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Great to see friends: Kim Brown and Dr. Ray Bakke
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Before the flag procession: Mayra Giovanetti and Mercy Gonzalez-Barnes-
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IM friends Nora and Pieter Kalkman
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New Life Center friends Kit Ripley and Wandee Chuenchooprai
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Inspirational to see so many gathered to celebrate God's work through IM!
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Dear friends with a long generational history with IM, George and Carol Bauer
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The Eucharistic Table on the last evening
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I made it!!!
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A "visioning" activity at the All Staff Gathering...
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All Staff Gathering community activity
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After the celebration: special time with seminary roommate Rev. Florience Li
What a fabulous “birthday celebration” International Ministries had this summer! Celebrating 200 years as an organization—the longest-running Christian mission agency in the USA—was a giant moment in history! 1300 people were gathered at our “heart place”—the Green Lake Conference Center: our dear supporters, encouragers and pray-ers; church leaders/partners from more than 50 countries!; ALL the IM missionaries! It was exciting! It was fun! And I missed a big part of it…. Read on…
That first day in bed, I felt miserable, but the next day was better—but I was still confined to bed. I couldn’t believe that I was stuck in bed while all of the hundreds of people who have supported and cared and prayed were only feet away. Oh, how could it be? You can imagine my frustration and sadness….
On the last morning of the Grand Celebration, I was feeling weak, but not nauseous. It took me 4 hours to shower….wash my hair….get dressed…put on my make-up….with a bed break in between each activity… But by 4:00 pm, I was ready to wobble down the hallway and appear at the rehearsal for the evening program. I had been given 5 minutes in the program to paint the history of IM’s very important involvement in the anti-trafficking movement in this world—and I was determined that this word would be shared! I practiced walking in a straight line across the stage, and was glad that I could grasp the strong podium to keep my balance while speaking! God had helped me to “Rise to the Challenge”!
With Great Gratitude,
Lauran
Presentation: World Mission Conference 200th
Anniversary Celebration
July 25th, 2014
DO YOU KNOW???
Do you know that YOU have been a part of a huge movement of God’s Spirit?
Do you KNOW that YOU have participated in one of the most significant movements against evil in this world?
Do you KNOW that YOUR energy, your prayers, your funds, your lives have saved thousands of children, thousands of young women and men?
International Ministries was THERE at the beginning of the modern-day movement against slavery, human trafficking and forced prostitution.
In 1986, I doubt that any of you had even HEARD the term “Human Trafficking”. I know that I hadn’t. But IM missionaries Paul and Elaine Lewis KNEW that girls were disappearing from the hills of northern Thailand and ending up in sexual slavery--deceived into thinking that they were taking jobs to support their families. They knew that the girls needed an education and vocational training. God gave them a vision—to begin a ministry they called “The New Life Center”—offering an education, vocational training and Christian education to young tribal women—to make sure that they DIDN’T have to go into prostitution to support their families.
Jill Lowery began working with the women in Congo through Mitendi Project.
And Mylinda Baits began doing awareness raising and prevention work in Costa Rica.
Debbie Kelsey had ministries with women in prostitution in Belgium and then Italy.
In Eastern Europe, Terry Myers helped to start “Daughters of Bulgaria”, visiting women on the streets there.
Lori and Matt Mann felt called to minister to street children in Laos—offering shelter and education for them. The movement continues to gain momentum…
Deb Mulneix has joined Jonathan and Thelma in The Philippines, now,
Trish Hoefl works with the Chiang Rai branch of the New Life Center….
And Jeni Pedzinski is preparing to join the New Life Center staff soon….
It’s an exponential growth of people all over the world who are Rising to the Challenge to share the Light of God’s Love in the darkest corners of the world!!!
But there is still so much more to be done. Through the giving of your time, your finances, your talents, gifts and skills your very lives—I know that many of you will be Called to Rise to this Challenge! The world is waiting to KNOW the Good News of Jesus Christ, that rescues and heals and saves from the evil of destruction. I have confidence that we WILL Rise to the Challenge and participate in the history yet to be made!