• GFA Family Conference:Forplanningahead!TheGFAconferenceatTheWILDSin2018willbeheldMay28–June1.WehopeyoucanputthisintoyourscheduleandjoinusforawonderfultimeoffellowshipandrefreshmentifyouwillbeintheStates.

• Recordings from this year’s GFA Family ConferenceareavailabletoallofourGFAfamily.

LogontoourwebsitetolistenanddownloadtheMP3sofeachsession.ThefileswillbeavailableuntilNovember1,2017.

• Prayer letter timing:Pleasebemindfulofthetimingofprayerrequestsinyourprayerletters.Itcantakeaweekortwo(ifGFAhandlesyourletter)foraprayerlettertobeprocessedandsent,andbulkmaildeliverymaytakeanother10–14days.

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July 2017

Contents:

BookReview

GFAFamilyNews

Challenge

Announcements

ImportantAnnouncements

GFAFieldMemo

Dr.MarshallFantwilljoinourGFAhomeofficestaffonAugust1,2017,toleadournewChurchDevelopmentProgram,whichwillincludethesupervisionofourInterimPastorMinistry.Thenewprogramisaspecialoutreachministrytorescueandrevitalizestrugglingchurches,aneedthatwasidentifiedbytheGFABoardin2015.Dr.Fantwillalsobeavailabletoconsultwithchurchesonleadership,discipleship,financial,andfacilitydecisions.Dr.MichaelPrivettwillcontinuehisexcellentworkinexpandingourChurchPlantingProgramwithbothadomesticandcross-culturalemphasis.Heisalsoworkingonatrainingprogramtodeveloplocalleadership.

Dr.Fantbringsmanyyearsofpersonalexperienceandpassiontohisnewposition.HehasearnedadoctorofministrydegreefromCentralBaptistTheologicalSeminaryinMinnesota,themasterofdivinitydegreefromBobJonesUniversity,andabachelorofsciencedegreeinadministrativemanagementfromClemsonUniversityandhascompletedseveraltracksofnoutheticcounselingtraining.Asamissionarychurch-plantingcouple,heandhiswifeGretchenreplantedtheHarvestBaptistChurchinRockHill,SouthCarolina,in1996andsawitgrowfromanaverageattendanceof12to260people.

PartneringwithhisfatherintheleadershipofFant’sOfficeSuppliesinAnderson,SC,from1977to1993,Marshallbecamefamiliarwithshort-andlong-rangebusinessplans,humanresourcesproceduresandchallenges,employeetrainingprograms,purchasingandaccountsreceivableissues,goalsetting,andvariousapplicationsofcomputersystems.

MarshallandGretchenFanthavebeenmarriedsince1981.TheFantshavefivegrownchildrenandninegrandchildren.TheywillbemovingtoEasley,SC,inJuly.

FurloughProgram

ThephotographsonthenextfivepagesweretakenthisyearattheGFAFamilyConferenceattheWilds.

GFA’sFurloughReplacementProgram

Whatifmissionariescouldhaveconfidencewhentheycamehometoreporttohomechurchesthattheirministrywasingoodhandsandwouldcontinueintheirabsences?Whatiftherewereaministryforfolkswhocannotbefull-timeforeignmissionariesbutarewillingtogoonashortertimecommitment?Thereis!GFA’sFurloughReplacementProgramwasdesignedtohelpourmissionariesbyhavingsomeonereplacethemduringatimeofextendedabsence.

What are the expectations of a furlough replacement couple?Missionariesshouldexpectreplacementstomeettheneedsoftheministryandmaintaintheworkaswellascontinuetogrowthework.Itisimportanttocommunicatetothespecificneedsoftheministrypriortotheproposedfurlough.ThecouplesthathavebeenacceptedintotheFurloughReplacementProgramhavebeenvettedthroughGFAandhavebeenformallyacceptedtothemission.TheirdesireaswellasthatofGFAisthattheyenhancetheministryinthemissionary’sabsence.Communicationiskey!

What are the replacement missionary’s needs?Mostreplacementcouplesareeitherretiredorareself-supported.Theydonothaveministrysupport.Theyarevolunteeringtheirtimeandresourcestohelpfillthegapandmaintaintheministry.MostaremaintainingtheirownhomesandtransportationintheStateswhiletheyareaway,andmanyarelivingonfixedincomes.Therefore,GFAasksthatyouallowthesefolkstostayinyourhomeduringtheirministryandutilizeyourmeansoftransportation.Utilitiesandhouseholditemswillbetheresponsibilityofthereplacementcouple.Thecouplewillprovidetheirowntransportationtoyourplaceofministry.

