Laura Meyers Training Future Tribal Missionaries Please pray for new siblings!
Sometimes we have the privilege of watching new brothers and sisters in Christ being ushered into the kingdom. Rarely do we have the opportunity to bathe their new birth in prayer right before it happens! Beginning tonight US time, missionaries and tribal teachers will be presenting the lesson on the death and resurrection of Christ to the second Dinangat tribe.
Please pray for the missionaries, the tribal teachers, and the people of the Dinangat village that the teaching will be clear and new brothers and sisters will be added to the Body of Christ tomorrow!
The first Dinangat came to Christ last year about this time, and now believers from the first village have been working with NTM missionaries to present the Chronological Lessons in a neighboring village. You can follow the links below to follow their journey of the past few months. I will do my best to update you as more information becomes available.
- Tribal teachers prepare
- January 17th, Lessons begin
- Early February
- Late February
- March (realized sin, 10 commandments)
- March 20th
- End of March
- Easter (the first for believers in the first village)
- April 15th
Expanding Ministry Opportunities
This month especially has seen me very busy in both my school ministry and my church ministry. The beginning of March I had the opportunity to attend Awana Summit, the annual national event held in the Chicago area for more than 1,000 high school students to compete in AwanaGames, Bible Quizzing, Volleyball, and Fine Arts. It is a four day event, and two of those days include a college fair. We had a steady stream of students coming by our table the entire time. It was really encouraging to talk to these Bible focused and missions minded students, and I look forward to seeing some of them come through NTBI these next couple of years!
In my Christmas letter, I mentioned that I was doing some writing for our women’s Bible study curriculum at church. That work has continued into the new year, and I must say I was getting pretty weary of staring at my computer screen! I felt rather like an expectant mother as the volume that I had labored so hard to help produce finally went to press! It has been wonderful to get involved in this process, and to see the light bulbs come on even for long-time believers as we examine Scripture in chronological order…really focusing on the story that God orchestrated in His pursuit of relationship of man. I must say, I have never gone at it quite in this way, not ever jumping ahead in the story, but camping on what God is revealing about Himself step by step. There have been some wonderful “ah, ha!” moments for me personally this year, but I will save that for another letter! The writing opportunities also developed into some speaking opportunities as we took the women into a Passover experience. It was an incredible time to examine the beautiful pictures of Christ that God placed in this ceremony that has been observed for thousands of years. Please be in prayer with me as I consider the options for my involvement with women’s ministry at church this next year. I’ve been leading a small group this past year, but God may be directing into more of a large group teaching setting…I just need to be sure I don’t over extend myself!
Settling in to a NEW “Normal”
Those of you that know me well have probably heard me say, “Normal is just a setting on your dryer.” I’ve taken that quote from the title of a book by Patsy Clairmont, and it simply means that there really is no such thing as normal. It’s just a word on your dryer that never really applies to life. Our life’s definition of normal is constantly changing, and the sooner we accept that the better! Well, my life is finally settling into its newest definition of normal and now that I know what that is, I thought I’d share it with you.
As I shared in my Christmas newsletter, God did incredible things between May and November of 2009 (many of them through some of you!) and my minimum support came in right on schedule. By the end of 2009, my support was hovering around 82%. Now, with some changes brought by the new year, it’s around 77% ($2,133 monthly). That is such a long way from the 20% a month of less than a year ago! Please praise the Lord with me for all He has done to show Himself sufficient through this whole process. Please also continue to pray that God will provide the remaining $623/month to meet budget. That figure of $2,756/month is really the minimum recommended support for me to minister here at NTBI. I still have a ways to go, but we’re so much closer! I can never say “Thank You” enough for your part in it all. Thank you too for your prayers as the medical reports we were waiting on finally came in, and all the paperwork was finally settled for me to return to full-time, active ministry here at the school.
