Team Expansion: The Dunns

July 12, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (For rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person perhaps someone might possibly dare to die.)  But God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:6-8

We are sorry for not getting out a prayer note last week.  We left home on Saturday for the Sports and English Camp, which got us off of routine.  

The above passage of scripture was one of many that we used last week while teaching the students about the sacrifice that the Father God and Jesus made for us.  It will also be part of John’s communion meditation today.  Join with us in praying that truth of this passage will change the hearts of many people in Taiwan.

S&E Camp was great!  We witnessed many lives being changed by the love and truth of our Lord.  There were 15 decisions for Christ made during the week with 8 being baptized at camp.  Others were waiting to go home, while others needed to wait on the Holy Spirit to change the hearts and minds of their parents.  Sophie Hu, one of our girls, was baptized as well as another boy that registered through our church.  Please continue to pray with us for all the campers that attended.

This monday we will be heading back to Taichung for the annual Taiwan Missionary Fellowship Conference (TMF).  This week will be a little easier for us as a family, but Jordan and Rachel will be taking care of preschool children each morning and evening.  Please pray for the week to be a good learning experience and encouragement for the missionaries.  Pray as well for the Jordan and Rachel as they serve we missionaries once again.

Our VBS is coming up in two weeks.  There is much to be done, but we have willing helpers.  Yeah!  Please pray for those who are preparing and the 50 students that will be attending.

Please pray for Mrs. Lio as she has been diagnosed with bone cancer.  She is in the final stages.  Pray that she will make a decision for Christ at this time.  Pray for her family as well as they are all very upset.

Mr. Hu has received his sentence.  He will most likely be jailed for over three years.  There are other things involved in his sentence as well.  He is not certain when he will begin serving his time.  It will probably be soon.  We pray that during the what time we have that he will come to a saving faith in Jesus.

Thank you for supporting our ministry through prayer.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Pray for the truth of the sacrifice of Jesus to change the hearts of the people of Taiwan.

2.  Pray for those who attended S&E Camp to continue to be drawn to God.  Praise God for those who made decisions.

3.  Pray for the upcoming week of TMF especially for Jordan & Rachel as they serve.

4.  Pray for our VBS that runs the 27^th - 31^st.

5.  Pray for the salvation of Mrs. Lio and her cancer.

6.  Pray for the Hu family as they prepare for the time that Mr. Hu is separated from them & for his salvation.

June 28, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends! I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life.”  Philippians 4:1-3 

Today John will be preaching on the above passage.  We as Christians need to remember not to let satan ruin our witness nor slow our work for the Gospel by fighting among ourselves.  We need to learn to seek to the same mind in Christ.  We also need to learn how to help people reconcile their differences so that the cause of Christ is advanced and God is glorified.  Please pray that the Taiwanese Church will learn these lessons.

Thank you for praying for Vivian Tsai and her parents for so long.  Vivian was finally released from the hospital on Saturday just before noon.  Here white blood cell count is very low, so she is being quarantined at home until her immune system is built back up.  Please pray that she will not get sick in the near future and that her parents will continue to have an interest in spiritual things.

Sports and English Camp will begin next Sunday July 5th.  Please pray for everyone that is leading, teaching, assisting in some capacity.  Please pray for all of the students that will attend.  We pray that this camp will bring many to make a decision to choose Christ as their Lord & Savior.  We pray others will be challenged to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ.

Please pray for our VBS that is scheduled for July 27-31^st.  We already have 29 registrations with another nine that should register today.  We had planned to allow 40 children to register, but we may extend it to 50.  Please pray for our teachers and leaders as they prepare, and for the hearts of the children.

Please continue to pray for Jordan & Rachel Wankel as they serve with our missionaries here on Taiwan during the next few weeks.  They will be coming down to Kaohsiung on Monday.  This week they and Chris Sanford will have the opportunity to work at a three day camp at a military high school.  Please pray for them as they serve and adjust to Taiwan.

Please continue to pray for the Hu and Lio families as they learn more about trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  Mrs. Lio has back problems that keep her in bed most of the time.  She is older and has served her gods many years.  She asked for time to consider giving up her gods for Jesus.  Please pray for her as she considers to give up her old way of life for a new life in Christ.

