Knox Reformed Presbyterian Church

Archive for the ‘Missions’ Category

Peter and Sharon McMillan have sent us their April update, and shares with us a video sharing us the area they’re living in, and what they are currently working on.

Please be sure to also take a look at their newsletter, and continue to pray for them.

We have received another update from Craig and Ree Coulbourne in Japan.

Thanks for your prayers for Japan and for the missionaries here. The devastation in the worst-hit part of the country is tremendous.

We continue to be OK. We don’t have water at the moment (expected to be restored by Thursday) and there are planned electrical outages to conserve energy, but all of that seems relatively minor compared to what people in other parts of the country have suffered. Please continue to pray for opportunities to build relationships with our neighbors in the wake of all that has happened.

We were excited to see three non-Christian husbands of church members at Sunday morning worship at Makuhari Church. One said that he came to worship because he felt that perhaps God was saying something to Japan and because he wanted to pray for those who suffering so much from the earthquake and the tsunami. That’s exactly the kind of response we are hoping to see. Please pray that God would open the hearts of many Japanese through these difficult circumstances, and that it would be more than a passing openness that fades when the crisis has passed.

The missionary team in Chiba was able to deliver a truckload of supplies to one of the hard-hit areas. They are working in cooperation with a church in that area so that the relief is clearly being given in the name of Christ. They hope to make multiple runs to this location, and other Christian groups throughout Japan are seeking to show Christ’s love through relief. Pray that such opportunities would speak clearly of God’s existence and His love and that the Japanese would have ears to hear.

Mission to the World has created an account for special giving for Japan earthquake relief in the name of Christ. Please see the details below.

MTW has issued a Minuteman Appeal for Japan. The situation is unclear, and will be for some time, but we are committed to making a strong response. We do know that God has placed us in a position of strength with the depth of our team, their broad presence, and long ministry history in Japan. Please join MTW and our Japan team in urgent prayer that God will open many hearts to the gospel and that His Church will grow.

The account is 93993 Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. You may give online: click here . Or you may send a check to:

Mission to the World
P.O. Box 116284
Atlanta, GA 30368-6284
(Please be sure to write Project # 93993 on the memo line. )

Thank you for loving the people of Japan in word and in deed.

Craig & Ree Coulbourne (MTW Japan)

As you know, Knox supports two missionary families in Japan – Craig and Ree Coulbourne and Michael and Cathalain Carter. We have learned that both families are safe, and the Coulbourne’s have sent us a couple of updates. Life in Japan right now is challenging, but is bringing along much opportunity for outreach.

Here is the update that we received from the Coulbourne’s on Friday afternoon:

Earthquake Update

Thanks to many who have called or sent e-mail to express your concern for us after the major earthquake on Friday, March 11. It was by far the worst we have experienced. We are all OK. When the earthquake hit, we had just assembled for our first Urayasu Church Plant planning meeting, which was soon transformed to an under-the-table prayer meeting. Hannah and Mary were at school a little more than an hour away. Relatively speaking, damage in our area was fairly minor – buckled streets and sidewalks, broken water pipes, fallen fences, lots of mud that has come up from underground. Other parts of the country have experienced much more terrible damage. I (Craig) just returned from standing in line for 2.5 hours to get a few containers of drinking water (we still have no running water). Ree is standing in a long line at the supermarket. Hannah and Mary have not yet been able to return from school (as of Saturday afternoon), but were able to stay with friends near the school. In God’s providence, this terrible tragedy has provided opportunities for us to meet new people in our community and to take another step in relationships with new neighbors we have already met. Please pray that God would use even these circumstances to open Japanese hearts and to further His kingdom.

Outcomes of Previous Prayer Requests

[Feb. 2011] Thank God with us for our smoothest transition back to Japan ever. The final stages of departure went very smoothly, thanks to much help from our brothers and sisters in the U.S. And we were able to move into our new apartment in Urayasu (address and telephone number above) on the day after we arrived, thanks to the preparation of Mrs. S and Mrs. H, the two Christian ladies we know here. Please pray that God would grant us divine appointments in which we meet people whose hearts are open.
[Feb. 2011] Thank God for opportunities to spend time with the husbands of Mrs. S and Mrs. H from early on. Mr. S and his father both had surgery in February, and Craig was able to visit with both, to share some Scripture, and to pray with them. Mr. H helped to pick us up at the airport, and Craig has seen him one time since. Please pray that God would give us further times together, that our relationships with them would grow deeper and closer, and that their hearts would open to the gospel.

New Prayer Requests This Month

Our first Urayasu Church Plant planning meeting will be rescheduled to next week because of the earthquake. Please pray for God’s clear leading as we consult with the 2 Japanese ladies (Mrs. S and Mrs. H) and another missionary (Karen) in making some initial decisions about how to get started in the outreach here and try to establish a timeline for when and how to start worship. Ask God to give us His wisdom, to enable us to know how to weigh various factors affecting these decisions, and to reach consensus in the decisions.

