Jan/Feb Update

January/February 2009

Dear Praying Friends and Ministry Partners,

As we focus on a New Year, we are reminded of how grateful to God we are for your prayers and support this past year. Please continue to pray for God to advance our mission in 2009 by adding supporters. Although assembling a partnership team in this sluggish economy seems impossible, we are confident that God will accomplish His will in the best timing possible. We are reminded that, in God’s sight, these present difficulties are no greater than the obstacles faced by mission enterprises in the past. So we confidently echo William Carey, desiring to attempt great things for God while expecting great things from God.

Ministry Partner Update

In fact, God has already been working behind the scenes on our behalf. We praise the Lord for moving on the hearts of two more families to become partners in our mission to France. The support from both of these families was unsolicited and reminds us again that this is God’s work. We have been praying for God to raise our support level to 20% for the beginning of the year. Presently we have a little over 18% of our support, and we are waiting to hear from two individuals and two churches about joining our partnership team. It is exciting to see God work, and we look forward to praising the Lord for answering our prayers.

Time with Family and at CPBC

The end of November and December were full of visiting family and serving in our local assembly, Cleveland Park Bible Church. We were able to participate in our church’s Christmas program and in various aspects of our Sunday services. Michael also had the opportunity to teach a Sunday school lesson on the meaning of the Incarnation. Although we have enjoyed the time with family and our church, we are ready to hit the road again in search of ministry partners.

Back to Calling and Writing!

With the busy Christmas and New Year seasons behind us, Michael resumes the task of contacting churches for opportunities to present our mission. We will begin traveling again at the end of January, but we have plenty of room in 2009 for more meetings. We trust that God will answer prayers and move churches to invite us to present our mission. Michael continues to work part time at UPS, but we are seeking wisdom concerning when he should resign so we can jump full time into deputation. Although we are not sure the exact date Michael will leave UPS, we look forward to devoting all of our energies to raising support so that we can begin proclaiming the hope of the gospel in France.

Please Pray for Us

The present economic realities do present challenges that test our faith. So, please pray that . . .
1. God will accomplish sanctification in us through the deputation process.
2. We will trust God for his timing and have his wisdom concerning deputation.
3. God will guide us concerning our schedule for 2009.
4. God will lead us to churches of a like mind who will partner with us by supporting us financially.
5. God will use us to awaken Christians to the spiritual needs of the French and to Christ’s redemptive purposes for the world.
6. We will continue to grow and develop so that we will be useful tools for the Lord in France.

Thank you again for your support through prayer and giving. We thank God for you!

In Christ,
Michael, Liz, and VivianeMLCole@HopeForFrance.org