February 2012

Seven Months in Syracuse Those of you who have been following us online or through email know that we have just returned to the Southwest after spending seven months in Jenny’s hometown, Syracuse, NY. The Lord Jesus has displayed his zeal for his worldwide mission by granting us several edifying meetings, appointments, and conferences in that region. Our central mission over the past few months has been building relationships with churches where God has orchestrated some personal connection between the church and our family. Over the last few months a handful of pastors have candidly admitted to me how many dozens of calls they receive from missionaries each week. These pastors are eager for the progress of the mission of Christ in the nations, but they also feel responsible to lead the congregation to use its resources wisely. How can a pastor or missions committee best decide from the many missionary candidates the Lord of the Harvest is sending into his fields around the world? Sometimes the Lord directs through unplanned circumstances to bring a missionary and a partnering church together, and we are grateful for the churches who have begun to support us though we have had no previous connection. However, the last several months have shown us the blessing of getting to know a number of churches in our network of friends. We have found God using these friendships as a springboard for beginning a broader relationship of trust and—as we pray together for wisdom and provision—global gospel partnership.

Missions conferences are a great time to deepen relationships with local congregations. We’ve also cherished our time with more experienced missionaries.

BILD Summit One of the highlights of the last few months was the opportunity to meet with church planters from all over the world, from Tasmania to Wisconsin, from India to Ghana, at a summit in Ames, Iowa. My teammates and I enjoyed the workshops offered on the essentials of sound doctrine, Acts, Paul’s letters, and leaders in the New Testament church. We also relished the opportunity to catch up and plan ahead.

Curriculum development became a major project for me over the summer. I love helping church leaders equip God’s people to see life from the perspective revealed in the Bible.

The living God is going to win out against all competitors worldwide— whether the competitor is Allah or the Almighty Dollar, Buddha or BMW, Krishna or Kanye West. In this era of mercy before the second coming of Christ, he is accomplishing that mission through local churches and proclamation of the gospel worldwide. While we long to get to Kenya and see the progress of his victories there, we have been gladdened to toil with those who work for the sake of the name here.

Kids’ Corner Jamin (below) took his first steps earlier this fall. Jenny and I love this stage of exploding motor skills and vocabulary too. His older brothers find his attempts to copy their chatter hilarious. Those giggles are among life’s best gifts.

Likewise while we are grateful for a chance to visit family and friends old and new, we'd like our remaining time in the US to be short. Would you pray with us that Christ would provide through his church so that we can get back to work in Kenya before this coming June?

Josiah and Jonas have also made significant strides but more of an academic nature. Josiah feeds his love for math through homeschool, and Jonas is taking his first steps toward reading.

I have sent this newsletter to churches and individuals who have expressed interest. If you would like to receive updates like this through email, please email me: [email protected]. You can also keep tabs on me through my blog: www.pittsspot.com. For Christ and Kenya, Jeremy and Jenny (with Josiah, Jonas, and Jamin)

Praise and Prayer Reminders Pray for: • Continued safety in travel • Continued health • Godly and wise parenting Jenny and I have been grateful to share these holidays—opportunities for worship!—with our families. We trust that God has granted you peace and joy during this time of wonder and celebration of the Messiah’s birth and the new year.

• Fruitful stateside minist

ry

God answered many prayers for safety in bringing us down from New York to Texas. Over and over he reminds us that we are in his hands and that, no matter what, he is trustworthy, wise, and unstoppable.

• Full support by April