As April arrives with sunshine and melting snow, the excitement of colorful flowers, chirping songbirds, and new life fills my heart with joy.  It seems that winter held it’s icy grip longer this year somehow, but now it draws to an end.  As the warming weather allows us to enjoy more outdoor activities, my mind is racing with the possibilities!

There are some events that have threatened to dampen our joy.  With only three months passing this year, God has already brought our family several opportunities to trust Him fully.

#1     The first opportunity sprouted as a large deficit in our financial support in 2019. (This was before the current economic complications brought about by #3) Arctic Barnabas Ministries requires that we seek more monthly, quarterly and yearly committed financial supporters to join our family in mission here in Alaska. This need alone begs to be first and foremost on our list of overwhelming challenges. But it was quickly followed by another.

#2     As  March arrived, we heard the news, “This baby has no heartbeat.” And just like that, our sweet baby number six, a baby girl, stopped being a joyful anticipation and instead became an object of pain, loss, and temptation to doubt God’s plan. (We are comforted by knowing that she is with the Lord, but our hearts and empty arms ache right now.)

#3     Now, as April begins with coronavirus spreading at full strength, our “normal” daily routine is upended. This one is a multi-layered challenge, full of unknowns. How far will this virus infect and harm those we know and love?  How long will it last? How bad of an effect will this pose to our economy and will that also affect our financial support?

I recognize that Satan is cunning and eager to destroy the righteous, by thought or deed. My heart begs to panic and allow fear to overthrow any joy in sight, but God’s TRUTH brings us hope. So, in obedience to God’s Word, I am, and we as a family are, seeking to “bring every thought captive” and trust Him.  (2 Cor.10:5)

Jeremiah 17:7-9

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
9 “The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?

He is Jehovah Jireh, meaning “the Lord will provide” in Gen. 22:14.

“When my heart is overwhelmed;…you have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.” – Ps 61: 2b-3.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” – Heb 10:23

 

Would you join us in prayer as we face these challenges?  

I pray you can fully trust him today, even though the future is unclear.

Be strong in the Lord!

– Jeffrey

2018 02 Men’s Ltr Jeffrey

Winter 2017 Newsletter

2017 04 Men’s Ltr Jeffrey

Partner with the Jeffrey & Bethany

This first month of the year we have one birthday in our home, Jeffrey’s, and our anniversary to  celebrate!  It’s also a time to look back over the past 6months, evaluate and look ahead at a desired plan for ministry travel/visits.  As a family of six it is harder for us to all travel when we make our journey into Alaskan villages. ABM’s aircraft max capacity are 6 people and that includes the pilot. Before June this year we can all travel by air together if opportunity presents itself but after that Selah turns 2 and FAA regs say she needs her own seat.

The ministry families Bethany and I care for range from the far North of Barrow to Port Graham in the South. From Scammon Bay in the West to Fort McPherson in Canada. A very broad distance to cover and we are so thankful for the traveling options to be able to reach most of these places. As a ministry we use our two aircraft, Cessna 206 & Piper Aztec, which both serve in different ways to personally fly our small staff out to remote areas. We also use the commercial carriers throughout AK that routinely fly in and out of all the villages if the situation/need arises. If travel to the south is desired we can use the commercial ferry system to go out to Kodiak Island area. Of course if our travels keep us in the South East of mainland AK we usually use the road system which connects all the way down the the lower 48.

Bethany and I desire to be effectively reaching out to the servants we are so thankful to serve. Effectiveness in this type of ministry is not always something you can put your finger on and we leave that with the Lord. Please pray with us as we look ahead and plan our years worth of travel plans and ways to serve. Would you commit to prays for servants in remote Alaskan villages living the gospel and bearing Christ’s name?

Pray also for a pull behind camper trailer for our travel needs on the road system and into Canada that would make travel with our entire crew a bit easier.

Another of our continual prayers is that we might have sweet relationships with our God that enable us to reach out from its overflow.

Thank you for your prayers,

for King & Kingdom!

Jeffrey

Join US in ministry…

 

ABM Short – Kako from Flyingtosave on Vimeo.

We were privileged to fly a short day trip to help a missionary family move their supplies.  So many of the remote villages in Alaska have no road access, some have boat access but the majority are only reachable by air.

 

 

A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW!   I sat at the conference table deep in thought remembering the words, “You are an average pilot so we would like you to pursue being a mechanic after more training.”  These words suddenly closed the door on y long-expected plan.  I knew God directed my life, but felt disappointment and utter confusion, knowing God pointed me towards this from long ago.

From age thirteen I felt God directed my heart and life toward becoming a missionary pilot.  Not until my father retired from the military to follow God’s call into missions was I aware of the vast need for the Gospel all over the world.  My privilege as a staff kid at the Bible School in Wisconsin for New Tribes Missions surrounded me with Christians who worked in all parts of the world.  I felt God tugging my heart toward missions as a pilot and for the next many years I trained to pursue this calling: flight trianing (2yrs); Bible School (2yrs); aircraft maintenance training (2yrs); and more intense flight training (5yrs).  Finally the day came to complete the last hurdle for New Tribes Mission Aviation – the evaluation.

As I sat at the conference table after hearing those door-closing words, I immediately asked God, Now what?

I’m sad to say I struggled greatly with that transitional time.  I couldn’t see the next step and I didn’t like it.  The truth became clear: I am a control freak.  I seek a certain amount of control in my life.  I carry a Leatherman to have the tool I need in the moment.  I clip flashlight to my pocket so I never meet darkness unprepared.  I even choose waterproof boots/shoes so I can go anyplace and be ready.  Suddenly I found myself trained and ready but at a complete halt.  I remember being a lousy husband and father during the first few days as I internally argued with God, questioned the events that took place and scrutinized my performance.

I never doubted God, and His goodness, not once.  I did however, fail to TRUST Him.  I wanted the answer, the “flight plan,” complete with all the details and ,most importantly, the end result.  I had to answer to people back home, our supporters, but I felt empty handed.

Alone at my dining room table early one morning  before the family stirred, I talked with God, still asking what/when/how, but in a much less anxious state.  I knew God controlled my future and I knew He always glorified Himself through it all.  That much I clung to as truth.  God spoke to me that morning and gave me an answer but I needed time to fully understand it.

He showed me the story of Joseph, how his future looked bright until one day everything turned upside down.  Although betrayed, imprisoned in a foreign land, and accused but innocent Joseph never sat in the corner a sob story.  In fact, Joseph trusted God so much in the midst of the overwhelming unknown that he gave a stellar performance.  As a prisoner he became overseer of the prisoners and later, second-in-command of all Egypt.  God showed me how faithful Joseph was to just DO and leave the results with Him.  Joseph gave his all for his God regardless of the circumstances and trusted His faithful Creator with the outcome.  God wanted this from me.

Time was crucial in this learning process.  It allowed my wife and me to stop moving and ponder what God gave as our core burden.  We asked God to clearly help us evaluate His calling in our lives.  What a refreshing time filled with a lot of prayer and intent listening!   After some Godly council, we gained a refined vision for the new path ahead.  Soon after, God clearly pointed us to Arctic Barnabas Ministries as our new destination and place of service.

Now I get excited when I hear of people’s situations not going as planned.  I get to remember what God did for us when I thought I could not take any more changes.  Other people’s roadblocks give me an opportunity to share my story, and to encourage them to keep trusting God even though they can’t see the road ahead.

I now look at scriptures like Psalm 37:3-9 in a new light.

Trust in the Lord, and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light , and thy judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prosperity in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth

For King & Kingdom,

-Jeffrey