Withtheincreaseinteammissionsonvariousfields,replacementneedshavediminished.Ifteammemberscancoordinatefurloughsandshareinministryresponsibilitieswhileothersareaway,resourcescanbesavedandcontinuitywillbemaintained.Theultimategoaloneveryfieldistohavenationalleadershipfillinforyou.

Herearesomehelpfulsuggestionstoensureagoodtransitionwithareplacementcouple:

• Planning:o Giveplentyofnoticetothehomeofficesotheyarebetterableto

findappropriatereplacementpersonnel.o Communicateyourtimeframeclearly(i.e.,datesofdepartureand

arrival).o Savemoneyforyourtransition.

• Transition:o Willyouhaveatimeonthefieldtogether?Howwilllodgingand

transportationtoyourministrytakeplace?o Whoarethekeypeopleinyourministrywithwhomthereplacement

couplewillbeworking?o Haveyouconsideredinsuranceonyourhome/carwhileyouare

away?• Communication:

o Emailorpersonalphonecallsshouldbemadetodescribeministryandexpectations.

o Aretherespecialneeds?Doyouhavepets?Howwilltheybehandled?Remember,somefolkshaveallergies.

Ifyouneedafurloughreplacementmissionary,pleasecontactMichaelWest,SpecialAssignmentCoordinatorofGFA:mwest@bju.edu. Return to Top

ChallengefortheMonthbyRev.RandyStuddard

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LastnightasIwasreturningfromtheairport,Iwassittingonthebusandjustobservingthevariedpeople.MosthadprobablyflowninfromsomewherewithinourcountryoranothercountryintheMiddleEast.Iobservedoneyoungmaninhis30s,perhaps,andhisunusual-lookinghat.Itwasnotallthatunusual,butitjustcaughtmyattention.Thehatcouldberolleddownsothattherewouldbeflapsforcoveringtheearsandneck.Itseemedtobemadeofwoolorfelt.Ifiguredhehadcomefromeitherthehighlandarea,whereitisquitecold,orperhapsanothercountry.IfeltashamedthatIprobablyhadsomuchmorethanhedid(althoughhewasnotshabbilydressedbutlookedverynice),andasenseofconcerncameoverme.Iprobablyhavesomuchmoremateriallythanhe,butIprobablyalsohavemorespirituallythanhebecausehemostlikelydoesnotknowthetruth.

Atthatinstant,Ijusthadasenseofloveforthesepeoplethatsometimescometous,noteverydayandnoteveneverymonth,buttherearetimeswhentheLorddoesburdenuswithwantingtobeahelptothesepeople.Ithought,theyarejustsheepwithoutashepherd.Theyneedashepherd.PleasepraywithmethatIwillhaveopportunitiestopresentthegoodWordtothesepeople;especiallytothosewhoareintheout-of-the-wayplaces.Iamquitesureitwilltakeamiracleforustodothat,buttheLordisinthemiracle-workingbusiness.Igrewupinanout-of-the-wayplace,andIstillhaveaheartfor“mykind”offolks.

CongratulationstoBatorys40YearsWithGFA

JohnCalvin:PilgrimandPastorbyW.RobertGodfrey

Thisisthe500thanniversaryoftheReformation,andJohnCalviniscertainlyoneofitsmajorplayers.Heissomeoneweneedtoknowandunderstand.MostofusareawarethatCalvinhasbeengreatlymisun-derstoodandmisrepresenteddownthroughtheyears.Manyfolkshavelabeledhimasanegative,judgmental,joylesspurveyorofChristianity,butnoneofthosethingsaretrue.ThisbookbyGodfreyisarelativelyeasyreadandisadelightfulportrayalofthistruemanofGod.Calvinhadagiftedmind,buthewasalsoagreatpastor.

Theauthordividesthebookintotwoparts:CalvinasapilgrimandCalvinasapastor,withthebulkofthematerialabouthimasapastor.OneofthestrengthsofthebookisthatitnotonlyprovidesabiographyofCalvin;italsodescribesthecontextofCalvin’slifeandhowthataffectedhisteachingandhistheology.AsGodfreydevelopshiscontent,heout-lineschaptersonthechurchandworship,thechurchandthesacraments,andthechurchandpredestination.HealsoincludesachapteronCalvinaspastoralcounselor.ReadingthisbookgavemeanewappreciationforCalvin’sclarityofthought.Whilewedonotagreewithhimineverypoint,byandlargewehavetoacknowledgehewasaclearandbiblicalthinker.

