The Dunn Family

Dear Family & Friends,

Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, so he found the man and said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” The man replied, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”  Jesus told him, “You have seen him; he is the one speaking with you.” He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.  John 9:35-38

This passage is at the end of the story of Jesus healing the man born blind.  This man that Jesus healed was willing to believe, but needed to know for certain that Jesus was the Son of Man.  He needed to be told before he could  believe and worship Jesus.  The people of Taiwan and all over the world need to hear the words of Jesus that they too might have the opportunity to believe.  Please pray that all Christians in Taiwan will share the words of Jesus, the words of life, that others may believe.

Please pray for these following outreaches in Taiwan.  This coming weekend in Taichung the Come Christian Church will host a live Nativity in front of its meeting place.  The Good News and the Eternal Light congregations will have a special Christmas outreach on the 25th with a meal following.  The Kaohsiung International Church, that Dave & Jeanay Stiles work will have a Christmas Eve service as well as a Sunday service.  The work in Feng Yuan had a special Christmas meal today with all those involved in their many activities.  Please pray that these people will contemplate the love they received today.  There are other outreaches by other FCM/TE congregations that we don’t have information about.

Chris and Sam Sanford continue to work toward a routine in Taiwan.  Chris began language school this week.  Sam went to the doctor in Taiwan.  She and the baby both received a good report.  Nine more weeks until baby girl’s arrival.  Chris preached this past week at Eternal Light with Samantha translating, while Paul was speaking at the church in Taipei, Yong He.

The youth ministry at Parkview had a grand opening for their youth center last night.  It is called, “The Foundry.”  The idea is that these youth are being formed into disciples that will go out and change their world.  Please pray for all those involved in the ministry to the youth.

This week on Thursday, Philip, Bethany, and Juliet will travel here from Canada.  Please pray for a smooth first flight for little Juliet.  Pray for safety for all holiday travelers.  They will not arrive until after midnight on the 23rd.

Please note that John now has a new phone number (618)553-5175.  This number can be used immediately.  We will keep the old number active for a short time.

Thank you for the blessing of serving Christ with you.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for the Christians in Taiwan to share the life saving words of Jesus.

2.  Please pray for all those that have and will be involved in the many Christmas outreaches.

3.  Please continue to pray for Chris & Samantha as life takes on changes.

4.  Please pray for the youth ministry at Parkview.

5.  Please pray for Philip, Bethany, & Juliet as they travel this week.

Posted on December 18th, 2011 by dunns
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Dear Family & Friends,

“Be devoted to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.  At the same time pray for us too, that God may open a door for the message so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may make it known as I should.”  Col. 4:2-4

We like Paul want to encourage everyone to be devoted to prayer.  As we pray may we focus on being thankful for all God has done and is doing.  May we  ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to see what we can be thankful for in each and every situation, even those that are difficult to bear.  May we also always be looking toward the harvest – to when and where should we be sharing the gospel, always being thankful for each opportunity.  Please pray for our Taiwanese brothers and sisters in these areas too.

We are grateful for the past few days and the time we were able to spend with family and friends.  It was good to see our children enjoying these times with their family.  Thank you for helping to make our time in the states possible.

Chris and Samantha Sanford, our new co-workers in  Kaohsiung, will be leaving for Taiwan this coming Saturday and arriving in Taiwan on Dec. 4.  Please pray for safe travels and for many opportunities to share with the Taiwanese about our Lord and Savior.  One specific request is for Samantha who is now 7 months pregnant and will be traveling on one flight for 16 hours on the way to Taiwan.  Please pray that this will not be too hard on her and the baby physically.  She is due in February.  What exciting times!

This coming Sunday we will be reporting to the Woodlawn Christian Church.  We will presenting the work during sunday school and John will preach for the worship hour.  Please pray as we prepare for this time with this coming weekend.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that we and our Taiwanese brothers and sisters will be devoted to prayer with an attitude of thanksgiving.

2.  Praise God for the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving with family & friends.

3.  Pray for the Sanford family as they return to Taiwan as members of the Kaohsiung team and for Hosanna, our new little team member, too.

4.  Pray for John as he prepares to preach this Sunday at the Woodlawn Christian Church.

Posted on November 29th, 2011 by dunns
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Dear Family & Friends,

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to complete his work. Don’t you say, ‘There are four more months and then comes the harvest?’ I tell you, look up and see that the fields are already white for harvest!  The one who reaps receives pay and gathers fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps can rejoice together…. Now many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the report of the woman who testified,… and because of his word many more believed.”

John 4:34-36, 39a, 41

Jesus points His disciples to the harvest that is before them as the Samaritans come to faith.  It is interesting how much is received from the harvest.  Jesus is satisfied physically as He watches the woman go back to town and bring the villagers out to Him.  She herself is a part of the harvest, and yet is a worker in the harvest as well.  There is even pay for the reapers, the disciples, in the harvest.  We need to realize that the resources that are necessary to carry out the will of the Father are in the harvest.  We just need to go out and get them.  Eugene and Paul preached on this text today in Taiwan.  Let us pray that the message of the harvest will be understood by all.

We had a great week at the Team Leaders Summit.  We were challenged by several of the sessions.  Please pray for all of our team leaders all over the world as they seek to guide their teams to bring God glory by increasing the harvest.

This week on Wed. we will be heading to Atlanta for the National Missionary Convention, NMC.  We are looking forward to the fellowship, worship, and sessions.  We will also be a part of encouraging people to pray for the unreached people in our world.  You can go to www.jonathanproject.net to learn more about all the unreached peoples of this world. John will be assisting in three workshops this week as well.

