Please pray for protection us and our Nicaragua Christian Academy family. Our new 5th grade teacher, Jed, reported a couple of weeks ago that his family's guard was in a shoot-out with some men who were trying to steal his motorcycle. This resulted in the guard chasing them away. Jed has noticed several men watching their home which has been very unsettling for him and his family. Two nights ago, Jed was driving at night and came upon a group of men who were burning tires and shaking cars. The men were armed with guns and machetes. They shook Jed's car but Jed pulled forward and kept looking forward and eventually the men went on to another car. People were throwing money out their windows in effort to placate the men. Dan and Rebekah ran into the traffic jam on their way home. However, Dan turned around and found a different way home - not realizing what was really going on. We praise God for Jed and Dan and Rebekah's safety.
Our vision for Global Outreach at New Covenant is for every person to be actively involved in global prayer, care, and share. With that in mind, we are excited to announce we will be offering an opportunity for global care through a Compassion Sunday on September 19.
Compassion International exists to release children from poverty in Jesus' name. All of their work and ministry is through a local church. Last March, Pastor Bob and I had the opportunity to travel to India to establish a partnership with a church that hosts and runs a Compassion child development center. We saw firsthand the work that is being done and the great need for even more to be done.
On Sunday, September 19, we will make available child sponsorship packets for children ministered to through our partner church. If all of those are taken, we will also have additional packets for children at other child development centers in the region. Our goal is to transform the lives of over 100 children in East India. I hope you will prayerfully consider joining us in this global care opportunity.
This year Ramadan is August 11 to September 09. Will you join with Christians around the globe praying for the Muslim World?
Find out more at 30-Days of Prayer for the Muslim World. This site has articles, as well as daily prayer requests that you can download or subscribe to by email.
You can also go to 30DaysFire.net for a full multimedia experience or become a fan of 30-Days International on Facebook.
New Covenant will sponsor a special time of prayer late in August. More details coming soon.
Just received word that the Zimbabwe Team has made it to Chicago. Their United flight to Cedar Rapids is listed as arriving at 6:15 PM in Cedar Rapids. Will update this post if anything changes.
Good news! I have received word that the Zimbabwe team made the first leg of the trip to Kenya successfull, and are now headed to Europe. They will be coming through Chicago and are scheduled to arrive on a United flight at 6:15 PM Cedar rapids Time on Monday, August 9. Will post any other updates I receive between now and then.
We are still on the road to Harare. Thought I would take a moment to provide some updates for the week.
On Tuesday, we participated in a community boys soccer and girls netball (cross between ultimate Frisbee and basketball) tourney for the 18 schools in the area. This is sponsored by the MCDT (think FCA-like activity). A the end of the final soccer game that ended in a penalty shootout, we presented the donated AYSO jerseys and balls as prizes. Afterwards, Lance and the local ministry team shared the gospel with the approximately 800 kids and adults.
Don for the Zim Team
P.S. Pray for the revival service tonight.
You can go to this post for their schedule.
Robin’s Song is a new Kingdom Partner of New Covenant. The purpose of this ministry is to equip and train local people to provide safe, clean drinking water for their communities in the name of Christ. Brian Perry wrote this in a recent update:
I am planning to depart August 11 for Africa. I will spend the first week in Blantyre, Malawi where we will make plans for building another group to drill more wells. Remember that every well we put in provides clean drinking water to a thousand people. We are dedicated to helping people support themselves with an income from drilling the deep wells. We want to show God’s love to the people we serve so that they may know Him as their Savior. I’m excited to have my youngest son, Blake, join me in Mozambique September 4-10.
In October, I will be traveling with my older son, Christopher. He belongs to the Christian Medical and Dental Association, who has been leading teams of doctors and surgery nurses into Mexico. Please pray for financial support for start up costs of working in new areas of Africa, as well as travel safety.
Go to www.robins-song.org to learn more.
Wondering what our Kingdom Partners, Martin & Judy Kolczyk, are up to? Check out their blog and find out!
Our Kingdom Partners, Gary & Barb Bennett, leave soon for Rwanda.
Dear Friends,
Thanks to God’s faithfulness we are all set to leave for Rwanda on Wednesday morning, August 4th. We still need a little more support, but through your generosity, God has provided what we need to be able to return to the field. We are so thankful for all your gifts and help. We leave from Minneapolis, stop in New York and then fly to Brussels Belgium. After a short layover in Brussels we fly directly to Kigali Rwanda where we arrive Thursday evening.
This morning we experienced a wonderful worship service at our home church, First Baptist, Windom. At the close of the service people gathered around and had a prayer time for us, which was very moving. Fortunately someone found us a box of Kleenex. We explained to the girls afterwards, if we didn’t love people so much and if they didn’t love us so much, saying good bye wouldn’t nearly as hard.
We would appreciate your prayers for us as we say more goodbyes, especially to family members. It is so hard to say good bye to those we love so much and have had so many wonderful times with during this year here. Pray also that all of our luggage will make it with us to Rwanda. The girls start their new school year on Aug 17th, so pray for a quick adjustment and a special time of reuniting with friends back on the field. Finally pray that God would show us where He would have us put our main focus as we get back into ministry in Rwanda. There are so many things we could be involved in, so pray we would put our efforts into what will be most helpful to the Rwandan church.
As always thanks so much for all your prayers, love and support,
Gary, Barb, Melissa and Megan Bennett
Sat 31 July
After a long ride from the Harare to the Mushayamunda Village we had a short night's rest before the widows conference. We shared the blessing from New Covenant the name of Jesus Christ in the form of testimonies, teachings, prayer and gifts of clothing. There were approximately 250 widows some of who had walked 20 miles. We can't wait to share the pictures and video of the widows displaying the true joy of the Lord in the midst of their suffering. Saturday night we had a mini revival at the homestead. Brother Dave Estrem shared as well as Patti Ashbacher with a testimony. Thank you for sending us.
Don for the Zim team
Sunday 1 Aug
Sunday morning we enjoyed fellowship, singing, dancing, prayer and time in God's word together. Your bothers and sisters in Christ in Zimbabwe send you greetings at New Covenant. Don shared the message with testimony from sister Dixie. We also provided fluoride treatment and basic medical care for the widows on Saturday and continued into Sunday. Heavy program to start Monday...
Don for the Zim team
