G'day from very warm Australia!
Kim and I trust each of you had a wonderful Christ-filled Christmas and that you are looking ahead with great expectation to the year ahead! Because of the faithfulness of the many of you that support us in prayers and fiances, this past year has been very encouraging as we've prayerfully sought to serve our wonderful Savior and Lord according to His direction and will.
Upcoming Furlough
Please note that Kim and I will be traveling back to the states in June, 2009 and visiting churches, family, and friends. We plan to return to Australia later in January of 2010. If any churches are having "Mission Conferences" or any other events let us know of these occasions as soon as possible! This is the first time in over 20 years we've had to make "raising more support" one of our primary objectives due to that fact that overall support levels have dwindled greatly over the last couple of years. We would very much appreciate your prayers in this regard. We remain very aware of the worldwide financial climate that is affecting everyone, yet we are greatly encouraged that the One who is the true "source" of meeting our every need will ensure His faithful promises of provision are fulfilled! How great is our God!
Church and Ministry Life
We are able to end the year on a very positive note as the church witnessed two very significant events. One event was the special occasion where we voted in a national as a second pastor to help shepherd and lead the church. Please pray for Albert, who has been in our church for several years and comes with a great deal of experience including a strong desire to serve the Lord. The other event was when we gathered around a church member's backyard pool and witnessed two baptisms. Dave, a policeman and the husband of one of the ladies in our church, who became a believer in early 2007, has been continuously growing in the Lord and is serving faithfully in the church. He has a strong "reformed" background, so we had to take some time to instruct him on the Biblical view that baptism is an act of obedience that follows salvation and involves total immersion in water (he had been "sprinkled" as a child). Also, Stephanie, his 14 year-old daughter, who had been greatly struggling with a number of emotional issues, became a believer last year (this was clearly a result of her dad's changed life). We immediately began to see a true change in her life, and she has become a mature witness for the Lord in her school as well as an effective teacher in our Sunday School.
She too submitted to the Lord in baptism on this beautiful day! I wish each of you could have heard her dynamic testimony of God's goodness and grace in her and her family's life!
On a more sombre note, we experienced the recent loss of a faithful family in our church. The husband is struggling to accept responsibility for some personal needs in his own life and much to the disappointment of his wife and 4 lovely children, he believes running off to another (sister) church will solve his problems. Please pray for this husband and dad that he will, even at this other church, face up to his personal responsibilities and get the type of spiritual and professional help he needs.
We are still seeking to instill in the hearts and minds of the our people the need to be reaching out into our local community. We have recently discovered that there are a couple of suitable rooms in a local Council building where we'll be able to sponsor a ladies Bible study and "play group" for local young mothers who often look for places to take their children to play and to socialize with other mothers from the community. We can use these well-equipped rooms for up to 3 hours at a time costing only $10 per session. On another note, we've had preliminary talks with a group that owns a 2.5 acre vacant lot in the middle of a very large community. We are praying for the possibilities of using this for future ministry opportunities. Please pray with us in regards to being effective in our community and beyond.
On the Home Front
Kim is remaining busy with helping in the Sunday School and ladies meetings, and she is often hosting events where we meet and minister to the folk in our church. She continues to be a real blessing to me as a Godly, supporting wife! We are both becoming more excited as our daughter, Meagan, continues to "look swell" in her pregnancy of our first grandchild which is due the first week of April! Please pray concerning a condition she possible may have called "gestational diabetes."
Our daughter, Linsey, is about to enter her first month of training in the Police Force! Before she even had the opportunity to face the real dangers of this new vocation, while recently driving home from her current job as a child-care worker, she experienced "micro-sleep" and crossed over in the the path of an oncoming car. According to the witnesses that were traveling directly behind her, she barely avoided a head-on collision with an oncoming car by just centimetres (inches). She woke in a daze just as she reached the rough part of the other side of the road; steered away from a fence; ran down a small tree; and crossed back over the road before she could gain full control of both herself and the car! We are so very thankful to our great God for protecting her from physical harm and the possibility of something far worse. She was actually able to drive the car home afterwards. Ben, our youngest, has recently been engaged to a beautiful young lady we have known for all of her and Ben's life. Her name is Sarah, and we are very thankful to the Lord for their lives together and look forward to celebrating their union on the 16th of May, 2009.