Calvinwasessentiallyanexpositorypreacher.That’swhyeventodaywefindhiscommentariesonvariousbooksoftheBibletobeuseful.OneshouldalsoappreciateCalvin’semphasisonsimplicityofworship.Hewasopposedtoidolatryofanysortandthusstressedsimplicityofadorn-mentandworship.Hereallylikedtofocusonsinging,Bibleexposition,andprayer.GodfreypointsoutthatCalvin“significantlyincreasedthecentralityofmusicbyinstitutingcongregationalsinging.”Itwasnottobeaccompaniedbymusicalinstruments,however,sowewoulddisagreewithhispositiononinstruments,butthesimplicityofworshipmusthavebeenabeautifulthing.

AsweenterthisyearofcelebratingReformationhistory,considerreadingaboutJohnCalvin.Godfrey’sbookwillgiveyouaninsightfulpictureofthisremarkablemanofGod.

BookReviewbyDr.AlanPatterson

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Daniel and Jenn Arnold—Wearepreparingforaneight-weekfurloughnextmonth.

Todd and Kathy Beaman—OursonAndrewisintheUSMCandisenjoy-inghisservice.PleaseprayforhiswifeAmandaasshebattlesLymedisease.

Tim and Laura Berrey—ThePlanningYourLifeGod’sWayseminarthatTimhasheldinseverallocationsinthreecountrieshasbeensuchablessingtopeoplethatwehavebeenworkingonabook.ThedigitalversionisnowavailableonAmazon,andthepaperbackshouldfollowshortly.WethankGodforthestaminatocompletethisprojectinthemidstofourrecentbusyschedule!Seehttps://www.ama-zon.com/Planning-Your-Life-Gods-Way/dp/1545535329/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496338961&sr=1-1&keywords=Planning+Your+Life+God%27s+Way.

Brian and Erin Bollon—AttheendofJune,Bella(9)andEmmett(8)willhavecompletedayearofTaiwanesepublicschool.We’resothankfulforGod’sgracetoallofusthroughtheschoolyear.

Martha Cochran—TheLordcontinuestogivemestrengthtokeepupwithmyresponsibilities.I’mstartingtoworkonthebookandhelpwiththeeditingof50EnglishBibleTimedevotionals.TomorrowIwillgointothehospitalforaweektohavesurgeryonTuesdaytoputatubeinmystomachincaseIcan’tswallowinthefuture.Nutritionwillgostraighttomystomach.There

aresomerisksinvolved,especiallywithmusclesthatcontrolbreathing,soIamreallyprayingforGod’sprotectionduringthissurgery.

Tony and Martha Cornelius—Grandson#2justarrivedtodaughterJamieandherhusbandTaylorFleury.EthanwasbornMay24at9.9pounds.Also,congratulationsareinorder—sonTJisnowengagedtoAnnaVincent.ADecemberweddingisintheworks.

Bill and Glenda Davis—Godissogood!ThroughthespecialgraceandprovisionofGod,wewereabletoseeallofourchildrenandgrandchil-dren(andabrand-newonetheweekofourvisit).FromColoradotoNewHampshiretoMexicowithstopsinbetween,theLordgaveusexcellenttraveling,andHistravelingmercieswerereadilyevident.Thisten-weekfurloughsolidifiedwhatGodhasdoneinapost-Christiansociety.Ithastakenthreefull-timemissionaryfamiliesover37yearstoseeoneindigenouschurchplanted—nowsupportingapastor,teachers,andkindergartenworkersandreachingouttothecommunityandworld.Prayforcontinuedprogressandbuildingplans.

Tom and Jane Dotson—Wehavebeenhelpingwithsomeofourgrand-childrenandgreatlyenjoythecuddlesweoftenreceive.Thechildrenaresoprecious.Janegreatlyenjoysrockingthelittleonetosleep.

Ellen Doyle—Mymotherhaslivedafullandlonglife;sheisnowwiththeLord.IthankGodthatIhadthe

opportunitytoleadhertotheLordabouttwoyearsago.Prayforoppor-tunitieswithmyunsavedfamilythisweekend.