Please continue to pray for both the Carter’s and for the Coulbourne’s as they, along with their neighbors and friends, deal with the aftermath of the earthquake and the tsunami.

Peter and Sharon McMillan have sent us their early March update, updating us on how they are settling in to their new home. Please be sure to take a look at their newsletter, and continue to pray for them.

Interested in getting more involved with Knox? The Missions committee will be having our first meeting of 2011 on Thursday, January 20 at 7:00 at the church. We’re looking for a few more mission-minded members to help further develop the Missions efforts at Knox.

Have any questions or want further information, contact RE Jim Rudkin.

Yes, Christmas is just past, but we’re already gearing up for the 2011 Operation Christmas Child effort here at Knox.

What will you be doing with all those beautiful Christmas cards you received this year? Bring them to Knox, and put them in the wrapped box on the Missions table. We’re going to use them to help decorate the OCC boxes in 2011.

I know that everyone REALLY loves wrapping all those box lids on boxing day – but we’re going to try some new things out this year. Stay tuned, as you’ll see more new ideas in action for OCC.

We’ve just received an update from Ben Robertson at William & Mary, posted below.

The students have wrapped up finals and are all headed home. It’s been a great semester, in many ways our best to date. We are grateful for your support and thankful to the Lord for how he is working in and through RUF. The kids are doing great. We’re so thankful for Elijah and for how Naomi and Benjamin have welcomed him into the family, as well as Dawn’s recovery and good health. We are blessed.

Please, continue to pray for our students as they are home for the holidays. Some go home to warm, loving, and nurturing homes. Others to stagnant, neglectful, even hostile and abusive homes. Pray that the Lord would be with them and work through them this Christmas. Pray particularly for a few that are “on the fence” so to speak in terms of coming to faith. Pray that God would break into their lives just as he broke into human history in the first Christmas.

Pray also for our financial support, and please give. This has not been our worst year, but also not our best so far in terms of giving. As always we need a very strong December financially to make budget for 2010. Also, you may want to know, that all new monthly pledges will receive and RUF T-shirt (while supplies last). If you want a shirt (pictured below), email me your size and follow the link and sign up for a monthly donation.

Thank you all for your ongoing prayer and support. RUF wouldn’t be here without you.

Here’s an update we just received from Craig and Ree Coulbourne, MTW missionaries from Japan.

Outcomes of Previous Prayer Requests

[Oct., Nov. 2010] Thank you for your prayers for Craig’s ordination exams. By God’s grace, I was able to pass the preliminary exams in early November and the final exam in early December. What a huge relief!!! I have never been more conscious of my limitations, nor felt the effects of my age more clearly. Yet, I also was continually very conscious of the fact that God was carrying me through the process. Please join us in giving thanks to Him for His grace.
[Oct 2010] Please continue to pray for Craig’s remaining seminary studies. He will need to complete 3 exams and 2 papers in the next few weeks, after which all of his coursework will be finished. Please pray for effective use of time and the ability to complete this work on time.
[Oct. 2010] Thank God for additional financial support that has come in over the last few weeks. Our support shortfall has dropped from $2,000 per month to about $1,600 per month. Often in the past, during the last months before we return to Japan, there has been a rush of new support, and it seems that we are seeing the beginnings of this same trend again. Please continue to pray that God would supply the necessary remaining support so that we could return to Japan in late January.
[May 2010] Our cars seem to be limping to the finish line. We are thankful that our workhorse car (the one with the check engine light that’s always on) held up for our last scheduled long trip in late November. However, it’s clear that its condition is in decline. Our second car, which Craig has used for commuting to seminary, has also begun to exhibit some quirks. It almost seems as though God has supplied us with cars that will last to the end of January, but possibly not much longer. We’ll take that as encouragement that He plans for us to be gone at that point. Please pray that they would continue to hold up just a little longer.

New Prayer Request

We had a good few days with the Stewarts, the other family planning to go with us to Urayasu City, in late November. We were able to make some further plans about what we hope to do at the beginning of the new church planting effort, and it was also valuable just to spend time together and to pray together. Please pray that God would continue to lead us in our planning for this new work. We are looking to Him (and not to ourselves) for lasting fruit to be borne there.

Peter and Sharon McMillan have sent us their November update, announcing that they will be heading over to Spain in December. What great news it is to hear that they’ve reached 97% support, and will finally begin to bring God’s Word to others in Madrid. Please be sure to take a look at their newsletter, and also to continue to pray for them as they finalize all the plans for moving to Madrid, and joining the rest of their team.

A group from Knox will be volunteering down in Charlotte, NC, at the Operation Christmas Child Processing Center. Please join us as we support a great cause, and enjoy a weekend of fellowship. Our volunteer time is late Saturday afternoon, so the group could leave early Saturday morning for Charlotte. We’d spend the night in Charlotte, and then attend a local PCA church Sunday morning, before returning to Richmond.

Please let Sally Rudkin know before Thanksgiving if you’re interested in attending, so that we can make hotel reservations.

It truly is a special time together, and we hope you can join us!