Our team from Trinity Grace Church made it to South Korea!
God was kind. In spite of all the continued restrictions for Covid, paperwork, and long flights, the team made it to Seoul and are now enjoying fellowship with our sister church in Korea. Praise the Lord!
This year’s trip consists of a conference & an English camp. Songwhan & Pastor Walt are leading a conference beginning today entitled Above All Earthly Fears—seeking to address the difficult days we are living in & the need to trust God. This conference is open to all church members, as well as friends, neighbors, etc.
During the sessions of the conference, the mission team is conducting an English camp for the youth of Lord’s Grace Church. It’s kind of a combination of ESL and VBS!
In addition to the members from Cornerstone Church of Knoxville, please be praying for Abbi-Jean Howard, Rachel and Tim Wilson, and Pastor Walt this week.
Pray for:
Continued health and energy
Many people to attend the conference and ESL camp
Songwhan and Walt’s leadership of the conference
Rich fellowship in the Lord that transcends language and culture
The encouragement of Lord’s Grace Church
Introducing The New Sovereign Grace Missions Newsletter
For us in Sovereign Grace, we see global missions as “the great commission work of making and maturing disciples around the world.” This is something that Jesus himself calls us to in Matt 28.18-20, when he says,
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We’re therefore passionate about this. Knowing that Jesus is always with us, we’re eager to embrace this call and run into this mission, with both purpose and faith. And this new newsletter and blog, taking over from the Emerging Nations newsletter and blog, is the joyful reporting of the fruit of those endeavors.
Make no mistake, it is all the Lord’s doing. In our global endeavors to establish new congregations (Church Planting), partner in new places (Emerging Nations) and reach new cultures (Missionaries), it is Jesus who is leading and strengthening the charge. Wherever we are, it is always His doing, and so what a joy it is to tell you about what He’s doing!!
Please feel free to help us spread the word about this newsletter and blog. You can access it directly here (www.sgcmissions.org/blog) or sign up for the monthly newsletter at the bottom of the page here (www.sgcmissions.org).
Things to Pray for In June
John Piper says that "prayer equals dependence on God” and when it comes then to all that we have planned globally, oh how we need Him! Here’s some headlines for you on how you can be praying for the work of Sovereign Grace Churches around the world in June...
Please pray for Joselo Mercado (Lead Pastor of Iglesia Gracia Soberana in Gaithersburg), as he heads to Colombia (7-15th June) to spend time with two churches that are seeking adoption into SGC: Iglesia Soberana Gracia, Santa Marta and Iglesia Biblica de la ciudad en Barranquilla. He then heads to the Dominican Republic (15-20th June) to give a main session at the Por Su Causa, a conference run by our friend Miguel Nuñez. This is a big platform to share the gospel of Grace and the centrality of Jesus in everything. Please pray for much grace and favour for Joselo as he serves in this way.
Please pray for Andy Farmer (Pastor in Covenant Fellowship, Glen Mills, USA) as he leads the final US Church Planting Cohort retreat (3rd-5th June) for the 2021-2022 intake. Each of the men involved in this cohort face distinct opportunities and obstacles, as relating to mission, and so please pray that this time will bring Holy Spirit illumination and faith as they spend time together as a group.
Please pray for Jeffrey Jo (Lead Pastor of CCSGM, Manila, Philippines), as he leads a team to Surigao del Sur, Philippines (23-29th June) to lead a mid-year leadership conference. In addition to the 13 churches that we have in that region, that are presently ‘SG Candidate Churches’, we are expecting around 130 church leaders at that conference, with so many showing a keen interest in Sovereign Grace. Please pray for protection, provision and Gospel-passion in their hearts. Please also pray for the two elders that will be staying behind for three weeks to minister and strengthen the thirteen churches that are already involved with us.
Please pray for Dyonah Thomas (Lead Pastor of Gracelife Church, in Monrovia, Liberia) as he prepares for the launch of the ‘Sovereign Grace West Africa Pastors & Planters Academy’, at the end of this month. There will be 10 students attending with their families, on a full-time basis, coming from four different countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast. We’re so excited to see this coming together, as we plan for a number of SG West Africa Church Plants in 2023-25.
Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, and in particular those that are connected to us through Jeff Purswell and the Arche Church in Hamburg, Germany. In their own words, “Please pray that the Lord will give His peace in the hearts of believers and remove all fear. For the Gospel of Jesus to be a stronghold and a strong foundation in rebellious circumstances. For believers to support one another and keep their eyes on Christ. And for Christians to witness the Gospel to unbelievers and help them find peace in Jesus.” May they know His nearness and peace at this time, even in their darkest hour.