Thank you for praying for these precious people.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for John as he preaches and our congregation to learn to the importance of having the same mind in Christ.

2.  Praise the Lord that Vivian is at home.  Pray that here immune system will grow stronger quickly.  Pray that her parents will keep seeking the Lord.

3.  Please pray for the S&E Camp as it will begin next Sunday July 5^th.

4.  Please pray for our upcoming VBS, July 27-31^st, as we register children and prepare.

5.  Please pray for Jordan & Rachel Wankel as they serve and adjust to Taiwan.

6.  Please pray for Mrs. Lio as she considers choosing Jesus over her old gods.

June 14, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,”  Philippians 3:20

John will be preaching from Philippians 3:17-21 today.  Paul is encouraging the Philippian church to live for Christ.  He calls them to follow the example of those that live as citizens of heaven, not those that are enemies of the cross of Christ.  May we all learn to live as good examples for others by living our our citizenship.  Please pray that the Taiwanese will learn that we are able to live with good character because of our citizenship, not in order to earn citizenship.

Please continue to pray for Vivian.  She is doing well, the infection is not completely gone yet.  She caught a cold for a few days last week as well.  Please continue to pray for the Tsai family as we minister to them and they deal with the staying in the hospital.

His Hands received notice that their application through the National Government to be recognized as a charitable institution set-up to help unwed mothers was denied.  They are now applying through the county government, which is supposed to be a much simpler and easier process.  They problem with the national application was needing a large number of signatures of people with experience in related fields of work, such as social workers, possibly doctors, & nurses.  Please pray that the registration will be accepted through the county government quickly.  There are few adoptions that are in process at this time.  Please pray that they go smoothly.

We are making plans to hold our VBS at the local grade school this summer July 27-31^st.  We are praying for 40 students.  We are also praying that we will have the staff that we need to run the VBS well.  We 11 or 12 at this time.  We could use a few more.  Please pray fro the Holy Spirit to move in the hearts of our people as they prepare and to prepare the hearts of the students to attend.  Please continue to pray for the 100+ students that will be at the Sports and English Camp July 5^th - 11^th.

Please pray for Jordan & Rachel Wankel that will be coming to Taiwan this summer for a month to support our missionaries on island.  They will be assisting with camp, babies, the children’s program at TMF, and VBS preparation.  Please pray for them as they prepare to travel. They will leave the States on June 21^st.

We are very grateful for your support through prayer.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for our congregation as we seek to teach them the truth through God’s Word.

2.  Please pray for Vivian Tsai and her family as she continues to heal in the hospital.

3.  Please pray for the ministry of His Hand as they deal with adoptions, and the registration of the ministry here in Taiwan.

4.  Please continue to pray for our Summer Camp and VBS.

5.  Please pray for Jordan & Rachel Wankel as they prepare to come to Taiwan for a month leaving June 21st.

June 7, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“...,for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:23-24

This is part of the text John will use this morning for communion meditation.  We are so grateful to know that our justification is not based on our righteousness.  Many of the Taiwanese believe that their next life or whether they will move on to “heaven” is based upon their own good deeds.  This part of the Gospel that is difficult for them to accept, but very freeing.  Please pray for the Taiwanese to learn to accept that they need Christ to become righteous.

We ask that you pray for Vivian Tsai and her parents.  Vivian is an eight month old little girl.  We have been helping to care for her during the evenings for the past couple of weeks.  Recently, Vivian had to enter the hospital due to a bug bite on her neck that became infected.  It became very large and was near the brain stem, so the doctors put her in the hospital.  It has gone down recently a significant amount.  Our family and others from the church have been visiting and praying for them in the hospital.  Please pray for her complete healing to happen much sooner than the doctor predicts of 10-14 days and for congregation’s witness to be great.

Please continue to pray for Rei Fang’s father, Mr. Lio.  He had surgery this past Monday on his colon.  He continues to do very well.  Please pray as well for the family to recognize God’s healing hand in the process.

We will be having a meeting today for our summer VBS.  We have already decided that we can take up to 40 students.  Please pray with us for these 40 grade school age children, that God will send to us.  Please pray for planning meetings and preparation as well.

Chris Sanford continues to meet people and witness to them often.  Almost every week God brings someone new into his life for him to meet.  Three that he is consistently trying to witness to are Larry, Polly, and Eda.