Again, we appreciate each of you and look forward to, hopefully, catching up face to face later this year!
Your Servants for the Glory of God!
Dan and Kim Proctor - Sydney
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Bobby and Becky Bonner: January 09
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Greetings in the name that is above all names, the name of Jesus. Wow, 2009 is here and this may be the year we hear the trumpet, even so Lord, sound it, amen.
Becky and I would like to thank you for all of your prayers and support and sacrifice of love for the Bonner family and IAM Ministries. Without all the support, we would be just spinning our wheels. We want to proclaim the name of Jesus wherever we go, be it on the road or over there in Africa. Once again, thank you all.
The works in Zambia and surrounding countries are continuing and people are being saved every week, in all places, in towns, cities, villages, and deep in the bush. Please pray for our men who are taking the Gospel into very dangerous places. Henry Lunda, Victor Lunda, White Katota, are but a few of our over 200 men who are church planting. The work in the Congo is going well, people are coming to Christ but it is very dangerous as you know of the turmoil with villages being raided by bandits, men murdered and children raped and forced into becoming killing machines. The heart of man is desperately wicked, and needs a conversion. Please pray.
Over the last month, I have received five letters from different countries, begging us to come and train their people for ministry. One Nigerian man got a hold of one of our African tracts, read it, got saved, shared it with his friends, who got saved, and then led 147 to people to Christ with one tract. They are meeting each week and want us to come and teach them more of the Bible. One family from Burundi had been lead to the Lord by Michael Kanyama, are begging for us to come and train them in the Word. I have received letters from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda with requests for training and evangelism efforts. I also met a missionary going to Southern Sudan, Blankenship is his name. He has on tape a request from the President of Sudan to please come quickly to his country to plant churches. He will give them free land to build churches and give them free tax status. Wow.
All over Africa, the Lord is moving. Please continue to pray for laborers that would help us as we try and take the Gospel to every creature in Africa. Pray for IAM, for wisdom, and finances, that we will be able to take the Gospel just a little further. God bless you all, in Jesus Name.
Your Brother and Sister,
Bobby and Becky Bonner
IAM Ministries
Greetings in the name that is above all names, the name of Jesus. Wow, 2009 is here and this may be the year we hear the trumpet, even so Lord, sound it, amen.
Becky and I would like to thank you for all of your prayers and support and sacrifice of love for the Bonner family and IAM Ministries. Without all the support, we would be just spinning our wheels. We want to proclaim the name of Jesus wherever we go, be it on the road or over there in Africa. Once again, thank you all.
The works in Zambia and surrounding countries are continuing and people are being saved every week, in all places, in towns, cities, villages, and deep in the bush. Please pray for our men who are taking the Gospel into very dangerous places. Henry Lunda, Victor Lunda, White Katota, are but a few of our over 200 men who are church planting. The work in the Congo is going well, people are coming to Christ but it is very dangerous as you know of the turmoil with villages being raided by bandits, men murdered and children raped and forced into becoming killing machines. The heart of man is desperately wicked, and needs a conversion. Please pray.
Over the last month, I have received five letters from different countries, begging us to come and train their people for ministry. One Nigerian man got a hold of one of our African tracts, read it, got saved, shared it with his friends, who got saved, and then led 147 to people to Christ with one tract. They are meeting each week and want us to come and teach them more of the Bible. One family from Burundi had been lead to the Lord by Michael Kanyama, are begging for us to come and train them in the Word. I have received letters from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda with requests for training and evangelism efforts. I also met a missionary going to Southern Sudan, Blankenship is his name. He has on tape a request from the President of Sudan to please come quickly to his country to plant churches. He will give them free land to build churches and give them free tax status. Wow.