We are praising God that our new teammates, Chris & Samantha Sanford, have all they need for their budget.  They just need to finish up a few more things before they can hop on the plane to Taiwan which is scheduled for December 3.

There were 12 in attendance for the first Bible study held by Dave & Jeanay Stiles at the city government offices.  There were both Christians and non-Christians in attendance.  This is great since these Christians can be a great help in winning and discipling the non-Christians.

Our good friend Bob Gibson had knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago.  He is progressing very well, but progress is difficult and painful.  Bob has worn many hats for Team Expansion through the years.  He and his beautiful wife, Marbeth, are going to begin heading up the volunteer department.  There are many roles that volunteers can fill at Team Expansion.  Please pray for the Gibsons as Bob recovers, and as they continue serving with Team Expansion.

Thank you for your faithful prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that the church in Taiwan and all of us as well learn to work in faith to bring in the harvest and utilize the resources that are in the harvest.

2.  Please pray for all of Team Expansion’s team leaders as they seek to guide their teams to be effective in planing biblical churches.

3.  Please pray for all those attending and serving at the NMC this week.

4.  Please pray for the Sanfords as they continue to prepare to leave for Taiwan.

5.  Please pray for the Stiles as they continue this new Bible study and seek to start more.

6.  Please pray for Bob Gibson as he recovers from knee replacement surgery.

Posted on November 13th, 2011 by dunns
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Dear Family & Friends,

“Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.  Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God!’ When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. … Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”… Philip found Nathanael…”

John 1:35-37, 42a, 43b, 45a

The scriptures above were recently used by Eugene & Paul at the Good News and Eternal Light congregations.  They challenged the family of God there to be like Andrew and Philip who having just met Jesus immediately went and found others to introduce to Jesus.  They did not stop telling others about Jesus and the kingdom of God after a few introductions.  They served Him with their entire life.  They died for Jesus!  May we be like Andrew & Philip in that we live for Jesus by introducing others to Him.

We had a great time at the International Missions Rally at Evergreen Christian Church two weeks ago.  They are planning on another next year.  If you live in southern IL. you should plan to attend.

Our presentation at Parkview C. C. a week ago Wednesday was well received.  John’s preaching at Parkview last Sunday concerning prayer for workers to be sent to the the least reached people groups also went well.  PTL!

The Good News & Eternal Light congregations are planning a combined Christmas outreach on Christmas morning.  The brothers and sisters at Eternal Light are committing to each bring a non-Christian friend with them to the outreach.  Please pray for the Holy Spirit to guide them to the people whose hearts are being prepared to receive the gospel message.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray that our brothers & sisters in Taiwan will be actively introducing people to Jesus.

2. Praise God for the great blessing the International Missions Rally was to so many missionaries and other individuals.

3.  Praise the Lord for the blessing of reporting and preaching at Parkview C. C.

4.  Please pray for the the Good News and Eternal Light congregations as they prepare for their Christmas outreach.

Posted on October 30th, 2011 by dunns
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Dear Family & Friends,

“Though I have many other things to write to you, I do not want to do so with paper and ink, but I hope to come visit you and speak face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”  II John 1:12

Though John was writing for a different reason, we too have this sentiment.  We long to see you, all of you, our family and good friends.  During this time that we are absent from Taiwan, but here in the States, we do get to visit with many of you.  We are grateful for your faithfulness.  It certainly is an encouragement to us when we visit with churches and individuals and see so many are still faithful to the Lord.  We hope and pray that our brothers and sisters in Taiwan also remain faithful while we are here.  So far, reports are good from Taiwan.  Please join us in prayer for their faithfulness.

We had a good visit with Chris & Samantha Sanford.  We were able to discuss many things about their future service in Taiwan.  We also talked with them a lot about married life with a new baby.  Samantha is about halfway through her pregnancy now, and they are planning to be in Taiwan when the baby is born.  Please continue to pray for the Sanfords as they raise support and prepare for the changes that moving to Taiwan and having a daughter will bring.

Today we continue our reporting as we travel to the First Christian Church in Fairfield, IL this afternoon.  We desire to visit with all of our supporting churches and individuals while we are in the States.  We also want to give everyone an accurate accounting of the ministry in all aspects.  Just like with most of your congregations our ministry in Taiwan has its ups and downs, but we are encouraged as more people come to the Lord and we see the faith of people grow.  We also want you to know that we do need to pick-up some additional support.  This is due to several factors.  One factor is simply due to the drop in the value of the US dollar.   Another is that some people and churches have had to reduce or stop their support.  Please join us in praying for our visits to our supporters and our need to raise additional support.

Please continue to pray for Dave & Jeanay Stiles as they serve in Taiwan.  Recently, the congregation they work with took a trip to a mountain village to reach out to the children & their families with the love of Christ.  They saw that even though there is a church in the village there is still work to be done.  They saw carved idols being sold in the marketplace and other evidence that many people worship these false gods.  They also saw the physical needs of many of the families.  Please pray for this congregation as they try to bring joy to these children and their families.

Thank you for being our partners in prayer.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for our brothers and sisters in Taiwan to be faithful.

2. Please continue to pray for the Sanfords as life changes and they raise support.

3. Please pray for our continue reporting and fund raising.

4. Please pray for the Stiles and their congregation.

Posted on October 9th, 2011 by dunns
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