On June 15 Dave & Jeanay Stiles are going to conducting an introductory seminar for the Scriptures in Use Bible storytelling training with a church in their area.  John will be translating for Dave at the seminar.  Please pray that the translation will be smooth and that the church will desire to actually accept the training.

Thank you for praying for these items.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for the Taiwanese people to come to Christ to be made righteous.

2.  Please pray for Vivian’s infection to go away quickly and for her parents to see the love of God in our congregation.

3.  Please continue to pray for Rei Fang’s father, Mr. Lio as her recuperates from surgery and for the family’s salvation. 

4.  Please pray for our summer VBS as we plan and prepare.

5.  Please pray for Larry, Polly, Eda, and others that Chris is witnessing to often.

6.  Please pray for the upcoming SIU seminar that the Stiles will conduct and John will translate.

May 31, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things – indeed, I regard them as dung! – that I may gain Christ,”  Philippians 3:8

This morning John will be preaching from Philippians 3.  Paul makes it clear that there is nothing more important than a person’s relationship with Christ.  Please pray that our lives will be a clear example of living for Christ.  Please pray that our congregation will also learn to live in such a way as to show those around them what is most important.

Please continue to pray for the Hu family.  Mr. Hu has not been sentenced yet.  Last week he was able to speak for himself one last time, as well as testimony was given again by two investigating officers.  Sentencing could happen this week or next.  We hope that through all of this that God will bring the whole family to Himself.  Mrs. Hu has been desiring to know more and more about God.  Mr. Hu has been very touched by the church’s concern for him.

We continue to ask for prayers for the Lio family as Mr. Lio continues to be in the hospital and will probably have colon surgery this week.  The family is doing well sharing the responsibilities of caring for him, but it is tiring and hard on the younger children.  Please pray for the surgery to go well and for the salvation of this family.

Our Wednesday after school program is growing.  With the growth comes more challenges.  Please pray for us as we deal with more students that need help with their studies, a larger age span, and more behavior issues.  We need to make some adjustments with the program as well so as to provide both tutoring and biblical instruction.

Last please pray for everyone’s health.  There have been several viruses and such going around the school.  Andrew & Cheryl both had a stomach virus this week.   School gets out at the end of this week.  That should help some.

God continues to send people to our church.  Chris has been meeting more and more people.  He should have another friend, Polly, come for worship today.  PTL!

God Bless,

John & Cheryl  

1.  Please pray for our witness and that of the congregation as we live out our faith.

2.  Please pray for the Hu family to grow in their desire to know God, and for the best decision to be handed down by the judge.

3.  Please continue to pray for the Lio family as Mr. Lio will most likely have surgery on his colon this week.

4.  Please pray for our Wednesday after program as we try to minister to a growing number of children.

5.  Please pray for us to stay healthy with many viruses going around.

6.  Please pray for Chris’ friends Larry & Polly that should be in worship today.

May 24, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family and Friends,

We appreciate how you keep track of the different prayer requests that we have mentioned, and then will ask again about them.  We do ask that you pray today for the Hu family.  Mr. Hu will be receiving a sentencing tomorrow.  We pray that God will intervene and provide the best situation for he and the family.  Pray as well no matter the situation that the family’s faith in God will grow.  They should all be in worship today.

Please be praying for our summer programming.  The annual Sports and English Camp will be held July 5-11.  There will over 100 campers that are jr. high and sr. high school students.  This year we have 8 that have registered through our congregation.  Please be praying for the impact this week will have on their lives spiritually. Please pray for our own VBS that will happen the last week of July.

Rei Fang’s dad, Mr. Lio continues to improve after his heart by-pass surgery.  The doctors are still assessing his situation to determine how soon he can endure the colon sugery that he will need for the cancer that he has.  We pray that through all of this that he will come to the Lord.

Please pray for the ministry of His Hands, the crisis pregnancy center that Cheryl is assisting with some.  The two directors are going to be gone for about six weeks this summer.  They are presently making arrangements for people to help in their absence.  The situation with the Vietnamese mom, Shiow Mei, and her son is still uncertain in many aspects, but God has provided a good lawyer that has provided good guidance in the situation.  Please pray that God will work out for Shiow Mei and her son to return to Vietnam.

