Seasons

“ For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven….God has made everything beautiful for its own time.”  Eccl. 3:1, 11

This scripture is so appropriate for us these past few years.  We have learned that we need to hold everything loosely and trust the Lord for His leading…His plan. 

Beginnings

The first 2 years here has been a season of many new experiences for us.  We have been blessed to live in the village of Ivybridge in Devon county.  We have made many friends and developed wonderful relationships with the people in the village.  We ministered to many one-on-one, shared the truth of the Word and God’s unconditional love, laughed and cried and prayed with them and became part of the life of the town.  We have seen people’s hearts drawn to walk with the Lord…to choose to turn from their destructive lifestyles and desire to know a different way of living..one that depends on God instead of substances and short-lived highs.  We have seen people experiencing true joy where there was once only sadness and emptiness.  We have grown to truly love these people.

Intermission

In November we were informed we would have to return to the states to get a new sponsor and new visas..again.  So we have been in the process of doing that the past several weeks. It has been a good time of catching up with friends and family.  We were able to spend time with our kids and grandkids in Washington and Oregon, precious friends in Phoenix and with my family here in Tennessee.

Next chapter

Calvary Chapel Exeter has applied for and been granted a sponsorship license and we have acquired new visas through them. With this new visa situation, comes a new season of ministry for us this next year.  Because of the ever-tightening rules about sponsorship, we now will have to actually live in Exeter to be able to fufill the requirements of the work visa we are under. 

The church had been praying for a place to have a house nearby to use for expanded ministry and the Lord miraculously opened a door to lease the large house adjoining the church property this past summer.  It is such an answer to prayer!  The house has 4 floors with several large rooms that are used for student gatherings, Bible studies and prayer meetings. It is right in the heart of the student housing section and close to the university.  It has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, dining room, large modern kitchen and conservatory.  Two of the large bedrooms will be used as dorms for housing ministry teams when they come to serve and also for those who are passing through on their way to minister in other places. Two smaller bedrooms are rented by either students or interns.  The 4^th floor bedroom is where we will be living (yes, walk-up!). We will have a private bathroom and a private kitchen on the 3^rd floor.

Exeter Cathedral

student housing

top floor is our room

Exeter University

Student meetng

Some of our responsibilities will be:

*Live in and oversee ministry house, daily cleaning, co-ordinating teams, and use of facility

*Do maintenance and repair on the church building and ministry house

*Lead worship at various Bible studies and church services

*Disciple believers  

*Assist at Sunday services, special events, and Bible studies…greeting, coordinating set- 
  up and tear down, cleaning, locking up, praying with people, assisting with children’s 
  ministry

*Community outreach and evangelism

Calvary Exeter

Ministry house is on the right

Our main ministry in Exeter will be to the church and the university students.  The church has a great ministry to the students, so we will be much more involved with them. Most of them are international students.  We will still be ministering to the people in Ivybridge and still involved with the Plymouth church. We will just be doing a little more travelling to continue the Bible studies and discipleship. 

We are excited to see what this new season will bring.  It will definitely be different from the past 2 years.  It has been a long time since we have been involved in ministry to university students!  But we are looking forward to the many new possibilities this will bring.  We know and trust the Lord has many good things in store for this next year.

Prayer requests:

*Travelling to New York and then London on Christmas day

*Moving from Ivybridge to Exeter as soon as we return

*Good health and stamina

*Adjusting to new living arrangements

*Open hearts and eyes to all the Lord sets before us to do

*Continued healing for Steven and processing his medical retirement from the Army

Thank you all again and again for your love, care, prayer and support to us.  You are all in our hearts and prayers and we are so very thankful for you.  We will have room now for visitors so please come and see what the Lord is doing in SW England!

Isa 61:11  “For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.”