June 2010

Dear  “Come With Us To Kenya” Friends,

It has been an amazing year here at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya! We thank God for the opportunity to serve Him here at “such a time as this.” We shall describe the past year under three headings:

1.       TOUCHING PEOPLE, CHANGING LIVES

Nereah is a sixty-three year old Kenyan woman of very modest means who works part-time on our college campus. Nereah and her husband are the parents of nine children whose ages range from the early twenties to the early forties. Nereah and her husband have certainly helped fulfill the Genesis 1:28 mandate which says “Be fruitful and increase in number.” After raising nine children it is surely time to sit back and rest! Right? In Nereah’s case, wrong! Three years ago, three young children—two little girls and one baby boy– were literally abandoned at Nereah’s doorway. “Moved with compassion” Nereah took these abandoned children into her home. Today Tracy is six, Mercy is five and Carlos is three. Nereah is raising, feeding, clothing and paying the school fees of these three young children…and because you are supporting us, you are supporting Nereah, Tracy, Mercy and Carlos! Asante Sana! Thank you so much! This is just one of many stories that could be told under the heading, “Touching People, Changing Lives.” What an incredible privilege it is to be “His Hand Extended…”  To God be the glory!

2.       EQUIPPING STUDENTS, RELEASING LEADERS

As we teach our vibrant “on fire for God” students we do not simply see 40 to 70 students crammed into a cloistered classroom. We see gifted young men and young women—actually some are middle-aged and have left solid careers—who have the call of God on their lives to serve in vocational ministry as pastors, teachers, evangelists and missionaries. We see villages, towns, cities, and even nations…villages, towns, cities and nations in which our students will one day, as Jesus tarries, make a dynamic difference in Spirit-empowered ministry. Why not? Rev. Simon Peter Emiau, General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of God—Uganda, graduated from Pentecostal Bible College here in Nyang’ori many years ago. We are absolutely convinced that God has a significant, a magnificent future planned for our students. We have approximately 300 students at PBC this school year. Wow! Imagine the impact these students will make in villages, towns, cities, nations…! Because you are supporting us, you are supporting our students. Asante Sana! Thank you so much!

3.        BREAKING GROUND, BUILDING PEOPLE

Pentecostal Bible College desperately needs a new dormitory for our growing student body. The last two terms we have had sixty-plus students studying at a temporary campus about a half-hour drive away in Goibei because of space limitations in Nyang’ori. The Goibei campus will no longer be available come September. A dormitory housing 100 students will cost approximately two hundred and fifty thousand Canadian dollars. What a great deal! After much prayer and deliberation, a ground-breaking service was held on our campus on Wednesday June 16 in order to “get the ball rolling” for a new dormitory. It is true…we need to build a new building…but more than that…we need to construct a building which will allow us to maximize our vision to BUILD PEOPLE, to BUILD LEADERS! There was a great sense of God’s presence at the ground-breaking service. Would you prayerfully consider making a financial donation to this very strategic BREAKING GROUND, BUILDING PEOPLE ministry need?

OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS: Special thanks to visiting teachers from Canada in the month of May! Dr. Richard Burton taught Soteriology to approximately sixty Diploma students. Dr. John Anonby taught our first B.A. course—Genesis. We have nine students enrolled in our Pan Africa Christian University/Pentecostal Bible College B.A. program. This represents a good start!

OUR SUMMER SCHEDULE: We are leaving Kenya on Friday June 25 and will arrive in Smiths Falls, Ontario the evening of Saturday June 26. We will be in Canada for ten Sundays. We will be presenting “Come With Us to Kenya” in Ontario/Quebec churches every Sunday morning (and some Sunday evenings) from June 27 until August 29. We still have a few open dates on Sunday evenings which we would be happy to fill should the opportunity arise. We are scheduled to arrive back in Kenya on Friday September 3.

Included in our summer schedule are several “one year later” breast cancer follow-up appointments for Sheila. Sheila completed her regimen of chemotherapy and radiation therapy late last June. The various members of the medical team which provided expert and compassionate care for Sheila unanimously agreed with our move to Kenya last year on the condition that Sheila would return to Canada for routine but important follow-up appointments this summer. Sheila is doing very well. She has several medical appointments booked in Brockville and Kingston from early July to late August.

Stephen and Bethany graduated from Teachers College at the University of Ottawa on Sunday June 6. We look forward to celebrating with them a few weeks after this joyous occasion. They have both accepted teaching positions, beginning this September, at an International School in Kuwait.

Thank you, as always for your faith-filled prayers, for your encouraging emails and letters, and for your generous financial support. We could not do what we are doing here in Kenya without your partnership. Asante Sana! Thank you so much. May God bless you abundantly!

 

April 2010

What a wonderful Graduation Service here at Pentecostal Bible College  in Nyang’ori, Kenya on Friday March 26! Though our numbers were not as high as originally anticipated we nevertheless were filled to overflowing with a spirit of rejoicing as 247 students graduated! Wow! Two-Hundred-and-Forty Seven is far and away a record number of graduates in the storied sixty-one-year history of Pentecostal Bible College. Just prayerfully imagine the incredible impact these Spirit-filled graduates will have on the spiritually needy nation of Kenya as they persuasively proclaim the Word of God and lift up the Name of Jesus in ministry!

 What a wonderful Good Friday–Easter Weekend! Good Friday was spent visiting with Pastor John and Jane Okello at the Village of Hope near Kisumu as well as sharing a Good Friday Message with Pastor John’s “Hope Chapel” congregation. Sheila spent the Saturday of Holy Weekend teaching three women who attend PBC how to bake “morning glory” muffins. Sheila taught them well. My mouth is watering even now as I remember those tasty muffins which were served at an Easter Sunrise service in our backyard attended by about 25 students who remain on campus working to earn money for the May-July term at PBC.

 What a wonderful between-terms Extension Program here at PBC. Presently we are offering three weeks of courses for Pastors and key Church leaders (Board Members, Departmental Leaders, Sunday School Teachers, etc). Michael is teaching Spiritual Formation. Today’s class was accompanied by a rich sense of the Holy Spirit’s ministering presence as we prayerfully examined what it means to be “conformed to the likeness of [Jesus]” (Romans 8:29). The students throughly enjoyed prayerfully singing that “golden-oldie” To Be Like Jesus…All I Ask is to Be Like Him…

 Thank you for praying for our teen-age twins–Gabriella and Moriah. They have adapted very well to the way of life here in Kenya. Presently they are enjoying an end-of-term break from Braeburn Kisumu International School. By the way, the BKIS report card is a sixteen page booklet! The twins have worked hard–(there is usually one to two hours of homework most nights)–and brought home good report cards. We are very thankful. As always, we deeply appreciate your prayerful and financial support. The challenge here is great but we serve a GREAT God who works through great people like you! God bless you abundantly in every aspect of your life!

February 2010

Last Sunday evening–February 14–chapel service at Pentecostal Bible College went on with great blessing in the midst of a Nyango’ri-wide power blackout thanks to the generator we were able to recently purchase as a result of the generosity of friends in Canada! Asante sana! Thank you very much! We serve a need-meeting God! Recently one of our students was battling much pressure to leave PBC for a period of time in order to raise money for his young daughter’s school fees. However, prior to leaving the college campus, word reached our student through his wife that, “out of the blue”, a generous benefactor would take care of the girl’s school fees, not simply for one term but for four years! Praise the Lord for His miraculous provision!

 

This is an exciting time at PBC for a couple of reasons: 1. We have 270 students in residence in Nyang’ori this term but due to space restrictions another entire class of 59 students is housed about a thirty-minute-drive’s distance at our temporary satellite campus in Goibei. PBC is growing! We recently received an estimate as to how much it will cost to build a new dormitory in Nyang’ori in order to house all of our students on one campus. (This need for new facilities is compounded by the fact that one class of 58 students is unable to study at PBC this term–Nyango’ri or Goibei–because of space restrictions). 2. This term culminates with our graduation excercise on Friday March 26. We are planning for about 500 graduates–about 100 of our resident students and about 400 of our extension students who, after many years of part time study, have completed the requirements for PBC graduation.

