Another STAS Update

Fellow laborers,

Hello and Happy New Year! Here is another update from the Stateside.  I had a wonderful time with my family for Christmas as we celebrated the incarnation of our Lord and the reason He came.

Last month, I also got to speak at chapel where my mother teaches first grade.  Here's a photo of my with her first graders.

I have recently returned from Virginia where I attended the Stateside Conference.  I got to spend the week with many other field personnel.  I was blessed by the fellowship of my colleagues and by the preaching of David Brady.

Next week, I plan to attend the G3 Conference in Douglasville, GA (Jan 20-23).  The theme this year is the doctrine of the trinity.

The week after, I will also participate in the missions conference of the Covington Baptist Association in Andalusia, AL (Jan 30-31).

In February, I plan to participate in the True Church Conference in Muscle Shoals, AL (Feb 18-21).  The theme this year is the doctrine of sin.

Another issue I’d like to address is the second phase that the IMB has implemented to address the financial shortcomings.

This second phase is called a Hand-Raising Opportunity (HRO), which is basically a voluntary resignation, allowing all full-time missionaries who take the HRO to transition from the field over the next several months. 

On Jan 14, the details of the HRO incentive was announced.  And now, our leadership has asked all field personnel to pray, seek the Lord, and discuss with their supervisors regarding whether to accept the HRO incentive or not. 

By Feb 22, a decision either way must be made.  If accepted, the final day of employment will be  about eight weeks later.

Here is a link to a Q&A concerning the IMB reset and the VRI and HRO.

Please pray for me and all of my colleagues as we seek wisdom from the Lord regarding this decision to take or reject the HRO incentive. Also, continue to pray for those who have accepted the VRI as they are transitioning from the field.

Again, we serve a sovereign God, and we know that the gospel will continue to go out to the ends of the earth unhindered even with 600-800 missionaries leaving the field.

Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send out laborers.

Pray that the peoples of Colombia would be reached with the Gospel.
_____

For the glory of His Name
and the Furtherance of His Kingdom!

Kenan

1 Corinthians 1:9

God is faithful, 

by whom you were called 

into the fellowship of his Son, 

Jesus Christ our Lord.