Missionaries, or cross-cultural workers as they are called in some parts of the world, are people like us who have taken a big step to move to other countries, or they are serving in some way cross-culturally while living in the States. Some serve in countries where they have occupations that are not related to “church” and Christianity. They may serve as nurses, agricultural workers, business professionals, teachers, etc. That’s called “tent making.” Some of our missionaries are serving in this way. Others are training national leaders in order for them to reach out to their own people with God’s Word. Others are translating scriptures and training the nationals in literacy. And others procuring equipment for a hospital ship to care for physical needs in Africa. Missionaries have a variety of responsibilities and roles they fulfill as they serve the Lord and share His love.
It was such a blessing that several of our missionary families came to visit us this summer. I hope that you were able to meet them, talk with them, and get acquainted. Missionaries love connecting with their church family, and when they’re in the area they come and visit LBF and get to know you. Some of our missionaries have been part of LBF since our early days, while others grew up attending LBF, and some have connected with us in other ways. But they are all serving the Lord in various ways and in various locations and they’re part of the LBF family.
All of our missionaries need your prayer support. While serving in other cultures, they face the same problems and difficulties that you and I face, and often their main support system of family and friends are hundreds of miles away. As you can imagine, this can be very difficult which adds greatly to their stress as they minister in another culture.
One of our missionary families was recently robbed at gunpoint. That’s quite a frightening experience. Please pray for Scott, Tonia, and Emma Berthiaume as they deal with that trauma. We praise God that they are safe, but they have that whole ordeal to recover from emotionally. Another missionary family is dealing with cancer, another with a job and culture change, another has a daughter serving in the military in Israel, and another is looking to the Lord for a new ministry opportunity. And each of these families has the normal responsibilities of life they face each day as well. So I ask you to please pray for these precious families:
- Scott & Tonia Berthiaume
- Joni & Norm
- Steve & Eloise Hoke
- Michelle & William Kiprop
- Leigh & Barbara Labrecque
- Pete & Mary
- Daniel & Iuliana
- Tom & Terry Velnosky
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