John will be working with the biking group.  Cheryl will be helping with the cooking class.  Please pray that this week will bring many of these youth into a relationship with Jesus.

 

Thank you for praying for Moriah.  She is feeling better, but still has 2 1/2 days left of her five days to stay home.  She is being a trooper!

 

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers, too, and Happy birthday to Cheryl’s Dad!   Here in Taiwan, Father’s Day is on August 8.  The word 8 is Ba and the word Father is Ba Ba, so they have Father’s Day on the eighth day of the eighth month – Ba Ba Jieh.  It’s kind of like a Chinese pun.  Just a fun FYI!

 

Thank you for always being in our corner on your knees.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray that we focus on modeling discipleship that makes disciples.

2.  Please pray for John as he prepares and presents for Kairos this week.

3.  Please continue to pray for Cheryl as she works out her role at His Hands.

4.  Thank you for praying for Phyllis Watkins.

5.  Please continue to pray for our upcoming Sports & English Camp, July 8-14th.

6.  Thank you for praying for Moriah as she continues to get over the flu.

 

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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June 10, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom extends over everything.”  Ps. 103:19  NET

 

Our God is sovereign.  He is in control.  Even when we don’t understand His plan, God is still in control.  He is still able to work out the best for our lives from any situation.  We need to learn to trust Him in all situations and to bless Him for all he has done for us.

 

John will be preaching from Ps. 103 this this Sunday at the Good News Church.  Please pray that the words God gives him will be both encouraging and challenging to those who hear them.

 

Thank you for praying for the Michael family during this past week.  Everything went very well, including the traveling.  That is not to say that transitions are easy or that there will not be issues in the future, but God certainly has had His hand in bringing this family together.  Please continue to pray for Isaiah and the rest of the family as they adjust to each other.

 

Phyllis Watkins continues to improve.  She is out of ICU and is feeding herself.  She still needs to be careful, but she is growing stronger and healing more each day.  She will begin more physical therapy in the coming days.

 

Please pray for Lorne & Kathy Lu White, our son-in-law’s parents, as they prepare to return to Taiwan.  They will be returning in about a week’s time.  Pray as well for their family as they will be leaving all of their children, and their granddaughter, in Canada.

 

Thank you for praying faithfully.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

1.  Please pray as John speaks to the Good News congregation concerning God’s sovereignty in our lives.

2.  Thank you for praying for the Michael family as they get used to a family with six children.

3.  Thank you again for praying for Phyllis Watkins and her family as she continues to recover.

4.  Please pray for the White family as they prepare for Lorne & Kathy Lu to return to Taiwan.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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June 3, 2012 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

 

Praise the Lord, O my soul!  With all that is within me, praise his holy name! Praise the Lord, O my soul!  Do not forget all his kind deeds!  But the Lord continually shows loyal love to his faithful followers, and is faithful to their descendants, to those who keep his covenant,

who are careful to obey his commands.  Psalm 103:1-2, 17-18

 

As Christians we are so very blessed.  Our God loves us beyond understanding.  He is worthy of our heart’s devotion.  He is worthy of our our praise.  He promises not only to care for us, but also to care for descendants!  Faithfulness pays off!  God certainly blesses those that are willing to follow His commands.  Have you ever felt like God’s blessings had left you?  Sometimes we have that feeling because we are not obedient to His commands, therefore, we are missing out on the blessings that come with obedience and are reaping the consequences of our actions.  When we choose to live obediently our lives are blessed and full of joy, which also causes us to be a witness to those around us.  Pray that we can be such a witness for our God to the Taiwanese.

 

We have many reasons to praise God today.  Jeff, Michelle, and Malachi Michael arrived safe and sound in Kaohsiung on Friday morning.  That was the beginning of a great day.  We met Isaiah and his foster parents for lunch and then went to the social services office for the Michaels to officially receive Isaiah into their custody.  We then went to his preschool and received a great report on Isaiah’s progress since last September.  Isaiah has done very well these first two nights.  Please pray that his adjustment continues to go well.  Please pray for their flight to the States on Thursday, your Wednesday night.

 

Thank you for praying for Phyllis Watkins and her family.  She continues to improve after her aneurysm.  She is still considered to be critical since she is still at risk of a stroke.  Hopefully, she will be move out of intensive care Tuesday or Wednesday.  Please continue to pray.

 

Thank you for praying for our van to sell.  It was purchased by a music minister at a church in Evansville.  He grew up in an orphanage in Haiti and was helped by the church that he has worked with for over 20 years now. Maybe we will have the chance to share more of this story soon. Praise the Lord!

 

Thank you for your prayers.

 

God Bless,

 

John & Cheryl

 

 

 

1.  Please pray that we can be a witness to the Taiwanese through a joyful, obedient life.

2.  Please continue to pray for Isaiah and the Michael’s adjustment, as well as  their safety while traveling.

3.  Please continue to pray for Phyllis Watkins.  Praise the Lord she is doing well.

4.  Praise the Lord that our van sold, pray with us to find a good used van.

 

 

 

Posted on August 16th, 2012 by dunns
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