Pastor Isaac Arbalat

About Us

I was born into a Christian family, and from a very young age I learned about missions and the importance of sharing the Gospel with those who do not yet know Him. However, although I participated in many church events and activities, it was not until my teenage years, during a campaign in Galicia, that God brought conviction of sin to my heart, and I surrendered completely to Him.

Throughout those years, the Lord was working in my heart, and as I was about to turn 18, during a trip to Brazil, I saw the immense spiritual need among children, and God confirmed in me the desire to dedicate my entire life to the cause of the Gospel.

Years later, I met the one who is now my wife, and through her God opened the door for us to serve together as missionaries in El Salvador. There, we confirmed our commitment to God’s calling to serve Him as missionaries and eventually return to Spain to continue the work.

Current Roles and Challanges

I currently serve as pastor of the local church in Talavera de la Reina. Since we do not have a full-time ministry team, my responsibilities include general administration, ministry organization, preaching, and family counseling.

Although the church has been in existence for more than 30 years, in a sense it is relatively new, as it has gone through various leadership changes and seasons of crisis that nearly brought it to closure. I began serving as an elder in 2014, and in 2018 I was ordained as pastor. During this time, we have worked on establishing solid foundations and walking alongside the few families who remained after those difficult seasons.

Today, we are a multicultural church, and we could also describe it as a “transitional church,” as many families gather with us for a season but eventually move to other parts of Spain in search of better employment opportunities. While this presents challenges, we have also learned to see how God allows us to be a place of refuge and care for these families during their most vulnerable times.

About Our Organization

The Evangelical Christian Church of Talavera de la Reina is a community that seeks to be faithful to God’s calling in the midst of our city. Although small, it is a vibrant, multicultural church, eager to be a testimony of Christ’s love in its surroundings. Our vision is to be a place of welcome, discipleship, and sending for the extension of God’s Kingdom. At present, we have 30 members, but on recent Sundays attendance has reached between 70 and 80 people.

Mat & Cheryl

Ministry and Vision

Our ministry began in 2004. During the first decade, we focused on immersing ourselves in the local culture. We chose to work within the house church system, partnering with and training these communities to reach out to Muslims. This initial phase emphasized training and collaboration.

In the second decade, our small partnership began to grow, and some local house churches committed to starting missions aimed at the Muslim population. Through trial and error, we recognized that local churches needed to embrace a transformative vision to be effective in the mission field.

As we enter our third decade of ministry, we are beginning to see missionaries sent by the house churches produce encouraging results. We anticipate that this decade will focus on making local Muslim converts and disciples. The transition is challenging due to strict religious controls imposed by authorities, but surprisingly, we have witnessed a rise in conversions, especially over the past two years.

Oliver and Deborah Mayer

Email: [email protected]
website: https://omf.org/ca/worker/oliver-and-deborah-mayer/

Dear friends,

This past Monday was the monthly meeting of the Karen leaders in Omkoi.  It is a growing group of Karen church leaders that share, pray, plan in the morning and then finish with having lunch together.  The devotion was on Jonah and challenged me in the following way (see questions below):

Among missionaries we sometimes talk about the 4 fields of ministry:  

1st Field - the people group / area that God has called you to.  No church or believers yet.  The empty or entry field.

2nd Field - abundant gospel seed sowing to your target people.  The sowing field.
3rd Field - some people respond and grow.  This field needs discipleship/watering, etc. The growing field.
4th Field - the harvest field, believers are gathered together as a church. The maturing or harvest field (see an illustration of the four fields in the Mekong prayer guide on p. 6).

Do you know your Nineveh? The place or people that God wants you to go and share the Good News with?  From Jonah’s example:  If you do, you better follow through!  Are you abundantly sowing God’s word with them?  Are you coming back to water and nurture your ‘seedlings’?  And do you help them to form a church with leaders that will look for the next empty field?  These questions are for ourselves as much as they might apply to you as well!

This encouraging group of leaders shared about hard things and about things that are going well.  The last two months the sharing has been along the lines of how God uses suffering or hard times in our lives to accomplish His purposes (or in things that we don’t want to do, see Jonah).  This is encouraging for me to hear from this group since at other times God's (material!) blessings can take a bit too much of a front row seat.  Pray that they will keep their eyes on the giver of blessings (God Himself!) and not get derailed or distracted by the blessings themselves. 

Pray for one Karen man who shared the gospel and as result there are now seven new Christians in nearby villages.  Pray as he goes back to ‘water and nurture’ these new believers.  Pray for those who responded that they will get grounded and rooted in Christ.  That, eventually, they will gather together as a new little group of believers, as a church of their own.

Pray for an opportunity later this month to take one or two Karen from Omkoi to a refugee camp where other OMF workers have found that there are a good number of Karen that need to hear and have the Gospel explained in their own language.

To follow-up from the last letter:  Noah has just this month (Sep 1) officially started his apprenticeship.  He had been working for this company over the last six weeks already so he is actually quite familiar with his work.  Praise: He has recently started a small group in his town and it has been beneficial for many as they study the book of Galatians together.  

Praise: Luke is getting a good dose of what work life looks like as he often works heavy physical work each day from 7:15am to 5/6pm, or sometimes later.  Before this summer my cousin, who Luke works for,  wasn’t sure how much work he would have for Luke but now it looks like there is plenty of plastering and construction work for him.  Pray for Luke as he will start Bible School in Albania on September 20!

Continue to pray for Selah and her schooling.  We decided to switch her schooling from English to German which is a big learning curve for her as she had done grade 1-7 in English so far and has only fairly limited knowledge of the German language.  Now she attends the German school in Chiang Mai and has to read and write in German!  It is not an easy switch at the age of 13 but she has been a trooper so far.

Pray for Deborah's health.  She has had many ear infections this rainy season.  As one side heals up the other side seems to start with a new infection.

Thank you everyone for your continued faithful support!  We don't take it for granted but appreciate it a lot.  

Thank you for standing with us and praying!

In Him,

Oliver for the Mayers 
Serving in Thailand with OMF International, Mekong Field

OMF International - Canada
10 Huntingdale Blvd, Scarborough, Ontario, M1W 2S5
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 905.568.9971
TOLL FREE: 1.888.657.8010

OMF Deutschland e.V.
Am Flensunger Hof 12
35325 Mücke-Flensungen
EMAIL: [email protected]
TELEFON: 06400/900 55

OMF International - U.S. Headquarters
10 West Dry Creek Circle, Littleton, CO 80120-4413
E-MAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: 1.800.422.5330

Leaders' meeting in Omkoi: About 30 leaders gather regularly on the last day of the month ...

Leaders' meeting in Omkoi: It's a time of encouragement, sharing from God's Word ...

Leaders' meeting in Omkoi: ...  looking ahead, singing, praying together!

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Oliver - After attending a youth retreat when I was 16 years old, a youth group started in my small town. What impressed me about the couple that led the youth group was that they practiced what they preached. This in turn made me want to find out more about Jesus and the Bible. During this first year of the youth group, I opened my heart to Christ. During the youth retreat we had studied the story of Joseph from the Old Testament and looking back I find it really helpful and encouraging to have learned from the beginning that “others might mean it for evil but God has a good plan (Genesis 50:20 NIV 20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”)

My call to Thailand came when a missionary visited us at the beginning of 2010 while we were serving at Holsby Bible School, the Torchbearer Bible School in Sweden. He shared with a number of students about his work in Northern Thailand and Deborah and I were really impressed. At his recommendation we got in touch with OMF. Three years later (February 2013) we were sent out by OMF Canada to work in Northern Thailand with Mekong Minorities. We have now been with the Mekong field for over 11 years.

Deborah - I grew up in a Christian family. My parents were involved in ministry and I had a lot of exposure to Christianity, but it was when I was 7 years old that God convicted me of my sin and my personal need for Him, which led me to accept Jesus as my personal saviour. Ever since, He has been so faithful to teach me and guide me in the truth. Around the age of 14, I knew that God was calling me into missions. Though I was a little resistant at first, God began growing a desire in me to learn more, which I did by reading many missionary biographies, watching mission films, and learning whatever I could about other cultures. I got involved in an international student ministry in Calgary, and I also went on two short-term mission trips to Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. God used those experiences to cement that ever-growing desire to be involved in what He is doing overseas.

