My Latest Newsletter - Mailed Out In lLate April

Newsletter: Spring 2009

• Growth In Macedonia

The Lord is doing great things in Macedonia. Outreaches have taken place, a team has already come and blessed the church, and growth is happening not only in nature but in our church! Life has been busy but such busyness is quite necessary in times of growth. Thank you all for your love and commitment to my ministry and spiritual growth through your giving. I have indeed been blessed to have such a group of family and friends supporting the ministry that God has allowed me to be a part of here in Macedonia

• Recent Activities

In the past two months we have hosted a lot of activities a the church in Shutka. First, we held an outreach where we invited the parents of all the kids that we see at our feeding and children's programs. We wanted to show them just what they let their kids come to and also how much fun we always have. We had a turnout of over 130 people! It was a hugely successful outreach! We even saw some of the parents start coming to our adult service on Sunday nights.
The next outreach we held was on the International Day of the Gypsy. For this holiday we had a musical group from another gypsy church come and put on a concert. All the songs were in Romani, the gypsy language, and they were all Christian praise songs! It was powerful! The church was packed and everyone had a good time praising God in Romani. After the concert we also offered free food to everyone that attended the concert. At this outreach we had over 170 people attending!
In mid to late April we hosted a building team from a church in Naperville, Illinois. They worked with us for about 10 days and were busy the whole time working towards finishing multiple projects on our church campus. The team hung sheetrock in our church building and built a kitchen and classroom into it. The kitchen will give us room to grow in our feeding program and the classroom will be used for a multitude of things including an English class that I will get to later in this letter.
At the end of the Naperville teams time here, we held a large Convoy of Hope outreach where we put on a carnival and passed out groceries. Me and another MA were in charge of organizing carnival type games, and we had a bounce house and a merry-go-round. Some of the kids had never seen such things as they've never been out of their small community. There was also a band, and a short message was given. We had too many people there to count but we know it was a blessing to the community. Shutka is quickly learning that there are people here who care about them and God is slowly starting to grow His church amongst them.

• Personal Ministries

I have continued managing the finances and helping out at the Soup Kitchen. We recently saw a new record of 90 kids come to be fed. We have recently been approved and are getting ready to move from being budgeted for 70 kids - 3 days a week, to 100 kids - 5 days a week. It will be a big change and will definitely keep us busy, but it will be worth it because we know that we will be able to love on and bless even more people. The new kitchen mentioned above couldn't have come at a better time!
I have launched the fist phase of our new youth ministry in the form of an English language class. As I am not yet fluent in Macedonian, and we dont have someone to start a full youth group, this seemed a good first step. I have been teaching English every Friday for the last 5 or 6 weks to between 10-20 young people. It's already showing results as we have all been able to build better relationships with the kids and that is the first step towards discipleship.
I am giving saxophone lessons to Sam, Brian Thomas' 13 year old son. He's doign well and soon I'll have my sax to be able to help teach him. I'm planning on starting bass lessons with another missionary kid, Caleb White. We'll probably start in June. On another musical note, I am scheduled to lead worship at our South Eastern Europe Area retreat in Greece. At this point, I'm scheduled for 2 sets, but I was asked to be ready for more. For one of them, I will be accompanied by Caleb's sister, Daniella White. So even though I'm in Macedonia, God is still using music as a large part of my ministry life.

• Coming Soon

My parents will be visiting me from May 12th to May 21st. I will finally be able to show them at least a glimpse of how life is for me here. It will be my dad's first time traveling internationally and both of them will have to rely on me to get around as most people, if they speak any English, speak very little. Besides a little role reversal, it will just be great to see them again. I wish I could have all of you out here to see how God is using me here.
When summer comes, Brian and I will be traveling a little more than normal doing some evangelism ministry in the surrounding countries. We will be traveling with a team of Macedonian young people putting on a musical drama geared towards telling children about the love of Jesus. It's a powerful ministry and the proof is obvious since there's even a team member that was saved when she watched the drama as a child. We'll also be hosting at least 2 more American teams before the summer is up. One will be here for another Convoy of Hope outreach towards the end of May. It will be called "Days of Hope" and God has already used events just like it here in so many ways. Many of the newer Macedonian believers were either saved or baptized the last time such an event was held. It's a 3 day event so there will be plenty of time for all kinds of ministries.

• Finances

I am going to need to make a trip to the states for my Visa soon. I'll be going to Detroit in the next month or so, hopefully, to complete my Visa process so I can stay a full 2 years. In order to do this, I will be needing a few extra one-time donations. This isn't optional for me. When I arrived, the laws changed here and foreigners will have to go the Macedonian embassies in the countries they are from to complete their Visa processes.
As my abilities increase with the language my responsibilities increase. One of the main things Brian would like me to do is to be able to multiply the things he is able to do. In other words, he needs me to be able to do things in his place if he is pulled to other responsibilities. In order for us to meet this need, we have decided to get me a vehicle. The vehicle will be purchased with money from a former MA's vehicle so that won't be an issue. As we all know though, having vehicles costs money. I will be needing money for gas and basic maintenance of the vehicle.
The trip to Detroit would only cost me airfare and food as lodging should be taken care of already. This means I will need around $1,000 US to go. The vehicle costs will only be around $30 US a month so any increases in pledges would be helpful in covering that. If any of you haven't given and would like to give a one-time donation towards my Detroit trip, please do so, it would be a blessing! If any of you that already support me on a monthly basis are able to increase your pledges a few dollars a month, or if you would like to pledge and haven't yet, that would be greatly appreciated as well. You are able to send pledges or donations to: AGWM 1445 N. Boonville Ave. Springfield, MO, 65803-1894. Please write the account number 2943561 in the memo line of your checks.
I hope you all know I am extremely grateful to all who have supported me thus far both in prayers and in giving. Without God using you in that way I wouldn't be able to do any of the things you've read about in this letter. You are all a tremendous blessing to me. Know that God is growing me in so many ways!

• Prayer Needs

1. Pray for favor from the government. I am in process of getting my Visa and it is nerve-racking. I know if God wants me here, and it seems He does, He will keep me here.
2. Pray for my finances. My monthly funding has been solid and I thank God for every one of you that have given so that I can be here. Pray that they keep coming so I can stay here and do the work God has brought me here to do.
   
3. Pray for the ministries that we have going on weekly and the outreaches that are coming up in Shutka and the rest of Macedonia. Trust me, the effects of your prayers on the lives of the people here are tremendous!
4. Pray that God will continue to grow my understanding of the Macedonian language that I may be able to make an even greater impact in people's lives for Christ.
5. Finally, pray for my parent's trip here that they are kept safe and that they will be able to take a great testimony back to you all about the things God is doing here.

I can't tell you how much of a blessing you all are for supporting me while I'm here in both giving and prayers. You are making all of this possible. Thank you so much! I love to hear from people back home; it never fails to be encouraging. Please feel free to write me or email me. If y ou have Skype, you can find me on there and we can talk! I would love to hear from you and give you more details about my life here. You can contact my parents for my mailing info or send me an email and I will get it to you. I love you all, and miss you greatly!

Yours in Christ,

Christopher Parkinson