Archive for September, 2011

Fieldbrook, a small town near Eureka, is close to the Pacific coast. We are nestled in the redwood trees, on an old logging road that has only been paved about 5 years. Our town consists of a public school, a volunteer fire department, a small General Store, a Grange, and our church building. Our small church was once the one-room schoolhouse. It became the church full-time when the new school was built across the street. We’ve remodeled the inside, keeping the historic look of the building on the outside.

We have seen God working in our little town. We had a great VBS, gaining two new families to the church; we were able to get into the public school to have Good News Clubs, and there have been six salvation decisions in the past year. Most of our men work seasonally, from May – October in logging and sawmills. The economy has hit us hard, causing a decrease in construction and production needs. We pray that the men will be able to continue working the full season. Personally, we pray for God’s direction in all we do, and that this work may glorify Him.

Dear Praying Friends,

It’s the week we’ve been waiting for! Candidate School is underway with eight couples who are exploring God’s call on their life to Village Missions.

Please pray specifically for the chapel service Thursday night, where the candidates will share their testimonies and Brian Wechsler will share a challenge from God’s Word. We invite anyone in the Dallas, Oregon area to attend our chapel service 7:00 pm Thursday, September 29, at the Dallas Alliance Church, 775 East Ellendale Avenue, Dallas, Oregon.

Also, please pray for the interviews Friday evening, where the couples are asked about what they have learned during the week and their call to Village Missions. Then pray for them as they travel home and we make the decision whether to accept them into Village Missions.

The candidates in attendance are listed below:

Jeff & Nydia – Arizona
Carl & Drea – Washington
Brian & Erica – Washington
Mike & Kim – Colorado
Tim & Deborah – Colorado
Isaac & Bethany – Minnesota
David & Cindy – New York
John & Katherine – Maryland

Pray for journey mercies for Brian as he travels to Kansas City to attend the memorial service for Freddee Nicholson at Stonecroft on Saturday, October 1, at 2:00 pm. Pray that he will arrive there on time, as connections will be tight because of having to leave after Candidate School. Irma Norleman and Freddee ministered together for many years arranging the various conferences held by Stonecroft. Brian and Carole met them many years ago when they were invited to minister at a Stonecroft Area Conference in Minnesota.

Brian has just posted pictures of a visit to one of our newest fields at Glendorado, MN (near St. Cloud). If you would like to see pictures and learn a little bit about this field served by Village Missions, click here.

Thank you for praying!

This small community in the Peace River area – about 20 miles from Dawson Creek on Highway 97 S – is mostly rolling foothill country, covered with aspen trees. Farming and forestry are the main occupations, and there is one elementary school. The local tourist attractions include Bennett Dam in Hudson Hope, the Northern Alberta Railway Museum in Dawson Creek, and nearby waterfalls. Please pray for us as we minister to this community and the area.

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank you for praying for Brian and Carole Wechsler’s visit to Texas last week. The Barnabas Group Houston was well attended (about 80) and several offered help to Village Missions, mostly involving ministries that would be of benefit to Village Missionaries. Brian and Carole also spoke to twenty-four women in San Antonio who were familiar with Village Missions but had lost contact with us. Many indicated their desire to become partners with us. We praise the Lord for the open doors He provided.

Please be in prayer for the Canadian donor dinner taking place this Thursday, Sept 22 in Toronto. These dinners are extremely important in meeting the funding needs of Village Missions Canada. Also, please pray for the board meeting that follows on Friday. Pray for journey mercies for the board members, Jim Cross, and Brian Wechsler as they travel to Toronto.

Our candidate school will be held in Dallas beginning Sept. 26. During candidate school, we expose prospective Village Missionaries to our ministry and our high expectations for them to “Preach the Word and love the people.” We are looking for couples that God is calling to the ministry of Village Missions. We will decide and they will decide whether God is indeed calling them to the harvest fields of rural North America. Please pray for the couples listed below as they make final arrangements to attend the school. As you can see, they come from all over the country.

Jeff & Nydia, Arizona
Carl & Drea, Washington
Brian & Erica – Washington
Mike & Kim, Colorado
Tim & Deborah, Colorado
Isaac & Bethany, Minnesota
David & Cindy, New York
John & Katherine, Maryland

Brian has just posted pictures of a visit to Elk Mound, WI during the summer. If you would like to see pictures and learn a little bit about this field served by Village Missions click here.

Thank you for praying!