My Current role in OMF

We are involved in church planting and discipleship among the Karen minority group in Northern Thailand, with a special desire to see Karen believers equipped to share the Gospel with unreached Karen villages, near-culture people groups, and beyond.

We want to challenge the Karen to be rooted in Christ and His Word. Out of a close and vibrant relationship with Him the individual Karen will bear fruit (see John 15:1-5, especially 'If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit'). This will have an affect on other locals (believers and unbelievers), other churches, other villages and beyond.

As we are now based in the city of Chiang Mai, Deborah has been able to get involved in some ministry in the city as well. She is part of a Christian team of language consultants, offering English language services to medical students and faculty at the local university. This has opened many doors for sharing the gospel with students and mentees.

About OMF
OMF is a global fellowship of Christians with a heart for East Asia. We share the good news of Jesus Christ in all its fullness with East Asia’s peoples to the glory of God. We are passionate to demonstrate and proclaim the good news to East Asia’s billions, many of whom have never seen or heard it.

In places where there are no churches or limited resources, we humbly and prayerfully engage in church planting. In places where the church already exists, we serve alongside it to strengthen and extend it.

Steve & Myra Neufeld

Mobile: 587-377-5013
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.iemission.com

2025 October Update

The Future Looks Incredible!  As Myra and I look to the future in ministry, we are incredibly thankful to God for the vision we have, for the freedom to carry it out and the vast team of people and churches working with us in the powerful Ministry in Partnership that we have with the people in Cuba, Mexico and Spain. With thanks, we move forward!

Confirmed in Cuba - Ministry Moves on through IEM Mission    

There was a moment during this last trip to Cuba when it was clearly stamped on my heart:  this is what I need to be doing!  God providing for the ministry in Cuba and confirming that He was in the driver seat.  And this was after watching many ‘God Moments’ when He reached into the world at the camp touching hearts, healing souls, motivating the weary and calling the next generation. 

Under our New Mission, We Intend to Enlarge our Impact. The church in Cuba is seeing a harvest of souls during crisis.  Can we be bold enough to ask God to once again double our ministry impact? Are you with us?  We need all our Support Team to make the transition to IEM Mission and we invite any of you who have not previously been part of our Encourage Cuba Support Team to join us! 

Just Back from Cuba   

Have I ever sweated as much?  It was hot during those two weeks in August as I lived at the Seminary, watched the talented leaders give life to the kid’s and family camps as hundreds of people came for rest, blessing and inspiration.  It was good! 

Economic Challenges in the Black of the Night    

There is not enough money for food, hardly any transportation, offices are shut down because the power goes out so much, some places have 2 hours of power every 24 hours.  What else can I say?  Things are difficult beyond imagination.  We must be there to encourage and help! 

Sandino Church – Costs Covered! 

While in Cuba I said yes in principle to the expansion of the main floor of the church where we had the baptism Sunday. I was planning to challenge a church in Canada to take up the project.  Before I could do that, a family called my looking for a project of impact in Cuba. I am thrilled to say they have committed to cover all the cost for the construction and the monthly ministry opportunities.  Wow! God is at work!      

Sponsor Needed for Condado Land Purchase   

We need a church or a family to step up and say yes to pay for the costs as we expand our impact in inner-city ministry in the Condado section of Santa Clara. $7,500 to purchase the land.  The plan here is to develop a sports ministry in inner city and eventually put a simple, tall roof over the land to hold large church gatherings.  Don’t miss out if you want an Impact Project in Cuba! 

MEMO Container #110 – A Miracle In Cuba 

Another container arrived in Cuba in July.  During my visit in August, I jumped in to help make sure all donations got to the right place to make the most impact.  I can confirm that the medical donation is saving lives across the island of Cuba.  It is a privilege to be part of this miracle!  Container #111 heads to Cuba on October 25. Wow!

Scholarships for Emerging Leaders  

Please consider giving as we extend scholarships to young adults within our circle ministry as we encourage them to study, to prepare for evangelize, to be ready to lead Global Missions as we move forward.  Now under IEM Mission we have committed to helping fund five students.  And we hope to be able to say yes to many more.  Please help us impact this world! 

30th Anniversary in October 

Pray and remember to celebrate with us on October 26th as our church in Mexico celebrates 30 years of ministry!   

Have a great week and remember to look at it from God’s perspective!

Team of Dedicated Women Leaders  Picture #2 shows part of the group of incredibly dedicated and talented women who under Laura’s leadership direct the Children’s Ministry across all the provinces of Cuba for the LPN church affiliation.  We have the privilege of supporting these women and the year-long ministry they carry out.  We are in need of sponsors for each of the provinces at $100 dollars each per month.  Would you sponsor one of these ladies and their province of ministry? 

Leaders for the Children’s Ministry

Kids and Family Summer Camp:  Each camp consisted of four days packed full of crafts, sports, Bible lessons, meals and snacks and an evening service. Powerful music challenged the hearts of both the campers and the staff.  My heart was moved as the expressive and passionate Cubans worshipped Jesus and declared their desire to be people and families growing in Christ. Well worth all the money we invested in helping to pay the costs. 

Sunday of Baptisms :  The first Sunday I was in Cuba I headed off to the Sandino Church to preach and be part of the baptism of six people from 10 to 80 years old.  Great Sunday and especially inspiring to see this church so expressive as they welcomed the new believers.  The one teenage girl comes from a home for kids with no family support (orphanage).  In Jesus, she has found her purpose and a vision for what the future can be as she walks strong in her new faith.

Sunday of Church Dedication:  The second Sunday in Cuba I once again left the seminary to visit a local church. 

This was a spectacular Sunday as we gathered to celebrate the completion of a seven-year construction project and to dedicate the building to the service of God’s church.  This was a situation where other ministry groups started the project but with the turmoil of the Covid Crisis they could not finish the construction.  God allowed us to step in and provide most of the finishing expenses.  TOGETHER we got this done! 

Wheelchair Miracle!   During Kid’s Camp, I was introduced to a young girl who had lost one of her legs to cancer.  She jumped around camp or was carried from one location to another.  I was asked if a wheelchair sized for a child had arrived in our container.  We headed off to look and found the perfect wheelchair.  (Check out the picture.)  This little girl is an inspiration as she gave testimony in front of all the other kids as to how thankful she was for God’s love to her!

Free Church of Spain in Ministry in Cuba: Our IEM Mission has the immense privilege of partnership in Global Missions with the Free Church of Spain, FIEIDE.  Seven (7) people formed the team from Spain who came to serve in ministry at the summer camps and at two churches.  Every special event that we hosted challenged people to seek God, to believe, to walk closer to Jesus.  To be and live faith in our Savior.  A powerful two weeks! 

Watching the Van Drive Away:  It was incredible to be able to turn the pastors and their wives loose in the containers to pick out exactly what they church and family needed.  When Erik pulled out heading down island to Ciego de Avila, I knew the hard work of the MEMO volunteers was effective and because of them, blessing will arrive all across Cuba. 

Container “Shopping”:  Over and over and over I watched as the items packed in Canada months before turned into just the answer to a need or a prayer in Cuba.  Specific medical equipment, shoes in the right size, enough stuffie toys to give each child at camp something to take home.  Lens for cataract surgery to go with the surgical equipment.  A solar system for the seminary.  A huge number of sewing machines! 

Yes, We Need You to Move Your Donations to IEM!   Most of you have found your way over to our new mission and have set up your giving.  One donor explained that she could not carry on anymore as her pension was dropping.  We understand.   If your intention is to move forward in ministry with us, please start your donations up again with IEM.  Call me if you need help.  Thank you!  

Yes, Again in 2025 - Double, Double Your Gift – Now till Christmas We need your help – and your impact will be doubled.  All gifts up to $50,000 will be matched by two donors who love the impact of our ministry in Cuba as we make a difference for today and for eternity. Check out the ways to give brochure included here. 