All over Africa, the Lord is moving. Please continue to pray for laborers that would help us as we try and take the Gospel to every creature in Africa. Pray for IAM, for wisdom, and finances, that we will be able to take the Gospel just a little further. God bless you all, in Jesus Name.
Your Brother and Sister,
Bobby and Becky Bonner
IAM Ministries
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Letter from J and L!
Gateway Update
January 12, 2009
Sersala we pîroz bê! (Kurmanji) Mutlu Yıllar! (Turkish) Happy New Year!
To all our prayer warriors and supporters, thank you for partnering with us in the ministries in Turkey.
1. Christmas at Beytel East[1]: 16 of us gathered at Beytel East for a special Christmas celebration with E.[2] and K.[3] K.’s mother and sister[4] joined us for the Christmas Eve meal, prayer and singing. We all had a great time, killing our own turkeys and preparing all from scratch! Prayer requests: While there, J.[5] of G.E.S. had the opportunity to share the gospel with around 10 people at a local mosque and was well received. Pray for those who heard and asked questions. One of the discussions was whether or not J. and other Christians performed the ritual cleansing before prayers. J. replied, “If the outside of the body is clean but the inside is dirty how would God accept the prayers? The inside must be made pure”. He went on to explain Jesus’ teaching on the condition of the heart. The response was very positive in fact many said, “this is better than Islam”, and that “many return from the Hajj and still lie, cheat, go to prostitutes, gamble etc.. and you are right, the heart is the most important”. The imam of course was there listening and tried to defend Islam, one woman said, “but what he said was better!” J. replied, “That it was Jesus that spoke these words.” Those at the mosque were there to make vows, sacrifices and venerate the dead Muslim saints, so they could become pregnant and be healed etc… They asked J. about why he didn’t have children and that if J. prayed at the mosque he may have children. J. responded with the Biblical understanding of the sovereignty of God and how a Christian responds to such challenges. This again was received with much favor by all who heard[6]. Please pray for those who heard and for further discussion with those at the mosque.
2. Christmas at Beytel West: Christmas at Beytel West was celebrated by the members of the church there led by pastor Abdullah and Kürşat. Many gathered for a Christmas meal, fellowship, prayer and song. Abdullah gave a Christmas message to all. Baptism certificates were presented to the six who were recently baptized. The father of the two young girls that were recently baptized now wants to baptized. Two other individuals said that they would also like to be baptized. We are planning three more baptisms the end of January!
3. Prayer Needs: Beytel East and West have been under intense spiritual attack since September of 2008. There have been many that have disapproved of[7], and even threatened , our ministry. They have even said that they would kick us out of the areas where we work. We have had many gossip and slander us out of jealousy and because God’s hand of blessing is upon us. We have had to confront many of these agitators face to face. And still have much to deal with. Unfortunately this has disturbed the Zacchaeus projects in the East.
4. Zacchaeus projects: The Lord provided two persons that have decided to dedicate their time to teach English in Ovacık, the province where we have been doing medical missions. J. took them out to that province this past November and we spent time with Dr. Müjdeci[8] and others from that province. The English program should begin this spring. J. and the other workers were harassed by the authorities during this trip, pray for continued protection as we go to these areas. Please pray for Dr. Müjdeci as he has been under spiritual attack as well. This spring we also are planning on having a Dutch team come to this province to do a sports camp. Pray as we make the preparations for this as well.
5. L.’s [9] prayer requests: L. has successfully finished her first semester of her doctoral program in Educational Psychology and Special Education! L. also has had the opportunity to use her beautiful voice as a testimony to many this past Christmas season. She even was able to give a testimony of Christ at a prominent foreign consulate this year. At the school where she teaches, after years of a strong testimony, she is the ‘go to’ person for interpersonal relationship counseling. Right now she is sharing with many women. Please pray for her and the women that she is helping.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! We really appreciate it as you are our logistical support from back home.