We appreciate all of your prayers for Nathanael as he traveled.  He made it without any trouble.  We also would like to praise God for providing safety in surgery for Cheryl.  She has laser surgery to correct her vision this past week.  We are sorry for not mentioning it before, but we did not know for certain when it would be.  She needs to be careful with her eyes for a month to allow them to heal completely.  She is amazed as how well she can see.  She keeps thinking, “Oh I need to take out my contacts.”  Only then to remember that she is not wearing them.  Praise the Lord!

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Please pray for the Hu family as Mr. Hu is sentenced on Monday.

2.  Please pray for the upcoming Sports & English Camp as well as our own VBS.

3.  Please continue to pray Mr. Lio as he recuperates and for the salvation of the family.

4.  Please pray for the ministry of His Hands to these moms and babies.

5.  We praise God for Nathanael getting home safely and for Cheryl’s eye surgery going well. 

May 17, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family and Friends,

We are rejoicing over some growth in our two of our cell groups.  The Monday morning group for moms with young children had six new attenders this week.  That is three new children with the adult that brought them.  One adult was a mom, and good friend of ours, another a grandmother, and the third an aunt.  They enjoyed it and plan to return.  Actually, the grandmother brought her grandson back on Wed. afternoon for the Bible story part of our after school program.  Please pray that these people will return and will be affected by the witness of the moms in our church.

The other cell group that has grown is the men’s group.  We had an additional brother come this past Saturday than had come before.  Please pray that these men will bind together as a group that will share their concerns and needs.  That these men will pray for each other and encourage each other in their spiritual walk.

We rejoice that Rei Fangs father, Mr. Lio, came through heart by-pass surgery very well.  He had surgery on Thursday and was in a regular room in less than 48 hours.  Please pray for his recuperation as he has cancer surgery to look towards.  Pray as well for the salvation of he and his children.

Please pray for Sol and Cathy, two new attenders for Chris’ English Bible Study.  Pray as well for Larry, a friend of Chris, who will be coming to worship today.

Thank you for your prayers.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Praise God for the new people in the Monday morning cell for mom’s of small children.  

2.  Please pray for the men’s cell group to grow closer to each other.

3.  Praise God for providing a good surgery for Mr. Lio.  Please pray for his cancer and for the salvation of his family an he.

4.  Please pray for Larry as he takes a risk and comes to worship with Chris.  Please pray for Sol and Cathy to desire to learn God’s word.

May 10, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

“Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father,

and do not forsake the teaching from your mother.

For they will be like an elegant garland on your head,

and like pendants around your neck.”  Proverbs 1:8-9

Join us today in praising God for the mother he has blessed each of us with, and for all those other special ladies that have also had a hand in raising us and sharing God’s love with us.

We praise God for some doors that are opening with some nearby families.  Two or three moms are suppose to bring their toddlers to the Monday morning open cell for moms with young children.  Please pray that they will come so that we can begin building relationships with them.

Please pray for a new English Bible Study that Chris Sanford has begun to lead on Monday evenings.  It is pretty difficult since many of those who attend are not able to easily express themselves in English yet.  John is helping out with translation at this time.

Please pray for our men’s cell group to grow.  Our men need to become consistent in attendance.  We are praying that the Holy Spirit will work on their hearts so that they will feel a desire to come and draw closer to God.

Please pray for Rei Fang’s father.  He going to have heart bypass surgery soon.  If that goes well he will eventually have colon surgery to remove cancer.  No one in her family are Christians yet.  Her husband and his family are all Christians.  Please pray that through our church family’s love and concern they will all be drawn to Jesus.

Thank you for praying.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1.  Join us in praising God for our mothers and blessing our mothers.

2.  Please that these moms will bring their children on Monday morning to the cell group.

3.  Pray for the new English Bible study that Chris Sanford is leading on Monday evenings.

4.  Pray for our men to desire to grow close to God. 

5.  Please pray that Rei Fang’s father’s heart surgery will go well and that they will be drawn to Christ through the love of the church.