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About Us
Steve was born to a missionary couple working in Northern Canada. At a summer Bible Camp as a boy he chose to accept the gift of salvation. Myra was raised in a pastor’s home and received Christ as her Saviour at a Lindquist Brothers Crusade when she was a young girl.

Steve and Myra were high school sweethearts in Lacombe, Alberta, Canada. They have three adult children, and 8 grandchildren.

The Neufelds have completed their 35 th year in international, transcultural global missions. They left for their first term on January 1, 1989. After language school they served in Lima, Peru until February 1992.

In 1993 they began the EFCCM work in Mexico. Church planting and evangelism was their focus resulting in the beginning of the Agua Viva EFC (now Árbol de Vida EFC) in Hermosillo, Mexico.

In May of 1998 Steve began as Latin America Area Director. He carried this role through to the end of 2020. The focus was to do all he could to facilitate success in ministry through giving visionary leadership in the management and expansion of EFCCM ministry in South America, Central America, the Caribbean and Mexico.

My Current Role in IEM Mission
Steve serves as missionary leading ministries in Cuba and Mexico for The International Evangelical Ministries of Red Deer (IEM Mission). The IEM does not have resident missionaries in Cuba and so Steve is the lead missionary as we solidify and expand our partnership ministries within Cuba. Teams go to Cuba at least twice a year as we serve together with three evangelical denominations in church planting, evangelism, teaching, acquiring house churches and fixing ones they own, finding resources for ministry, sponsoring summer camp, sourcing transportation for pastors and a multitude of other activities all designed to speed along the vision and dedication of our partners in the church in Cuba. A major component of these ministry projects involves facilitating the involvement of individuals and churches. People from Canada, Mexico and Spain working in partnership with each other in any of the countries represented. Mentoring and training present involvement and the next generation.

About IEM Mission
IEM Mission has taken over responsibility for the Encourage Cuba Ministry and the Hermosillo, Mexico ministry from the EFCC. The IEM is committed to making biblical followers of Jesus Christ here and to the ends of the earth. We are focused on pastoral care to Christian leaders, evangelism by all methods, church planting new communities of faith and demonstrating through holistic, compassionate ministry the Gospel to those who are hurting spiritually and physically. We intend to serve globally with boldness, creativity and excellence!

Bonnie Van de Mosselaer

Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 613-218-1047
Sign up for updates: p2c.sh/bonnieministryupdates

• Latest Prayer Requests September 2025

  • Students Need Jesus (Matthew 9:36) - Pray for students who don’t know Jesus yet, that they would have opportunities throughout university to hear the gospel and experience life that’s found in him.

  • Heart for friends (Acts 1:8) - Pray that students would have compassion for their peers and a desire to share about faith with those who don’t know Jesus yet. Pray that throughout their time at university, they would have opportunities to share their faith with their friends.

  • Students’ Struggles (Psalm 121:1-2) - Pray for students as they experience the struggles of life. Pray that through this, they would see their need for God, find their identity in him, and have wisdom and courage to seek the help they may need.

  • New Community (Hebrews 10:24-25) - Pray for students as they move to new cities and start at new schools. Pray that this season of life would bring strong christian community that will help them not only walk with Jesus throughout school but also the rest of their lives.

  • Leaders (2 Timothy 2:2) - Pray for returning students and leaders. Pray that God would give them wisdom to know how to connect with new students well as they plan events and start up activities.

I became a Christian in elementary school when I prayed and invited the Lord into my heart at a kids' camp. As I grew up, I remember asking questions about faith and how it applied to my life. During my teenage and young adult years, the Lord continually taught me more about Himself as well as the importance of helping others know Him. In university, I got involved with P2C-Students, and it was there that I started to learn how I could help others take their next step towards Jesus.

My Current Role at Power to Change
I am the Development Team Manager with Power to Change - Students, overseeing all our national fundraising initiatives. This includes coordinating all regular donor communications, fundraising tasks, and thank yous. I also help train and assist our staff as they do their own personal ministry fundraising.

About Power to Change
Power to Change is a family of 10 ministries with one common purpose: to make Jesus known across Canada and throughout the world. Our work began on university campuses in 1967 as Campus Crusade for Christ, Canada. Today, we serve among students, marketplace leaders, athletes, families, the marginalized, internationally with humanitarian aid, and many others, helping them experience the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.

Power to Change - Students exists to “help students take their next step towards Jesus.” We are a student ministry serving college and university students all across Canada. Our vision is to see every student walk closer to Jesus and experience life in Him.

Pastor Renier and Isamary

2025 August Update
I ask you to please pray for my eyesight. Lately, I haven’t been feeling well. I’m not sure if it’s due to poor sleep caused by the blackouts or from studying so late.

I also ask you to pray for the children’s summer school that we want to hold at the end of August .

Please pray as well that God would fill us with joy and encouragement to give our all in the ministry, even in the midst of the economic and energy crisis.

About Me
In 1995, when I turned 14, a neighbor told me about God and His Good News for mankind through Christ. He invited me to church, and on April 14, 1996, I was baptized.

Five years later, after serving in worship team and becoming part of the youth leadership, I started attending a mission teaching the Bible and shepherding people. At first, I had no plans to study or prepare myself theologically and biblically to become a pastor. But one day, I experienced a much deeper longing for the Lord’s work — a longing connected to serving full-time as a pastor. As I began studying in seminary, the desire to serve as a full-time pastor gradually solidified.

By God’s grace, we have already served fruitfully in three churches to His glory, not counting the fourteen years of ministry in our local church in Artemisa.

Current Role and Challenges
After 8 years, the church has grown and we are currently focused on teamwork and the initiation of new ministries. This year, the children’s ministry, the preaching ministry, the worship service leadership ministry, and the ministry for helping those in need have begun to operate more solidly. We want to soon establish the evangelism ministry and a ministry to help the elderly.The discipleship and worship ministries are still active, and we want to better adjust them in line with the current vision of the church.

Challenges – The greatest challenges are related to resources. Inflation in Cuba has reached a very high level. Income has dropped significantly after COVID. A basic worker’s salary is not enough to eat well for even a week. We would need resources to support the children’s ministry, the evangelism ministry (to open a location far from the main church). We would also like to support the elderly, as their pension is barely enough to feed them for ten days.Currently, our only means of transportation is a bicycle, which presents a major challenge for reaching several areas around Cienfuegos during these times.

About The Evangelical Convention of Cuba Los Pinos Nuevos
Our church belongs to “The Evangelical Convention of Cuba Los Pinos Nuevos”. The Convention’s headquarters is located in Oliver, Placetas, Villa Clara.

Our local church in Cienfuegos began in 2010. At the beginning of 2017, the National Board asked us to move from San José (Placetas) to Cienfuegos. Since that year, we have been working in this city to serve the Lord. At first, we were forced to spend a lot of time dealing with the legalization of the property, and later with the construction of the church building and part of the pastoral house—with help from the Convention for the first phase, a very small part from the local church, and the second-to-last and final stages with help from oversea churches.

Despite the construction and legalization work, along with the great emigration exodus of recent years, God has added several lives to the church. The church has continued to strengthen its vision and mission, with two discipleship groups currently active and new ministries operating continuously for the glory of the Lord.

Richard and Hui

Email: [email protected]

Bio and VIsion
We both are from China mainland and received Christ as Saviour in the United States and Canada. We have two daughters and one son.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Act 1:8)

Current Priorities and Challenges
Our cross-cultural ministry is fraught with challenges. Christians make up less than 0.3% of the local population, making it the hardest place. God has given us wisdom to build friendships with the local people through the loving witness of Chinese believers and the bridge of traditional Chinese culture, bearing fruit. "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; May those who love you be secure!" (Psalm 122:6)

About C&MA
The Christian and Missionary Alliance (the C&MA) in Canada is a group of more than 400 local churches across Canada that aims to be a Christ-centred, Spirit-empowered, and Mission-focused movement in everything we do.