 

We are eagerly looking forward to the new school year which will commence in early May. Pan Africa Christian University in Nairobi and Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori have entered into an agreement whereby PBC students, who qualify for bachelor degree studies, will be able to earn a degree from PAC U while remaining in Nyang’ori. In essence, our students who meet university entrance requirements will complete two years of PBC diploma studies followed by two years of PAC U degree studies with the end result being the earning of a world-wide respected university degree. We deeply appreciate the expert leadership of Dr. Kirk Kauffeldt of PAC U in arranging for this exciting development. Also in May we are pleased that Dr. Richard Burton, lead pastor of Kitchener Gospel Temple, will be spending two weeks at PBC as a visiting teacher! The future is bright indeed!

 

Michael is enjoying teaching three courses this term: Hermeneutics, Leadership, and Romans and Galatians. Sheila is enjoying teaching Missiology. Gabriella and Moriah are very busy and very active at Braeburn Kisumu International School. in late January, Sheila and the twins journeyed to Nairobi as the girls were participating in a football (soccer) tournament at Braeburn College in Nairobi. The twins recently turned 13 years old. Wow! Can this really be happening!? The time certainly flies by!!

A few days back Sheila had her second follow-up appointment with the Kisumu-based radiotherapist. Once again, the doctor was very thorough and very pleased with how Sheila has bounced back from breast cancer. To God be the glory! As always, we are grateful for your faithful partnership with us in ministry. Your prayers, your encouraging emails and letters, and your financial support are appreciated so much more than words can adequately express. God bless you!

 

December 2009

It could have been a rather miserable moment…but instead it was a memorable moment. It happened earlier this month as the students at Braeburn Kisumu International School, where Gabriella and Moriah attend, were presenting their Christmas Cantata in the courtyard of a shopping mall in downtown Kisumu. There was a power blackout as the students were singing, O Come All Ye Faithful…Nobody groaned. Nobody gave up on the song. Spontaneously, immediately and serendipitously the audience blended their voices with the BKIS choir and finished the song. The power did return but the brief power blackout resulted in a powerful and memorable moment! Teamwork makes the dream work!

Earlier this evening–Wednesday December 22–we enjoyed a meaningful time of fellowship in our home with nine students from Pentecostal Bible College. We felt it would be important to have a Christmas celebration with these nine men who are working at the college over the Christmas holidays in order to earn money to pay for their tuition. We enjoyed singing a few Christmas Carols, reading Scripture, praying together and then sharing some Christmas refreshments. The evening concluded with each gentleman receiving a gift of a tie. The students were very pleased and very grateful. These gifts were provided by Bethel Pentecostal Church in Kaladar, Ontario. Teamwork makes the dream work!

We are so thankful to be in Kenya this Christmas! Last Christmas was considerably different…for us…with Sheila having recently come through breast cancer surgery and facing many months of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. We are delighted to share with you that Sheila had a very thorough and very successful three-month check-up here in Kisumu in early November. To God be the glory! Her next check-up is scheduled  for February 2010. Thank you for your prayers, thank you for your support, thank you for your emails and thank you for your Christmas cards. We truly sense your partnership.  We could not do what we are doing without your partnership. May God bless you! Teamwork makes the dream work!

Christmas 2009 Blessings From Our Home to Your Home

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November 2009

A VERY TRAGIC DEATH:

The disquieting sounds of mournful singing/music wafting plaintively over the winds from a nearby village were heard in our home this past weekend– – really almost from sundown till sun-up–as the people of the village payed parting respects to a married twenty-three year old man, and father of four very young children, who succumbed to the HIV virus.  Apparently the deceased, so we were told, was an alcoholic and a womanizer.

Only God knows how this man contacted AIDS but it would seem more than likely that it was the result of an immoral lifestyle.  The death of a twenty-three year old man with an eternal soul is heart-rending by any reckoning but when one begins to consider the extensive collateral damage of this untimely death–a husbandless young woman and four fatherless children–this death is beyond sad.

OUR PURPOSE AT PBC:

Our purpose at Pentecostal Bible College is to equip students so that they will be able to offer hope and help to people in desperate need throughout the land of Kenya.  The greatest hope, the greatest help our students can offer Kenya is that of well-rounded, Spirit-empowered ministry in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ–the only Savior, the only Healer, the only Baptizer, and the only Coming King–the One who saves for time and eternity “from the guttermost to the uttermost.”

Since arriving here in late September we have been able to provide scholarships for thirteen students (eight men and five women).  We have been able to strengthen our library with dozens of very good books and we have been able to bless our Kenyan faculty with books for their personal libraries.  We were also able to assist three children with fees for exams at their public school.

We are presently in need of a generator which will service the entire PBC campus–offices, chapel, dorms, classrooms, library, and faculty and staff homes.  Blackouts–a very common occurrence in Nyang’ori–interfere with the routine of college life as well as undermine campus security. Earlier this year a blackout lasted for an entire week around the clock.  Please do pray for these continued needs.

As always, thank you for your prayers and giving.  We could not do what we are doing without your help.  God bless you abundantly!!

 

 

 

 

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October 2009

We are here in Kenya! Actually we have been here for almost three weeks but we wanted to wait until we had settled into the routine of day-to-day life prior to corresponding with you. Upon arrival we received warm Karibu Kenya welcomes (Welcome to Kenya) from the Nairobi-based PAOC missionary team as well as from the faculty and students of Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori.

Gabriella and Moriah have completed two weeks at Braeburn Kisumu International School. They are in Grade 7 which is considered to be High School at BKIS! BKIS begins at 8am and runs until 4:05pm. The girls are enjoying the academic emphasis and the community environment of BKIS. The twins, along with their new friend Arianna, have been appointed as designers and proof-readers of their class newspaper.

The twice-a-day, hour-long round trip to BKIS is always an interesting experience to say the least! There is a lot of activity and “competition” for space on the pothole infested two lane road between cars, matatu vans (taxis) darting in and out of traffic, three-wheeled taxis, motorbikes, bicycles, workers hauling wagon loads of goods, pedestrians, and yes…cows and goats…So far, so good!!  We have 270 students at PBC this term. Fifty-four students are serving their internship program in various local churches throughout the length and breadth of Kenya this term. Therefore our student body consists of 324 students. I have stepped into the full responsibilities of the Academic Dean’s office and am also teaching two courses–Spiritual Formation and Christian Apologetics.

Sheila is doing well. We visited her doctor simply for relational reasons immediately upon arrival in Kisumu. Presently I hear Sheila in the background humming an old hymn while she prepares supper. She is quite busy making the mission house a home. Next week she will be spending time ministering to the children who attend a nursery school here on campus.

As always, thank you so much for standing with us in faith whether it be prayerfully, financially or both. We truly could not do what we are doing without your partnership. It amazes us when we realize that we are here in Kenya. May the God “who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20) bless you with a wonderful Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!

Michael and Sheila Middlebrook and Gabriella and Moriah

mMiddlebrook@paoc.org

PS: Many of you have asked for our Kenya Postal Address. It is: PO BOX 1015–40100  KISUMU, KENYA

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September 19, 2009    Call to me and I wll answer you…(Jeremiah 33:3).

 

 

           You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace…(Isaiah 55:12)

Whew! It has been a whirlwind of activity the past several days. We still have “one or two” things to do prior to catching our Saturday September 19 evening flight out of Montreal enroute to Nairobi via London. As mentioned in our previous email correspondence we do have several “points of prayer” which we would like to share with you as you continue to stand with us in faith in this new season of ministry that lies immediately before us.

