Missionary Update. Please read this.

We received a missionary update from a dear couple who have served the Lord faithfully many years. God has given them a very unique ministry and they have reached a lot of people. Again, the identifying information has been removed to protect them and their ministry. 

They face challenges like we do, have prayer needs like we do and have praises to share, like we do. May the Lord count us as faithful partners in ministry, just as this dear husband and wife have faithfully served.

  June 2021

“Come over to A and help us.”  This was the plea that we have been hearing for some time now.

Several people from our various Bible studies in N Z have moved to A over the years and one family in particular has asked us to come and help their church in the G C of Q, A, a 3 hour flight from A.

Due to the COVID pandemic, the only way we could help was to minister to them via Zoom.  M  and N  studied with J  prior to moving to Australia three years ago.  They have always appreciated J’s teaching and have told their church of  'their Bible teacher in A.'  

In Mid-April of this year, A and N Z began what is known as the 'trans-Tasman bubble'.  Travel between the two countries opened up without the need to quarantine for two weeks upon arrival.  As soon as the 'trans-Tasman bubble' opened, M and N contacted us again and said that the church there would greatly benefit from J’s teaching.  They invited us to come for a visit to see for ourselves. 

We just returned to Auckland after spending 3 weeks with the people from three congregations; a Mandarin speaking, a Cantonese speaking and an English speaking congregation.   Those congregations currently have no pastor or missionary to help them.  The people are so sweet and expressed an eagerness for John to teach them.  While there, we witnessed two people make a profession of faith in Christ as their Savior. 

At the annual missions conference in our home church in 1990 we said 'yes Lord, we are willing to serve You on a foreign mission field if that is what you are calling us to do.'  Not knowing that the Lord would use John and I as He has.  Just recently, J and I rededicated our lives to serve Him as long as our health allows.   Now the Lord is bringing more ministry opportunities to us than ever before. 

Our original plan was to visit our supporting churches in the U.S. this year and return to N Z at the completion of our visit. However, the N Z government still requires a mandatory two week quarantine at a set fee of about $3,000.00 for a couple upon their (our) return to N Z.  Therefore, we have postponed our furlough ministry in the U.S.  

After our recent visit to A, we feel the Lord is leading us to return and minister to the three church plants there for several months.  After which time we would depart for the U.S. and visit our supporting churches, many whom we have not seen for over six years.  We ask that you join us in prayer regarding these decisions.  For now, Lord willing, we will return to Australia in a couple of months.

Regarding our ministry here in N Z, most of the folks we are currently ministering to are mature in the Lord. They can evangelize and teach others to grow in the Lord now.   T recently started a Bible study with a group of Chinese people in North Auckland.  It is going well!  We have always emphasized that they are responsible to share with others what they learned.  

We have directed the folks to the best church in the area and have challenged them to get involved; serving the Lord through their church.  The local Chinese church in which J has been ministering through preaching and providing leadership training is growing well. J says that they are maturing in the Lord; growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He feels that they are ready to serve the Lord biblically and no longer need his help.  He has been working with them for a few years now.

What an opportunity for us start all over again in evangelism and discipleship with three different church plants.  J and I never thought God would use us this way in our older years.  God is definitely not finished with us.  He knows our limits and appears now to bring people to us, or should I say bring us to people!  We want be faithful and obedient to our Lord and are open to however He chooses to use us.

We would ask to you join us in prayer, seeking the Lord's will for our service to Him.  We are humbled and excited that the Lord would continue to use us for His glory!  

We can continue to serve the Lord on the foreign field because of you who are faithful to pray and support us.  Only eternity will reveal how much your prayers and support changed the eternal destiny of those we have reached for Christ together.

With thankful hearts,

J & M H