Buzz and Judy Ferguson—Our16-year-oldgranddaughter,Lennox,isworkingattheAnchorageCampagainthissummer.Wewillmissherbutaresoexcitedforallthatshewilllearn.OurgrandsonMaxwillbecomingforaweekinAugusttoworkatourVBS.Hissisterswillbehere,too,toattendVBS.OurgreatestjoyisseeingthemservingtheLordintheiryoungyears.

Mervin and Norma Fox—Normafelldownthedeckstepsatourson’shouseinEasley;shebrokeherrightankle,bonesintherightfootandthebigtoeonherleftfoot.Thepainisprettyintense,andthehealingpro-cesswillbe6–8weeks.I,Mervin,willbehavinglungsurgeryonJune23toremoveagrowthontheupperrightlung.NormaandIarereallyincom-petitionwitheachother.Wewouldappreciateyourprayers.

Holly Gilbert—PraisetheLordforatremendousfirstyearinSouthAfricaandfortheopportunitytoestablishmanyrelationships.PleaseprayfortheunsavedchildrenandadultstowhomweareministeringintheRavensmeadchurch-plantingeffort,particularlyoneboyandtwoladieswhoseemnearsalvation.

Gary and Edie Jones—I(Edie)havebeensoblessedtocomebacktoGreenvilletohelpMikeewithhernewbabyLuca.Hehasimprovedsomuch

NewsfromourGFAFamily

Who will win—the red team or the blue team?

fromhiscolicandacidreflux.It’salsoanansweredprayerthatZanreturnedsafelyfromhermedicalmissionstriptoIraq.Helpusprayforaclearguid-anceforJoshasheseeksGod’swillafterhiscontractendsinKorea.Caseyhadawonderfultimebeingapartofthechildren’scampathischurchthispastweek.IhadasoulrefreshingweekattheGFAconferenceatTheWilds—awonderfultasteofHeaventofellowshipwithourmissionariesandtoheartheirtestimoniesandwhatGodisdoinginthevariousfieldsrepresentedthispastweek.Iwasspirituallyandphysicallyrefreshedandrecharged.IonlywishedthatGarycouldhavebeentheretoo.

Jim and Carol Knakal—PrayforourgranddaughterElena.Atsevenmonths,shehasrequiredninetransfusionsalready.Therearenoplanstostarttreatmenttillsheis12monthsold.

Sam and Penny-Sue Laterza—WepraiseGodthatValeriehassuccessfullyfinishedherhighschoolrequirements,hasbeenacceptedatBobJones

University,andwillbeattendinginthefall.Also,weareexcitedtobereturn-ingtotheStatesforashortfurlough.

Mark and Carol Mavar—WeareexcitedastheLordcausestheMavarclantogrow.Wehavejustbeenblessedwiththebirthofourfifthgrandchild,EzekielJamesPannell.InAugustourdaughterHopeisduewithherfirst,andinSeptemberourdaugh-ter-in-lawisduewithherfirst.EarlierintheyearCaleb’swifeShellygavebirthtotheirsecond,Rosalynne.

Tony and Cathy Payne—PraythattheLordwillsaveallofourgrand-children;theyoungestofthesevenisexpectedtoarriveinJuneinVirginia.JakeandNoelle,almost10and7,evi-dencethattheyarebornagain.Tony’smotherhascontinueddeclininghealthassheundergoesdialysisforrenalfailure.Cathy’smotherstillsometimesrecognizeshervoiceandoccasionallycommunicateswithher.Wearethank-fulthatourmothersknowtheLord.

Melvin and Susan Purvis—MasterChiefJohnisstilldeployedandthe

lastweheardwasstillinthePersianGulf.HisdeploymentissupposedtoendaroundthemiddleofAugust,wethink,andshortlyafterhereturnsheandhisfamilywillmovetoWashingtonState.Theotherthreeandtheirfami-liesarealldoingwell.Susanisholdingherownsofar,andweaskforyourcontinuedprayersonherbehalf.

Terry and Rachel Ritschard—WefoundtwoverycheapticketsonaplanetoFlorida.WespentpartofaweekinFloridatohelpMichaelgethishouseonthemarketandseethosegrandkids.Whatatreat!Wearelook-ingforwardtoaweekwithourentirefamily,includingourgranddaughters.TheweekbeforeBen’swedding,allwillbehereandallwillbewell.ThefollowingweekweplantogobacktoabelovedhomeinPNG.

Doug and Barbara Threlfall—Acceptedasashort-termerwithGFA,oursonAndrewisbackinIndiateach-ingatSouthIndiaBibleBaptistCollegeandSeminary.

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Congratulations, Blue Team!