Prayer Point One: That Sheila, Gabriella, Moriah, and I will adapt and adjust quickly to daily life in Kenya. That Gabriella and Moriah, our twelve year old twins, will enjoy Braeburn Kisumu International School and that they will meet and make new friends. That Sheila and I will “seamlessly” step into life and ministry with our faculty, staff, and students at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori and that we will meet and make new friends as well!

Prayer Point Two: That, by God’s grace, we will experience on a daily basis, excellent health spiritually, physically (especially Sheila), and emotionally. That God’s shalom, shalom (Isaiah 26:3) will fortify and guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7) at night as we sleep, during the day as we drive the twins to and from school, and in every other facet of day-to-day life.

Prayer Point Three: The previous prayer point also applies in principle to our daughter Ruth and her husband Connor, as well as our son Stephen and our daughter Bethany. This is the first time that we will be in “two places” as a family…the four of us in Kenya and Ruth, Connor, Stephen, and Bethany in Ontario. We will certainly miss one another but we know that God is well able to help each of us walk this new journey with great strength.

Prayer Point Four: That God will, for His glory and for His Kingdom purposes, strategically use Sheila and I as we have the amazing privilege of being involved in leadership training of some three hundred spiritually “on fire” young (and in some cases older) Kenyans. (Pentecostal Bible College, founded in 1949, is a pastoral equipping center with marvellous centrifugal impact throughout the length and breadth of the great nation of Kenya).

Prayer Point Five: That God, working through His generous people, will continue to meet the ongoing financial needs of Come With Us to Kenya. We are so thankful for every dollar that has been designated to CWUTK by a church, a business, or an individual.

As Christian missionary William Carey (1761-1834) prepared to leave England for India in 1793 he referred to those on the the home front who stood with him in faith as “rope holders” in the Spirit. We are so thankful for the many, many friends on the home front who stand with us in faith as we leave Canada for Kenya, who, as it were, “hold the ropes” in the Spirit through prayer. What a miraculous connection! God bless you!!

Michael and Sheila Middlebrook

mMiddlebrook@paoc.org

www.comewithustokenya.com

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September 12, 2009

“You are the God who performs miracles (Psalm 77:14).” Indeed He is a miracle working God–past, present and future! On Saturday September 19 we–Sheila, Gabriella, Moriah, and I–will be leaving Canada for Nyang’ori, Kenya. “God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable (Romans 11:29).”

On our final Sunday in Canada prior to departure, which is Sunday September 13, we will be ministering at Marmora Pentecostal Church in the morning service and at Bethel Pentecostal Church in Smiths Falls in the evening service. May God copiously pour out His Spirit, for His glory, in both of these services.

As the song says, “We’ve come this far by faith, trusting in the Lord.” Thank you so very, very much for standing with us in faith these past two years as we have prepared to move to Kenya, and especially this past year during this very sudden–(to us but not to God)–and very serious trial by cancer which delayed our departure.

“For we wanted to come to you–certainly I, Paul did, again and again–but Satan stopped us….Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you ( 1 Thessalonaian 2:18, 3:11).” These verses have encouraged us many times during this interesting and challenging journey. God is good, all the time!

Deeply Appreciative of Your Powerful Intercessory Influence in Our Lives

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August 31, 2009

All systems are…almost go! We had a tremendously encouraging meeting with our missions leader, Murray Cornelius, at the international office of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada in Mississauga this morning (Monday August 31). Early in the conversation Murray asked, “So when do you think you will be ready to leave for Kenya?” Sheila responded, “Well, we already have nine suitcases packed!”

It appears quite likely that we will be leaving for Kenya within the next few weeks. Murray will be meeting with other executive leaders on Tuesday September 8. One of the matters pertaining to missions which will be decided in that meeting will be our departure date for Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya.

Our meeting today concluded with a time of fervent corporate prayer. Murray invited several members of the missions staff into his office as our meeting was drawing to a close. Irving Whitt, who serves as Global Educational and Leadership Coordinator for the PAOC, led in prayer–prayer for Sheila and prayer for our ministry in Nyang’ori. It was a very moving time of prayer. Praise God for the prayers of His faith-filled people!

To be entirely candid, our meeting with Murray also involved discussion about our missions budget as this continues to be an area of some concern. We continue to believe that The God of the Breakthrough (cf. 2 Samuel 5:20) will bring an influx of needed blessing in this important area ( cf. Isaiah 60:22b).

Sheila has one more important cancer-related appointment as part of the follow-up program she has been on the past few weeks. She is scheduled for a mammogram on her “healthy breast” tomorrow (Tuesday September 1) at Brockville General Hospital. This mammogram is simply a routine matter for breast cancer patients following radiation and chemotherapy. Our prayer is that that is exactly what it will prove to be–routine!

Thank you so much for standing with us in faith during this journey to Kenya. At times the journey has been turbulent but the Lord has never failed to remind us that “With Christ in our boat, we will keep afloat (Mark 4:35-41). Your prayers have been strategically used of God to bring edification to our lives. God bless you!!

Eager to Enter the Next Chapter Which God Will Write in the Story of Our Lives

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August 29, 2009

Hooray! Praise the Lord! At Sheila’s follow-up appointment yesterday afternoon at Kingston General Hospital (KGH), the first words the medical oncologist spoke as he walked into the room  were, “What is the weather like in Kenya at this time of the year? I guess you will soon find out!”

Well, that makes it unanimous! Without hesitation and without reservation our family doctor (Wednesday August 5), the radiation oncologist (Friday August 14), the surgeon who performed the modified radical mastectomy (Friday August 21), and the medical oncologist (Tuesday August 25) have each expressed wholehearted affirmation that Sheila is ready to move on with life! Holy Scripture, the Christ-follower’s Magna Charta, reads, “In the multitude of counsellors there is safety” (Proverbs 11:14, 24:6 KJV). We are very thankful for the expert care these skilled medical practitioners have provided for Sheila over the past ten months. As we hopped into a good friend’s vehicle yesterday and began driving out of the parking lot of the KGH Cancer Centre we were rejoicing in the Lord, praying in the Spirit, and declaring victory in Jesus’ Name (and alertly watching the road)! We enjoyed a praise the Lord celebration a little later at  home with our family as well!

There are two more key dates on the immediate horizon. The first key date is Monday August 31. On this day we will meet with Murray Cornelius (who serves as Assistant Superintendent for International Missions for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) in order to discuss a departure date for Nyang’ori, Kenya. We appreciate very much how our leadership team–Murray, Stephen Chaloner (Africa Regional Director), and Kirk Kauffeldt (Kenya Field Director)–have stood with us in firm faith and empathetic understanding during this cancer crisis. Please pray for a very clear “it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” meeting with Murray (cf. Acts 15:28).

The Second key date is Tuesday September 1. On this day Sheila is scheduled for a mammogram on her “healthy breast” at Brockville General Hospital. This is simply a routine matter and it is our prayer that that is exactly what it will prove to be–routine. ( Sheila and I– both in many ways quiet and reserved by nature–have been very open with you about our journey. At a later date we will share with our prayer partners biblical and practical reasons as to why we believe the Lord has led us to be transparent about an issue as “sensitive” as breast cancer. Suffice it to say for now, we have simply wanted our intercessory partners to pray as specifically and strategically as possible).

In spite of the wonderfully optimistic follow-up reports Sheila has received from the medical community, she will always stand in need of ongoing prayer. As any one who has battled breast cancer knows, there is always a risk of recurrence. It is simply a statistical reality to acknowledge this matter of potential recurrence; it is not a “lack of faith” to acknowledge this matter of potential recurrence. The statistics show that given the nature of the breast cancer that attacked Sheila–combated by the ensuing six cycles of chemotherapy, sixteen sessions of radiation therapy and five years of hormonal therapy (Tamoxifen)–the risk of recurrence is 20-25 percent.