Our ultimate goal is to fulfill the Great Commission and bring Matthew 24:14 to fruition:
The C&MA is taking steps to complete this mission by focusing on least-reached people groups in the world. We aim to challenge our church members to live on mission with God, whether that be in a Canadian suburb or in a remote mountain village in Asia. Join us as we complete God's call to tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Franky & Yuk Tse

[email protected]
aimint.org

About Us
Franky decided to serve full time during a spiritual conference when he finished university. He felt called to the mission aviation ministry and moved to Canada to pursue this calling. He completed his Bible and mission aviation training at Prairie Bible Institute. Afterwards, he worked as a flight instructor to gain experience and accumulate hours in aviation. To qualify as a pilot in the mission field, he went to the US for mechanic training and aviation assessments. God eventually led him to join a mission team based in Kenya, serving missionaries and unreached people groups in East and Central Africa.

Yuk decided to serve unreached people during a mission trip when she was 20. She then went on several mission trips to Africa and confirmed her calling to become a missionary. She completed an education diploma and a Master’s in Divinity to equip herself. She served as a pastor in the mission department of her home church. She met Franky when she joined the same mission organization and they got married. They returned to the mission field as a couple in 2017.

Our Current role in AIM
Franky joined Africa Inland Mission (AIM) with a vision for aviation ministry. He is currently serving in Kenya as a pilot, aircraft mechanic, and IT developer. The aviation ministry supports many missionaries who serve in remote areas—places where they are often isolated and at risk. In addition to providing transportation in and out of villages, medical and supply deliveries, and any emergency services, the ministry offers various types of support as needed.

Yuk is involved in a local outreach team, ministering to an unreached people group in Kenya. She builds relationships and shares the gospel through teaching English, while also taking care of their daughter.

About AIM
Africa Inland Mission(AIM) has been leading people into meaningful cross-cultural ministry for more than 125 years. We send workers throughout Africa and among African diaspora around the globe. AIM serves and partners with churches to advance the gospel among Africans who have the least opportunity to hear about Jesus.

Our passion is to see the worship of Jesus Christ spread across the continent of Africa – through individual lives fully committed to him, and collectively through Christ-centered churches. God has done a mighty work in Africa, where his Church is vast and growing daily, but the task is far from finished.

Pastor Hector

2025 July Update
I would like for you all to be praying for a situation that is greatly affecting this community, and that is the drought. We live in a place where the water we receive comes from springs, and since it hasn’t rained, there isn’t much water. Sometimes we go up to two months without receiving water. There are families that have to get through a whole day with just one liter of water to drink.

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About Me
I like to play baseball a lot and behind my house there was a baseball field where a Christian baseball team made me play with them. They preached to me everytime I played and invited me to Church services. That was the way God used to bring me to Him. I received the calling when I was the president of the youth department and later on I became a youth pastor. As the situation in my country worsened, I was thinking of traveling to the U.S. and on 3 occasions I prayed and asked God if it was His Will. God showed and confirmed me His calling to this holy ministry. I gave up emigrating to the U.S. and since then I have been serving the Lord full-time - not as the youth pastor, but as the pastor of the whole church of Chivirico. We then moved from Maisi, Guantanamo, to Chivirico to serve the Lord here.

Currently, I am the pastor of the church here in Chivirico. As for the challenges, I would say I face many. This place is very idolatrous, with witchcraft, homosexuality, drug use, alcoholism, child abuse, and more.

Current role and challenges
Another challenge has been that after coming here, I developed a minor prostate issue, and many of the brothers and sisters live far away, which makes it difficult for me to visit them due to my condition.

Housing has also been a challenge—the house we live in is not in good condition. When it rains, water leaks in through some areas, and it is a place where potable water is scarce.

But I am convinced that God brought us to this place, and despite all the trials and challenges, God has never abandoned us, and He is working in this place.

About Evangelical Church of the New Pines
Our church is called Evangelical Church of the New Pines (Iglesia Evangélica Los Pinos Nuevos), and here we have a total of 40 brothers and sisters—12 children and 28 adults.

When we arrived here 1 year and 6 months ago, there were only 6 brothers and sisters. But by the grace and mercy of God, He has been adding to the church, and now we are a total of 40 members.

Tim and Laura Neufeld

Email: [email protected]

2025 July Update

 Please pray for all of the pilot candidates who apply to work with MAF Canada.  Tim has become involved in the recruiting and assessing of these candidates.  It is challenging but very rewarding.  

1. Continue praying for Tim's struggle with getting some paperwork from Transport Canada.  This process has become very frustrating, but praise that there is progress happening in the past few weeks.  

2. Pray for the Prairie College students who are training throughout the summer.  Over the past few weeks, we have had 13 new pilots complete their first solo flights, a huge step in their training. Pray that the Lord would continue to give them safety and excellent learning.

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About Us

Tim and Laura both grew up cross-culturally as missionary kids, Tim in Latin America and Laura in Kathmandu, Nepal. Their lives first intersected when they attended Prairie High School in Three Hills, Alberta. Years later, Tim felt a clear call to mission aviation and decided to attend Prairie School of Mission Aviation to earn his commercial pilot license. During this time, Tim and Laura – now a teacher – got back in contact and were married in December 2009. Tim and Laura knew from early in their relationship that finding a way to become active in God’s Kingdom in a global sense was important to both of them, and since the beginning of their marriage have been working towards fulfilling this mandate. Before joining Mission Aviation Fellowship, they had been living and working in northern Alberta, where Tim was flying for an air operator offering medivac and charter work.

My Current role in Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF)
The Neufelds have being serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Papua New Guinea since October 2017, along with their two children: Hannah (2013) and Ethan (2017). Tim flies a Cessna 208 Caravan into isolated communities across the country to bring help, hope and healing through the love of Christ. His passengers may be missionaries, pastors, Bible translators, teachers, local people, or those needing urgent medical care. Laura is a teacher and has been volunteering at a mission school where both of their children attend.

In January 2025, after seven years of service in PNG, the Neufelds will be transitioning to MAF’s flight school, Prairie Aviation Training Centre in Three Hills, where Tim will be training pilots for mission aviation. He looks forward to using his experiences overseas in training the next generation of missionary pilots.

About MAF
Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is an international Christian organisation whose purpose is to bring help, hope and healing through aviation to people living in isolation and poverty. Every 5.6 minutes a MAF aircraft takes off or lands somewhere in the world, transporting people who live in remote villages and assisting missions, churches, aid and development agencies and others working to transform the lives of communities that are cut off from the outside world.

PATC is a part of Prairie College, a world class Bible school just one hour outside of Calgary, URL: www.prairie.edu/aviation/

James and Anna Young

About Us

James was originally from Vietnam. He fled to Hong Kong with his family when he was young. James went to church in a very young age. He accepted Jesus as his personal savior after he came to Hong Kong. He was baptized at Christian and Missionary Alliance Mei Foo Church in October 1978. In 2023 his life was transformed after a serious health issue. During his recovery period, he received God’s calling to take up the Itinerant Missionary role for the Prairies. He submitted to God after praying together with Anna for a few weeks. With faith and joy, James and Anna stepped forward and accepted God’s calling.

Anna’s sister shared the gospel with Anna when she was young. Anna was baptized at Christian and Missionary Alliance Mei Foo Church in Hong Kong when she was a teenager. Being a Christian for many years, Anna put too much focus on the secular job and life issues, not knowing God has a special plan for her. Until there were some significant life events happening in her life, she realized God is her only dependence, nothing else. Anna submitted to God’s calling in humility and started this missionary journey with James after weeks of prayers. God reassured and empowered her to get on this missionary journey with James, as a couple, in many ways.

Current Roles and Challanges

As an Itinerant Missionary (Small Town Mission), our role is to lead and develop Small Town Mission Ministry by networking and partnering, mobilizing and educating churches to involve in small town missions and to proclaim the Gospel together.

