A Couple of Religious Notes

Phil showed this video during his sermon last week and I liked enough that I would like to share it. (Of course, if you subscribe to this journal via RSS Feed or email, you will have to go to the website to watch the video.)




Also, Mark’s latest newsletter is ready for your perusal. 

The Taiwan Times 

By Mark Wolfram 

Reporting on God’s Mission in Taiwan 

April 2010 

Good Friday and Easter 

 
Good Friday and Easter were two wonderful opportunities to share the Gospel during the month of April. On Good Friday, Salvation Lutheran Church had special service, which featured a dramatic reading of the trail and death of Jesus. I read the part of Pontius Pilate. The great thing about this service is that we were able to incorporate many friends from Friday Night Bible Study, some of whom are not Christians yet, but keep coming back to learn more about Jesus. It was great that they were able to come to the Chinese service and hear about how Jesus loved them so much he died on a cross for their sins. I pray that God will use that service to continue working in the lives of students and friends from Friday Night Bible Study.

Of course, the most important part of the story is Easter, when Jesus showed his mastery over death, sin, and the devil. For Easter, we had a church full, including many children, who came with a parent. The church incorporated a special Easter celebration with the Saturday kids camp, so several children attended for special activities, including an Easter egg hunt after church. Of course the best news is that they and their family were able to hear about Jesus’ resurrection, and the new life that is given through Christ.

Changes
Next year, I am blessed to be having a change in my position here in Taiwan. While I will still be a teacher here at CMS, my teaching duties will be dropping down to half-time. The other part of my job will be to serve as a liaison, communicating between and helping to meet the needs of the American teachers, Concordia Middle School, and LCMS World Mission. In addition, I will help to organize and facilitate the use of short term missionaries that come to Taiwan. I will be taking this job to help compensate for the fact that our coordinator, Matt Wasmund, will be moving from this field. I will not take over supervisor responsibilities that he has, but rather will be working on coordination and communication. 

I know that this job will be a big transition and will bring many new challenges and a lot of hard work. I am excited about serving in this capacity, and look forward to the growth for both me personally and for the ministry here in Taiwan. I would really appreciate your prayers for the Wasmunds, Concordia Middle School, the American teachers, and me as we all make this transition together. I pray that God will be glorified through it and it would be used to further his kingdom, even at the expense of personal desires and wants.
  

Fundraising 

 
I also want to continue the dialogue about fundraising for next year. As I wrote in my March Newsletter, I am needing to raise $9,500 for the coming year. This year there is a new policy concerning extension of missionaries. In order to enter the extension phase, a current missionary must raise 25% of his or her fundraising goal. At this point, the missionary is officially recognized as extending.
After being extended, the missionary cannot return to his or her field until 70% of the fundraising goal has been met. Thus in my situation, I need to raise $2,375 to enter the extension phase, and then $6,650 to be able to return to Taiwan.
God has always been faithful with fundraising, and through your help both through prayers and finances, I am confident these goals will be met. As always, I appreciate your prayerful consideration of helping to support the ministry here in Taiwan.
My summer dates are not set yet, but I would love to come and meet you to share about the ministry here in Taiwan. If you are interested, please email me and we can be in contact over the next month.
Even if a visit is not possible, I would be love to send you a movie and some information the mission work here in Taiwan. Include a mailing address in an email, and I can definitely send that to any individuals, churches, or fellowship groups.
If you feel called to support in this regard, please send a check to: 

Missionary Support
LCMS World Mission
1333 S. Kirkwood Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122

On the memo line for the check please write “Mark Wolfram account #50152”.
Finally, we are still looking for new teachers for next year. If you know of someone who would be interested in teaching overseas and serving as a missionary, please contact me or LCMS World Mission. It is such a blessing to work out here in Taiwan, and I would be happy to explain the situation more and answer any questions that someone might have.
Please continue to pray that God will prepare people to new teachers for next year. 

It’s Prayer Time 

  1. Pray for the Wasmunds, Concordia Middle School, the American teachers and me as transitions take place for next year. Pray specifically that God would give me the wisdom, guidance, strength and patience need for the coming year.
  2. Pray for my continued Chinese learning. This will be a big component of my new position and pray that God will help me to continue to improve and work hard to study Chinese.
  3. Pray for new teachers to come serve next year in Taiwan.
  4. Pray for the teachers who will be leaving Taiwan and are currently seeking employment in the U.S.
  5. Pray for my 8th grade student Jack, who is preparing to be baptized sometime in the next couple of months. Praise God for his faith, and have him bless Jack.

And we know that in all things, God works for th egood of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

Romans 8:28 

God’s peace, hope and love be with you all! 

Mark