May 3, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family & Friends,

We are a little tired, but greatly encouraged after this weekend.  Our church plant joined our mother church, Good News Christian Church, for a weekend outing to the mountains.  Half of our people attended the outing with John & Cheryl going with that half.  Paul and Betty stayed in Kaohsiung to lead worship at the ministry center.  It was a great time of fellowship with the folks at Good News as well as with the congregation of believers in Wu Tai.  It is an aboriginal village.  The worship time was really good.  The setting of the mountains was just great as well.  We praise God for the opportunity to see what he has done through the efforts of early missionaries to Taiwan and the generations of believers that have come about.

Please continue to pray for the Hu family as they wait for Mr. Hu sentencing.  We have seen improvement in their lives.  Mr. Hu came to church with the family last week.  He said that more love and concern was shown to him through the church in recent days than he has ever received before.  Please pray for our witness to continue and for him to come to faith in Jesus.

We are grateful for your prayers for Wendy Huang as she returned to Thailand last Sunday.  She arrived safely without any trouble.

Please pray for Danielle Barnes and her family.  Danielle taught at Morrison Academy for several years.  She and her husband Chad adopted a baby through the Home of God’s Love.  About two years ago her father was diagnosed with cancer.  I believe we asked you to pray for the family at that time.  Well, her dad has now gone home to be with our Lord.  Please pray for all of the family as they cope with his loss.

We ask that you continue to pray for the children that attend the Wed. afternoon group.  We are going to start having two more attend this week.  These last four children have struggles that are different than most of our other children.  Please pray as we work with these children and their families.

Please pray for the ministry of His Hands Taiwan as they begin to become more and more involved in ministry to unwed mothers and other ladies in crisis as well as with adoptive families.  They need your prayers for wisdom.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl

1. Praise God with us for a great weekend of fellowship and worship.

2. Please pray for the Hu family as they seek God.

3. Thank you for praying for Wendy Huang as she returned to Thailand.

4. Please pray for the Danielle Barnes and family at the passing of her dad.

5. Please pray for us to have wisdom as we work with the families of the children that attend on Wed. afternoon.

6. Please pray for the directors of His Hands Taiwan to receive wisdom.

April 26, 2009 Prayer Note

Dear Family and Friends,

“And in the same way he took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”  Luke 22:20

The new covenant that Jesus established in His blood provides for us several great blessings, but also requires us to be a blessing to God as well.  This part of John’s message this morning.  Please be praying for John as he preaches and prepares one more message concerning the Lord’s Supper.

This past week two children from another family in our neighborhood began coming to our Wednesday afternoon program.  The grade school suggested that this single mom bring her children to us.  Her daughter has been very depressed.  She took an overdose of sleeping pills hoping never to wake up.  Please pray for us all to have wisdom as to how to help her the best.  Her counselor says that she needs unconditional love.  This we will try to express to her each time we see her.

We ask that you pray for the Hu family.  The oldest child, Yi Chwun, was baptized on Easter.  He is really excited about his faith.  His mom is studying 101 class material Betty Pan.  We hope she will choose Christ as her lord and savior soon too.  This family is in real need of prayer.  They have had some hard things happen to them.  The father is waiting to be sentenced for a crime he committed.  He must first go through psychological testing at the end of May.  The results of the testing will in part determine how he will be sentenced.  Dave & Jeanay Stiles began this week leading our ministry staff and the Hu family in special prayer for the family to be able to overcome the problems they are facing.  Please pray for wisdom as we continue and for God to give insight and wisdom to judge and doctors that will be involved in the determination of Mr. Hu sentencing.

Our good friend Wendy Huang began serving in Thailand last October as a tent maker missionary.  She teaches Chinese to Thai students that are ethnically Chinese.  The hope is that she and others like her will be able to influence their students and families to come to know Jesus.  Wendy has been home on a semester break recently.  She returns today.  Please pray for Wendy as returns to Thailand.  While she is in Thailand she has to function mainly in English.  She is not even able to worship corporately in Chinese.  Pray for her to be strong and faithful in the Lord.

Thank you for praying again.

God Bless,

John & Cheryl 

1.  Please continue to pray for John as he prepares and preaches.

2.  Please pray for the afternoon children’s ministry and especially the new attendees.

3.  Please pray for Hu family as they begin to submit their lives to God and await the courts decision.

4.  Please pray for Wendy Huang as she leaves today to return to Thailand for another semester of teaching.