Sheridan Lake, in far eastern CO on Highway 96, has a population of 56, but people come from nearby farms & homes, so church attendance is usually in the 80s. This farming community grows dry land wheat, millet, and sunflowers. We’re part of the Trans-American Bicycle Trail that runs from VA to Astoria, OR, or San Francisco, CA, for cross-country bicyclists. Our church is listed as a place for shelter in the registry and brochure, so bicyclists from all around the world come and stay at our church through the spring and summer months. This gives us an opportunity to share the Gospel with them. Our town has a convenience store, auto repair/parts shop, 3-lane bowling alley, and a post office. Our kids attend a school 6 miles outside of town with a student population of 70, Pre-K–12th grade.

Please pray as we minister to our community and to the cyclists coming through from all around the world. Pray for our ministry to the community children. During the school year we run a modified Awana program using material from Good News Clubs. Awana runs 4pm – 6pm on Wednesdays; the school bus drops off the kids at the church door. Please pray for our school. It’s struggling with several issues, and if things don’t turn around it could close, leaving our kids to either be home-schooled or have a 1½-hour bus ride. Please pray for our teens. We have a wonderful youth ministry led by two couples in our church. Pray that we will be effective in reaching our junior high and high school kids in this community.

Dear Praying Friends,

Please continue to pray for the meeting Brian and Carole Wechsler will have this Friday, September 16 in San Antonio, TX, with people interested in Village Missions. Also pray for good followup from the meeting today with Barnabas Group Houston.

Please be in prayer for the Canadian Village Missions Board meeting taking place September 23 in Mississauga Ontario. Also please pray for the dinner for friends of Village Missions that will take place September 22, also in Mississauga. Pray that God will continue to supply the funding needs for Village Missions Canada.

As we approach Candidate School in late September, please join us in praying for His wisdom that each one would be led to the place of service that God has prepared for them.

The individuals below are currently in the application process. Please pray as they seek His will in the matter of their service with Village Missions.

Jeff & Nydia, Arizona
Carl & Drea, Washington
Brian & Erica, Washington
Mike & Kim, Colorado
Tim & Deborah, Colorado
Isaac & Bethany, Minnesota
David & Cindy, New York
John & Katherine, Maryland

Thank you for praying!

Pray for Brian and Carole as they travel to Texas to present Village Missions. On Tuesday, September 13, they will present Village Missions to the Barnabas Group Houston. Pray for good contacts to be made with members of this group. Then Friday they will be speaking at a dessert function in San Antonio.

Brian has posted pictures of some of their trips this summer. You can see pictures of their trip to Balsam Bible Chapel in Balsam, MN.This trip coincided with the Upper Midwest Mini-Conference, hosted by Balsam Bible Chapel. You can get a feel for the fellowship and good times the missionaries experienced by clicking on this link.

The following individuals are in the application process. Please join us in bringing them before the throne of God in prayer as they seek His will in the matter of their service with Village Missions.

Jeff & Nydia – AZ
Carl & Drea – WA
Brian & Erica – WA
John & Lisa – TN
Mike & Kim – CO
Tim & Deborah – CO
Isaac & Bethany – MN
Dave & Cindy – NY

In NW Kansas, this community of about 2000 has a steady population due to good schools, a hospital in town, and the agriculture/ranching industry. Many new businesses are popping up along the major routes; I-70, I-83, and I-40 merge here in Oakley. The railroad also runs through town…this we know well – the engineer likes to blow the horn many times while coming through. Oakley is largely self-sufficient with most of the conveniences needed to live and keep the town alive. Many nearby towns are dwindling and closing doors due to population decline. Pray for Country Chapel to grow spiritually as well as numerically. We reach a radius of 45 miles, and many come from outside Oakley. This has made it difficult to have midweek meetings or gatherings apart from Sundays. But we have had a great Thursday women’s Bible study group with 10-14 in attendance, and maybe a start of a men’s group. Praise God, He is still reaching hearts here; several young adults are sharing their faith and desiring to serve God. Pray for wisdom and direction for Sara and me as we make decisions, help guide this church, and reach out into the community. I need physical strength and continued healing due to the battle with cancer and the residual effects of the Stem Cell Transplant. Thank God with us for allowing us more time together as a family. Please also pray for our five kids to grow in Christ and follow His leading in their lives. Protect marriages, unity in church, direction for church, and overall that we will bring glory to God as we minister day by day.