Dear Friends and Family, November 2005
“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” Isaiah 30:18
The Lord has ministered this verse to my heart in so many ways over the last month.
Truly He is looking to and fro the earth for a heart that's for Him, that He might show Himself strong on their behalf (2 Chron. 16:9). God does not look for a strong heart but only a heart that seeks Him, that He might be strong for us! As we seek Him, as we wait for Him, we are richly blessed by His grace and compassion.
Newcastle: Thank you for your prayers, God protected and provided above and beyond! We had a sweet time of fellowship with the believers there. We did lots of practical work for Pastor Drew and his family including: gardening, babysitting and creating a room for Tammy to homeschool her children Caleb and Joy. We also had a youth night in the church's coffee bar “the Upper Room” where we ate dinner, played games and performed a drama with a personal testimony and gospel message. We had a blessed time!
University: Two days after we returned from our various outreaches (other teams went to Paris, Sweden, Kosovo, Heidelberg, and Austria) we set out to Siegen University. We began by getting to know the campus and praying over it. We have made several friends as we've spent time getting to know the students. We've begun to invite the students to our upcoming conversational English classes here at the Bible College. After 2 years of praying for this ministry, it brings my heart great joy to be on the campus and loving the students. He has given us many divine appointments, please pray specifically for: Sebastian and Hasmond who we've been able to share the Word with and for Stephan who knows the Lord but is no longer walking with him. Pray for myself and the team of students going out with me for God's love for the people to fill our hearts and for a boldness to speak his word. This is the appointed time! Habakkuk 2:3
Heidelberg Children's ministry: Myself, Anja (another staff member) and two students Tom and Mike had the privilege of leading the children's ministry at a church conference this month. God was faithful as none of the kids spoke English and together the 4 of us made about 1 ½ German speakers (Anja is the only German!). I was blessed with a class of 2 and 3 three year-olds, I think I actually knew more German than they did! It was a blessed time! Our memory verse for the weekend was very fitting... “be strong in the Lord and in His might power.” Ephesians 6:10
Please continue to pray for the Women's Discipleship class and the Coffee Bar ministry, that God will be glorified in all that things and I will be led by the Holy Spirit.
Please also pray for my health... but first PRAISE God... I have had only 1 migraine in the last 3 months!!!! This is a miracle and I'm so thankful! God has blessed me with a few staff members who have given me just the right TLC to alleviate those migraines. Pray for me because I have had a head cold and cough for about 2 months... just can't seem to shake it.
Thank you for all of your prayers and support!
I would love to hear from you anytime! My email is jefferssb@aol.com
Monday, October 31, 2005
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Newcastle Pics
On Top: Jackie and Jen
Jackie is a new missionary in Newcastle, one of our former Bible College students and a good friend of mine. It was a huge blessing to see the ministry the Lord has given her and visit with my friend. Here we are on the stage of the "Upper Room", the church's coffee shop, located right downtown where dozens of kids come in off the street for a warm meal and some TLC!
On the Bottom:
Here's our team in Newcastle, England.
We had an awesome time, it was full of adventure, challenge, sweet fellowship, sharing the Word, some handiwork, babysitting, driving on the WRONG side of the road and much much more!
*From Left to Right: Johnny, Robin, Rachel, Andrea, Keely, Jen (that's me!), Kerstin and David.... Good times :)
We were truly blessed as a team during our time in Newcastle, thank you for all your prayers!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Newcastle
Hi friends,
We've been in Newcastle for 4 days now and it has been an adventure! The first day was filled with driving madness...the hardest part is watching out for the cars on your left side, the whole time we were in the city all my passengers on the left side kept saying "oohhh" "ahhh" "watch out" . Driving on the highway is much easier, there are roundabouts in the middle of the highway, but you don't have to worry about all those other cars coming at you because there is a large divider in between both sides.
We have been doing a lot of practical service and its been a great blessing. The people are great and it's amazing to see what God is doing here in Newcastle. We are hoping to hit the streets Thursday and Friday and we've invited the youth to the Upper Room (the church's coffee house) for a game night Friday night. Please pray for us.
