Rod and Christiane’s ministry focus is in the area of Soul Care for church leaders and pastors. The increasingly restrictive context in their country presents unique challenges for local leaders and believers. This requires ongoing flexibility, creativity and dependency on His leading — to “be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” They are, however, thankful for the doors of opportunity the Father has provided with their local Mandarin church.
 
Please praise God and pray for the following with Rod and Christiane.
They write:

Thank you so much for your continued faithful prayers and support for us! It is a joy to begin the new year 2023 as co-laborers in the kingdom of God! Praise God, His kingdom cannot be shaken even as changing environments bring about new priorities and ways of doing ministry.  Please pray with us:

1.   It has been 3 years since our last field forum.  January 25-27, our small group of IWs will gather for meetings in Thailand.  Before the meetings, we as a couple will have a one-day “Strategic Review” together with our direct leadership to review the past 5 years, evaluate the current situation and look toward the future. Pray with us for God’s presence and leading throughout these meetings.

2.   Our ministry focus in recent years has increasingly shifted to member care for cross-cultural workers who are being sent out from in country.  This is a newly developing field of ministry as many are inadequately prepared, screened, trained and cared for and unable to continue in their overseas work. We seek the Lord’s guidance as we consider how to partner with others in addressing those huge needs.

3.   The Empower Women Mentoring retreat will be January 27-29.  Please pray for personal breakthrough for the ladies during this retreat!  Christiane is co-leading a group of three IW ladies in Asia and Africa.

4.   We praise God that our neighbor Benny has come to Jesus and experienced new life and new hope!  Ask with us for protection and growth of this new life and for the Holy Spirit to soften the heart of his wife and family to him and to Jesus.

5.   Our hearts are heavy for our ‘in-country’ friends and church leaders who struggle under ever increasing restrictions meant to suppress and control Christianity.  In addition, there is currently a ‘covid tsunami’ sweeping the land and adds another layer of suffering… Pray with us that God would have mercy on the many desperate people in this nation and help us all to be sober and alert for the purpose in these uncertain times.