Missionary Update

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January 2010

Week of January 18-22, 2010

Kellyann Mascarenas, Elyria, OH – January 20, 2010
Happy 2010! It’s hard to believe we’re almost a month into the year! I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year with family and friends. What a special time to reflect on the many gifts God has given us, especially His only begotten Son!The end of the year was full of change and transition. I’ve found that, although it’s not my favorite situation, transition usually means uncertainty, which requires more faith. I’ve been learning so much about trusting God, and with that I’ve also been learning more about His faithfulness and provision.Faithfulness-He’s been with me every step of the way. He’s guided me in paths that I didn’t always understand, but through that, He’s been using what He’s been teaching me to equip me better for ministry. He forgives me when I don’t trust Him like I ought to, and He is patient to remind me of His past faithfulness. My favorite hymn is “Great is the Faithfulness.” I love how it expresses His character as it affects our lives. Stanza 3 states: “Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand beside.Great is Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see! All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”Provision-God has provided for me financially in many ways. He has provided through gifts. He has also provided now a job that will allow me to pay the bills. I’m working for a company that helps take care of people who are mentally challenged. I have one client now, and I just love her! She lives right in the town where we’re endeavoring to begin the church, and I’m really seeking to build a relationship with her and my co-workers. God has also provided a loving support system that has encouraged me to become a full-time missionary, and I’m excited to let everyone know that, by God’s grace, I’m beginning deputation in order to be able to devote more time to the ministry specifically. Along with that, He has provided the prayer and generous financial support of my home church family. I’m so grateful for the encouragement that they’ve been to me, and I pray that I will “walk worthy of the calling . . .” (Eph. 4:1)
Prayer Requests:
~Contacts we’ve begun making with people in the community, particularly a lady that I’m going to begin meeting with each Tuesday and Wednesday so she can teach me Spanish, and I can teach her English
~The Taylors on deputation and going to language school in March
~Taking steps to start an ESL class and an after-school Bible club
~Boldness and wisdom (Eph. 6:19-20)
~Adjusting to my new job because it’s mostly 3rd shift
~Wisdom in beginning deputation

Scott & Brooke Greening, Schaumburg, IL – January 18, 2010
What a Weekend!
Thank you so much for your prayers! God is at work and accomplishing so much. We know that He is building His church.
Friday evening was our Church Vision Reception. This event was a follow-up to the Tellstart calling campaign that we participated in January 4-9. We arrived at the Community Recreation Center where we usually meet on Sunday mornings. Within minutes of our arrival our first guest arrived (only about 50 minutes early). Glenn was his name and he actually had been invited by a lady Linda who had received our call. We spoke with Glenn for a few minutes and began to set up for the evening. We were very encouraged to have 11 guests with us that evening. They seemed to enjoy themselves and appreciate their time. We talked with them about what we wanted the church to become and how they could be involved. After our presentation we talked and mingled with the people. It was encouraging that no one hurried off.
Sunday morning we prepared for people to come who visited with us on Friday. There were also several people we had talked to on the phone who were unable to come on Friday who indicated that they would visit on Sunday. We didn’t know what to expect, but we were hopeful that we would have a good turnout. God amazed us by bringing 36 people to our service on Sunday. We were thrilled that several African-American families and a Hispanic gentleman were among the guests. We enjoyed a wonderful time of worship together. We were again amazed by the response of people. Everyone stayed afterward and talked for a long time. One lady commented that she had been looking for a church for 5 years and that when she walked in she knew this was the church for her. It was a very exciting and encouraging morning.