Every new role has its challenges. We are just like a sponge to soak in, learn every aspect of the role itself. We understand that missionary life is not complacent but a sacrificial commitment. To connect and mobilize with the churches involving in this ministry required lots of good energy and heavenly wisdom. We need to balance a creative mind and yet follow God’s plan to carry out all the missionary duties for this ministry.

About CM Canada – Small Town Mission Ministry

CM Canada – Small Town Mission Ministry follows Jesus’ teaching: “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” (Matthew 9:35) With that, our vision is to regularly send out visitation teams to visit Chinese friends and communities in small towns, and to bring Christian faith, love, and care to them. We also build up local believers through testimonies, love, and bible teachings.

We cannot do this alone. We partner with churches (that is YOU) in big cities to fulfill and proclaim the Gospel together.

Bev Huff

email: [email protected]

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2025 July/August Update

1. Thank you for praying for Pamela our IOT Candidate in Barbados. Praise God she complete her teaching assignments and now will receive her Instructor of Teachers Credential.

2. Praise God Janet’s gallbladder surgery went very well, and she is recovering. Janet appreciates your prayers and encouragement. She has her final appointment with the surgeon this week.

3. Pray for my preparation time for teaching at Good News Camp July 14-18. Pray for safe travel as we drive. Pray as well that the children will have open hearts and will be excited to hear and learn how they can pray for the children in the Caribbean.

4. Pray for many open doors and willing youth to attend Christian Youth in Action training and teach 5 Day Clubs in many of our Caribbean countries.

5. Pray for Rodia our French Assistant who will be in Saint Martin and Guadeloupe in July conducting training.

6. Please pray for a Teaching Children Effectively level 1 course being held in Belize in August and that God will bring the students of His choosing.

7. Praise God for enlarging our regional education department. Anne Marie, who serves CEF in Anguilla, is very capable and Janet and I are pleased to have her on our team.

8. Praise God He continues to meet my every need. Thank you for praying and for the additional gifts.

I am so grateful for your faithfulness in prayer partner.

Bev Huff

CEF of the Caribbean

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I was raised in a Christian home and attended church faithfully.  It was at the age of 6 that my father passed away suddenly and my mother at the age of 30 began to raise four children on her own.  It was my mother’s godly life and faithful walk with God that inspired me to live for Christ. At the age of 13 I received Christ at Echo Lake Bible camp and was disciple by godly youth leaders.  

While I was attending college and was challenged by a CEF director who spoke during a chapel service to give a summer to teach 5-Day Clubs.  I attended CYIA training and served as a summer missionary that summer for CEF of Manitoba and for the first time experienced what it meant to be a witness for Christ.  That is when the Lord planted the seed in my heart to serve with CEF.  For the first time I experienced God using me in sharing the gospel and I witnessed the miracle of children as well as adults coming to salvation and a personal relationship with Christ. 

 My Current role in CEF

For the past 17 years, I have had the joy and privilege of serving in the North American/Caribbean region as an Education Director.  I have witnessed God at work in many ways in developing the outreach and ministry of CEF in the Carian.  I consider it an honour to have had a part in helping open” Specific” countries in the Caribbean, with training programs helping to increase the number of Instructors and providing key training to help strengthen and ministry. As well as the joy of having opportunities to ministry to children and seeing them come to Christ. I praise God for what He is doing and look forward to what is ahead. 

Ministry roles with CEF 

•  Regional Education NA/C – 2006 – present 

•  Canadian CMI Director – 2002-2005 

• Education Director – CEF of Manitoba 1981-2005 

•  Area Director -City of Vancouver, British Columbia 1978-1981       

• CYIA Summer Missionary – 1977 & 1978 

About CEF

Child Evangelism Fellowship of Canada (CEF) is an evangelical, Bible-centred mission whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living. Our concern in seeking to evangelize children is that, “not one of these little ones should perish.”

Christina Wai

I am on Facebook, Signal, and WhatsApp. [email protected]
My newsletters (they always include prayer items) are in both English and Traditional Chinese.

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July 2025 Update

Dear faithful partners,

Greeting from hot, humid Japan!

May this update find you energized!

“The human mind plans the way, but the Lord directs the steps.” (NRSV)|
“We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it.” (MSG)

Proverbs 16:9

What’s Happening?

Thank you for all your prayers and the goodness of our LORD, I have some wonderful catchup time and being able to mostly stay in air conditioning. =P

Praise the LORD! The 55 Day e-learning PureHeart Challenge Course on our website is up. The 5-part bible reading plans in Tradition Chinese are now all done. (The last 2 waiting for approval from YouVersion.) Please pray that those who need to know that they are loved and forgiven, those who long for a deeper encounter and be satisfied by God will be blessed with these. (All plans are available in English and Japanese as well.)

So recently I had an experience of my lifetime... ok, it’s not so weird for parents. But after all these years of baby sitting, I never thought that I will get to "the beginning"! During my 3-day visit to former teammates I got to "witness" a baby being borned... It was late evening, and a member who hardly speaks Japanese had her water broke... (The due date was later that week). The one and only female team member was their official help but due to the need of her own young children she couldn’t accompany the couple to the hospital immediately... and then I happened to be there, right?! Logically then I went with them... thinking I will leave when "official" help comes. Due to late hours, the birth clinic was closed to public and i guess they rather have me in the delivery room than roaming around in lobby! So yes, I was there through it all... praying for it to be over quickly (of course for the sake of the labouring mother). Praise the LORD the labor was only approximately 3 hours, such grace for birthing a firstborn child. After some explanation of the stay, "official" help needs to return home to feed her own infant and I stayed until mother and newborn were settled into their room. 

Side-note: Japanese clinics usually keep the mother and newborn for 4-5 days before they are released to go home. (It will be even longer if issues arises.)

I am grateful to be reminded of the “hardship” of mothers before visiting Mom. During my time with Mom, I was able to visit my former discipleship school and shared my testimony with the current students. Afterwards I also had time to talked to 2 of them, both lived in Japan (short-term) and have a heart for the lost in this nation. There are many who have burden for this nation yet finding it hard to find organization with the same vision and practice. Please pray for open doors to best-fit faith community for those wanting to come and are already in Japan.

As I came back to Japan at the end of June, I sudden found that I don’t understand as much... I don’t know if it’s a relapse, or the fact that I was immersed in my mother-tongue for too long?!? Therefore I have restarted my weekly Japanese lessons. Still figuring out what area to focus on but one way or the other I need the practice with feedback. For now I will work on both pronunciation and trying short translations.

I am so grateful that I am blessed with flexibility and capacity which allow me to meet up with visitors, visit former teammates, and make new connections. Although I must say I am not as youthful to run after toddles and/or hold infants.

What’s Next?

After much prayer and consideration, I have declined staffing a 3-month Japanese pilot school due to the extended away-from-home requirement. As I have that door shut, I was asked to help with another organization’s staff retreat. They have overseas speakers that would needs to be paired with translators. I will be helping with the kids’ program the third week of August. It will be a 2-day road trip to northern Japan with a few staff and another volunteer. Please pray for safety and also blessings for this retreat. 

With one of my new connection, an older Australian worker who has lived in Japan for decades, who is burdened for her neighborhood and would like someone to pray and maybe do bible study with her on a frequent basis. To my surprise, we have quite a few things in common. For now we will start with praying weekly to see where the LORD leads. 

A couple that I met on their seminary internship will be returning to Japan in September. I would like to accompany them for some of their ministries as they settle in. I have also offered to have them stay at my place while they look for their own apartment. 

I have also been asked by the Osaka disciple school to translate for a few days. I am praying on if that’s something the LORD wants me to do. Please stand with me to do the “right” thing. 

Mid-year reflection... It was very clear to me that I need to take this year "slow", meaning more casual schedule. The LORD has brought back many "old" people and as we chat I realized the growth and work the LORD has done for us. Many has been stretched/enlarged while others are switching gears. (Of course, struggles and hardship were unavoidable.)  I am very grateful for everyone He connected me with and looking forward to see what the LORD will bring for the second half of this year. 