J. of G.E.S.
To support Zacchaeus Projects, Beytel and Christian Resources in Turkish please make your checks payable to:
New Horizons Foundation
(FBO Gateway Missions) and send to:
New Horizons Foundation, Inc.
4570 Hilton Parkway, Suite 203
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Website: www.gatewayeducation.org
[1] Beytel East is 900 miles away from Beytel West. [2] E. is a Gateway employee and a Turkish Evangelist. [3] K. was newly baptized this last summer. [4] K.’s sister this past fall professed faith. [5] J. is an employee with Gateway. [6] One woman there was especially receptive, her name is Hayriye. [7] Working with Kurds is a hot issue as well as a new church plant! [8] Dr. Müjdeci is a Turkish medical doctor that has devoted his life to the work of the Lord using his medical skills. [9] L. is also with Gateway.
January 12, 2009
Sersala we pîroz bê! (Kurmanji) Mutlu Yıllar! (Turkish) Happy New Year!
To all our prayer warriors and supporters, thank you for partnering with us in the ministries in Turkey.
1. Christmas at Beytel East[1]: 16 of us gathered at Beytel East for a special Christmas celebration with E.[2] and K.[3] K.’s mother and sister[4] joined us for the Christmas Eve meal, prayer and singing. We all had a great time, killing our own turkeys and preparing all from scratch! Prayer requests: While there, J.[5] of G.E.S. had the opportunity to share the gospel with around 10 people at a local mosque and was well received. Pray for those who heard and asked questions. One of the discussions was whether or not J. and other Christians performed the ritual cleansing before prayers. J. replied, “If the outside of the body is clean but the inside is dirty how would God accept the prayers? The inside must be made pure”. He went on to explain Jesus’ teaching on the condition of the heart. The response was very positive in fact many said, “this is better than Islam”, and that “many return from the Hajj and still lie, cheat, go to prostitutes, gamble etc.. and you are right, the heart is the most important”. The imam of course was there listening and tried to defend Islam, one woman said, “but what he said was better!” J. replied, “That it was Jesus that spoke these words.” Those at the mosque were there to make vows, sacrifices and venerate the dead Muslim saints, so they could become pregnant and be healed etc… They asked J. about why he didn’t have children and that if J. prayed at the mosque he may have children. J. responded with the Biblical understanding of the sovereignty of God and how a Christian responds to such challenges. This again was received with much favor by all who heard[6]. Please pray for those who heard and for further discussion with those at the mosque.
2. Christmas at Beytel West: Christmas at Beytel West was celebrated by the members of the church there led by pastor Abdullah and Kürşat. Many gathered for a Christmas meal, fellowship, prayer and song. Abdullah gave a Christmas message to all. Baptism certificates were presented to the six who were recently baptized. The father of the two young girls that were recently baptized now wants to baptized. Two other individuals said that they would also like to be baptized. We are planning three more baptisms the end of January!
3. Prayer Needs: Beytel East and West have been under intense spiritual attack since September of 2008. There have been many that have disapproved of[7], and even threatened , our ministry. They have even said that they would kick us out of the areas where we work. We have had many gossip and slander us out of jealousy and because God’s hand of blessing is upon us. We have had to confront many of these agitators face to face. And still have much to deal with. Unfortunately this has disturbed the Zacchaeus projects in the East.
4. Zacchaeus projects: The Lord provided two persons that have decided to dedicate their time to teach English in Ovacık, the province where we have been doing medical missions. J. took them out to that province this past November and we spent time with Dr. Müjdeci[8] and others from that province. The English program should begin this spring. J. and the other workers were harassed by the authorities during this trip, pray for continued protection as we go to these areas. Please pray for Dr. Müjdeci as he has been under spiritual attack as well. This spring we also are planning on having a Dutch team come to this province to do a sports camp. Pray as we make the preparations for this as well.
