January 7, 2013
Happy New Year!
We had a chance to look forward into this new year and plan out work trips to Mexico, training conferences, etc. It’s always refreshing to start a new year. Establishing a new urban poor ministry in Mexico City is our biggest focus this year so Steve will be making several work trips to Mexico. Thank you for praying for his networking and seeing where God is at work and to find the key partners we will need. I have attached our current prayer requests.
We are looking forward to all that God will do in 2013.
Debbie Palich
Associate in Partnerships
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Decembef 20, 2012
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April, 2012 – Update & prayer requests
Growth is exciting. Tulips in our yard are ready to bloom. Our ministry with CMF is also in a time of new growth.
Steve has already been to Mexico City this month for his job of developing the Urban Poor initiative. He is grateful for how the CHE strategy has already been initiated by David & Karla Martinez yet sees the tremendous potential and need for expansion and growth.
Steve is also facilitating 4 training sessions of Community Health Evangelism for a short-term team from East 91st Street Christian Church. He will lead this project trip to Nairobi, July 30-Aug 9th and I will be joining the group for my first visit to CMF’s urban poor ministry in the Mathare slum of Nairobi.
Steve created a network and learning group of mission leaders from the Indianapolis area. Twenty-one leaders gathered this past Wed for the first Indy Mission Connect. They learned about the urban initiative of Englewood CC, a 160 year old church of about 200 members, who is effectively partnering with the community to bring holistic restoration to the community. They have done it with grace and truth, and local community leaders are taking notice.
We are reaching out to area church women’s ministry leaders to encourage them to integrate missions into their women’s ministry. On March 20 we will be hosting these women for an evening of inspiration, challenge and sharing of women’s stories of their involvement in missions.
Steve also initiated a Hope Partnership Dialogue for churches who partner with the CMF ministry centers in the Mathare slums. We are looking forward to what God does through this meeting dedicated to prayer and envisioning. Mary Kamau is coming from Nairobi to meet with the leaders from these partner churches in Indianapolis, March 21-22.
Later in March I will be training 4 new missionary recruits in raising support for their cross-cultural ministries. Support raising is a challenge yet a prime opportunity to increase our dependence upon God, discover God’s faithfulness and be prepared more fully for cross-cultural ministry. I currently have 27 missionary couples or individuals raising support.
We are grateful for your partnership in this ministry and I have attached our prayer concerns & praises for April.
Debbie Palich
Praise and Thanksgiving
For securing the 15 instructors for the 3 Perspectives classes in Indianapolis for Fall 2012.
For how God is working through microenterprise sewing businesses in a Muslim country.
Ministry Needs
For Urban Poor Initiative in Mexico City; David & Karla Martinez (potential partners) to learn how to more effectively distinguish between relief and holistic development in their ministry.
For God to raise up individuals in the Ocotal Church in SW Mexico City who will make CHE (holistic) training a priority; at least 20 people participate in each of 2 CHE vision seminars this summer.
For at least 200 people to participate in one of 3 Perspectives classes in Indianapolis metro area; for 35 to commit to become active “welcomers” in Indianapolis.
Personal Needs
For resolving of some health issues for daughter-in-law, Stefanie.
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March, 2011 – Update
Praise and Thanksgiving
We celebrate with our daughter, Valerie—she passed her Occupational Therapist licensing exam.
Ministry Needs
Pray for the work visas to be granted for the missionaries with the Ethiopia Urban Poor Team so their ministry can continue to grow.
Steve will be facilitating SPARK gatherings for church mission leaders in 6 cities in 2011. Pray that these meetings will be an effective resource for the mission leaders. The next SPARK will be in Atlanta March 3rd.
Pray for the wisdom in planning and for the rest of the funds to be received to establish the micro-finance lending institution in Nairobi
Personal Needs
We want to be used as God’s instruments to minister to our new neighbors at their point of need.
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February 11, 2011 – Praise and prayer update
Thank you for praying for our ministry through CMF. I have listed a few of our prayer request on the attached document. Having your prayer support gives us courage to move forward into our new ministry projects for 2011.
Steve has several new projects in the works—facilitating webinars for CMF partner churches, developing the SPARK meetings for mission leaders, and the ‘biggie’ –developing plans and facilitating a ministry center in Mexico. We always want to be moving where He moves and in tune with His Spirit.
Debbie works with the missionary recruits as they raise support for their ministries. She is currently coaching 14 units (couples or singles) and 4 more missionary recruits begin their training next weekend. Debbie is also looking forward to attending a symposium in early March with other trainers of missionaries. They’ll dedicate 3 days to learning how to more effectively train & coach missionaries to share ministry vision with churches and individuals toward ministry partnership.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12