Our focus, as the medical oncologist stated, should be on the 75-80 percent column of  non-recurrence. That is exactly where our faith-in-God-focus is…in the 75-80 non-recurrence column.

Sheila and I have now been married for twenty seven years. It is our desire and our faith-based focus, as Jesus tarries, to celebrate fifty years and beyond of walking through the various vicissitudes of life together, hand-in-hand and heart-to-heart, “in sickness and in health” as we covenanted with God and with one another on our wedding day of April 24, 1982. Deo Volente. May the will of God be done.

Please allow us to conclude this update with one more important matter.

Throughout this entire cancer-ordeal we have continued to network with people regarding the financial foundation of Come With Us To Kenya. As noted in our August 2009 Newsletter  (posted on the home page of our website…www.comewithustokenya.com) there have been some praise reports and some challenges regarding the raising of funds. Please pray that God by His Spirit will touch hearts and move people whom He desires to support our ministry so that Come With Us To Kenya will be built on a solid financial foundation and thus the ministry will be launched in Kenya with success (Luke 14:28-30).

Please don’t misunderstand the figurative words “financial foundation”. Every God-honouring, Christ-centered, Spirit-anointed ministry must be built on a solidly biblical foundation. Indeed, it is our rigorous and vigorous intent that Come With Us To Kenya be based and built on a solidly biblical foundation. However, every ministry (like any other worthwhile endeavour in life) involves “financial fuel”. Please pray that God will fully meet the tangible needs of Come With Us To Kenya. May God shower copious, generous blessing on your ministry endeavours as well! A great big thank you to all who faithfully pray for and/or support Come With Us To Kenya!!

Eager To Depart For Kenya In God’s Chosen Time.

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August 21, 2009

Sheila received another excellent report in today’s (Friday August 21) check-up with the surgeon in Brockville. “You look great,” were the first words he spoke to Sheila. Amen! Other than making a few practical suggestions regarding international travel he has no problem with Sheila moving on with life.

He allowed for plenty of opportunity for Q and A . It was a very upbeat and encouraging meeting. We are very grateful.

Today’s appointment was Sheila’s third check-up over-all. Three down, two to go! The next check-up is with the medical oncologist in Kingston on Tuesday August 25. Your prayers are a tremendous source of strength. Thank you so much and may God bless you!

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August 15, 2009

We just wanted to let you know that we were very encouraged as a result of today’s (Friday August 14) appointment with the radiation oncologist in Kingston.

He did express mild concern about Sheila looking a wee bit tired but other than that he was extremely pleased with her progress. The radiation sight “looked great.”  He also said that from his perspective he saw no reason why Sheila cannot begin to “get on with life.” Praise the Lord!

Sheila’s next follow-up appointment is with the surgeon in Brockville on Friday August 21. Your effectual fervent prayers for these follow-up appointments are deeply, very deeply, appreciated. God bless you abundantly!

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August 13, 2009

Sheila packed another suitcase for Kenya yesterday!

Oops! We may be getting just a little bit ahead of ourselves as we do not yet have a definite departure date. Two reasons stand in the way of a definite departure date:

Reason One: A Clean Bill of Health for Sheila

While ongoing checkups will obviously continue to be a part of Sheila’s life, we are very optimistic that this ten-month-long trial by breast cancer will soon be in the rearview mirror. Sheila received a very encouraging report, as to her progress, in an appointment with our family doctor in Brockville last week. We are expecting to receive further favourable reports from the medical community over the next few weeks as Sheila meets with the radiation oncologist in Kingston (Friday August 14), the surgeon in Brockville (Friday August 21), and the medical oncologist in Kingston (Tuesday August 25). Then on Tuesday September 1 a mammogram in Brockville will establish a new base line for the aforementioned ongoing checkups which will remain a regular part of Sheila’s life.

Reason Two: Our Budget Needs to be Strengthened

We are very thankful for all those who have faithfully supported Come With Us to Kenya especially over the past ten months. However there have been some understandable challenges.

a). Some of our partners may be temporarily suspending support until we get on the field.

b). Some of our partners may not be aware that their annual support commitment has expired and therefore must (or may) be renewed.

c). Though we have remained quite active over the past ten months it has proven to be somewhat difficult to enlist new supporting churches/individuals in the midst of this trial by cancer. There are praise reports: Over the past few weeks two new financial supporters have come on board and two other friends recently mentioned that designations would soon be sent to our PAOC Missions account.

We will be meeting with our missions leadership on Monday August 31 to discuss the possibility of a definite departure date. It would be awesome if our budget experienced increase between now and then.

As always, thank you so much for your prayerful support.

Two significant reasons–but not two impossible reasons!– stand in the way of a definite departure date for Kenya. It may be time for Sheila, in forward looking faith, to pack another suitcase! What do you think?

Eager to Depart for Kenya

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July 1, 2009

This is just a brief note to let you know that, as of Tuesday June 23, Sheila has completed her treatment regimen for breast cancer. Sixteen sessions of radiotherapy, along with six cycles of chemotherapy, are now in the rearview mirror! Praise the Lord! Thank you so much for your faith-filled prayers!

Other than an element of fatigue, Sheila is doing very well. Though we do not have exact dates, as of yet, follow-up appointments will be scheduled with Sheila’s medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, and her surgeon. We are very optimistic as we consider what the future holds for us in the will of God.

Perhaps one day the Lord will allow us the opportunity to share our thoughts in a transparent and edifying manner on this particular season of life. If so, we shall entitle our thoughts–”Breast Cancer: The Battle and the Blessing.” We have truly experienced the blessing of God amid this battle with cancer. God indeed is good all the time!

In mid-summer we shall send out a detailed newsletter when we have more information to share with you about Sheila’s follow-up appointments and also about our ministry at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya. In a recent email, our principal mentioned that God’s Spirit is on the move at PBC! How exciting!

