Spring is here and the weather has been nice, so, like many Canadians, we are emerging from our winter hibernation and are trying to get outside with the kids some for some walks and puddle jumping.
Out for a walk
Reply
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Ministry Update :: March 22, 2010
I’ve been looking for a way to do a Bible overview so that I have a foundation I understand and can explain to others. This is solid material to help me do that. I hope to go through it time and time again so that the links between the puzzle pieces are secure. Thank you!
– testimony from the evangelism seminar
This past weekend we hosted an evangelism seminar with 31 people in attendance. I had the privilege of helping again with the teaching. Over three days we taught through the material in the book “By this Name” and additional material about how to teach it to others. In all, I think there were about 22 hours of instruction.
There was quite a mix of backgrounds and vocations among the students at the seminar. I had the chance to share a meal with one fellow who first heard the Gospel explained while in prison and now witnesses to people on the native reserve where he used to sell drugs. He was very encouraged by the Bible study and couldn’t wait to get back home to start using these new tools to help share the Gospel in that very needy community. We had a small group of people who were from Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (NCEM), a few pastors, and other laypeople who were looking for a better understanding of the Gospel and how to share it.
Other testimonies from the seminar:
… simple step-by-step walk through of the Bible. WOW. … Funny, I came so I could help others, God had me come to help me. Thank you.
The message of the good news has been made clear to me. I now fully understand why Jesus had to shed his blood by dying on the cross.
It has clarified the message of salvation by showing me how that message is throughout the whole Bible. Through the illustrations, the reality of what Jesus Christ has done is ever more real to me. It has also showed me the need for the person of Jesus Christ to be introduced to those I am talking to in a more substantial way in order for those to make a qualified decision to accept Him. Thank you!
I feel confident in being used by God to go through this study with some lost sheep in my life, and I can’t wait to get started with them!
It has made the entire story of the Gospel so clear to me… It has affirmed my faith made made me excited and more confident to share this good news.
Infection and rashes
Poor Ethan buddy has had a bit of a rough week. On Tuesday we noticed that Ethan seemed warm, but didn’t have a fever and he was pretty fussy all day. It wasn’t until just before supper that we noticed this red patch on his arm.
It looked like he had been stung by something, but there wasn’t anything flying around yet that could have done it. When I touched his arm the skin was quite hot. We got him in to the hospital pretty quick as we had no idea what may have caused it. Turns out he had cellulitis, a catchall term for skin infections. This sort of thing can lead to some serious issues and tissue damage, so we were thankful to get him in to a doctor quickly. The doctor put him on some pretty strong antibiotics (enough to raise the pharmacist’s eyebrows) and drew a line around the red spot so we could see if it grew anymore. Thankfully it mostly disappeared by the next morning, but it was a rough night, with the antibiotics making his stomach sick.
By Thursday his arm had cleared up, but Friday morning we noticed a rash starting on him. It got worse and Naomi made another trip to the doctor and they told us to take him off the antibiotics as the arm had cleared up and we didn’t want to risk further reactions.
Since then his skin has cleared up and he is on his way back to being the happy little guy he usually is.
New photo gallery :: Tantramar Marsh
Last fall we travelled back to my home town in Sackville, New Brunswick for some vacation time and support raising. This provided an opportunity to continue my photographic essay of the Tantramar Marshes. I once read in a photography book that you should pick a subject and try to photograph it in a way no one else has. I decided I wanted to do this with the old salt-water marshes next to my home town. In a area where you are always surrounded by trees and going either up or downhill, the marshes are a quiet, flat, open area that makes you pause. On the marsh you can find a covered bridge and a few remaining hay barns. Notice each of them, because they may be gone next time you go by. Seventy years ago there were more than 400 of these barns, now there are less than 20. As a kid I remember there being many more, but now each time I go back to New Brunswick there are one or two less, and I wanted to photograph them before they are all gone.
Wheaton Covered Bridge in Sackville, New Brunswick
After several months of poking away at these pictures after the kids go to bed, I have finally finished putting together a gallery of my favourite images from our trip to Sackville last fall. Please check it out at www.tantramarmarsh.com or more photos of this remarkable place.
Ministry Update :: March 16
This week we are going to be hosting another of our evangelism seminars here in Olds, Alberta. It starts at 8:30 Thursday morning and goes until Saturday afternoon. Please pray for us as we change gears again from construction to teaching. We have about 28 people coming to learn how to use GoodSeed resources to share the Gospel with others in their ministries and communities.
Please pray for:
- the teachers spiritually as we handle God’s Word, and physically as we speak for several hours each
- the students as the learn the material and how to teach the material
- those helping with logistics, meals, hosting and the many other jobs that need to be done to host a successful seminar.
Troy & Noami
P.S. Here are some videos I have recorded of attendees from past seminars.