Update September 1, 2023

The Lord brought us safely back to Moncton, NB on August 8 nearly 11,000 miles after leaving on June 1.  We are thankful for the new two year visitor records we were given at the border as we continue to pursue longer term residency. 

God had helped M as he ministered to the French group in our absence, and in his involvement in the English ministries as well.  We are grateful for progress over the summer, including a new couple from Madagascar who began attending a few weeks ago.  M has returned to Québec continuing to seek God’s direction regarding future ministry.  Door to door outreach and Saturday outreach at the downtown market have given some great contacts for the Gospel throughout the summer.  We are continually reminded of the serious spiritual need in this area among French speakers who make up 40% of the population of Moncton.  Our hearts cry out “Where are the laborers?!”

As we diminish our involvement in English ministries and focus more of our time and energy on French ministry, we are gearing up to move our French service on Sunday mornings to Sunday afternoon at 3:00 starting September 10 while continuing a French Bible study during the Sunday school hour.  This coincides with entering our third year of regular French outreach and ministry at Emmanuel Baptist Church and we praise the Lord for what He has done so far.  The Lord has raised up others to take over some of our English ministries but there are some areas where workers are still needed.  

Praise for

• God’s protection and blessings throughout all our travels and visits this summer and for His opening the doors for us at the border. 
• God’s help for M as he ministered in our absence and for the addition of the new couple attending Espérance Vivante. Praise for God’s blessings over two years of regular French ministry.
• Opportunities to share the Gospel through door to door outreach and Saturday market outreach.
• Those who God has raised up to take on some of our English ministries.
• The arrival of our nephew Gage Sherd to spend a semester with us and attend classes at the Bible Institute (EBBI), and for the other new students and the returning students that began the new semester this week.

Pray for

• God’s direction for M regarding future ministry and for God to send laborers to work among the French speaking people of New Brunswick.
• Opportunities to share the Gospel with our French speaking neighbors, and for God to use the various outreach efforts. 
• The French ministry, Espérance Vivante, as we enter our third year.  Pray for the new Sunday afternoon services beginning September 10.
• EBBI as it kicks off a new school year, and for the new and returning students. 
• Our nephew Gage as he takes classes and serves in various ways this semester.  
• The Lord’s help for our children with their schoolwork this year.  Adrianna, in her third year at BJU, is responsible for several girls in her discipleship group and has a full load of classes along with helping lead several student organizations. Caleb is now a senior and is taking several dual credit classes at EBBI.  Josiah is now a freshman in high school.
• God to move our paperwork along for Canadian residency without long delays and without much greater cost.

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.

Update May 30, 2023

We praise the Lord for blessing the music recital Friday evening, May 29. The Lord helped the participants to do well and we were encouraged to have several of the church family join us for the evening.

One of the senior couples in our church were moving on Saturday morning, May 20, at the same time as the first Saturday street evangelism at the Moncton market this summer. Our family split up with Cherith and Caleb helping with the move while Josiah and I joined the team at the market.  Seeing uniformed military on street corners, we soon learned that Princess Anne was in town to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Canada’s oldest military regiment, which is based in New Brunswick.  The planned open air evangelism changed to an opportunity for handing out tracts.  We followed the crowd to City Hall where we were able to pass out a few hundred tracts to those attending the ceremony. It would be wonderful if some of those who came to see the sister of an earthly king accepted the Words of Life and became sons and daughters of the King of Kings! 

The EBBI team (with Caleb) traveled to Sourris, Prince Edward Island Saturday evening and presented the school in the church there in the morning service.  In the afternoon, they traveled to a church in Summerside, PEI where they were also joined by members of a church in Charlottetown. So God made it possible for them to actually share with three local churches that Sunday.

M arrived from Quebec last Wednesday, here for the summer to take the responsibility of our French ministry in our absence.  He is staying with us and will continue to live in our home while we are gone to the US.  We are furiously preparing to leave Thursday, June 1 for a full summer of visits, seminars, meetings and conferences. 

Cherith had her final Bible study with D last Tuesday, and the final Ladies’ Bible study was Thursday evening.  

Caleb and Josiah left for the Maritime Games at Forest Glen Bible Camp Thursday afternoon.  We followed them early Friday morning, arriving in time for the adjudicator meeting and orientation just before the first session of musical entries.  We took part adjudicating vocal and instrumental presentations by teens from several Maritime churches, with the goal of providing constructive and encouraging feedback to these young people to use their gifts and talents for Christ.  Our boys both had entries, Caleb (preaching and vocal solo) and Josiah (trumpet and Christian service). 

Caleb led the Bible quiz team from EBC (with two junior high girls and Josiah) as they prepared and they did a great job, especially for their first time quizzing against other experienced teams. Our group came in 3rd place out of 5 teams.  