Our team is doing great, we have had some really blessed times together of sweet fellowship and uncontollable laughter! It is very evident how God has put us together for this time and how He has brought us to this place.
England is just backwards from everything that makes sense to my brain, so it can be a bit of a challenge, but God's grace is sufficient.
The pastor and His wife have two little ones named Caleb and Joy and I've spent most of my time with these two, they are so fun... Joy says "excuse me" which sounds like "accuse me" for everything! It basically means "pay attention to me now!" Caleb is a sweet older brother who when he prays at night before bed thanks Jesus for EVERYTHING down to the wallpaper :)
So awesome!
It's been a real blessing to meet up with my friend Jackie here, to see the ministry the Lord has given her and her home and friends. I'm thankful for the opportunity to see what her life is like, and to fellowship and pray with my sweet friend.
Again please pray for the rest of our time here that we will be a blessing to the church body here, that God will use us as a light to the city and for our safety and finances.
That's about all for now...thanks for your prayers
Isaiah 30:18 "The Lord longs to be gracious to you ;he rises to show you compassion."
We've been in Newcastle for 4 days now and it has been an adventure! The first day was filled with driving madness...the hardest part is watching out for the cars on your left side, the whole time we were in the city all my passengers on the left side kept saying "oohhh" "ahhh" "watch out" . Driving on the highway is much easier, there are roundabouts in the middle of the highway, but you don't have to worry about all those other cars coming at you because there is a large divider in between both sides.
We have been doing a lot of practical service and its been a great blessing. The people are great and it's amazing to see what God is doing here in Newcastle. We are hoping to hit the streets Thursday and Friday and we've invited the youth to the Upper Room (the church's coffee house) for a game night Friday night. Please pray for us.
Our team is doing great, we have had some really blessed times together of sweet fellowship and uncontollable laughter! It is very evident how God has put us together for this time and how He has brought us to this place.
England is just backwards from everything that makes sense to my brain, so it can be a bit of a challenge, but God's grace is sufficient.
The pastor and His wife have two little ones named Caleb and Joy and I've spent most of my time with these two, they are so fun... Joy says "excuse me" which sounds like "accuse me" for everything! It basically means "pay attention to me now!" Caleb is a sweet older brother who when he prays at night before bed thanks Jesus for EVERYTHING down to the wallpaper :)
So awesome!
It's been a real blessing to meet up with my friend Jackie here, to see the ministry the Lord has given her and her home and friends. I'm thankful for the opportunity to see what her life is like, and to fellowship and pray with my sweet friend.
Again please pray for the rest of our time here that we will be a blessing to the church body here, that God will use us as a light to the city and for our safety and finances.
That's about all for now...thanks for your prayers
Isaiah 30:18 "The Lord longs to be gracious to you ;he rises to show you compassion."
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Exciting Times
The last two days were sunny and warm and I even took a nap on the front lawn! Am I in Siegen?!
On Saturday we're leaving for Newcastle... we are flying into an airport four hours drive from the church we're ministering with, so we decided to rent two cars. I thought driving stick shift was an adventure... imagine driving stick shift on the Left side of the road, which I might add is the WRONG side! God is good and He will be strong on our behalf. I'm sure there will be some good stories when we get back:)
On Saturday we're leaving for Newcastle... we are flying into an airport four hours drive from the church we're ministering with, so we decided to rent two cars. I thought driving stick shift was an adventure... imagine driving stick shift on the Left side of the road, which I might add is the WRONG side! God is good and He will be strong on our behalf. I'm sure there will be some good stories when we get back:)
Monday, October 03, 2005
September
Well, it's not september anymore, it's actually October 3rd, a special day in Germany, today we celebrate "Reunification day" the day the Berlin wall came down. We are celebrating by taking a day off from school and we are enjoying it!
Prayer...
At the beginning of the month I read a book called "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire" God really spoke to my heart through this book and gave me a greater passion and desire for prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people will humble themselves and pray I will forgive their sins and heal their land." I believe the Word of God and I want to see His power to heal and forgive, to restore man to Himself displayed in the lives of His people. Just as God had been burdening my heart for prayer, He began speaking the same message to others. I've been blessed by our student body, they are people of prayer and it is so evident! We have a daily prayer meeting at 6am and it's such a blessed time. We have regular prayer for our short and long-term outreaches and we believe that God is answering our prayers even now. It's been so amazing to watch Him answer over the last several weeks. Truly He hears us and He answers us.