One thing I am keeping in mind is when to visit Canada. It would be 2 years next April. But that doesn’t lineup with passport renewal (which will push it to June or later). Since last year, I am thinking to do a longer visit for health reasons. Recently I also have some online banking issues. Praying for wisdom in regard to timing and duration of the next visit. 

Praises:

· Restful time visiting Mom

· Opportunity to reconnect with most of the former Kobe team members

Prayer Requests:

· Japanese language improvement

· Specific ministry guidance

· Timing to visit Canada and specifics

Blessings,

Christina

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I grew up in a non-christian home but my older brother went to Christian school and became the first believer in our family. Since then he started to share Jesus and took my to church gospel events. One time, the message was about God willing to forgive all our sins; I was touched but thought that I want to know more before deciding to believe. The next day, the message was about how simple faith is, just like toddlers eating eggs. So I decided to trust this God who is willing to forgive even I don’t understand everything He feeds me.

In college retreat, I committed to served God full-time but has never thought of how. After working some years, and wanting to spend time with aging parents, God led me to a missionary school (Youth With A Mission). One step at a time, God called me to pioneer a team in Kobe, Japan. With prayer and getting to know the team, I responded by saying yes. Again trusting this good God even I can’t see what’s ahead.

My Current Role
At the moment I am a self-funded missionary involved with both international sender Youth With A Mission in Osaka and a local ministry near Kobe. This year we are pioneering a bilingual bible school which I serve as administrative and tutoring staff. Since everything is new, there are trials and errors. And this is an intense school, so yes, lots of reading and homework (which I need to grade). My prayer is that students and staff from this school will be infused with the passion for His Word and stay to staff the next school. The local ministry I have been working with for the last 3+ years is Onfire Japan. We focus on discipleship through bible study and mentoring. Since 2021, we have been doing LIVE morning worship everyday and a few other theme-focus hours throughout the week. I have been joining LIVE panel, providing technical support and training. We have team members who are very willing to jump in if there is a gap but we need more to be willing so we can expand to more hours and cover more themes. My prayer is to start a Chinese-Japanese hour.

About To The Nations Fellowship/OnFire Japan/YWAM
My Canadian Charity partner “To The Nations Fellowship” was founded to come alongside the Body of Christ to facilitate sending Christians on long and short term missions.

Onfire Japan, founded in 1995 to minister after a major earthquake in Kansai, is a Christian ministry dedicated to seeing Japan and Japanese Christians filled with the presence and power of God. We equip believers for discipleship and simple church planting through

online media, networking and training. We’re excited for the opportunity to work together to see revival come to the church and the harvest come to Japan.

Youth With A Mission, founded in 1960, is a global movement of Christians from many cultures, age groups and Christian traditions, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world.

Clarence Yau

Our contact information is as follows:
Handy: +49 176 4340 6372
Clarence Email: [email protected]
Anna Email: [email protected]
Address: Hammersteiner Strasse 18, 79400 Kandern, Deutschland

Clarence was not raised in a Christian home and it was in Junior High that he came to know the Lord as his personal Savior through a friend who invited him to attend Youth Group events and know the Youth Pastor at his friend's church. He understood Christ's sacrifice for him and the freedom that would be gained in a relationship with Jesus and entered into a relationship with Christ at age 14. His journey with Christ was a bit of a roller coaster through High School and it was in the year 2000 that he surrendered his life fully to Christ's call on his life to be involved in vocational Christian ministry. In 2003 he moved to Black Forest Academy in Germany to serve as a Resident Assistant in the boarding program at Black Forest Academy.

Clarence and Anna met in 2003 and were married in 2005 in which they answered the Lord's call to serve as Youth Pastors at North York Chinese Baptist Church from 2005 to 2012. In 2012 the Lord led Anna and Clarence's family back to Black Forest Academy with their 2 little boys to serve as the Middle School Chaplain and serve missionary families and their children at Black Forest Academy.

My Current role in Teach Beyond BFA
Clarence is now serving as the Team Lead with TeachBeyond in Kandern. This role includes keeping a pulse on the 143 TeachBeyond Members (adults and kids) that are serving at Black Forest Academy and various other ministries supported by TeachBeyond in the area. Clarence works within a team to ensure, to the best of their abilities, that the members of TeachBeyond in the area are being cared for in a way that allows them to thrive in their service at their project. We also seek to build community and create camaraderie amongst our team members. One significant challenge that Clarence faces is being able to provide genuine and authentic care for our large team and building a system/culture of mutual care so that it doesn't fall solely as Clarence's responsibility.

About TeachBeyond
TeachBeyond is a mission organization that seeks to provide Transformational Education Services to various schools and projects around the world. Our vision is a world where individuals and communities become all that God intends. We are global community with approximately 1000+ members consisting of national/local members and expatriate missionaries providing transformation educational services as part of God's ongoing mission to transform individuals and communities in to all that God intends.

Janet Snyder

website: www.CEFOnline.com
email: [email protected]

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July 2025 Update

Dear Praying Friend,
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask
or think, according to the power that works in us," Ephesians 3:20.

GOD'S UNIMAGINABLE ANSWERS TO PRAYER:

1. Thanking the Lord my gall bladder surgery went well, and I had my
   last appointment with the surgeon. Grateful for God's provision and healing.
   Thankful for your prayers.

2. The TCE course is completed in Barbados and Pamela has received her
   credential to be an instructor of teachers. 

3. CYIA trainings are taking place the next two weeks in the Caribbean.
   Thankful for a team of 11 from Indiana who traveled to Antigua to assist
   with the training and teach clubs.

4. Our first Caribbean region Zoom Good News Club training is set for
   Saturday, September 6.   

PRAYER REQUESTS:

1. Bev and I leave on the 12th to travel to Pennsylvania for day camp,
   July 14-18. We are looking forward to another year of teaching Bible lessons
   and being the camp missionaries. Pray for safe travel and for open hearts
   and excitement as they learn about the Caribbean and how they can be a
   missionary.       

2. We are grateful that our regional education team is growing. Ann
   Marie, from Anguilla is joining the team to assist with trainings and
   mentoring new trainers. Rodia, our French assistant is traveling to several
   islands this summer to develop the ministry and meet with leaders.

3. The Junior Youth Challenge training course in January 2026 will be
   held in Jamaica.  The staff is making inquiries for the best location and
   cost. Pray for the location and students of God's choosing. They will be
   coming from seven countries across the Caribbean.

4. Pray for the young people as they teach 5-Day Clubs throughout the
   summer. Ask God to continue to increase their burden and passion for
   teaching God's Word and seeing children coming to Christ. 

5. Three staff members from Guyana are planning on attending the
   Children's Ministries Institute in Missouri in August through November.
   Pray as they make plans to leave their families and ministries for three
   months.

Thank you for joining me in prayer and seeing God do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we can ask or think.
Gratefully,

Janet

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I grew up in a small country town in Pennsylvania in the US and each week our bus driver would drop us off at a neighborhood home to attend a Good News Club. Each week I would hear of God’s love and salvation through two faithful teachers. One week when I was 10 years old, I accepted Christ as my Savior.

When I was 12 years old, I had opportunity to be a helper at the Vacation Bible School at my home church. It was here that I quickly realized my love to work with children and teach them the gospel. After attending university, I was an elementary school teacher for several years. I volunteered with Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) during the summers. From these experiences and mentoring leaders, the Lord called me to serve Him with Child Evangelism Fellowship full time.

My Current Role at CEF Canada
I serve as the Education and Literature director for the North America/ Caribbean Region. I oversee the training programs, train teachers and leaders, and equip and support teacher trainers in the 26 countries in the Caribbean. As Literature director I work with translation and printing of the literature for French, Dutch, Creole, and Papiamento.

About Child Evangelism Fellowship Canada (CEF Canada)
Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) was established in 1937 and the mission is to evangelize children with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living. The major ministries are Good News Clubs during the school year and 5-Day Clubs throughout the summer. Volunteers are trained to reach the children in over 200 countries around the world. Every Child, Every Nation, Every Day.