It seemed strange yesterday as we had our French service and took part in the other services, to think it was our last Sunday at EBC until our return to Moncton in August.  We will miss our church family and ministries here where the Lord has enabled us to serve every Sunday since our arrival in July 2021. We look forward to seeing our family in GR and being with the church family in our home church in Grand Rapids, MI next Sunday.  Then begins a full summer of visits, meetings, conferences and seminars.  We appreciate prayer that God will give protection over the miles and that we will be used by Him to accomplish His purposes.  We are planning to attend BMM’s School of Church Planting June 5-7 in Grimes, IA in order to be better equipped for this ministry. One big prayer request is that God will call more laborers and send them into His harvest field in French Canada.  The francophone people of New Brunswick are in desperate need of hearing the Gospel with very little opportunity.  We need help and pray that God will lead others to join us in this work. 

Praise for

• 
  God bringing M safely back from Quebec to begin a summer internship here at Emmanuel which includes the French ministry. 
• a special opportunity for sharing tracts with the crowd gathered to see Princess Anne. 
• God’s blessing and protection of the EBBI ministry team (which included Caleb) as they ministered in three Maritime provinces this month.  Praise for good contacts in the churches.
• God’s blessing of the Spring Music Recital, for the opportunity to glorify God through music, for His help for each of the participants, and for their growth musically this past year.
• a the spiritual growth in D’s life through her Bible studies with Cherith this year, and for a good finish to the Ladies’ Bible study. Praise for the positive feedback Cherith has had from a number of the ladies.
• all of the preparation the youth put into preparing entries for the Maritime Games, for the opportunity we had to interact and encourage participants toward excellence in the use of their God-given talents for His glory.

Pray for

• M as he takes responsibility for the French ministry, and that God will help him with each of his responsibilities serving and helping the ministries of EBC. Pray too for B as he begins an internship in Saint John with a local church and summer camp ministries.  
• the hearts of those who have heard or received Gospel literature to be tender and responsive to the Holy Spirit. 
• God to direct in lives to bring new students to EBBI to study His Word and to prepare for ministry. Pray that God will send laborers to French Canada (NB and Quebec), and specifically that He will add to our team in this ministry.
• God to move our paperwork along for Canadian residency without long delays and without much greater cost.
• God’s protection as we travel this summer, that He will bless as we connect with so many people and that He will sharpen us and refresh us for the work He has for us here.

May 15

April seemed like a whirlwind around here.  We are thankful for God’s protection and for His provision of health and strength.  He is at work and we are grateful for the privilege of serving Him here in NB in this multi-cultural and multi-lingual setting. One thing that He is making very clear to us is the need for more workers, particularly in reaching the spiritual desert among French speaking people in NB.

French Easter Sunrise Service

God filled the church for the Good Friday service (English). We were joined by visitors plus people from two sister churches for a precious time of reflection on Christ’s suffering and the salvation He has provided for us. We had a French Easter Sunrise service for our French speakers while the others had a Sunrise service in English, followed by an Easter Brunch for all at 9 a.m. and an Easter service at 11 in which the choir sang two anthems.

The EBBI school year ended on April 28 with graduation.  My English Composition students were probably as happy as I was to finish the year with God’s help. My prayer is that they were able to improve their communication skills for their future ministries for God’s glory.  The student choir prepared for the musical ministry they had coming up, which includes graduation, Bible Conference, and summer ministry team.  Our son Caleb took a few dual-credit classes during the school year and participated in student choir, so he is part of the summer ministry team that is representing EBBI in churches in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island this month (May).  

M from Quebec defended his doctrinal statement before an examining council and did an excellent job articulating his faith and convictions despite English being his second language.  With his humility and teachability combined with his love for the Lord and a hard work ethic, we are eager to see what God will do with this life. 

He graduated from the four-year program so is seeking God’s direction for future ministry. This summer, he will be filling in for us here in our French ministry while also doing an internship with the English ministries and using his carpentry/building skills to help the church. 

April ended with the annual Spring Bible Conference and the 65th Anniversary celebration of Emmanuel Baptist Church. 

Having Pastor and Mrs. Roger Rosenau here from our sending church (Springville Baptist Church) was especially refreshing for us personally, as was having Pastor and Mrs. Friesen here from Regina, SK.

Praise for

• the finish of the EBBI school year (and my English class!), and for M’s graduation and testimony, and for celebrating 20 years since the beginning of the school. Praise for God’s helping the students on the summer ministry team to prepare for meetings this month in the Maritimes.

• a time of challenge and refreshment for Spring Bible Conference and for the 65th Anniversary of EBC. Praise for a visit from the Rosenaus!
• good contacts and opportunities to share the Gospel with both French and English speakers through door to door outreach. 
• Visitors that have come to our French service. S, a French Acadian, is looking to connect with to a French local church. D from Congo came to our English service for the first time yesterday — he needed the service translated into French and expressed interest in the French service. 

