May Update - INTERNATIONAL STUDENT MINISTRY!

    Over a year ago we made the decision to move to Phoenix and work with Christ’s Church of the Valley in developing their mission department. Over time, we felt our particular gifts were not being used and we prayed and fasted and asked God to put us in a place where we could be. Even when we first came to Phoenix, we met a Taiwanese lady named Grace Ou-Yang who encouraged us to help her in reaching out to many of the Chinese students that are here. So, in January we chose to pursue that ministry. In the last few months, we have dissolved Harvesters International and joined up with Outreach International who have a primary focus on international student ministries.   
    As we develop relationships with the Chinese students we have found that more than what we teach, what we are seen doing makes the greater impression. On a recent outing up one of the many mountain ranges in our area with a group of Chinese students, I was having a hard time keeping up since my leg is still weak from the motor cycle accident (actually I’m just out of shape but the other sounds better). Coming down was very hot and difficult and we had already run out of water. Our oldest son, Ian, saw I and the others could use some so he ran down the mountain and then came back up and met us half way with more water.  The students were amazed at this act of compassion and often talk about it and use it in examples during our Bible studies.
    Most of the students we are in contact with are from mainland China and know nothing of Jesus, the Bible or Christianity. They are most certainly a mission field in our own back yard. Part of our ministry includes picking them up from the airport as they come here to study and we are literally the first Americans they have ever met. That first impression means a lot.
    We thank you so much for your continued support and want to remind you to please make all checks out to OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL with “COC2001” in the memo line. And please continue to pray for our family. Mike’s mother will be moving in with us so she can have better care. It has been a difficult transition this past year. Without God’s faithfulness and your partnership we could never have made it through. And pray for open doors among the international students we are now working with.

   Pictured here is Leo-Ning who was baptized on Easter Sunday. She’s just one of many students who come here without knowing anything about Jesus until someone teaches them.