Janice & Enoch Jabab

Our monthly ministry updates/prayer requests on our blog: https://www.cimcanada.org/janice-ministry-updates
Email address: [email protected]

Enoch and I (Janice) both became Christians at young ages because we grew up in Christian families and attended church. Enoch's mother always lived by example to their family about the importance of prioritizing God and serving others. This life of service to others for God's glory was greatly imparted onto Enoch at a young age. I began participating in short term missions trip to Ghana in 2009, where God started putting on my heart a love for the Ghanaian people.

God confirmed my calling by answering a confirmation prayer in 2018. I prayed to God that He would put the passage of Mark 10:29-30 to someone in my life to give to me as a confirmation that my full-time move into ministry in Ghana was God's will. In God's perfect provision, He confirmed my calling to me a week later when my pastor spoke from Mark 10.

My Current role in Chinese International Missions (Canada) CIMI am CIM Canada's International Worker in Ghana and I oversee some of the administrative work between CIM Canada and the local church, Evangelical Church of Ghana (E.C.G.) We work with nine E.C.G. pastors, in which the pastors are involved in church planting efforts in as many as 22 preaching points in their surrounding rural areas. We also support 3 E.C.G. mission schools and their teachers. In Nyankpala (our current town), we work with Campus Ministry students from the university in organizing a weekly kids club for the children in the community to learn about the Good News of Jesus.

About CIM
Chinese International Missions Canada (CIM) was established in 2003. The mission of CIM is to unite international and local ministries in proclaiming the Gospel cross-culturally through sending people, supporting ministries, and creating long-lasting partnerships.

Jason and Monica Klumpenhower

Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp or phone: +31610104911

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2025 June Update

We had an encouraging time during our monthly evangelism Saturday this month, where we had 13 locals out on the streets sharing the Gospel!

We celebrated the graduation of 18 Tyndale Seminary students!

We have been visiting a couple tiny churches in Schagen a city just 9 km north of us (one with 10 congregants and one about 30) to be more acquainted with the condition of the Church in Schagen, and how we can help to encourage and build up the local Church. Jason has been out doing  street evangelism every Thursday and is thankful to have found a couple people to join him.

What a blessing to have cousins visit!

Jason has been working hard on the Tyndale office renovations that will continue through this summer, with a couple teams coming to help.

So many beautiful wild flowers out right now! The kids and I have been foraging and drying them for medicinal teas and salves. It’s fun to continue learning all the many ways God cares for us and has provided for us in creation.

This month the kids have been practicing extra for their swim test to get their A Diploma which is a big deal here. We are very proud of their hard work and excited for their upcoming test!

Baby is 30 weeks! Praise the Lord He continues to grow well. Still many appointments in the coming couple months before we meet baby! I am doing well, though definitely more sore now in the third trimester and having to slow down a little bit.

Prayer Requests

• We are continuing to wait for a response for our application to renew our Dutch Visa. Please pray we will get the 5 year extension to stay in The Netherlands.  

• Pray as the renovation project begins at Tyndale Theological Seminary. Jason is overseeing a team of 9 volunteers as they begin the renovation of the offices.

• Continue to pray for the KOTV evangelism project, for boldness and creativity in sharing the Gospel and pray for our core team as we seek to motivate and encourage the local churches to unite in an evangelistic effort in the city of Alkmaar.

• Pray for the weekly evangelism events in Schagen that we are now involved in. Pray for open hearts and boldness to proclaim the Gospel.

• Please pray for finances, we will begin a fundraising effort in the fall. We are starting to feel the effect of the rising cost of living here in The Netherlands.  

Thank you for your continued support, prayers and encouragement!

In Christ,

Jason and Monica Klumpenhower

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Monica and I both come from strong Christian backgrounds. I was raised to know and love Jesus but in my teenage years I completely walked away from my faith. Through much pain and struggle God brought me back to him as I learned that it was only through His power and the saving grace of Jesus that I could experience true joy and peace in my life. From a young age Monica always felt the desire to serve the Lord in ministry somewhere. Through some trials one of the key lessons the Lord has taught Monica is to always find your identity and worth in the Lord. He is worthy of our trust and always faithful.

We met at Capernwray Hall Bible School in England and married a year later. From the beginning of our marriage we knew God was calling us into missions, we just weren’t sure where. Through experiences such as returning to Capernwray Hall as volunteers, to building houses for families in extreme poverty in Mexico we explored this calling and God affirmed it to us! While visiting the Netherlands on a holiday from our work in England God impressed on our hearts the deep lostness and spiritual need of the Dutch people. This has never left us. 3 years ago, we joined Greater Europe Mission and 1 year ago we moved to the Netherlands!

OUR CURRENT ROLE

We are actively involved in a street evangelism organization here in Alkmaar called Kracht om te Veranderen (Power to Change). My roles include being part of the core leadership team, recruiting and leading short term teams, and going out on the streets telling people about Jesus! The biggest challenge we face is how to spread the Gospel in new and engaging ways. Dutch people are very closed, especially when it comes to talking about matters of faith. Too often we are met with cold indifference, postmodern worldviews and sadly people who have been hurt by churches or religious organizations and want nothing to do with God.

My secondary roll is a part time position at Tyndale Theological Seminary as Facility Manager. Tyndale is unique as it is a seminary that offers full scholarships to pastors and christian leaders from Asia, Africa and eastern Europe. The faculty is comprised of like minded missionaries from all over the world working together to teach and disciple these future leaders to go back to their home countries and do the same.

Monica is our prayer coordinator for Kracht om te Veranderen and aside from her responsibilities as a mother, is actively engaging the moms in our community in hopes to start a small Bible study and share the love Jesus has for them!

ABOUT GREATER EUROPE MISSION

Greater Europe Mission was founded in 1944 with the goal of sharing the gospel with disillusioned post WW2 European people who had seen so much loss and despair. Since that time GEM has grown to 3 different sending countries and over 300 missionaries serving across Europe. Sadly, in most European countries only about 3% profess a relationship with Jesus. Europe needs Jesus! Greater Europe Mission exists to relationally connect and reach the unbelieving and uncommitted across Europe. To grow and deepen them in their faith through intentional discipleship and to empower and send them out to impact their world for Christ. GEM missionaries are involved in many different types of work, with the common goal of expanding God’s kingdom and reaching Europe by multiplying disciples and growing Christ's Church.

Jim & Shari Cottrill

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 1.403.276.9505
https://cottrillcompass.com
Visit our mission website here: https://avantministries.org

2025 July Update

Hi Friends!
Thanks to all of you for your prayers for us and the ministry here in Mexico City. Although we can't communicate as much as we would like, we very much need your prayers, as always.

God is giving us many challenges to navigate, reminding us that we need to trust in Him and seek His will in each situation. I'm especially motivated to write today to share about some upcoming events.

First, we are very excited that two of the churches here will be joining together for a special service this Sunday! A baptismal service! So please pray for each person who is following the Lord in baptism this Sunday. This is always a special time of testimony, but also sometimes a difficult time for those who have family and friends who are against their faith. Please pray for those being baptized, their family and friends, and also for the two churches that they would grow in love and faith as Jesus builds His church.

Second, our church will be joining another church (a different one - in another municipality) for a time of evangelism on Saturday, the 26th. The church, Mount Horeb Bible Church, will be having a VBS next week, and we will join them for the closing program. Family and friends will
be invited, and we will be sharing God's Word through drama, music, an object lesson, and one-on-one conversations. Please pray that we would share God's Word clearly.

And this is a praise as well! Praise the Lord for so many in our church, Path of Life Bible Church Las Palmas, who have jumped at the opportunity to serve together with our
sister church. A drama was written, props are being created, we will be practising music, preparing food - there's lots to do! And it's so encouraging to see so many
involved enthusiastically. :)

There are many more things I could share but won't - for the sake of keeping this email short, and in some cases because of confidentiality. But we do appreciate your
prayers in general for wisdom, health, and strength as we serve the Lord day by day.

General prayer requests:
https://cottrillcompass.com/requests.html
More details at our blog:
https://cottrillcompass.com/blog/category/prayer-and-praise

Thanks!