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 June 3, 2009

Thank you so much for your prayers while I was in Kenya (May 8 – 23). What an awesome trip! We have between 250-300 students for the new school year at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya. I taught Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) to the 59 students who comprise the Diploma 2011 class. In addition to covering a fair amount of synoptic content we experienced outpourings of the Holy Spirit while class was in session. We are very grateful to God for His ministering presence. I also spoke in Bible College Chapel three times. Bible College Chapel services in Nyang’ori are amazing. Our students are deeply in love with Jesus; they are so hungry for God’s Word and so open to experience all that God wants to do in their lives through the operation of His Spirit. I also engaged in administrative work pertaining to the office of Academic Dean. I signed and distributed numerous report cards from the previous term and attended two Faculty Council meetings and a Board of Governors meeting. I mentioned in our last update that a friend, Rev. Kevin Mills, accompanied me on this trip. Kevin had a great time. He found an effective ministry niche during his two weeks in Nyang’ori. Purposeful short-term ministry trips are an incredible experience. There are many opportunities in Nyang’ori which short termers can be involved in to help strengthen the ministry of the Bible College. Anyone interested? Let’s talk! Kevin is now helping us by putting together a professional quality DVD of the May ministry trip to Nyang’ori. Our final day of the trip was spent in Nairobi. It was a full and good day. On this day, I was able to secure three important documents: a Kenyan driver’s license, a work permit and a re-entry permit (visa). We also visited Pan Africa Christian University. Dr. Misheck Nyirenda introduced me to his Old Testament Theology class and also had one of his students lead out in prayer for Sheila. It was a very moving experience. Sheila and I first met Misheck when we were serving at Trans-Africa Theological College in Zambia in the early 1990s. In those days, Misheck was a student–an excellent student. Today he is a gifted and respected Spirit-filled African scholar. There have been some tremendously positive developments with Sheila’s health. On Sunday May 24  we attended the inaugural service for Pastor Alvin Peddle at Marmora Pentecostal Church.  Then on Thursday May 28 we spoke to a Ladies Prayer Group at Kingston Gospel Temple and on Sunday May 31–Pentecost Sunday–we attended Ottawa Woodvale and were deeply blessed by Pastor Mark Scarr’s preaching. The significance of all this for us is that Sheila–due to her immune system being compromised as a result of chemotherapy–had not been in any type of worship service since early January! Sheila began 16 sessions of radiotherapy on Tuesday June 2 at Kingston General Hospital. This is good news for three reasons: 1. There was some talk that she might be scheduled for 20 sessions of   radiotherapy, 2. She is starting radiotherapy earlier than anticipated, thus she will finish radiotherapy earlier than anticipated, and 3. In the providence of God radiotherapy is part of the healing path for Sheila on this journey through, what one writer has called, “cancer land.” Praise the Lord for good news! We are trusting that the customary radiotherapy side effect of fatigue won’t be too difficult of a problem for Sheila. This trial by cancer has been, to say the least, a bit of a tough journey these past 7-8 months but we have discovered, perhaps in a deeper way than we have ever known, that God’s grace and God’s peace are more than sufficient. Thank you so much for your prayers–prayers that have been strategically used of God to bring blessing to our lives in the midst of a difficult and, humanly speaking, uncertain time. God is good! All the time! God is good! And, as our students in Kenya would add, “And that is His Nature.” Trusting in the Lord Who Heals and Standing on His Powerful Word====May 6, 2009Hooray! “But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession…(2 Corinthians 2:14).” Sheila’s six cycles of precautionary chemotherapy are now in the rearview mirror. Over the next several weeks the remnants of chemo will leave – her body and her immune system will be strengthened. From mid-June until mid-July Sheila will receive sixteen treatments of precautionary radiotherapy. Radiation will be administered to the chest wall in the mastectomy region as well as to the lymph nodes near her right collarbone. While we will not rush things, the time appears to be coming soon whereby Sheila, in the words of her optimistic oncologist, will be able “to get on with life.” God is good!From May 8 until May 23 I shall be away in Nyang’ori, Kenya ministering at Pentecostal Bible College. Sheila’s encouragement has been the driving force behind me taking this trip at this time (during the break between chemotherapy and radiotherapy).  Other than three overnight trips to churches in Toronto, Ancaster and Stratford respectively, I have not been away from Sheila during this trial by cancer. Thus it is my prayer that my time in Kenya will be positive and productive but much more than that I pray that things go well with Sheila during my absence. Our God is able! A friend and colleague in ministry, Rev. Kevin Mills, will be accompanying me on this ministry trip. As always thank you so very much for your prayers! God bless you abundantly!Trusting In the Lord Who Heals and Standing On His Powerful Word=====April 14, 2009“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat (Nehemiah 4:9).” So said Nehemiah when facing considerable opposition while rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in Old Testament times. When we were facing “opposition” ten days ago in the form of an infection/fever in Sheila’s body we–and those who stand with us in faith–prayed to our God and posted a guard, as it were, with our visit to the Emergency Department in Smiths Falls. Thank God for the synergistic relationship between faith-filled prayer and expert health care! Within two days of the seven day regimen of intravenous antibiotics Sheila had rallied and was back to feeling tickety-boo! We are happy to report that she had her fifth round of chemotherapy today (Tuesday April 14) thus remaining on cycle. Five down, one to go! The final chemo-cycle is scheduled for Tuesday May 5. Thank you so much for your prayers. Trusting In the Lord Who Heals and Standing On His Powerful Word=====April 2009When I arrived home from Ancaster on Sunday evening, I had to take Sheila into the Emergency Department at the hospital here in Smiths Falls as she had experienced a rough day. As it turns out, she was diagnosed with febrile neutropenia, which means she was running a fever, and her white blood cells which combat infection were low in count. At midnight, intravenous antibiotics were administered to begin the process of killing off the infection. We were back at the hospital at eight o’clock Monday morning for another dose of IV antibiotics.Sheila is now sporting a fanny pack around her waist. She is here at home. The pouch of the pack contains a portable Cadd Prizm infusion pump which is programmed to administer IV antibiotics every eight hours for the next several days. Amazing! We are so grateful for the health care that is available here in Canada.We are hoping that this is only a slight hiccup on the chemo-journey. We are hoping that the timing of Sheila’s fifth chemo-cycle (scheduled for Tuesday April 14) is not disrupted. We also need to gain the mind of God regarding the possibility of a seventeen-day trip into Kenya, which I would take in May during the one-month window between chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Sheila has encouraged me to do this and she was about to purchase the airline tickets online. We now need to talk to her oncologist about the advisability of the trip.As always, thank you so much for your prayers. We deeply appreciate your ongoing intercessory influence in our lives. We pray that your Holy Week will be deeply blessed as you contemplate the supreme sacrifice of the Crucified One and as you celebrate the rich reality of our Risen Redeemer.Trusting In the Lord and Standing On His Word===== March 31, 2009Dear “Come With Us to Kenya” Prayer Partners,Sheila has now been through four rounds of chemotherapy. So far, so good. Except for periodic nausea, which is to be expected, Sheila has responded very well to chemotherapy. Two weeks ago we started going out for walks every evening. Most nights we enjoy a three kilometer jaunt. We praise God!Four down, two to go. The final two cycles of chemotherapy are scheduled for Tuesday April 14 and Tuesday May 5. Approximately one month after the final chemo-cycle Sheila will begin radiation treatments. Sheila will receive a daily dose–Mondays to Fridays–of radiotherapy for three or four weeks.We cannot say enough about the medical personnel in the cancer clinic at the Kingston General Hospital. Their skill and their care are magnificent. We are also meeting many new friends who are walking the same journey–battling cancer– that we are presently walking. It is a pleasure to connect with these fine people.Regarding “Come With Us to Kenya” we have managed to gain Sunday morning bookings for all four Sundays of April! Our schedule is: Sunday April 5 (Ancaster), Sunday April 12 (Marmora), Sunday April 19 (Kaladar), Sunday April 26 (Stratford). Presently we have one Sunday morning engagement for both May and June.As always, we are very thankful for your prayers. As well, in all candor, on so many occasions it has been your call, your email, your card, or your visit which has proven to be a tremendous source of encouragement amid this season marked by a certain level of, humanly speaking, discouragement. God is good! And so are His people!Trusting In the Lord and Standing On His Word=====February 25, 2009It has been several weeks since our last update. Sheila is now sporting a funky, spunky, punky look…at home…when she is not wearing a cap or her wig! Yes, the chemotherapy cocktail, colloquially known as the “red devil” has–as expected–clawed Sheila’s curly brown hair from her scalp and has left her looking…beautiful!I find a great deal of wisdom in the title of a book by Tim Hansel which I purchased many years ago at one of my favorite used book stores, Books For Less in Accra, Ghana. The book I am referring to is “You’ve Gotta Keep Dancin’: In The Midst of Life’s Hurts, You Can Choose Joy!” A very wise prescription indeed!Sheila is scheduled for her third cycle of chemotherapy on Tuesday March 3. This will mark the halfway point of chemotherapy treatment. Sheila’s attitude remains vibrant and upbeat amid this trial by cancer and the various spin-off trials this ordeal inevitably brings. As always, your prayers are deeply appreciated. Thank you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The consultation with the medical oncologist prior to the administration of chemo went very well. There is no evidence that the cancer that has come against Sheila has metastasized or spread. Praise the Lord! The next chemo cycle is scheduled for Tuesday February 10.

