January 4th, 2012
Dear Friends and Family,
I have an internship this summer in Italy for 10 weeks. I cannot believe that I am already going to the mission field. It seems as though I was leaving to go to Ozark Christian College just a few months ago, and I have already been there for almost two years.
I was looking for an internship to fulfill the requirements for my degree at OCC, when God dropped an opportunity in my hands at the National Missionary Convention! Team Expansion [Teamexpansion.org] exists to transform communities among the unreached people of the world by planting Biblical churches. They have been around for more than 30 years, and they have about 300 workers serving in more than 40 countries. Team Expansions mission is to start 80 Church planting movements by 2015, and I get to be a part of that!
Italy is a Post-Christian nation, having been evangelized in the past by the early church, but seeing little or none of that glory today. The people there are either nominal Christians, unreligious, with other religions, or tied up in empty practice and traditions. There are the faithful, but few and far between. The nation has lost its faith and is in need of revival, and with recent economic turmoil the need is greater than ever.
The field is going to be very difficult, and I would not even consider going to this mission field without your prayers. Our prayers tap into God’s will and power and overcomes our will and weakness. For this and many reasons I am asking that you would partner with me in this ministry opportunity through prayer. I will have more prayer needs posted on newsletters in the upcoming months. I would also ask that you would be praying for my preparation and for our missionaries out on the field already.
I also have a financial goal for this internship. I am required to raise $6,650 to cover trip expenses and my school stipend. I would like to raise more than that in order to cover the costs of preparation, communication, and training expenses. Anything I raise beyond this will go toward helping other Team Expansion interns who might be in need.
All financial contributions made to Team Expansion on my behalf are tax deductible and are used to fund the internship program. Please write checks to “Team Expansion” and do not include my name on the check.
