Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 45   November 27, 2017   

The poster pictured above is for the first church-sponsored event of the Christmas Season.  Scheduled for Saturday December 2, it is a parent-child activity called “Christmas Fun” (一起玩聖誕).    Our plans for that time include learning about decorating, sharing the true story of Christmas, playing some games, doing a craft, and eating some snacks.  The large floor puzzle we brought back from Canada will make a great icebreaker.

Please pray for people to attend.  The largest elementary school changed the dates of its midterm testing after our date was set.  Some parents and students will feel pressure to stay home and prepare for the tests the following week.

Lorne, Kathy-Lu and Pastor Joshua all have responsibilities to lead different parts of the event.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 44   November 20, 2017   

Today we went to Taipei on the Bullet Train.  On some sections of the track it can travel over 300 km/hr.  Riding the train allows us to arrive much more quickly than if we drove the car, took a bus, or rode the regular train.

We live at a time when we like fast internet and LTE for connecting to the World Wide Web.  Google maps helps us select the fastest route to our destination. We may have even bent the speedometer needle a little when we were running behind.  We microwave foods, buy pre-prepared food, and occasionally eat fast food.

In the fast pace of life, God says:  “Be still and know I am God.”  He asks us to wait for Him.  He asks us to exercise patience.

That brings us back to the trip that was made today.  Leaders from the Mission were meeting with Church Leaders to discuss our dreams, our plans, and our cooperation in starting new churches.

We wish we could report that Baozhong Alliance Church and the work to start other churches is nearing completion.  But truthfully it is not.  It is moving forward much slower than the high speed rail train.

Although we recognize that truth, we are also discussing potential locations where God may want the Alliance to start churches in the future.  Population size and density, number of existing churches, schools and other features of the community are just some of the things being researched.  And there is some listening prayer happening.

The process is not as fast as the train or the hot car mentioned in last week’s update.  But it is something we are talking to God about.  We are trying to determine how fast God is walking as we seek to follow Him.

Please pray for us as we observe the need of unreached people and look at the resources that God is providing.  Pray that we will know the mind of Christ.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 43   November 13, 2017   

We drive a Toyota.  We are content driving the car we have, even Lorne.  But sometimes we like to dream what it would be like to do something different, like drive that car.  What would it feel like?  Would additional driving skills be needed?

Recently we have been praying about how to share the gospel with the seniors in our community. We see their need to know about Jesus and realize the time is limited.  For a number of weeks we were somewhat frustrated as we looked at all the people we could not share with because of the language-cultural barrier.

But as we prayed and asked God what we should do, it seemed like He said: “Focus on those you can communicate with.  Share with those whom you have a common language.  Start with the possible before seeking to do the impossible.”

WOW!  What an important insight.  We need to work hard to share with those we can communicate with.  At the same time we want to study hard to improve our communication abilities so that we can reach even more people.

We are working hard to try and do both!  Language classes and struggling conversations on the street as we try to learn from people around us are helping us slowly develop new communication skills.  And we are doing this while seeking opportunities to connect with those who do understand the Mandarin we speak.  The hope is that God can use us to begin to influence the seniors who have lived a long life without any knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Thanks for praying for us

1. As we seek to use our current language abilities and our time to share with those within our sphere of influence. 
2. That God will help us to retain and be able to use the things we learn as we continue to strive to become better equipped for the work God has given us.

Pray with us about upcoming events:

• 11/15  Baozhong Pastors Prayer Time and Planning for Cooperative Christmas Outreach Events
• 11/16  Bible Storytelling in two elementary schools
• 11/19  Pastor Joshua speaking “Prejudice” (James 2)
• 11/20  Church-Mission Discussions on Potential Locations for new church starts

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 42   October 30, 2017   

Last week we asked that you would pray that we would make progress in having a shed built.  We still do not have a shed, but God answered our need in a different way.

God helped Lorne be in contact with someone whom we have not seen in a long time.  He came and looked at what we were trying to do.  He recommended a different solution.  The result, the washer is now installed in a room inside the house.  A plumber came and helped with the water supply and drain.  It works!  No more trips to the laundromat.  And, the installation cost less than we were originally projecting.

There are advantages to not having to do laundry outside on our deck in the windy weather.

So thank-you God!  Thank-you for not listening to me and arranging a better way.

This past week we were able to make some upgrades to our church meeting facility.  We mounted the projector up out of the way and now have aisles on each side (rather than one aisle down the middle).  The lighting has also been improved.

It felt good as we met together in the new configuration.

Thank-you to all who have given to the Hidden in Plain Sight Ministry.  Your gifts make it possible to help the church in ways such as this.

Upcoming Things to Pray About

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 41   October 23, 2017   

Remember the “Where’s Waldo?” books and pictures?  Sometimes when we go to meetings we can feel like we are lost in the crowd.  We are just one of many attending.  Last Saturday’s TACU Fall Business Meeting was a little bit like that.

But it is possible to look at the same event and the feeling of being one among many from a different viewpoint.  That is what God told Elijah to do.  God used the number of people who had not knelt to worship the popular idol as a reminder that Elijah was not alone.  It is good to be reminded that we are not alone.  God is with us!  Others who believe in God and whom God has called are also with us.

Last Saturday we were reminded that the C&MA in Taiwan now has a total of 32 churches and preaching points (churches being started).  Each of those locations have a pastor (except for a few in pastoral transition) and a group of believers committed to following Christ.

Would you pray for those churches, as well as for Baozhong Alliance Church, that we will be courageous and faithful in “being the church” in today’s society.  Ask God to help us grow in our faith as well as in numbers.

Would you please pray that we will be able to find someone willing to help build a shelter for our washing machine?