So, what is the “new normal” for Laura Meyers? My specific ministry at the school has quite a broad range at the moment. I work half-days at our school reception desk, answering the phones, fielding questions, greeting visitors, and talking to the students that tend to hang out in the lobby. (Some of them I know just come by to get their “doggie fix” by seeing Pepper…so many students miss their pets from home!) My spare time while I’m at the desk and the remainder of my days are spent in a variety of administrative tasks…administrative assistant for the maintenance department (imagine keeping files straight for a 100+ year old building that is a historical landmark, especially when they haven’t had a regular secretary for a few years…yikes!), organization of our school’s electronic files and media (a college tends to generate a LOT of photos…and someone has to sort through and organize them all!), and working to update our Facebook page and alumni contacts. My 18 month “furlough” to raise my support also created a new niche for me here: a resource for other staff in developing effective communication with their contacts through software, email, and internet and using these communication methods to help in raising support. I must confess that I think this last part is the most “fun” part of the job at the moment…it’s like getting paid to play! I am being asked to spend hours on my website, email, software, and the like so that I know it well and can teach others. I’m just incredibly glad that my experiences can be not only to my benefit but also help others through the process. So, bear with me in the coming months as you may be my guinea pigs for new email design, subscription techniques, website layouts, and the like! Know that when I ask for your feedback on new ideas, your input will be helping other missionaries learn how to effectively communicate with people they know and potential partners.
Keep your focus on Him, and on reaching those who don’t know Him…YET!
2009 Newsletter now Online!
Well, it took me some time to figure out how to do it on my website, but my Christmas 2009 Newsletter is finally up for your viewing pleasure! Many of you may have received a Christmas card with the newsletter enclosed…it’s the same one. For those of you who keep up on my ministry solely by email/internet, please accept my apologies for the delay. I’m still figuring out this new site!
Hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas and New Year together, and I look forward to what this year holds!
As always, thanks for your continued partnership in training tribal missionaries.
Family Excitement!
The pas month has been SO incredibly busy that I don’t even know where to start! I guess the biggest news is family related…for those of you that haven’t heard, my brother Nathan is getting married! On July 16th he will be marrying LaShani Rios, a wonderful girl he met when he was at school out here at NTBI. They were just friends when they were both here, but last year reconnected via Facebook, Skype, phone calls, and cross-country visits (she is from Washington state and Nathan is in school in Pennsylvania). Oh, the wonders of technology! My parents and I are very excited about it all, and I’m looking forward to having them out here this next year as LaShani finishes classes. Please be in prayer for them as well as the rest of us in the craziness of planning a cross-country wedding and in getting them settled in Wisconsin.
Happy Thanksgiving!
“Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we thine unworthy servants do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.”
We read these words at church this morning, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate way to start this Thanksgiving Day. I’m especially thankful today that I am celebrating with friends and not at home in the midst of packing boxes! I can’t quite say yet that all is settled and I know when and how my return to ministry will take place, but you can see from the graph to the side that God has graciously provided the needed finances. It has been an incredible journey, and I look forward to what He still has ahead!
There are a few details that have to get straightened out before I can officially announce my return to ministry…I was hoping that could happen today, but sometimes the wheels of progress turn very slowly! It’s all too complicated to explain, but please be in prayer that these final details will be able to be settled quickly so that I can return to full and active ministry.
Thank you especially for your partnership in this past year and a half. It has been an interesting time, but God has accomplished much. To think that my support has TRIPLED in 6 months is unbelievable. Only God could do something like that!
Looking forward to that final Thanksgiving Day when we can gather with all our brothers and sisters from every tribe, nation, and tongue around the throne. Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Almost There!!!!!
Thank you so much to all who prayed for the Missions Conference dinner meetings I had this week! They went very well: 9 my first night, 18 the second, and 22 the third. I had very positive comments from all who attended, and have already seen an additional $125 a month pledged as a result. There are still those who are praying over their part in my ministry, so please continue to pray for those who have heard the need that they will be open to however the Lord would have them be a part.
You may have noticed that the figures on my support gauge have moved around a little! The mission continually evaluates our recommended support according to current living costs. With the lower gas prices this year, my recommended support dropped a little to $2846 a month, down from $2970. That means my “magic number” of 66% for return to ministry is now $1879 a month. That means I’m only $264 a month short of my goal!