We are preparing to leave for outreach week this weekend, I will be leading a team of 8 to Newcastle, England.
We are so excited and we have already been really blessed in our times of prayer and fellowship as a team. We even had a bake sale to raise funds! I can't wait to update you after we get back.
Two days after we return from Newcastle the University begins and we plan on being there! The Lord has opened the doors for us to do a short-term English class here at the Bible College which we will be inviting students to as we meet them. Please pray for us! Pray for faithful laborers to be raised up, pray for the students and staff at the University that their hearts will be soft and open to the gospel, pray that we will be led by the Holy Spirit and that we will not take one step without Him but that we will be faithful to follow as He leads us. Acts 20:24
I've been teaching Women's Discipleship and the Lord has been changing hearts! Last week I taught about purity and I was so blessed! The women really responded to the Word and even those who didn't agree with me wanted to hear more, just in case their hearts might change! Please pray for these women as they seek to love and serve Jesus, that they will respond to His quickenings and obey His Word in all areas of their lives. Pray for me, that I will be filled with the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His leading. Pray that I will be diligent in my study of the Word and in my own personal time and relationship with Jesus.
God has really been showing me so much, especially sin that He wants to cut out and replace with His garments of grace. Though it is painful to see my sin and even sometimes to put it off, I am so thankful for the Lord's faithfulness to always pursue us and to always change and grow us into His likeness. I am thankful that we are seen as righteous through faith in Christ, what an amazing truth! Hebrews 10:14
Thanks for reading this and remember Jesus loves you!
"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth." Isaiah 42:6-10
Prayer...
At the beginning of the month I read a book called "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire" God really spoke to my heart through this book and gave me a greater passion and desire for prayer. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says "if my people will humble themselves and pray I will forgive their sins and heal their land." I believe the Word of God and I want to see His power to heal and forgive, to restore man to Himself displayed in the lives of His people. Just as God had been burdening my heart for prayer, He began speaking the same message to others. I've been blessed by our student body, they are people of prayer and it is so evident! We have a daily prayer meeting at 6am and it's such a blessed time. We have regular prayer for our short and long-term outreaches and we believe that God is answering our prayers even now. It's been so amazing to watch Him answer over the last several weeks. Truly He hears us and He answers us.
We are preparing to leave for outreach week this weekend, I will be leading a team of 8 to Newcastle, England.
We are so excited and we have already been really blessed in our times of prayer and fellowship as a team. We even had a bake sale to raise funds! I can't wait to update you after we get back.
Two days after we return from Newcastle the University begins and we plan on being there! The Lord has opened the doors for us to do a short-term English class here at the Bible College which we will be inviting students to as we meet them. Please pray for us! Pray for faithful laborers to be raised up, pray for the students and staff at the University that their hearts will be soft and open to the gospel, pray that we will be led by the Holy Spirit and that we will not take one step without Him but that we will be faithful to follow as He leads us. Acts 20:24
I've been teaching Women's Discipleship and the Lord has been changing hearts! Last week I taught about purity and I was so blessed! The women really responded to the Word and even those who didn't agree with me wanted to hear more, just in case their hearts might change! Please pray for these women as they seek to love and serve Jesus, that they will respond to His quickenings and obey His Word in all areas of their lives. Pray for me, that I will be filled with the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His leading. Pray that I will be diligent in my study of the Word and in my own personal time and relationship with Jesus.
God has really been showing me so much, especially sin that He wants to cut out and replace with His garments of grace. Though it is painful to see my sin and even sometimes to put it off, I am so thankful for the Lord's faithfulness to always pursue us and to always change and grow us into His likeness. I am thankful that we are seen as righteous through faith in Christ, what an amazing truth! Hebrews 10:14
Thanks for reading this and remember Jesus loves you!
"I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. I am the Lord that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth." Isaiah 42:6-10
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