2011 U.S. Ministry Team Summary

As of September 30, 2011 Men For Missions has helped lead 77 teams to 12 countries with 529 people participating.  Countries include Bulgaria, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Russia, Rwanda, Thailand, and Ukraine.

We estimate that we still have another 15 teams and nearly 100 more participants going out into the world before years end. 



Statistics don't mean a lot, but they sure help an individual see how God is working throughout the world.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

Urgent Prayer Request from Haiti

Friends,
The note below is about the Haitian doctor who runs Bethesda Medical Clinic on the OMS missionary campus near Cap Haitian, Haiti.
Please pray for Dr. Rodney and his family during this time.

Dear Haiti friends,

Early last Friday morning Dr. Rodney Baptiste was taken to Milot Hospital with
severe abdominal pains. Sunday morning they performed surgery to remove his
appendix which had ruptured. He is in very serious condition.

Dr. Rodney is the administrator and primary doctor of the Bethesda Medical
Clinic at Vaudreuil.

Pray also for his wife, Vedane, his three small children and extended
family during this crisis.

Ecuador Medical Team Update

Here is a quick note I received about our team that just got back from a medical trip to Ecuador:

Greeting from Ecuador!

Thank you so much for the prayers these past two weeks and more.  The medical team in Susudel went very well, many were helped physically and spiritually.  We were a great team composed of four practitioners, Dr. Douce, Dr. Kime, Anaclare and Lila, both nurse practitioners.  The nurses from the Indiana Wesleyan bachelor program were a great encouragement to us all as they helped in so many ways.  The people we served work mostly in making bricks or in agriculture.  One way we could really help them was by cleaning out ears.  All ages were found to have ears packed with all kinds of "gunk".  The nurses carefully cleaned them and they were able to help so many hear better.  Nancy Kime fitted about 140 people with reading glasses.  Many couldn’t read but were so grateful for glasses to do daily tasks.   We treated a lot of elderly people who haven’t seen a doctor in years.  We saw pastor Nevio’s father who is 99 years old and in pretty good health!  The team brought more toothbrushes than we could even distribute which made me happy.  One man with terrible teeth said he never had his own toothbrush.  It was maybe a little too late for him but some of the younger people were very thankful.

People from the church were encouraged by the evangelism and outreach to unsaved neighbors and we need to pray that they will attend the church and receive Christ as Savior.  Pray for pastor Carlos and others at the church as they do follow up.

We traveled up to Quito to see the team off and also to attend the 34^th anniversary of the Ecuadorian Association of Churches celebrated in the central district which is Quito and surrounding cities and villages.  The church in Yachil was the host church this year.  They shared about the intense persecution against the gospel in the 80's and 90's.  Now the church is strong and growing.  The visiting churches presented songs, dances, and dramas.  Here are a few pictures. 

One special blessing and testimony was the participation of a family from Puyo who are indigenous Shuar people.  The husband was a witch doctor and drunk, but he came to know Jesus only about a month ago!  He and his family sang new songs they have learned about Jesus and testified about how He had transformed their lives.  PRAY THAT THEY WILL REMAIN STRONG AND GROWING IN FAITH.

Have a great week as you follow Him.

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

Weekly Update

Last week, I thought this week would never come.  It reminds me of the ol'saying, "A watched pot never boils."  Like watching a pot in the kitchen, I was counting down the days until my parents came to visit.  They will be in town all week, and it's been a lot of fun seeing them interact with their grandchild and showing them how OMS and MFM are able to be so successful in our ministries from headquarters.  Please keep my father in your prayers while he is here in Indiana.  This morning he fell in our house and has a large bump on his forehead where he hit the floor.  We are praying that this incident would be the only one he has while here and that he becomes more stable on his feet.

We wanted to thank each and everyone of you that has been praying for us to find a home church.  We visited Common Ground Church yesterday and were very impressed.  It felt right at home and we are eager to go back next week. 

To God Be The Glory!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:

Haiti:

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October 5.  This team is a family from Nebraska who is working at our medical clinic. 

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 24 - October 1.

Shhhh, I'm hunting for churches

Our Family has been in the Greenwood, Indiana for a little over a month now.  So far we have visited a handful of churches, but we still haven't found our "home" church.  We never thought it would be this difficult.  Never fear, we are visiting another church this coming Sunday. 

We know how important finding a church is, and we hope to find one soon, but we also know that God is guiding our path and He will guide us to the correct church (hopefully sooner than later.)