It has been an exhausting week, but well worth it. It is amazing how much I walk away encouraged from “hearing” my own presentation! Watching the videos about our tribal works and sharing my journey into ministry helps me remember why I’m doing all of this, and how much all the insanity and stress is worth it! I know this is where the Lord has me, and the testimony and stories that will come out of this journey will truly be unforgettable. I can’t ever say thank you enough for your partnership and support through it all.
Missions Conference Week
A note of prayer and praise for everyone: this week is missions conference at my church here in WI. Praise that the church has offered to pay for me to host dinner presentations Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights before our evening service. I’ve sent out email invites to over 400 people (our church is 6,000+), so please pray that there will be a good turn out for these three nights. Please also pray that people will be moved by the presentation of my ministry and step forward to help meet the $400 a month minimum that is still lacking to return to ministry. The meetings will be from 5:30 to 6:30 pm Central Time Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Your prayers before, during, and after are much appreciated!
$500 left to go!
Well, Thanksgiving is exactly 40 days away, and I’ve got about 25 days to figure out if I need to reserve a moving truck and start packing. I am pushing onward, trusting that the Lord will provide what is needed to remain in ministry, but I also know I can’t stick my head in the sand and pretend that moving could never happen.
Thank you so much to all of you who have been a part of more than DOUBLING my support in the last four months. It still leaves me speechless at what God has already done, and I can’t wait to see what He has planned for the next few weeks. If you’ve been keeping track on the gauge on my website, you’ll see that my support level is at exactly 50%…a far cry from the 15% I was at a year ago. In dollar and cents, I need another $500 monthly committed in the next three weeks to remain in ministry and avoid a move. Broken down, it means 10 individuals or families willing to commit to $50 a month, or fewer if some can give more. Please continue to pray that God will move in the hearts of His people to give their “best gift” to help me continue in my ministry to reach the unreached tribes. Please also take a moment and think about those you know. Is there someone you could talk to that might be willing to get involved? Word of mouth is an invaluable tool in any kind of fund raising, and raising support as a missionary is no exception.
Thank you for your interest, involvement, and for joining me on this wild ride called ministry! If you haven’t had a chance, take a few minutes and watch the video I included with my last post. It was a great reminder to me about the reality of what we are working towards—the salvation of the 2,500 language groups that have no Gospel witness!
My lifetime later…
I was born in 1981. It was that same year that the first missionaries went to the Higaunon Tribe in the Philippines. Friends of mine, Lance and Laura Ostman, have been working tirelessly with their partners to see a complete translation of the New Testament finished in the Higaunon language. Last month, the Higuanon people received their first printed New Testament. Read what one of the women said just yesterday (from NTM News by David Bell):
Yesterday, Dag-ay, a Higaunon woman in the Philippines, had something she wanted to tell missionaries Lance and Laura Ostman.
“I want to tell you what grandfather told us,” she said. “Grandfather was a shaman and as he got older … he gathered his family around him to tell us what was on his mind before he died.”
“Now, you need to understand that we had been searching for the path of eternal life. We were sure we’d find it through the spirits who lived in grandfather. His words to us that day were both disturbing and prophetic.”
“This is what he said. ‘We have been searching for the way of eternal life but let me tell you all right now, we will never find it. At least not the way we’ve been going about it.’”
“I was young, but not so young I didn’t understand what he was talking about. But then he said something I’ll never forget. ‘We have told you never to allow foreigners into our community as they will just bring their foreign ideas. Before you know it, you’ll be wearing hats and shoes like them and that’s not good for you.
“‘However, let me tell you something that exists in the cities on the coast. There’s a book that’s there and when someone brings that book here, let me tell you, you must listen to it for it has the message of eternal life!’”
“Well, that is what grandfather told us and I’m so sad because of all those who heard his prophecy that day I am the only one who has listened to the teaching of this Book.”
Dag-ay added that there are two Higaunon villages that have recently asked for Bible teachers and that her grandson has been invited to teach in one of those villages.
Please pray that God’s Word will spread to more Higaunon villages and bring more people to place their faith in Christ.
