MET News November 2011
(November 16, 2011)MET Retreat in Worthing, 1- 8 November 2011
This report is posted on the retreat appreciation page.
IS THE FUTURE SHAPING UP?
Yes, we are now seeing some positive indicators; and we are being shaped and made ready! We are thankful to our Trustees for giving us this year of transition to seek the Lord, responding to His voice event by event. For the next few months we will continue to wait on the Lord and respond in obedience to wherever, and to whomever, He calls us. There are always mission requests for help, some that can be met from our MET home office by Skype, email or telephone, and others that may require travel and a field visit. So we hold ourselves before the Lord to recognise what is ours to pick up, and what is best left for others to respond to.
Step by step is probably exactly what we both can cope with at this time. It has been hard for Jan to cope with each day, let alone consider the years to come. Many of you will know how ill she has been these last few months suffering 3 bouts of chicken pox, one after the other. The doctor says it is most unusual. Grief is taking its toll. Adjustment to the painful loss of Des is taking a good and necessary time. They were very much in love. Thank you to the many who responded to her personal prayer alert, prior to the retreat. Your prayers lifted her spirits and God supplied strength once again. Please continue to pray for Jan. For Mintie the struggle of living with acute rheumatoid arthritis does not get easier. These winter months are always the worst; even starting to get the body moving, before getting out of bed it difficult and protracted. Mintie always has a medium level of pain, but with the cold it becomes acute and the joints inflamed. Please pray for Mintie. My goodness, it sounds like we won’t make it! Don’t believe that for a minute – God is able to do abundantly above and beyond …. according to the Word weak vessels are the best ones …. we hold on to that for God’s glory. Lord, lead us through our valley.
BIBLE TRAINING FOR JAN AND MINTIE
On 14 January 2012 we are attending an Inductive Bible Study training day with Precepts Ministry UK in Salisbury. We want both to hone our Bible Teaching skills, and explore a possible ministry link with Precept Ministries. Their purpose statement is very similar to ours. In January / February we will be spending time rewriting and reorganising our teaching materials into discipleship manuals, or small booklet publications, and exploring better use of our website in making teaching materials more readily available to the missionaries we serve.
SHARPENING YOUR PEOPLE SKILLS
Jan has recently reactivated her “Sharpening Your People Skills” accreditation affording her the opportunity to act in consultation, and lead group seminars, in work environment team building. To many it is simply known as “DISC”. It is a powerful tool to help people learn about themselves and others. So many breakdowns in relationship are personality based – clashes happen because people are just being themselves. We all respond differently emotionally, have different goals, have preferences in how we judge or influence others. Each personality is motivated by different things. Each person has a unique value to an organisation. Every one has personality strengths and weaknesses. Under pressure we all act differently, and sadly often we are unaware that we are reacting. If only we could understand ourselves and others! DISC helps. It can help to identify the environment where an individual can excel and blossom.
With the wonders of the internet it is now possible for an individual, or team, to complete an online profile under Jan’s license, and for that profile to be sent electronically back to her for assessment, analysis and prayer. Subsequently, she would then set up a Skype consultation call (where possible) to discuss and advise. This will link her up around the world to the various mission fields without even leaving her desk in the UK! She is prepared to travel where internet does not work. Please pray for Jan as she considers the best way to introduce this unique service. These materials can also be used very successfully in church leadership teams, sub-groups, and in marriage counselling.
CARE OF MISSIONARIES: “Jan & Mintie style”
In recent weeks we have received three emails from very different missionaries expressing how the Lord is now leading them to move out to care for others on the mission field in “Jan and Mintie style”. MET has cared for them on the field, or in a retreat, and now they are taking our MET model of care and applying it in their mission field. For us there is no greater reward.
NEXT MET RETREAT
We are now waiting on the Lord for direction with regard to the next MET Retreat for single missionaries in 2012 – where and when? Please pray with us.
LOCAL ENCOURAGEMENT
At different times MET supporters have asked if they can have the benefit of hearing the teaching we bring into a MET retreat. So, for four weeks prior to this retreat we had twenty-two local believers in our home, twice a week, explaining how to grow spiritually through Biblical Meditation. The excitement for Truth was palpable. It blessed us too. Subsequently, many of those who took part sowed into this retreat – they were so encouraged they wanted to pass on the blessing to a missionary! We can see the Lord using such occasional “seasons of discipleship” (not just Worthing – but local to where you are too) to form a stronger MET mission partnership. No doubt, encouraged believers want to encourage others, especially missionaries.
MET 20th ANNIVERSARY 18 – 20 May 2012
We have been thrilled with the positive response of 70 + supporters, friends and missionaries from the UK and overseas. We have booked Pilgrim Hall, an English Manor house in East Sussex as the beautiful location for the celebration. (www.pilgrimhall.com) We know it will be a weekend of rich fellowship and thankfulness for 20 years of the ministry of Mission Encouragement Trust. Not only looking back, we will also look forward to all that is to come for MET, Jan & Mintie. We still have room for you! The cost is £150 full board. If you would like to join us for our house-party celebration please do contact us – you are most welcome. Email: OfficeMET@aol.com
Pilgrim Hall
SPONSORSHIP FOR MISSIONARIES ATTENDING THE 20th ANNIVERSARY IN MAY 2012
We are delighted that at this moment 12 missionaries have indicated that they would like to come and celebrate with us. We are still hoping more will come! Some are based here in the UK, others serve in Europe and can pick up cheap flights, others are flying through on route back to their mission field. We propose making the weekend free for them as a gift from the Lord. Therefore, at this moment we need 12 sponsorships of £150 to bless them. The weekend is all about celebrating the care of missionaries – so would you join us in making a gift towards their costs? Naturally, we would also like to make their rooms particularly special with welcome gifts. We know many of you would like to help with that. Click on our GIVING PAGE for full details of how to make your donation. Please remember if you are making out cheques they should be payable: “Mission Encouragement Trust” in the UK; “Mission Encouragement” in South Africa; and “Grace Project” in the USA. Mail to the usual addresses you have used before. THANK YOU!
A PRAYER
We bow down before you Lord Jesus, you are our Lord and our God. Once again Your faithfulness in our MET Retreat has been awesome, providing every single need. Thank you. We praise you for Your covenant love for Thea, Elke, Kate, Caroline, Christine, Erna, Gweno, Joanie and Esther. Keep them safe under Your wing and watch over these days of decision. Lead them and direct their steps. Open up to all of them sincere and faithful channels of fellowship, friendship and spiritual blessing. Lord, increase their awareness of those who love them dearly and appreciate the cost of their obedience. Keep them all in good health. Send a word of encouragement to them often. Daily, fill each one with Your Spirit that they may know the power to endure and overcome. Lord, this mission of encouragement belongs to You and it is for Your glory. Please shape the future of MET; fashion it to fully represent Your character and especially Your love. Lead us Lord to the people and places of Your choosing, in Your perfect timing. Uphold Jan & Mintie in these days of adjustment to loss and poor health; may they be healed and strengthened from the inside to know they are secure in Your plan and provision. Amen.
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