Life here is beginning to settle down.  We are basically unpacked and we are beginning to form our routines.  Briyana started working her 12 hour shifts at the hospital today and "JuneBug" is enjoying Parent's Day Out more and more.  With Routine comes busyness and stresses.  Please pray that we would find a happy medium of busyness and relaxation.

Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:
Haiti:

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October 5.

We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 24 - October 1.

Ecuador:

We have a medical team of 16 in Susudel, Ecuador September 16-25.

Rwanda:We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:

Haiti:

We have a work/evangelism team of 11 in Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17.
We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October5.

Ecuador:

We have a medical team of 16 in Susudel, Ecuador September 16-25.

Rwanda:
We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

What God is doing through OMS and Men For Missions

While sitting down this past Wednesday in are half day of prayer, I found out some amazing statistics I can't help but share.  

• This past year we have seen 34 people answer their call by God to become missionaries at our headquarters.
• We have seen 13 countries participate in our most recent Church Multiplication Training.
• We have seen almost 300,000 people profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior in the past 6 months.
• AND we have seen tremendous growth out of our 2 most recent One Weekends.
• 38% of those that participated in the first One Weekend and 35% from our second One Weekend have chosen to become missionaries.

One Weekend is designed to help those thinking about or wanting to explore what missions is all about.  Over the weekend, each participant will have the chance to explore missionary life, have conversations with actual missionaries, and explore topics that missionaries deal with each and everyday.

Our next One Weekend is October 28-30th.  I've attached a flyer below and a link to our website.  If you would like to participate contact Paul Cox or myself.  For $65 (single) or $130 (couple) you can also sponsor a scholarship for somebody attending.  To do this you can also contact Paul Cox or myself.

Hallelujah, we worship a BIG God!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term:

Haiti:

We have a work/evangelism team of 11 in Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17.
We have a work team of 6 going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 10 - October5.

Japan:

We have a work team of 5 going to Tokyo, Japan September 9-2 to help with the Tsunami relief effort.

Rwanda:

We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda September 9-29 to provide literacy training.

Evangecube

Last Friday, I participated in a training session that included learning how to incorporate the Evangecube into our ministries.  As part of the training we went to a local hotel we had connections with to share with those that would listen.

The hotel we visited tends to be refuge to those down on their luck.  Many of those that stay, use the hotel as last resort until they become homeless, and a large majority of them are without a job.  We knocked on several doors with no answer, but the conversations that we had with those that did answer tended to be very encouraging.

My teammate  Bill and I had a very encouraging conversation with a gentleman named Nick.  Nick is a recent U.S. Marine that has been medically discharged from the service because he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  He invited us into his room and we began sharing with him the message of hope and salvation with our testimonies and help from the Evangecube.  We asked Nick if he had ever heard about Jesus Christ and he said yes, but when we asked him what he would say to God to let him in Heaven when he approached the day he died; he had no answer.  We asked him if he wanted to ask the Lord into his heart and he nodded.  We prayed with him and encouraged him to get plugged into a local church for fellowship and mentorship.

Since that day, Nick has begun attending a  Sunday morning church service and recently attended a Wednesday night bible study with other new believers.  He's moving out of the hotel and plans on moving in with his Father into a house.  Please continue to pray for Nick as he grows deeper in his relationship with Jesus Christ.

To God Be The Glory!!!

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

SO Much Has Changed!

I want to apologize for the significant gap in updates and posts.  June was a blur with Aliyana's birth, July was a blur from the lack of sleep and effort Briyana and I took to adjust to our new schedules and family.  August was a blur because of all the traveling we did to say goodbye to family, friends, and the move to Indiana.

We moved to Greenwood, Indiana on August 19, 2011 to begin our ministry with Men For Missions and One Mission Society.  Though we miss are families and friends; we are so excited to see what God has in-store for us over the coming months.  Briyana will be working with the University of Indianapolis part-time and part-time at Community Hospital South in their Progressive Care Unit.

Please continue to lift our family up in prayer as we adjust to our new lives and continue raising the last of our monthly support.

God Bless,

Brent, Briyana, and Aliyana

TWIST

This Week In Short Term

Haiti

We have a work team of 5 in Jeremie, Haiti helping with electrical work and generator repair until September 2

We have a work team of 5 going into Jeremie, Haiti from August 30 - September 3 

We have a work/evangelism team of 11going into Cap Haitian, Haiti September 3-17 

Japan

We have a relief team of 5 from northern IN going to Japan Sep. 9-24

Rwanda

We have a team of 3 going to Kigali, Rwanda for literacy training Sep. 9-29