End of September 2025 Update
I’ll admit, I fussed considerably at the cost of upgrading our phones and getting an Apple watch (I pinch a dime with the best of them). Naturally, I was thrilled when this investment paid off handsomely almost immediately! Instead of traipsing back to Texas for Peter’s post-ablation check-up with his electrophysiologist, we emailed his health data and ECGs from the watch and had a Zoom call with his surgeon. Done and dusted! The results were amazing, thank you, Lord! All medicines are on hold; Peter can exercise to his heart’s content and heed God’s whispers for his future ministry. How blessed we are to have this extension to spread the Kingdom news!
Unlike my husband and ALL three of our children, I DON’T get an endorphin rush from exercising. Not even a flush. Frankly, I prefer to elevate my heart rate by reading…you’d be surprised how a Steven King novel can get my blood pumping! However, recently (motivated by guilt because Peter faithfully works out at the Y every day), I’ve resigned myself to going, too, and slipping into the back row of the line dance classes. I mean…country music, senior citizens, and mirrors…what could go wrong? I planned to follow along from the back row unobtrusively (if you haven’t line-danced, there’s a LOT to remember)…except that (apparently) ALL line dances rotate 360 degrees and eventually you end up at the FRONT of the line…with everyone following YOU and your brain turning to mush under the pressure! After bumbling through several (humiliating) sessions, the very Southern instructor patted me on the shoulder kindly and drawled, “Jus’ remember, Hon, Rome weren’t built in no day.” Well, ain’t that the truth.
Since returning to the states, Time, it seems to me, is passing erratically; it’s dragged endlessly as we await the birth of our grandson, yet raced at warp speed as we complete our soul-winning trainings, mentoring sessions, mission reports, and preaching here in North Carolina. To our delight, Emily Stader, our beloved interpreter from the Dominican Republic, visited us for a couple of days, meeting our pastor and church, touring Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, catching us up on leading mission trips to South American countries, and generally blessing us. As luck would have it, she was able to help out with our second Disciple Making class in Goldsboro, a program she’s taught with us… about a hundred times… in the Dominican Republic!
For the past several years, our focus has been on ensuring Disciple Making continues in the capable hands of indigenous pastors long after we move on to a new location. In answer to our prayers, God has blessed us by sending several strong believers to be trained in disciple-making and leadership in each of the countries where we’ve ministered. We now have trusted, capable, equipped pastors successfully training in Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Cambodia, and the Dominican Republic, all of them making disciples, church planting, and expanding the Kingdom. Our focus from now on is to train and support these partners as their ministries in their own countries grow. In each case, these ministries are exploding as the principle of MULTIPLICATION, rather than addition, is put into effect. Without exception, these men and women of God are teaching others to be carriers of the Good News of the Kingdom.
In the next week or two, we’ll be saying fond goodbyes to new and old friends in North Carolina, to new and old churches, and to new and old supporters. When next you hear from us, God willing, there will be another soul added to our lineage and legacy.
“Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.” 1 Peter 2:2