We continue to walk through this challenging season of life one day at a time. We thoroughly enjoy Matthew 6:34 in The Message: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow: God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

Joyful in Jesus

—— 

January 19, 2009

 Dear Prayer Partners:

“Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” These words from legendary basketball coach John Wooden have long been a source of inspiration. It is our purpose to make the best of the season of life that we are presently passing through. God, in His sovereign wisdom, has kept us from Kenya for the time being and instead has given us the opportunity to be His agents of hope, peace and joy, in a place where there is all too often very little hope, peace and joy–a cancer clinic.

Since we last connected with you on Tuesday December 23, Sheila has had a bone scan, a heart scan and a CT scan. On Tuesday January 20 we are scheduled to meet with the oncologist at the cancer clinic at Kingston General Hospital for a consultation regarding the results of the three scans. That same day Sheila is scheduled to begin the first cycle of chemotherapy. The chemotherapy “cocktail”–as the potent potion is often called– will be administered through a PICC line.

A PICC line–a peripherally inserted central catheter–is a very thin and very flexible tube that will be inserted into one of the large veins in Sheila’s left arm near the bend of the elbow. The line or tube will be threaded into the vein until the tip of the tube rests just above her heart. The PICC line will be left in place for the duration of the six cycles of chemotherapy that Sheila is scheduled to undergo over the next several months. The chemo cycles are to be twenty-one days apart.

As always, we deeply appreciate your prayers for Sheila. Please pray that any chemotherapy side effects will be minimal and that the benefits of chemotherapy will be maximal! Please pray that our travel from Smiths Falls to the cancer clinic in Kingston (ninety minutes each way) will be marked by safety. Please also pray that we will indeed be vessels through which the hope, peace and joy that comes from the Lord Jesus Christ will flow. Thank you for your prayers. We pray that God’s blessings will be poured out upon your lives abundantly in 2009!

On a “Come With Us to Kenya” note, we obviously had no bookings for 2009 in Canada as we were scheduled to be in Kenya! However we do have a few openings–actually we have more than a few openings–if opportunities arise to present “Come With Us to Kenya” either mid-week or on Sundays. We are so grateful for all those who continue to support “Come with Us to Kenya” through the Missions Department of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. Thank you so much for your faithful support!

Joyful in Jesus,

 —–

 Update, December 23, 2008

Dear Prayer Partners,

We continue to believe Yahweh Raphah–The LORD Who Heals–for a clean bill of health for my dear wife Sheila. The cancer that has attacked her body is known as “stage two” cancer. The Lymph Node Dissection reveals that of the ten lymph nodes that were removed, four were compromised. Certainly this is cause for concern but we have been told that there is no evidence that the cancer has traveled beyond these four lymph nodes. However, in order to ensure that the cancer has not traveled elsewhere in her body, Sheila will undergo a bone scan and a cat scan within the next few weeks. We mentioned to one of the medical specialists that we are very optimistic regarding Sheila’s well-being. He said in reply, “There is no reason not to be.”

It has been determined in multi-disciplinary fashion that Sheila’s treatment will involve six cycles of chemotherapy which will stretch from approximately the middle of January until late Spring, followed by (after a month long break) several weeks of radiotherapy, as well as five years of hormonal therapy (which is administered through the ingesting of the prescription medication known as tamoxifen). The reason for these treatments is to reduce the risk of recurrence. Studies show that the type of cancer that has come against Sheila has a fifty percent likelihood of recurrence within ten years if no medical treatment is administered. Chemotherapy alone reduces this probability to twenty five percent. Radiotherapy and hormonal therapy will reduce the risk even more so, though by how much we do not yet know.

On occasion in these updates we have talked about the sovereignty of God. Our definition of the sovereignty of God is very simple: God is in complete control even when it feels as if the floor has fallen out from beneath us. Having said that, I must admit that I said to the oncologist today (Tuesday December 23), not complainingly but matter of factly: “Doctor, this is the craziest thing. We were scheduled to move to Kenya on Saturday December 27.” His response: “This is the ‘luckiest’ thing. Better the cancer was discovered here in Canada than there in Africa.” Touche! God is sovereign. God is in complete control. God is compassionately, omnisciently and omnipotently in complete control of our lives. He is absolutely trustworthy! Praise His wonderful and powerful Name!

We have prayed much, as have you, about the medical process. We are very peaceful about the pathway we are presently walking along. We believe that God, by His Spirit, is at work through the doctors and nurses who are providing expert care for Sheila. If all goes well–and remember, “There is no reason not to be [optimistic]“–we expect that Sheila will be given a clean bill of health in the summer of 2009 and that we will be Kenya-bound, with a year’s supply of tamoxifen, by late August. Hallelujah! God is able! Thank you for standing with us in faith for Sheila’s healing (which is far and away our first priority) and thank you for standing with us in faith regarding our ministry at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya.

In an earlier update we mentioned that we have purposed to cultivate a joyful outlook amid this trial by cancer (James 1:2). “The joy of the LORD is [our] strength (Nehemiah 8:10).” “A cheerful heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22).” “Joy,” Phillip Keller writes, “is a divine dimension of living not shackled by circumstances.” Christmas is all about joy! The angel said to the shepherds that very first Christmas, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).” We pray that each one of you will enjoy a very merry Christmas, and as Jesus tarries, a very blessed New Year!

Joyful in Jesus

—–

Update, December 19, 2008

Dear Prayer Partners,

We do have some news to share with you regarding medical decisions and ministry decisions. On Friday December 19 Sheila and I have an appointment at the cancer clinic in Kingston pertaining to radiotherapy (also known as radiation) and on Tuesday December 23 we have an appointment at the cancer clinic in Kingston pertaining to chemotherapy.

As far as we know at this point in time, Sheila will be entering–early in the new year– regimes of treatment in both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Also, as far as we know at this point in time, the purpose of these treatments is to significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurring in Sheila’s body.

We have maintained from the beginning of this season of trial by cancer that God is able to heal before the surgery or because of the surgery. Obviously we are in the “because of the surgery” phase. If radiotherapy and chemotherapy are part of the journey on the “healing pathway” we are more than okay with that.

Our departure date for Kenya has been postponed. We will not be leaving for Kenya on Saturday December 27. However, as Pastor Tom Richardson recently spoke into our lives, “Delays are not denials.” Please know that the passion remains burning in our hearts to fulfill our ministry mandate in Kenya!

We are so thankful for all those who continue to stand with us in faith regarding our ministry in Kenya. Yesterday, one of our key supporting churches informed us that an end of the year missions surplus is being directed to our PAOC account and that their generous support will continue in 2009! This is so encouraging!

Today (Wednesday December 17) I enjoyed a couple of cups of coffee with a very good friend and he informed me  that the church of which he is the lead pastor will continue their generous “Come With Us to Kenya” support in 2009! We serve Yahweh Yireh–The LORD Who Provides!!

The magisterial and ministerial doctrine of God’s sovereignty has been a very important anchor on the sea of difficulty that we are presently sailing through. “The LORD has established His throne in heaven, and His Kingdom rules over all (Psalm 103:19).”

How magisterial! God is gloriously sovereign or supreme in position: “The Lord has established His throne in heaven.” How ministerial! God is dynamically sovereign or supreme in influence: “His kingdom rules over all.” What an absolutely awesome God we have the gracious privilege of serving!

Nothing comes our way in life…including cancer surgery, cancer treatments and departure delays…that God in His exhaustive foreknowledge was not aware of when He placed His hand upon our lives. In the midst of this season of trial by cancer He sees a bigger picture and a better purpose than we see. Our trust is in Him!

God knows about every detail of our lives and God cares about every detail of our lives (Matthew 10:29-31). “Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).”

We deeply appreciate your ongoing prayers! God, in His sovereignty, works miraculously through the prayers of His faith-filled people. Please pray for us as we attend these initial radiotherapy (this Friday) and chemotherapy (next Tuesday) appointments which, in essence, will be explanations about: a) what we should expect (benefits and side effects) as well as: b) when the treatments commence and conclude. We will keep you posted.

