Update August 5, 2023

This morning we began the 1650 mile trip to return to Moncton, NB after the completion of the Baptist Mid-Missions North America team conference in Carlinville, IL.  God has blessed us and protected our family over all of the miles traveled over the past nine weeks as we have attended seminars and conferences, visited with many of the individuals that partner with us and given ministry updates in several of our partnering churches. We are also grateful for some precious time with our daughter, Adrianna, as well as with family members on both the Teachout and Broeckert sides. 

Even though our schedule has been exhausting, we have been refreshed and blessed by each visit.  We praise the Lord for giving us partnering churches and individuals that have ministered to our family and who give sacrificially and faithfully to make it possible for us to serve the Lord where He sends us. And while we’ve been able to see so many this summer, we realize there are many others that we have not been able to see on this trip.

It was a particular blessing to have quality time to fellowship and connect with our two home churches, including the privilege of helping with special community evangelistic outreaches in both of them.

Our summer travels were planned around three conferences this summer, beginning with BMM’s School of Chuch Planting (SCP) in Grimes, IA June 5-7.  The SCP was extremely beneficial to us as we were given tools and instruction that we can use in Moncton as we seek to build the French ministry.  We came away with a clearer understanding of our need for help in reaching the French population of New Brunswick. Please pray that God will bring others alongside us  to help with this work.  

The second conference was BMM’s Family conference in Elyria, OH July 17-20 where we enjoyed fellowship with the worldwide BMM family from around the world, including former teammates of ours from CAR and France. 

Adrianna was able to have the week off from work in Greenville, SC and drove up to join us at the conference in Elyria.  

The final conference was with the BMM North America team this past week which was attended by several teams serving in North America, including the CP&D (Church Planting and Development) team which we are part of.  The time in the Word, times of sharing and prayer and the fellowship with others sharing similar burdens and ministries around the continent was a blessing to us. Our boys enjoyed connecting with the other missionary kids (mks) as they took part in the very special program planned for them.  We are thankful for each one of these servants and for God’s grace and help with the various challenges each one is facing. 

Now as the miles between us and Moncton diminish we look forward to getting back to our home and ministry. Lord willing, we will have two more visits on our way home before crossing the Canadian border on Tuesday, August 8.  

Praise for

• God’s blessing and protection for all of our travels, visits and meetings in the US this summer and for all the opportunities for service God has given us this summer.
• God’s help and blessing of M in the French ministry in Moncton in our place this summer, as well as in his internship with Emmanuel Baptist church. Praise for many opportunities that God has given for preaching and for sharing the Gospel, and for several visitors that have come to the French group Esperance Vivante. 
• God’s help for B in his internship in Saint John, NB in both a local church and summer camp ministries, and for all the decisions that were made during camp season.
• Adrianna’s completion of her summer internship in Greenville and for the opportunities she has had to serve with the youth ministries of her church this summer.  Praise for God’s provision of a job off-campus for this school year.

Pray for

• that God will burden more hearts for reaching lost souls in French New Brunswick, and that the Lord of the harvest will send more laborers into His harvest field in French Canada. Pray that God will help us to connect with others that could join our team.
• God’s direction to be clear to M regarding future ministry, and if God wants him in New Brunswick that He would make it clear to M.
• God’s help for us as we return to our ministry in Moncton, for guidance as we seek to focus more of our time and energy on our French ministry and pull back from some of our English ministry involvement.
• Adrianna as she helps with the welcoming and orientation of the new international students at Bob Jones University and begins her junior year.
• God to bring new students to EBBI to study His Word and to prepare for ministry. 
• God will open the door for us to get back into Canada without trouble and that He will move our paperwork along for Canadian residency without long delays and without much greater cost.