5. L.’s [9] prayer requests: L. has successfully finished her first semester of her doctoral program in Educational Psychology and Special Education! L. also has had the opportunity to use her beautiful voice as a testimony to many this past Christmas season. She even was able to give a testimony of Christ at a prominent foreign consulate this year. At the school where she teaches, after years of a strong testimony, she is the ‘go to’ person for interpersonal relationship counseling. Right now she is sharing with many women. Please pray for her and the women that she is helping.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support! We really appreciate it as you are our logistical support from back home.
J. of G.E.S.
To support Zacchaeus Projects, Beytel and Christian Resources in Turkish please make your checks payable to:
New Horizons Foundation
(FBO Gateway Missions) and send to:
New Horizons Foundation, Inc.
4570 Hilton Parkway, Suite 203
Colorado Springs, CO 80907
Website: www.gatewayeducation.org
[1] Beytel East is 900 miles away from Beytel West. [2] E. is a Gateway employee and a Turkish Evangelist. [3] K. was newly baptized this last summer. [4] K.’s sister this past fall professed faith. [5] J. is an employee with Gateway. [6] One woman there was especially receptive, her name is Hayriye. [7] Working with Kurds is a hot issue as well as a new church plant! [8] Dr. Müjdeci is a Turkish medical doctor that has devoted his life to the work of the Lord using his medical skills. [9] L. is also with Gateway.
Monday, January 5, 2009
Bobby and Jen - Titus Intl./AUSTRIA
October - December 2008
“O [your name] put your hope in the Lord, for with the LORD is unfailing love and …full redemption.” Psalms 130:7
Dear Friends,
No matter what lies ahead in 2009, you are commanded by an act of choice to put your hope/confidence in God. The reason for this has more to do with the object of our hope, and less with the circumstances around us. Thank God, His love will never fail, and His redemption is sure.
This Fall, Jen and I had the chance to visit the church in Graz that we first ministered in when we moved to Austria. The church has grown from 130 to 250 people. I was able to speak at their church retreat and we reconnected with “kids” who were in our teen group ten years ago. This time around we were pressed with questions on parenting, since many of them now have their own little ones. It was truly an awesome thing to see how God has guided so many of them along the way...every face you see here means something to us. A great new development in Graz is that we have been able to start a third region of our Evangelical Academy. Now young people are able to study theology, but remain in their home area in the state of Styria.
December – Month of Encouragement
We continue to support and encourage nationals along the way. On my last trip in December I was able to connect with unsaved and Christian friends. Please be in prayer for the following:
Richard Schmidt
On Saturday, Oct. 25th our dear friend and brother in Christ was playing soccer, when he suddenly collapsed on the field and died of complications with his heart. Richard had been instrumental in starting and leading the Austrian Prayer Movement among the youth. He was on tour with us in the USA in 2006, and we supported his ministry. I was able to visit his wife Melanie, and some of the band members on this last trip to pray with and encourage them. Melanie showed me a quote from Richards’ diary in 2002: “The time has come to storm the gates of heaven with our prayers. Austria is in bondage and held down by strongholds. We must increase our prayers for this country 100-fold.”
The Austrian Prayer Congress
On the first weekend in December I was able to attend the prayer movement which continues in Austria. On Sunday afternoon, the young people were sent out onto the streets of Vienna to strike up conversations with Christmas shoppers. It was great to see people being stretched and pushed to pray for their lost friends and loved ones.
Michi and Liesi Bozanovic
Michi, from our church in Villach, has finally finished his studies in Theology and is being groomed to take over the youth ministry in our state, Kärnten. Please pray for him and Liesi as they are newly married, and Michi seeks part time employment in a secular field. They are looking at raising some supplementary support until the churches in Kärnten can do more for them.