• a lovely Ladies/Mother-Daughter Event last Saturday with 35+ in attendance, including visitors.
• God’s provision of an excellent business internship for Adrianna that meets all of the requirements of her program. 
• a lead that God gave us through Pastor Rosenau that is helping us to move forward with our Canadian residency status.  Praise that we were able to connect with an immigration consultant (for a fee) for the help we need.

Pray for

• God to direct M regarding future ministry, and that God will use him greatly here this summer in our absence.
• good contacts and for hearts to be receptive to the Gospel through door to door outreach and through street evangelism this summer. 
• visitors, returning and new, to our French group Espérance Vivante, and that God will guide us and help us to reach the French population here. Pray that God will send laborers to French Canada (NB and Quebec).
• more church members to be motivated to reach the community around (both French and English).

• the EBBI ministry team (with Caleb) as they minister in churches around the Maritimes this month, that God will use their ministry to lead individuals to dedicate their lives to the Lord for His service and to enroll in EBBI for biblical instruction.

• the Spring Music recital on May 19 and for the Maritime Games youth competition where we will be helping with adjudicating on May 25-27 that seeks to encourage Maritime youth to serve the Lord with their God-given talents and abilities. Our church has a Bible quiz team that Caleb is leading, Caleb will be preaching, and Josiah did a kids program for a Christian Service project and will be playing the trumpet.
• the final ladies Bible study of the season on May 25.
• God’s help with moving our residency status forward without long delays and great cost.
• guidance as we prepare for our travels to the US this summer.
• Adrianna as she serves in her local church youth group ministry this summer. 

March 2023

Winter is hanging on here in Moncton but even as the snow melts the ground is showing signs of Spring.  The amount of snow this year has been much less than last year and it surprises us that we are actually sorry to see winter coming to an end! The new life and growth that come with Spring are very inviting, however, and are a beautiful reminder of the new life and miraculous work that God is doing in our lives to make us more and more like Christ.  

Our church is preparing to host the annual Good Friday service, when we will be joined by two sister churches in Moncton for this special occasion followed by a potluck fellowship. We are looking forward to having a Sunrise Service and brunch on Resurrection Day, a first for our church, at least in many years. The choir will be singing for several special occasions in April; besides the Good Friday service, we will also be singing for the Easter Sunday Service and for the 65th anniversary celebration of the church at the end of the month.  The church will be hosting the Spring Bible conference at the end of April for churches around the Maritimes immediately following EBBI graduation on April 28.  

April is a full month for EBBI, including the preparation of a team of students to represent EBBI in several Maritime churches during the month of May. Part of our responsibility is to prepare them musically for these ministries.  Please pray that God will bless these preparations and that He will use the team’s ministry to lead individuals to dedicate their lives to His service and to enroll in EBBI for biblical instruction.

We asked for special prayer for Caleb and me as we traveled to the Holy Land this month for a special group tour of biblical sites led by Pastor  Eastwood.  We are so grateful to the Lord for making it possible for us to make this trip.  The only down side for me was not having Cherith there to experience the trip with me.  The experiences and sites have forever changed my outlook and understanding of Scripture as I have my personal devotions or prepare to share God’s Word with others.  Caleb too was changed and is eager to share his experience with others.  At prayer meeting this week, several of us gave testimonies of how God used the trip in our lives. Caleb had the main part of the service and gave his report with pictures, in partial fulfillment of one of the EBBI classes he is taking this semester for dual credit.

B, a sophomore at EBBI this year, used his Spring break to take a missions trip to France to work with our friends the Laases in Draguignan.  Although B’s family is unsaved and not excited about his faith, we were thrilled to see the way the Lord guided and provided to make this trip possible.  B returned eager to share both what God is doing in France as well as his increased burden for the spiritual needs there.  We are encouraged to see him continue to seek God’s direction for his future.

Praise for

• much improvement in Cherith’s health, and for good doctors that are following her here in Moncton now.
• signs of spiritual growth resulting from Bible studies.
• safety and blessing for the Israel trip (Jonathan and Caleb) and for a wonderful missions trip to France for B, second year EBBI student. 
• God’s help for Cherith and Josiah as they cared for two active boys while the parents were in Israel.
• opportunities for door to door evangelism as the weather warms up, and for opportunities to share the Gospel.
• healing and strength as we recover from sinus infections. 

Pray for

• good contacts, opportunities to share the Gospel, and receptive hearts through door to door outreach.  Pray for the salvation of Adi, our Israeli tour guide.
• God’s blessing of our French group Espérance Vivante, and that we will see visitors come (and keep coming!).
• preparations for Good Friday and Easter services, and for the anniversary celebrations for the church and Bible Institute.
• the final month of classes for EBBI and for God’s help as we prepare students for summer ministry team opportunities to represent the school in Maritime churches. Pray that God will use the team this summer.
• 
  the Lord’s provision and leading of Adrianna to the right business internship for this summer. 
• God’s help with our residency status and that we will be able to get the help we need without too much cost.
• preparation and scheduling for our trip to the US this summer.