Side By Side

There are parts of our ministry that are consistent every week. For example, we teach Bible studies, music lessons, tutor, etc. every week. However, a big part of our ministry only happens occasionally throughout the year. This is our partnership ministry. The Buff Bay circuit of churches has many long-standing relationships with American churches that come to do short term trips. Although some of these trips are service oriented (i.e. building projects, medical ministries), most of the teams that come do evangelistic and outreach ministries. The teams host nightly church meetings with music, testimonies, and preaching. They also run a vacation Bible school in one of the 6 churches in addition to going to various schools in the mornings to lead devotions. This is one of those weeks.

This team arrived Saturday evening and is made up of people from 6 states (Mass., Conn., Vermont, NJ, PA, and FL). The core group is from Sovereign Grace Chapel in Southbridge, Mass., which is one of our partner churches. Kirsten and I enjoy when teams come because it is like a little bit of home-cookin' for a week. It is especially great when people come that we already know, like many people on this trip. Many of the people this week have been following the blog, praying for us, and supporting us financially. It is a tremendous blessing for us to work side-by-side with them in Gospel-ministry in a more tangible way.

Two quick stories about God's goodness manifested through the team thus far. On Saturday evening, Kirsten and I were at the GLOBE (the compound where teams stay) welcoming the them. We were talking with a couple who lives in Florida but is originally from NJ. It turns out that they have close friends in Ocean City. These friends of theirs are also friends of ours. In fact, these friends were the people who gave me my first job at Callahan's Cafe (now Arlene's Cafe on Asbury Ave.). Secondly, there is a family that came a mother and her two adult daughters who are all hair dressers. Kirsten has been really wanting a cut but has not gotten one because many of the hair dressers in town don't know what to do with her head of blonde, thin, curly locks! These women actually brought down their scissors and randomly asked Kirsten if she would be blessed by them giving her a trim! "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change," James tells us.

Join us in prayer for the team as they minister throughout the week. Here are some things you can pray for:
1) Strength for the week's busy schedule
2) The gospel of Jesus Christ will go forth unhindered by disruptions and works of Satan
3) Many will attend the gatherings each night (it has been cool and rainy for about a week now, which impacts those who will come out)
4) Members of the Buff Bay circuit will be encouraged by the ministry and also see that they too can minister to others
5) Young people will come to know the Lord (through VBS and nightly meetings)
6) The team will be blessed by serving the Lord and His will in Jamaica.