Herb & Wanda Taylor, Front Royal, VA – January 17, 2010
This is our FINAL notification that our addresses have changed. 
We will no longer receive e-mail at the skylinebaptist@comcast.net address. 
Please change our addresses to the following:
Herb and Wanda Taylor: herbandwanda@gmail.com
Herb Taylor: tothepraiseofhisgrace@gmail.com
Wanda Taylor: pianopraises4him@gmail.com
Our mailing address will NOW BE: 
1200 John Marshall Hwy., Front Royal, VA 22630
COMMISSIONED TO SERVE:
On Sunday, January 3 Skyline Baptist Church commissioned us to serve as missionaries with Baptist Church Planters. The day included testimonies, special music, two baptisms, and spiritual challenges.Pastor Al Thibault (pastor of Burnham Baptist Church in Burnham, ME) and David Whitcher (Hispanic Coordinator with Baptist Church Planters) were our guest speakers. Our church family provided a reception after the service and graciously gave us a gift of $7,300 to help us begin this new ministry. Of course, the day included lots of tears - tears of sadness as we thought of leaving and tears of joy as we reminisced over what God has done at SBC over the past 8 1/2 years.

DEPUTATION DETAILS:On Friday, January 15 (Herb’s 55th birthday) we finally pulled out of Front Royal and officially began our new ministry. Many of our church family said they didn’t want to say “good-bye” but only “see you later”. It was hard to leave 8 1/2 years of full-time ministry and 7 1/2 years of previously being a missionary supported by our church (when we traveled in evangelism). That’s a lot of history. We look forward to continuing our relationship with our church family as they send us out as their very first missionaries.
SUPPORT STATUS: Our support level is currently at $295.00 a month. Pray for regular monthly support to come in quickly!
LANGUAGE LESSONS: We have been accepted to attend language school in San Jose’, Costa Rica for the month of March. We are grateful that we have $1,273.50 of the needed $3,200.00 for this month of language immersion. Pray that our brains will cooperate in this challenging effort!
WHERE ARE THE TAYLORS?January 24 through February 18 - ministering in several churches in Florida February 20-21 - Sweetheart Banquet and Sunday ministry, Galilean Baptist, Fairmont, WV
March 1-29 - Attend language school at the Language Institute in San Jose’, Costa Rica
REMEMBERING OUR PURPOSE:
Planting: help our team of 7 establish a Hispanic (bilingual) Baptist church in Lorain, OH.
Partnering: assist established churches across the U.S. in developing Hispanic ministries.
Preparing: train Hispanic church leaders for future ministry to Hispanics.

Jim & Janice Mitchell, Pueblo, CO – January 17, 2010
We had several visitors for Church that didn’t stay, 52 in church. We had a good day with our quarterly business meeting, the congregation insisting that they investigate into health insurance for us.  Please pray for a summer intern for our church as well as a young couple that would be able to help us with the youth and teens.  One year ago the church had 9 members, today we have 25.  PTL 2010 is going to be an exciting year because you are praying for us.  Pray that our church will be active in ministry with a sensitive and selfless approach like Epaphroditus, Phil 2.

Fred & Marie Henzler, Perry, GA – January 21, 2010
BIRTHDAY. Last week was my birthday but what I had planned to do did not work out.  The economy is bringing change. The restaurant where we have gone many times for my birthday is no longer serving lunch because of the economy.  They gave us the names of three other eating places. Two had signs thanking their customers for their business but they had to close because of the economy. I had a hot dog for my birthday but we had a good time.  It was a nice day off but we were reminded that America needs our prayers.
TREAT.Marie thought I ought to have a nice dinner, so we went to a local restaurant, ordered water and spilt a meal, as we often do. As we were finishing, a good looking young man came to our table and said, “Hi Doc!  I haven’t seen you for awhile. I guess it is because I am on days.” Then I realized he must be a deputy from patrol. He had his little 3 year old girl with him and she wanted me to pick her up and sit on my lap. His wife and third grade boy came over. The girl switched over to Marie and his boy talked to her. Now, we know his wife’s and children’s names but we still don’t know his. We had a nice time with them. If you don’t know law enforcement people, this may not seem unusual but most of them never make or have friends outside the law enforcement community. This made our day.

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