There has been a recent theological discussion in Taiwan regarding whether there is value for Christians to celebrate the Jewish ‘Festival of Booths.’    We don’t need a shed for that, but we do need a sheltered area on an outdoor balcony to protect our washing machine from the weather.

Kathy-Lu is being very patient and continues to travel to the laundromat in a nearby town to do weekly laundry.  It would be nice if we could get the shelter built so that she can use her time in other ways.  Please pray that we would make progress this week in arranging for this to happen.

Prayer Points

Oct 26       Bible Story-telling in two elementary schools

Oct 29       Lorne speaking  “Influential or Influenced?”  (Matt 5:13-16)

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 38   October 2, 2017   

It was a fun-filled time that included some worship.  The weather was fantastic–OK it was a little bit hot but we didn’t need rain umbrellas.

A couple of young boys joined us part way through our service and stayed to play games after.  Their parents were nearby, but did not actively participate.  Kathy-Lu was able to talk with them though.

Our own church members were very positive about the event.  One even asked if we were going to do this monthly.  The answer is:  “Not monthly.  But we would love to have people like you help us plan future ones.  And, we can talk about how often to have similar outdoor services.”

The process of inviting friends also helped us to connect with people in a slightly different way.  Some just may need to be invited multiple times before they will try coming to an event.  But sometimes the invitation is just the icebreaker so that another deeper conversation can occur.  Thanks for praying!

Lorne went to Baozhong Primary School to meet with the principal and a Team Leader Teacher.  The result is that he will be telling Bible stories each Thursday morning from 8-8:30 AM.  He will tell the story in English and Pastor Joshua will explain what was said using Mandarin.  We will be in a different class each week, covering all the classes for 3rd-6th grade before Christmas.

We are also excited that some of the Taiwan Alliance Churches are contacting Pastor Joshua to ask about sending short-term teams to help us next year.  We also need short-term workers from Canada.  (Check out our website)

Short-term workers help us in many ways including providing teachers for special events.  Thank-you for praying that the good news about Jesus will be presented clearly and that lives will be transformed because of a relationship with Christ.

Upcoming Things to pray about:

• Oct 8          John Tolbert Speaking:  “Eternal Life”
• Oct 15        Lorne speaking:  “The Beatitudes”
• Oct 21        Denominational Business Meeting

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 37   September 25, 2017   

We, along with the people in our church, will be inviting friends to join us for next Sunday’s for a “Service in a Park.”

The event will include:

• Travelling together to the venue
• Group games
• Singing, Prayer, and Pastor Joshua sharing
• A chance to eat lunch together, prepared by nearby vendors

 

• Please pray for friends to be open to receive the invitation
• Please pray that some will respond and come to the event.
• Please pray John 6:44 — that God will draw people to Jesus through events such as this

Prayer is a vital part of the work of inviting.  Thank-you for being willing to participate in this way.

Sept 27   Meeting with another school to discuss possibility of telling Bible stories

Oct 1      Outdoor Service – A chance to invite friends to attend church outside of the

                building walls

Oct 8      John Tolbert preaching – “Eternal Life”

Oct 21    Denominational Business Meeting

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 36   September 18, 2017   

Here are some suggestions of how you can pray for us — applicable for telling stories in the schools, for leading Bible Studies, for Preaching, for Worship Leading, for daily conversations with those around us…. (adapted from 8 Ways to Pray During Sermon Preparation by Mike McKinley)

1. Lord, please help them understand the meaning of your Words and how they point to Christ.
2. Lord, please increase their love for the people with whom they communicate.
3. Lord, please give them wisdom to know how to share your truths with others.
4. Lord, please help them to grasp and love your gospel so that they may help the hearers to do the same.
5. Lord, please help them see how your words confront unbelief in the hearts of the hearers.
6. Lord, please help them to be obedient to the teachings of your Word.  Help them to live lives submitted to you and to your truth.
7. Lord, please help them to communicate with the necessary power and with appropriate emotions.
8. Lord, please use what they do and say to bring glory to Your name, joy to Your people, and salvation to the lost.

Mondays with the Whites 
Volume 35   September 11, 2017   

Every day we make choices about with whom we talk and with whom we spend time.

Last Saturday we went with Pastor Joshua to the local SanHo Nursing Home.  The care facility has a new person operating it.  Although he has implemented changes, we are still welcome to go monthly to share and sing.  A god-shelf has been placed in the reception area, displaying the images of a number of local gods.  God arranged for the one used by the previous owner to be removed.  It is possible for Him to do that again.  Let’s make that a prayer request.  We want that home to be a place where people can meet Jesus rather than continue in the bondage of the local religious practices.

Although age frequently causes people to become more set in their ways, we cannot neglect them because we assume they will not adopt new ideas.  God loves the elderly.  Please pray that God would use the music and the messages shared by Pastor Joshua to help them discover truths they do not yet know.  Please pray that they will come to faith in Jesus.

Some of the caregivers at the home are Vietnamese.  We are hoping that we can make contact with them at the beginning of October when our Vietnamese-speaking missionary colleagues (John and Bev Tolbert) visit us in Baozhong.  Please pray that God will arrange divine appointments for that time.

Thanks for praying.  The information Lorne was waiting for arrived and he was able to submit the 2018 budget request on time.

Thanks for remembering our teaching in your prayers.  We had a good start to teaching at Fuhsing Elementary School.  This week the story will be another of the stories that Jesus told.

We received an invitation to help with English storytelling at the larger Baozhong Primary School.  Because of a number of pressing matters, we have asked to meet with the school representative at the end of the month.  We are feeling somewhat overwhelmed with all the different responsibilities we currently have.  We need wisdom from above to know how God wants us to respond to this request.

Weekly English teaching / Bible Storytelling at FuHsing Elementary School

Outdoor service – A chance to invite friends to attend church outside of the building walls

Denominational Business Meeting