Trusting in the Lord and Standing on His Word

 ——

 Update, December 12, 2008 Dear Prayer Partners:“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds (James 1:2).” Wise was the one who coined the expression, “Your attitude determines your altitude.” Very early on in this season of trial by cancer that we are presently passing through, Sheila and I made the intentional decision that we would cultivate a joyful outlook. True joy flows from the fact that one is in relationship with God through faith in Christ! The greatest joy in all the world is that of knowing one’s sins are forgiven (Romans 5:9-11) and that one has an eternal home in heaven (Luke 10:18-20) when this life is done (1 Peter 1:3-9). Therefore, while positive experiences in this present life are enjoyable and even desirable, joy–true joy–should nevertheless reside and preside in the Christ-follower’s heart independent of positive circumstances and even simultaneous with negative circumstances (Acts 16:25, Romans 5:3, 2 Corinthians 7:4). Again, true joy flows from the fact that one is in relationship with God through faith in Christ! “The fruit of the [Holy] Spirit is …joy (Galatians 5:22).”The Psalmist said it well: “Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands are my delight (Psalm119:143).” Prophet Jeremiah, no stranger to severe seasons of trial, said: “When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your Name, LORD God Almighty (Jeremiah 15:16).” It was the incarcerated Apostle Paul who urged the Christians at Philippi to, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).” The example par excellent of true joy is of course the Lord Jesus Christ who was “anoint[ed]…with the oil of joy (Hebrews 1:9), and, Who, “For the joy set before Him endured the cross…(Hebrews12:2).”Thank you so much for your ongoing concerns expressed to us, as well as your questions directed to us, about what tomorrow holds. From our vantage point the future remains somewhat fuzzy regarding medical decisions ( treatment options?) and ministry decisions (departure date for Kenya?) but we know that, in God’s timing, things will come into clear focus. We will keep you updated. We continue to look to Yahweh Raphah–the LORD who heals–for Sheila’s complete restoration to health and strength. What a mighty God we serve! As always, thank you so much for standing with us in faith. Our hearts were deeply encouraged yesterday  (Thursday December 11) when one of our 2008 supporting churches notified us about ongoing generous missions support in 2009!Please allow us the privilege of concluding this update with a heartfelt word of prayer for you–a prayer that Paul prayed for the Roman Christians way back in the early days of the New Testament Church. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you will overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).”Joyful in Jesus,Michael and Sheila Middlebrook—–December 5, 2008Dear Prayer Partners,A very wise man once said of God, “He is there and He is not silent.” Last night (Wednesday December 3) Sheila and I heard from God in a very simple yet profound way. Last night “The God of the Breakthrough” impressed upon our hearts and minds (or at least reminded us) that there are “two pictures” in the present scenario of our lives.1. THE LITTLE PICTURE NAMED TRIAL: The little picture in our lives is that cancer–often referred to as “the most feared disease” and one that thus “strikes terror to the heart”–has come against Sheila in potentially malevolent fashion. If Sheila and I allow this little picture to dominate our focus it will inevitably have a pessimistic and tyrannizing effect. Is that how we want to live, or have to live–emotionally tormented by the trial of cancer? Of course not!2. THE LARGER PICTURE NAMED TRIUMPH: The Larger Picture in our lives is that of Christ–the One of Whom it is said, “took up our infirmities and carried our diseases (Matthew 8:14-17).” With all due respect–please don’t misunderstand my heart here–cancer is the temporal little “c” while Christ is the eternal Big “C.” When we, by a Spirit-enabled act of our wills, choose to focus on the Larger Picture it inevitably has an optimistic and liberating effect! Daily we choose to focus on Christ our Saviour, Christ our Healer!Two pictures–a little picture named trial and a Larger Picture named triumph–a totally simple concept, a totally profound impact. It works for us and it will work for you too. This is not “human mind over hellish matter.” This is the powerful person of the indwelling Lord Jesus Christ enabling us to see things, at least in a measure, the way He sees things. Is the Risen Christ intimidated and tyrannized by cancer? Of course not! Does the Risen Christ live within us by His Spirit? Of course He does! Does not Holy Scripture state, “I can do everything through [Christ] who gives me strength” (Phillipians 4:13)? Hallelujah! We can and we will focus on the liberating Larger Picture–Christ–rather than focus on the tyrannizing little picture–cancer.In today’s meeting (Thursday December 4) with the surgeon, a man we appreciate very much, he mentioned that Sheila would soon be receiving a call from the “cancer clinic” in order to discuss treatment options, treatment options which include that other dreaded small “c” word…chemotherapy. Admittedly at times, especially when the spectre of chemotherapy is raised, it is hard to focus on the Larger Picture. It is even more especially hard to focus on the Larger Picture when we have given the last eighteen months of our lives in a concerted effort to move to Kenya and, as a matter of  fact, we are presently scheduled to leave for that great east African nation on Saturday December 27… 23 days from now…and now there is talk of chemotherapy… However, we must and we will focus on the Larger Picture! Christ rules over chaos, even the chaos of cancer! Thank you for your continued prayers for Sheila. Please pray for us that we will make the decisions God would have us make regarding medical advice and treatment options. It is the intercessory influence of your prayers that truly help us to focus on the Risen Christ and thus live in joy, peace and hope in an otherwise very difficult and perplexing time. God is good and His Word is true. We are trusting in the Lord and standing on His Word. We could not do this without you! God bless you abundantly!I will be presenting “Come With Us to Kenya” in Toronto on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Gabriella and Moriah will probably accompany me on this road trip. They will be delightful company for me. It has been a while since the twins have been on a “Come With Us to Kenya” road trip so this promises to be an oasis of joy amid the challenging journey we are presently walking! Sheila, who is gaining physical strength every day, will remain at home in Smiths Falls under the loving care of Ruth, Stephen and Bethany as well as the expert and compassionate care of the Bayshore Home Health nurse (who visits daily).More Than Conquerors Because of Christ Jesus——–December 3, 2008Dear Prayer Partners,The winds are blowing a little bit harder. The waves are rising a littler bit higher. We learned late Monday afternoon that the cancer was not entirely localized in Sheila’s right breast. According to the report of the pathologist, relayed to us through the surgeon, “some of the lymph nodes were involved.”We are uncertain at this point in time what this all means but it definitely appears, apart from a divinely miraculous  breakthrough,  that chemotherapy is on the immediate horizon. We will be meeting with the surgeon again on Thursday December 4 to learn more about this present painful journey.While we are still digesting this latest “hard to swallow” piece of information, we do want you to know that in spite of the stress and strain of this “without warning” storm, the anchor holds. Hallelujah! With Christ in our boat we will keep afloat.God is faithful. Yes, the winds are blowing a little bit harder and the waves are rising a little bit higher. However, we are learning in a deeper way the truths of Lamentations 3:22-23: “Because of the LORD’S great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”Thank you for your continued prayers for Sheila. Your prayers are a tremendous blessing. God, in His sovereign wisdom, will strategically utilize your Spirit-sensitive prayers to propel us through the choppy waters that we presently find ourselves in. God bless you abundantly!More Than Conquerors Because of Christ Jesus,—–November 26, 2008Post-surgery UpdateTwenty-eight years after first meeting her at Bridal College (I mean Bible College), Sheila’s ability to amaze me continues to amaze me. Last night (Tuesday November 25) in her hospital room at Brockville General, after the aesthetic-induced grogginess had cleared away, a smile almost as wide as the Grand Canyon spread across her face, she flashed a triumphant “v for victory” sign and said, “I am so glad to be on the other side of the surgery!”Of course I understand that it is Jesus in Sheila who is the Amazing One. It is Jesus who enabled Sheila to experience the vibrancy of victory in her spirit immediately following the mastectomy. We serve a Great Saviour. We praise His wonderful and powerful Name!This morning (Wednesday November 26) we will meet with the surgeon. We have already been told by the surgeon’s nurse that “the procedure went very well” and that there were “no surprises” and that the surgeon believes the cancer was “localized” in the breast. While we are eagerly looking forward to meeting with the surgeon and hearing his thoughts firsthand, it will be a week or so before we hear what the pathologist concludes regarding the lymph nodes. We pray that no cancer will be found in the lymph nodes.