Marco and Dagmar
“You were like a Paul, and I felt like your Timothy..." Marco went through our discipleship program and EVAK, and has been effective in the youth ministry in Spittal. He is having a “desert” phase in his ministry and needs our prayers. It is tough for him to balance working full time and lead a youth ministry and a new marriage. Please pray for Marco and Dagmar.
Tom and Helen
Tom is close to finishing his studies with our EVAK. He was in our original teen group. He and Helen have great leadership skills, and they have the opportunity to go to Lebanon for a six month internship. After that they will begin in a newly planted church in Vienna. Go, nationals!
Pray for them all...
In Christ,
Bobby, Jen and Kids Parschauer
Coming Up:
February – Work team trip to Graz
March/April- Austrian Pastor fund raising trip May – Youth convention in Innsbruck
“O [your name] put your hope in the Lord, for with the LORD is unfailing love and …full redemption.” Psalms 130:7
Dear Friends,
No matter what lies ahead in 2009, you are commanded by an act of choice to put your hope/confidence in God. The reason for this has more to do with the object of our hope, and less with the circumstances around us. Thank God, His love will never fail, and His redemption is sure.
This Fall, Jen and I had the chance to visit the church in Graz that we first ministered in when we moved to Austria. The church has grown from 130 to 250 people. I was able to speak at their church retreat and we reconnected with “kids” who were in our teen group ten years ago. This time around we were pressed with questions on parenting, since many of them now have their own little ones. It was truly an awesome thing to see how God has guided so many of them along the way...every face you see here means something to us. A great new development in Graz is that we have been able to start a third region of our Evangelical Academy. Now young people are able to study theology, but remain in their home area in the state of Styria.
December – Month of Encouragement
We continue to support and encourage nationals along the way. On my last trip in December I was able to connect with unsaved and Christian friends. Please be in prayer for the following:
Richard Schmidt
On Saturday, Oct. 25th our dear friend and brother in Christ was playing soccer, when he suddenly collapsed on the field and died of complications with his heart. Richard had been instrumental in starting and leading the Austrian Prayer Movement among the youth. He was on tour with us in the USA in 2006, and we supported his ministry. I was able to visit his wife Melanie, and some of the band members on this last trip to pray with and encourage them. Melanie showed me a quote from Richards’ diary in 2002: “The time has come to storm the gates of heaven with our prayers. Austria is in bondage and held down by strongholds. We must increase our prayers for this country 100-fold.”
The Austrian Prayer Congress
On the first weekend in December I was able to attend the prayer movement which continues in Austria. On Sunday afternoon, the young people were sent out onto the streets of Vienna to strike up conversations with Christmas shoppers. It was great to see people being stretched and pushed to pray for their lost friends and loved ones.
Michi and Liesi Bozanovic
Michi, from our church in Villach, has finally finished his studies in Theology and is being groomed to take over the youth ministry in our state, Kärnten. Please pray for him and Liesi as they are newly married, and Michi seeks part time employment in a secular field. They are looking at raising some supplementary support until the churches in Kärnten can do more for them.
Marco and Dagmar
“You were like a Paul, and I felt like your Timothy..." Marco went through our discipleship program and EVAK, and has been effective in the youth ministry in Spittal. He is having a “desert” phase in his ministry and needs our prayers. It is tough for him to balance working full time and lead a youth ministry and a new marriage. Please pray for Marco and Dagmar.
Tom and Helen
Tom is close to finishing his studies with our EVAK. He was in our original teen group. He and Helen have great leadership skills, and they have the opportunity to go to Lebanon for a six month internship. After that they will begin in a newly planted church in Vienna. Go, nationals!
Pray for them all...
In Christ,
Bobby, Jen and Kids Parschauer
Coming Up:
February – Work team trip to Graz
March/April- Austrian Pastor fund raising trip May – Youth convention in Innsbruck
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