I feel like a spy that “went dark”. Our plan for the winter changed with my mother’s injury and hospitalization. The day before we were to leave Mexico for Windsor to preach during the last weekend of January, Mother fell and broke her leg, much more seriously than one might imagine. As Dad’s primary care giver this created a double challenge. These events “delayed” our return to Mexico. And every date we set for returning had to be changed for one reason or another. All we can say is that while our hearts remained in Mexico, and we were making huge progress in Spanish, God would not let us return. So, while I wanted to communicate that “Gary and Kim are back on their way to Mexico to do…and will return at the end of May” God was leading us to make some very important decisions at home and that decision making needed to be quietly done. So, we “went dark”.
So, what is up?
Kim and I have accepted positions at Heritage Park Alliance Church in Windsor that will leave us time to stay involved in missions as God opens the doors for us. We continue to have a passion for Latin American people and interestingly, the weekend I preached at HPAC we were surrounded by Spanish speakers after each service (three). I will be called the Pastor of Connecting Ministries and Kim will work with me and in administration and ESL outreach. When describing what we were looking for in future ministry we said, 1. It needs to be together, 2. It needs to give us flexibility to be involved in missions and 3. We want to be a part of a healthy, growing, passionate body where we can develop long term relationships and use our pastoral gifts. Our passion in ministry has been couples, young families, marriage ministry, mentoring and teaching. At HPAC we will have ample opportunity to do all of our favorite things in ministry!
On May 25th we take possession of our new house in Windsor. It has an unfinished walk out basement which we will begin to finish immediately with hospitality in mind. It will have a beautiful full bath, bedroom and large family room area for entertaining with a walk out to a completely landscaped back yard where we hope to bring new folks from the church to welcome them and get them connected to the church family and ministry. Our house is surrounded by young families and we are so excited to meet them.
There are some things we would welcome your prayer for:
- 1. We have $1,000 of outstanding expenses from our time in Mexico. I can tell you that it was one of the most fruitful times we have ever had. We feel more equipped to minister to Spanish speakers here and around the world. It was a great investment.
- 2. The move. It is expensive to move and set up and it is a lot of work! We are funding it all. Please pray for our strength.
- 3. The learning curve. We are joining a staff of 18 and a church with regular attendance over 1,000 people. While that is all very exciting to us, we have a lot of people to meet and a whole new church culture to adapt to.
- 4. Pray that God would give us supernatural power to begin our ministry in Windsor.
- 5. We are working through the details of a possible position in the missions world. Pray that the Lord would guide us and make the way very clear.
Hopefully that turns the light back on. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement in so many ways. Thanks to all who have asked, “What is going on? Update us!” Your interest and investment in our lives is of value beyond calculation.
God bless you all.
Gary and Kim
PS. gifts can be sent to:
CrossWorld - Canada
1020 Matheson Blvd. E. #11
Mississauga, ON L4W 4J9
Phone: 905-238-0904
info.canada@crossworld.orgCrossWorld
CrossWorld USA
306 Bala Avenue
P.O. Box 306
Bala-Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: 610-667-7660
info@crossworld.org
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