Volume 1, Issue #3                                                                         anthis@mindspring.com                        April 2003

SUPPORT  PLEDGED or RECEIVED
	2/03	4/03
MONTHLY EXPENSE NEEDS	40%	65%
ONE-TIME OUTGOING EXPENSES	50%	90%
MEDICAL NEEDS ($ & EQUIP)	<5%	<10%

WOW!  The last two months have been hectic and exciting.  God continues to prepare us for our ministry in Nigeria.  We have traveled to East Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, and Louisiana.  We have spoken to Sunday school classes, churches, mission’s committees, Men’s groups, women’s groups, children’s groups and many individuals.  We have prayed before each presentation that “God would become greater and we would become smaller.”  It has been our desire to “declare God’s glory among the Nations” (Psalm 96) as we share the vision God has given us to take the Gospel message to northern Nigeria.  We have met many of you over the last two months and have been blessed and humbled by your willingness to partner with us in ministry.

 

An Interesting Question to Ponder….

 

We have been asked some interesting questions along the way (especially by the children’s groups!).  While speaking to a group of 1^st to 5^th graders, we shared how God has called us to serve Him by bringing physical and spiritual healing to the people of northern Nigeria.  A 4^th grade boy raised his hand and asked, “What does it sound like when God calls you to be a missionary in Africa?”  What a great question!  We did not hear God audibly speak to us as we imagine He spoke to Jonah (“JONAH GO TO NINEVEH/ JOEL GO TO NIGERIA”).  For us, it has been more like spending time at Chuckie Cheese.  Imagine being at a birthday party at Chuckie Cheese, playing with all your friends and having a great time running from activity to activity.  Then just when you’re about to hit the high score on your favorite video game, you think for a split second that you heard your dad calling.  You could easily ignore it and honestly say you’re not sure you heard anything.  But then again… if it’s your dad calling, it must be important, and isn’t it worth stopping the game for a minute to listen?  Then you hear him again above all the noise and chaos, and start to head towards his voice.  And as you continue to follow the sound of his voice step by step, his voice becomes more and more clear until the other noise fades away.  That’s what our call has “sounded like.”  We had both felt God drawing us to medical missions before we married over 11 years ago.  But we definitely did not know the specifics regarding when or where.  As we have slowly taken small steps in faith and continued to listen, God has revealed His plan for us.  He has prepared a place in Jos, Nigeria that is perfectly suited for the skills He has given us.  Would you consider earnestly praying and deliberately listening for your heavenly father’s voice?  Where or to what may God be calling you?  Occasionally the Lord might chase you down in the belly of a whale as He calls you to serve Him, but it usually starts with listening.

Prayer Request and Praise Report……

1. Praise for the relative peace during the Nigerian Presidential elections this month
2. Praise for God’s awesome provision so far for our prayer and financial support
3. Pray for our continued endurance in the preparation process, and for our spiritual vitality
4. Pray that God would supply the medical equipment we need through donated equipment and funds
5. Pray that we would become “less and God would become Greater” as we share about our ministry
6. Pray for our kids as the reality of leaving the people and life that they know approaches
7. Pray that our house will sell in God’s timing

 

The Anthis Time Line…..

1. Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class each Monday night
2. May 1st – Cindy speaks to women’s group at River Oaks Baptist
3. May 2^nd-4^th Mansfield, TX for Cindy’s brother’s wedding
4. May 18th – Speak at Christ EPC Sunday am
5. May 22^nd– 7:45pm– Prayer Meeting in Katy at the Masons’ home (281.599.0357)
6. Many other potential opportunities to share in May
7. June 17^th-22^nd Livonia Michigan for EPC missions mtg, General Assembly and commissioning
8. June 26-7:45pm- Prayer Meeting at the Mason’s in Katy
9. June 30^th – Joel’s last day at work
10. July 7^th –25^th – Charlotte, NC for SIM Candidate Orientation school
11. August  – Departure date for Jos, Nigeria

 

Thanks for standing with us in this exciting time.  We must be 100% funded before we leave in August.  If you feel the Lord is leading you to support us financially, please let us know so we can plan accordingly.  We are starting to gather medical equipment that we will need.  We hope to be able to ship it all to Jos with a non-profit group called Project Cure.  We will need to raise an additional $15, 000-$20,000 to have the container of equipment transported to Jos.  This would be a very small price to pay to ship an enormous amount of medical equipment, much of it donated, but some of it purchased.  This would be a miracle for us!   Please pray for this logistical miracle as well.

 

Thank you most of all for your prayers and notes of encouragement.  They mean so much.  We are enormously blessed by your love for us.

 

In Christ,

 

Joel and Cindy

Austin, Allison, and Abigail