This is sudden and shocking news for us to digest. As you know, we are scheduled to depart for Nyang’ori, Kenya on December 27. Our tickets have been purchased and our bags are pretty well packed. This trial which has suddenly erupted is not sudden and shocking news to the Lord. Our confidence is in Him and He has been pouring His peace into our hearts in the midst of this perplexing circumstance. We believe that God is well able to heal Sheila before the surgery or because of the surgery. The one certainty we have at this uncertain time is the reality of God’s faithfulness and the steadfastness of His Word.

 

 

The Name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe (Proverbs 18:10)

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).

Thank you so much for your prayers. We will stay in touch with our prayer partners.

On Our Knees and in His Arms,

Michael and Sheila Middlebrook

—-

 

 

October 29, 2008   Six wonder-full weeks in Kenya! Two courses were taught-Christian Apologetics and Spiritual Formation. Sixteen messages were preached-in Pentecostal Bible College chapel services (6), in local churches (8), at a District Convention (1) and in a Primary School (1). Many praise reports indicate that God was truly at work as His Word went forth. Six wonder-full weeks in Kenya! There were numerous highlights. We shall mention two in this newsletter. One highlight was simply that of getting to know our students better. I (Michael) enjoyed a delicious Kenyan lunch in the home of first year student Job Kipkoech along with his father and mother and twelve year old sister Emily. Job, who is in his late twenties, has a stirring testimony. Job told me, “Alcohol had taken control of my mind and it had become the steering wheel of my life.” Today, Job is set free from the shackling sins of his past and he is now “on fire” for the Lord Jesus Christ who has control of the steering wheel of Job’s life!Another highlight was that of distributing ties to our students. These ties were donated by Chateauguay Community Church. The gratitude of our students when receiving these ties was most moving. Thank you Chateauguay Community Church for your thoughtfulness and generosity!Six wonder-full weeks in Kenya are now behind and nine challenging weeks in Canada are ahead. Over the next two months we will continue to work at deepening our prayer base (which is most important) as well as strengthening our financial support base (which is essential too). We-Michael, Sheila, Gabriella and Moriah- leave for Kenya on Saturday, December 27, 2008!During this two month period, our first meeting back in Canada was at the Pentecostal Church in Iroquois Falls, Ontario with Pastor Scott and Susan Corkill. What a delightful couple and what an encouraging congregation!Our second meeting was at Shepherd Village in Toronto. What a humbling privilege it was to share our story at an afternoon tea with so many spiritual giants including 96 year-old Margaret Cantwell who served  faithfully and effectively for many years in Nyang’ori, Kenya.As always we want to say a big thank you to each of you who partner with us in ministry. Whether it is prayer support or financial support-or both-we could not do this without God working through you. Thank you so much. May God bless you abundantly in return!Please continue to pray for us that God will continue to guide our steps daily, that He will meet our needs and that, above all, He will continue to bless the faculty, staff and 300 students at Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya.We are eagerly looking forward to our December 27 departure date.Our love to all of you in Christ Jesus (1Corinthians 16:24), ========== September 2008  Hi Friends, We finally have a departure date! More on this exciting news in a moment or two.  We have been quite active over the summer months in speaking with various individuals about “Come With Us to Kenya”  as well as presenting “Come With Us to Kenya” in a number of local churches.   The Sunday morning of Labour Day weekend we had the privilege of sharing our ministry vision and preaching God’s Word at Lakeshore Pentecostal Camp. Thank you, pastors and leaders, for the open doors of ministry during the summer months.   On Thursday September 4 I will be leaving for Nyang’ori, Kenya in order to assume my responsibilities as Academic Dean of Pentecostal Bible College. I am eagerly looking forward to serving with our excellent Kenyan faculty as we teach, mentor and lead our student body of 300 God-called, Christ-centered, Spirit-filled pastors in training!  After approximately 6 weeks in Kenya I will be returning to Canada on Tuesday October 14. Between the middle of October and the middle of December we will be presenting “Come With Us to Kenya” in several local churches…and then, praise the Lord, in late December, Sheila and I and Gabriella and Moriah will be moving to Nyang’ori, Kenya. Yabadabadoo!   We want to thank all those who have faithfully prayed for us and all those who have financially supported “Come With Us to Kenya.” We have appreciated the encouragement of your support so much more than words can adequately express. We pray that you will continue to stand with us in prayerful and financial support as we prepare to leave Canada for Kenya, as we prepare to move ahead in the wonderful will of God. Please know that we could not fulfill this mandate of ministry at Pentecostal Bible College without your partnership. God bless you abundantly!Workers Together With You in Training Christian Leaders ========== June 2008  MINISTRY UPDATE:  Bwana Asifiwe (in Swahili); Praise the Lord (in English)! Our May ministry visit to Pentecostal Bible College (PBC) in Nyang’ori, Kenya was tremendously encouraging. Last year we had 250 students at PBC. This year, in the aftermath of Kenya’s late 2007 and early 2008 post-election violence, we have 300 students. Last year Michael had less than 20 students enrolled in the class he taught. In May, he had 58 students for his Introduction to Christian Theology course.We each spoke in chapel on successive Sunday nights. Each weekday morning a third year student speaks in chapel. We are quite impressed with the quality of preaching from our PBC students. Their messages are solidly biblical, challenging, practical and passionate.We also had opportunity to visit one of the many Internally Displaced People Camps (IDPC) in Kenya. These IDPCs were unfortunately made necessary as a result of the post-election violence. We were able to bring a little bit of clothing donated by various friends from Canada. The IDPC we visited was comprised of 1,750 people living in Red Cross tents. We have always found Africans to be resilient in the face of life’s difficulties. The people at this IDPC were no different; they were very appreciative of our visit and grateful for the small donation of clothing.FAMILY UPDATE: Gabriella and Moriah are nearing the end of Grade 5. Their soccer season has started, and their team, coached by their brother Stephen, is off to a very good start. While in Kenya we enjoyed visiting the school the twins will attend. The school children that day were playing soccer. Right up the twins’ alley! A week after we arrived back from Kenya, Stephen and Bethany graduated cum laude from the University of Ottawa with their honours B.A. degree. They both majored in History and minored in English. Stephen and Bethany will be attending Teacher’s College at Nipissing University in the Fall.Ruth is presently in the process of finishing her Master’s Thesis and should graduate from Ottawa U in October. Ruth works for the federal government in communications. Thank you so much for your prayers for Ruth, Stephen, Bethany, Gabriella and Moriah during this significant transitional time in our family.Bwana Asifiwe!Praise the Lord!May 2008Hi Friends,I am asking for advance prayer covering for my May 11-29 visit to Pentecostal Bible College in Nyang’ori, Kenya. The principal has asked me to teach Christian Theology/Doctrine Survey. There may be as many as 50 students enrolled for this course. I am presently preparing a course notebook for each student. I believe theology is meant to be, not only solidly doctrinal, but also compelling, exciting, and- this is very important- practical. With this last thought in mind-practicality-the course notebook will include several “Take-Away” entries entitled “In View of This Doctrine…How Should I Live?”Would you please pray that the notebooks for this foundational course will be a helpful spiritual formational resource for our PBC students not only in their personal lives but also in the lives of the multitudes of people beyond our college campus who will be touched by the anointed ministry of our students. Thank you so much!Blessings