Sept/Oct Update Letter

September/October 2009

Dear Praying Friends and Ministry Partners,

I’ve been encouraged recently by meditating on the fact that God “thrusts” workers into the harvest (Matt. 9:38). Getting us to France is God’s business. Yet, in some way, God’s calling and commissioning of evangelists is a response to his people’s begging. Even though it’s difficult to comprehend this divine/human cooperation, please continue to ask God to thrust us across the Atlantic with the hope of the gospel. Because God is the one sending, no economy or government can stop us.

Staying Busy
In his goodness, the Lord has given us several weeks at home in Spartanburg to rest, settle into a new home (the church parsonage), make contacts for 2010, and prepare for an extended trip this Fall. We’ve stayed busy. We helped with our church’s VBS at the end of July (our third for the summer!). Michael had the opportunity to teach and preach multiple times at our home church. The Lord also gave us two opportunities to present our mission to churches in the upstate of SC: one in Spartanburg and the other in Anderson. We are grateful for these and many other opportunities to serve the Lord at home.

A Full Fall Schedule
We are also grateful for a full schedule for the Fall with an unbroken string of meetings between September 13 and November 15. We look forward to meeting these brothers and sisters and seeing how God will lead with regard to partners for the ministry. Presently, the Lord has given us 23% of our needed support. We trust that he will burden churches and individuals to partner with us in order to help send us out into the harvest.

Answered Prayer
God has been answering your prayers for us. First, we are thankful for the addition of a family to our support team. It is an encouragement to see God burden people to partner with the mission. Second, God has given us several meetings for this Fall and next year. Third, God has provided a van for our use. He caused several mechanical issues to be resolved the night before we left for our current trip in the Midwest, and we trust he will keep it running as long as he sees fit! Thank the Lord for his mercy and provision.
Please Pray for Us
“The Bible clearly reveals that believing prayer is essential for the advancement of the cause of Christ” (Hiebert, Working with God through Intercessory Prayer, 9). So please pray for us that…
1. God will mature us through the deputation process.
2. God will fill our meeting schedule for 2010.
3. God will use us to awaken Christians to the spiritual needs of the French and to Christ’s redemptive purposes for the world.
4. God will give us the skills we need for ministry in France.
5. God will materially bless his people and give them a heart to use their funds for missions.


Itinerary
September 13-Wichita, KS
September 16-Wichita, KS
September 20-Waverly, KS
September 23-Ottawa, KS
September 27-Clay Center, KS
October 4, am-Abilene, KS
October 4, pm-Wichita, KS
October 11-Houston, TX
October 18-Rockford, IL
October 25-Dekalb, IL
November 1-Sterling, IL
November 8-Naperville, IL
September 15-Shannon, IL

Exciting News
In the last letter, we announced that God has blessed us with our second child, and we now know that it’s another girl! She’s due around December 19. Please ask God to protect Liz and the baby as we travel.

Thank you for encouraging us through your prayers and giving. We thank God for you!

In Christ,
Michael, Liz, and Viviane
MLCole@HopeForFrance.org