The following is from a report by Paul Taylor, International Director of the Asia/Pacific region. This encouraging news demonstrates the power of the Gospel in a place where the soil is still very hard.

Tokyo, Japan—the MTW team here is the largest MTW team in the world, so one question was can we divide this into two or three teams.  The end result is that we will move to develop at least one other team in the next two years, and possibly a second.  One team with focus on the rapidly developing Chiba Prefecture (that is the current team).  A second will focus on the area between Chiba and downtown Tokyo.  And the third if we actually form it into a team will focus on developing a major center city church working in partnership with Redeemer church in NYC and the Presbyterian Church in Japan.

PRAY for wisdom and smooth transition as these changes are implemented.

Nagoya, Japan—This team has effectively developed a much needed new seminary to serve the church in Japan, and in particular to raise up new pastors and church planters for the Presbytery Church in Japan.  Since this is very much off and running now under the capable leadership of Dr. Michael Oh, the seminary or educational sector of this team will form a separate team which will focus on school development and any outreach coming out of that.  This was implemented immediately.

PRAY for Wayne Newsome and Michael Oh as they head these ministries which bring honor and glory to our Lord.

Clay Quarterman recently announced that MTW’s work in Ukraine is now completely led by nationals. This is extremely encouraging news to receive, and to a large degree, one of the biggest goals most MTW teams have. We don’t want our efforts to be dependent on more US missionaries being sent to sustain the work. Rather, when nationals are equipped to lead, they create a sustainable supply of future leaders for the work of the ministry. But this is not an easy thing to do. Clay writes on his website:

It was really strange at Presbytery. Right after we declared and celebrated the new Presbytery, there were some serious issues to be dealt with in confidence, and the Presbytery went into “closed session”. This meant that all non-members had to leave the room – including missionaries! So it was strange and wonderful to be excluded! But it shows the reality of what we have celebrated.

Clay continues:

We officially passed over all our authority to the national Presbyterian Church of Ukraine! This is a milepost, because it means God has raised up godly believers here who have banded together into 11 local churches, and it means God has raised up 11 spiritual leaders who have been trained, academically and practically. They have proven themselves in service to others, and we have turned over the whole thing to the Holy Spirit—to work in them, among them, and through them. It’s a BIG THING!

But, as the MTW-Ukraine team leader, Eric Huber, said, “This is not a birth, but a Bar-Mitzvah!” We have seen this coming, year-by-year. We planned for it and worked into it gradually, but it is still a moment to celebrate. We have officially “passed the baton”. Hallelujah! Praise God for His internal, spiritual, and maturing work!

So, what now? We are certainly not done, for the church continues to desire our help. In fact, I am one of the few “left behind” as a continuing part of Presbytery. Since I am president of their seminary, they want me as an official member. However, this also means I am put on various committees! (Continue reading this article by clicking here)

You can find out more about what the Lord is doing through MTW in Ukraine by visiting the MTW Ukraine Team Website.

I have not used this software, so I’m not recommending it, other than it is free so it may be worth a spin.

Compu-Books of Glendale, AZ is offering their Church Missions 3.0 software free to Christian churches and Mission organizations. This solution tracks church mission projects with missionary information, contribution records, communication log and reports. They give you a free single-user version - a contribution receipt for the donation is requested in return ($99 value). It’s available for Mac and Windows. Visit their website ‘products’ page to request your free copy.

MTW has issued a minuteman appeal to assist the victims of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar. Today we hear from our national partner there (an RTS graduate), and expect him to be a key component in our response there. But much prayer is needed.  Pray not only for the survivors as they attempt to recover, but pray that the military-government will relax and let outside agencies in to assist. You can read the appeal online here and find out more about how you can help.

One of the challenges many missions leaders ask us about as we visit churches, regards how to best communicate missions news to church members. There are calendars, bulletin boards, pages on the church’s website (although we all need to be careful with that), inserts in the bulletin, announcements from the pulpit, prayer time, through small groups, etc… But it seems that that no matter which methods a church uses, many are often looking for more effective means, or at least ways to validate that their method is effective.

I would like to hear how your church is communicating to its members regarding missions news. What’s working? What hasn’t? Feel free to email me here, or even better, post your ideas in the comments section below to share them with others.

Come see the work of national church planters in three cities in Southern India, and view the progress of recovery from the tsunami-damaged area. Contact Bobbi Jo Brooks at 678-823-0004 ext. 2131 for more information. The trip is scheduled for October 7-17, 2008. This is a great opportunity to discover what God is doing in India, and how you and your church and be involved.

With an eye toward church planting, Mission to the World has entered into a partnership with Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS)/Charlotte for expanded theological education in Monterrey, Mexico. Numerous churches will also participate in the partnership.

“I am thankful to the Lord of the harvest about this strategic gospel partnership,” said Dr. Michael Milton, president of RTS/Charlotte. “It raises the temperature for world missions and church planting with our students, and helps our campus become directly involved in that Christ-ordained process.”

Andres Garza, an RTS/Charlotte graduate and Mexican national, will represent Mission to the World, recommending indigenous pastoral candidates to RTS for training. Click here to continue reading…

Jan Kooistra
February 10, 1942 – April 6, 2008

On Sunday, April 6 at 3:50 a.m., surrounded by her family, Jan Kooistra, loving wife of MTW Coordinator Dr. Paul Kooistra, passed peacefully into the waiting arms of Jesus, her savior. As the MTW family, we join the Kooistra and Carlson families in praise for Jan’s life and for God’s grace and mercy in her home going. And we plead that same grace and mercy to comfort those she leaves behind.

Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at:
Hamilton Mill Funeral Home
3481 Hamilton Mill Road
Buford, GA  30519
770-945-6924
www.hamiltonmillchapel.com

The funeral service will be Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at:
Chestnut Mountain Presbyterian Church
4675 Winder Highway  (Hwy 53)
Chestnut Mountain, GA  30502
770-967-3440
www.cmpca.org

In lieu of emails, please post your condolences to the message board, available online here.

by Paul Meiners

Part way through their first term on the field “Fred and Beverly” were struggling. Their language fluency was not as they had hoped. Friendships with nationals were not giving them entrance into the culture and opportunities for ministry as much as they expected. They desired a strong bond with their team, but sometimes felt they had little to contribute and others were too busy to give them much care and encouragement. Fred and Beverly had come after a great year of experience elsewhere which had confirmed their interest and abilities in missions. God’s call seemed to be confirmed by their experience, their church, and by MTW. Yet, could this all have been a big mistake? Click here to continue reading…

by Bruce McDowell

Overseas workers returning from the field can experience stress, reverse culture shock, unsettledness, and disruption from routine that makes the experience of returning “home” far from the vacation that some church members imagine it to be. Some workers struggle as they return to the demands of advocating for their ministry and raising needed funds. Others find they are financially stretched much more while Stateside than when they are on the foreign field. Housing and transportation, busy travel schedules, school concerns, and even winter clothes can add up. Still others are working through marriage and family issues that may affect their ability to return to the field and serve effectively. Click here to continue reading…