Grace & Peace,

Jim & Shari
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The Cottrill Family
c/o Avant Ministries Canada
2121 Henderson Highway
Winnipeg, MB R2G 1P8

Contact us:
[email protected]
(403) 276-9505
http://CottrillCompass.com
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http://bit.ly/cottrill-donations
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Jim’s mother led him to the Lord around the age of 3 or 4. At the age of 7, Shari was learning some Bible verses in school. She came home and talked about them with her parents, who led her to the Lord. We praise the Lord for His mercy!

In 1998 we began serving in full-time ministry training high school and college age teams which travelled around the world focusing on drama and music ministries. In 2003, we joined CAM International, which has now joined with Avant. Both missions were started in the late 1800s with a focus on reaching the lost with the Good News.

Our Current Role at Avant
We are currently church planters in south eastern Mexico City, in the municipality of Ixtapaluca. This work involves serving the community through community centre outreach, evangelism, Bible studies, leadership training, and networking with like-minded churches and missions in the area. This area of Mexico is one of the least reached areas in the Americas, and one of the most populated urban areas in the world.

About Avant
Avant has been focused on reaching the unreached since the 19th century, planting hundreds of churches over the past 130 years. Today, there are still many places in the world that are unreached and have no church. Avant's vision is to make a difference in time for eternity by rapidly planting and developing churches where none exist. We serve the Lord by “planting and developing churches” with several hundred missionaries worldwide, in 50 countries.

John and Leanne Paetkau

Personal Email: [email protected]
Work Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 403 519 3210
Facebook/Instagram: John Paetkau
Give Online: Canada: send.org/canada/give-from-canada
USA: send.org/give/missionaries/paetkau

JULY 24, 2025 UPDATE

We will be on the road for the next 10-12 days, meeting with supporters, new missionary candidates, and individuals who are seeking to know more about missions.

We will also have the joy of attending a tri-annual family reunion on John's mom's side in Oregon - haven't seen them for 5-7 years due to covid etc. John will be bringing the message at the morning service that weekend.

Part of the trip is also connecting with Ukrainian friends from Sumy who live in eastern Washington.

Prayer items:
- safe travels - we have a lot of miles to cover
- good listening skills - that we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading as we connect, listen and share.
- wisdom as we walk alongside those who are seeking what part God would have them to do in cross cultural ministry
- that God would raise up new supporters to join our financial ministry team
- energy/health - we aren't as young as we used to be.

Thank you for standing with us
Love
John & Leanne

JULY 10, 2025 UPDATE

Good morning
This past weekend while a multi church baptism was taking place in Sumy, Sumy Grace Camp was hit by three rockets. The camp is only a few miles from the border with Russia and was targeted.

Sumy Grace Camp is a place very near and dear to our hearts. This was a huge part of our ministry while in Ukraine, and it has ministered to thousands over the years.

The rockets destroyed two cabins, the old chapel and damaged the kitchen and other buildings. They have not held camp there during the war due to its proximity to the border and possible shelling, thus there weren't any kids on site. Pray for those who are there, cleaning up and dealing with the senselessness of it all.

Ministry continues in the midst of all that is taking place. These past two weeks Sumy Grace Church has held a day camp on the church site for children (last week) and teens (this week).

Pray for strength, wisdom and hope for our brothers and sisters who are serving in a very challenging place and in very challenging times.

Thanks
John & Leanne

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John: I grew up in a Christian family in northern Alberta, and became a Christian at a young age. God really got a hold of my life when I was 18, and I was called into ministry at that time. I planned on becoming a youth pastor, to reach the young people of Canada with the Gospel. During my second year at Briercrest, God called me overseas through the testimony of an old missionary from Spain. 11 years later on December 4, 1997, after serving as an associate pastor for 7 years Leanne, our two little daughters and I got on a plane and flew to Ukraine. We served there for 17 years and returned in 2014 with our three children to transition them into their next stage of life.

Leanne: I was born in Swift Current, Sk into a pastor’s family and received Jesus as my Saviour at the age of 5. After high school I went to Briercrest Bible College for 4 years. Here I met John which was a wonderful blessing and he became my husband after graduation. I was also introduced to missions at Briercrest in my first year when a missionary guest speaker came to speak he challenged us with the biblical account of Peter getting out of the boat and walking on the water. Peter faced his fears, likewise I was challenged to get out of the boat and confront whatever fear I had. At the time my greatest fear was that if I gave my all to the Lord he would send me to Africa, which I found frightening because of course, Africa has snakes and spiders. John and I got married and we ended up serving the Lord in a local church doing ministry for 7 years, not only to gain experience but also to pay off our student loans. John and I were excited to be able to receive a call to serve in Ukraine, and we were there for 17 years serving and raising our family.

Together we served the alongside Ukrainian believers in northeastern Ukraine, mentoring and training leaders, doing discipleship, helping them with children and youth ministry, camp work, and doing evangelism through friendships in our community. By 2013 we could see that we were becoming “the grandparents of our ministries” as we had trained up new leaders to take our place. Thus we exited out and eventually moved back to Canada hoping to transition our kids and someday move back overseas to where God was calling us next, to do whatever was next. We are still involved in ministry in Ukraine through various means (prior to the escalation of the war in 2022 we would lead a team to minister each summer there) and now from we serve from afar.

Our Current Role at SEND:
John - serves as a western Canada Missions Coach and representative for SEND in MB, SK, AB & BC. This entails the following in all four provinces: connecting with those who are inquiring re missions; visiting & speaking at bible schools; representing SEND and speaking at churches and conferences; coaching and facilitating new missionaries who are preparing to go the field; and facilitating short term teams and individuals.

Leanne - has two primary roles. Works part time as a home care professional and serves alongside John in the above roles as able. She also serves in ministry to women in both a face to face and online context.

About SEND:
SEND International is a international mission with members from 12+ passport countries serving in 21+ countries around the world. SEND seeks to plant the church where it doesn’t exist and serve it where it does, with a special focus on least reached peoples. Our focus is church planting and discipleship, using a variety of ministry platforms depending on the culture, the needs, the opportunities and the location.

Josh & Deb Wong

Josh Email: [email protected]
Deb Email: [email protected]

Both of us, at a young age, having grown up with a Christian home, made a simple acceptance to have Jesus be our Lord and Saviour.

For Josh, while attending the University of Calgary, he joined P2C - Students to study the bible on campus, and upon graduating in 2000, joined staff with P2C to help launch the campus ministry in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For Deb, she always knew ministry would be a significant part of her life. She assumed it would come later in life after she had established a career. However, when she witnessed a different reality in P2C at her time at Dalhousie University in Halifax. So in 2003, she graduated and joined staff with P2C, ministering alongside Josh in Halifax.

Our Current Role at P2C - Students
Josh, as director of Strategy and Operations team, helps students take their next step towards Jesus by coordinating the strategic planning process of the ministry and creating and managing infrastructure to effectively and efficiently deliver ministry objectives. As a member of the National Leadership Team, he helps to implement change management processes to help the ministry achieve the desired outcomes of our plans and goals.

Deb, as director of the Creative Communications team, helps students connect with opportunities that help them take their next step towards Jesus. Through communication spaces like our p2c.com/students website, social media (insta: @p2cstudents), and resourcing in-person conversations, we design, create videos, write, inviting students to get involved with a local community, go on a mission trip, consider internship, and more. She also helps her team members in fund-raising.

About Power to Change
Starting at the University of British Columbia in 1967 (as Campus Crusade for Christ), Power to Change has been steadfast in helping people know Jesus and experience His power to change the world for close to 60 years. Throughout the years ministry expanded beyond post secondary students to other domains of society including families (FamilyLife), athletes (Athletes in Action), the marketplace (LeaderImpact), those living in vulnerable communities and in the margins (Connecting Streams), and those needing humanitarian assistance (Global Aid Network). Today, Power to Change has 10 ministries across Canada and belongs to a network of global ministry partners through Cru International to help people know Jesus and experience His power to change the world.