Connections

The quick trip to Indiana was wonderful. It was a blessing to attend two family gatherings and reconnect with those special people in my life. It was also a joy to see so many of you at Faith Church.

This past week, we hosted colleagues who serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators in eight different countries. It's sometimes easy to forget that the twists and turns of life that we all experience in God's sovereignty are exactly the same for those who serve overseas. They just have the added complication (and often heartache) of being thousands of miles away when challenges occur. Most who are here this week have experienced hardship... the sudden loss of a parent while the colleague was overseas; parenting a special-needs teen; parenting a teen who develops a health issue that could be life-threatening; the joy and loss of grandparenting from overseas. Yet the stories of God's faithfulness are amazing. Our privilege to be a listening ear or a hand on the shoulder is an opportunity to minister grace. As so many of you have ministered grace to me -- it's a gift to be able to be that same kind of blessing to these co-workers.

Carl & Carol, who've served 10 years with Wycliffe, Photo by Mark Borland

These are the servants who are extending your ministry to the Bibleless. Would you ask God to renew them and empower them to continue to serve faithfully? The Lord knows their names. Just pray for the participants of The Wycliffe Connection #52.

Next week, we'll host a group of Wycliffe colleagues who live in the US, but whose jobs are all around the world, thanks to technology. Pray for those same kinds of grace-filled conversations and times of renewal for Wycliffe Stateside Connection #33.

May the Lord minister grace to your life this week as well. Please let me know how I may be praying on your behalf.