The Pipeline

We try each week to get you some sweet blog love about what life is like in the land that reggae built. This, as you know, tends to be a backwards operation because we tell you what has already happened, but not this week. We wanted to update you on some upcoming issues and items for prayer (the pipeline).

1. Work Permits. The time has come (actually, the time has past) to renew our work permits. For those who may not remember, we went through quite an ordeal last year to get our permits without having to pay a rather hefty fee (see the old post). We have been hoping that we would not have to pay the fee because the church was changing their status from an LLC to a non-profit status. This process we thought would be the "hocus pocus" we needed, but not so much. There is still a decent chance that we will have to pay the permit fee. Please pray that we can get our permits renewed, quickly and without much delay (or deportation), and with minimal costs!

2. Splendid. Last night we received news that our dear friend Splendid, one of our Youth Fellowship students (and also one of Kirsten's Bible study members), was taken to the hospital for what they believed was appendicitis. As of this morning, she is being treated for something else and may even be discharged from the hospital today! Please pray for healing and peace from God as it is no doubt a scary experience for a 15-year old.

3. Multi-site. It is all the rage in evangelical church models to go "multi-site" (an interesting but non-essential video as case-in-point). As such, we do not want to be left out in the cold. Therefore, we are launching Bible study, Montego Bay edition. This is significant because Mo-Bay is 3 hours away! However, thanks to Skype, we are able to do it via the Internet. The idea is a brain child of one of my Bible study guys who is currently in medical school at the University of the West Indies, Mo-Bay. There is a group of students that he has been sharing Christ with and wants to start a Bible study but is looking for some assistance. So the plan is for a group meeting on Mondays where I will teach from our house through the computer. Please pray that this very experimental opportunity will bear much fruit. Also pray for me because, if you know me, sitting in a chair to teach in front of a small camera is going to be rather challenging.

4. Teams. We are just weeks away from Buff Bay becoming a booming epicenter of diversity. Okay, not so much, but starting in February there will be teams here almost straight through June! There are weeks in between some of the teams but not many. Please pray for the teams as they prepare, the town that their hearts will be open to the gospel, and for the members of the churches of the circuit that they will play an active role alongside the teams in evangelism/outreach.