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Ministry Update :: Fall 2021

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Fall 2021

We have been enjoying an unusually warm Fall here in Central Alberta, which was really helpful in doing yard work and cutting and splitting wood. Winter is coming, and they tell us it will be cold and snowy. Two of the kids have snow shoveling jobs, so they are hoping for snow!
Here are some highlights from the Fall:

Oct 19: We started an online weekly Bible study with two ladies through our church. We’re teaching them through No Ordinary Story. The material seems to be answering a lot of questions for both women and they are very appreciative.

Oct 29: Ethan turned 13! We’re so thankful for our growing young man (who has now surpassed in height all the females in the family).

These pictures are from the moment when we discovered he had grown taller than both his sisters in the previous month, and this was just a few days before his 13th birthday. Thrilled him to the core. The girls? Not so much.

 

Part of celebrating his birthday was going on an icy walk to the waterfalls in Johnson’s Canyon in Banff National Park, and Cows Ice cream in downtown Banff. A beautiful day in God’s creation!

 

Nov 2: New warehouse shelving arrived in our office, desperately needed to organize our very crowded warehouse. It has taken a great deal of heaving and hauling over many days to get cases of books lifted off the pallets on the floor and up onto the shelves, but our warehouse is becoming much more efficient and manageable as a result. With so many supply issues, and paper costs rising rapidly, we are thankful to have a full warehouse ready to ship evangelism resources.

 

Nov 11-14: “No Ordinary Weekend” retreat – We weren’t sure if we’d be able to have one in 2021, but thankfully 50 others joined in for this evangelistic weekend. The series No Ordinary Story was taught to the teens and adults, and The Lamb to the kids. Troy and Naomi assisted in the presentation to the adults and Ellie, Adelaine and Ethan helped with the childrens’ program. While it was a smaller group than previous years, it was clear that a number were coming to a clear understanding of the Gospel for the first time and we know there were those who “passed from death to life” over the weekend. And there is a lot of excitement and interest building for the one planned for February! Praise the Lord! Check it out at noordinaryweekend.com and talk to us if you want to know more.

 

Nov 15: Finally, after many delays, the Radio Theatre version of the No Ordinary Series arrived in our office. This dramatic/musical presentation presents a creation-to-cross message through the lives of 3 individuals. Their stories (based upon the true testimonies of 3 individuals) are blended with 17 songs to present the Gospel message. We look forward to sharing more about this new tool with you!

 

Thanks so much for your prayers and support for us. We are keenly aware that none of the great things the Lord is doing through the ministry of GoodSeed would be possible if it weren’t for people like you giving generously and praying faithfully for us and the ministry. We’re so grateful.

Troy & Naomi

Skiing in the Canadian Rockies

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We played with gravity!
It is hard to believe that we have lived so close to the mountains for 14 years and haven’t learned to ski before now. Recently a friend taught our crew to ski at a local river valley ski slope, then a couple weeks later we went big: Banff Sunshine Village.
We were given some money for this trip and had a wonderful time as a family. Spent the night before in Banff, which means a visit to Cows Ice Cream, then hit the slopes in the morning.
It was painful to go to such a beautiful place without a better camera, but I figured it would be more painful to land on a better camera. Which I would have done…
It was simply amazing to be up at mountain tops with some fresh snow from the day before. We had beautiful blue skies, and since it was mid-week, hardly any lines for the lifts. It was a really great day!
Cows Ice Cream – taste of Maritimes in Banff
Stayed in Banff the night before. First time the kids have been in a pool in almost a year
15 minute gondola ride up to the ski hills
Last run of the day – just made it for the final 4PM lift up, then had the place pretty much to ourselves (except for ski patrol making sure we got off the hill). Amazing.
Dropped off rentals, then supper at the Rose & Crown in Banff.
Dropped off rentals, then supper at the Rose & Crown in Banff.
It was painful to go to such a beautiful place without a better camera, but I figured it would be more painful to land on a better camera. Which I would have done…
Only our second time skiing, this time at Banff Sunshine Village, one day after a snowfall and on a weekday, so hardly any lines.

Ministry Update :: Missions Reality

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We recently shared about George, an evangelist in Kenya, who is using GoodSeed tools to teach pastors and bishops about a Gospel of faith and grace. Some might be surprised to hear that this is needed in a nation with so many missionaries and churches. Syncretism–the mixing of different beliefs–has always been a major problem in missions and the church.

In teaching my own children about syncretism, I explained that many people think it is a form of addition, like 10 + 1 = 11: Biblical truth plus one other “truth” equals more truth.

The reality is more like 10 + (-1) = 9. Tacking on unbiblical “truth” usually ends up taking away from biblical truths.

Pastor George wrote last week about his experiences after sharing the Gospel with hundreds of pastors:

“We’ve found that, when teaching believers, you never know what and where the gaps exist in people’s minds. But when you teach from Creation to Christ, most of those gaps get filled in. Then you have true understanding, and an understood gospel is a powerful gospel.

Yesterday at our Pastors conference, several Pastors were surprised at the Biblical worldview of life after death … It became a major point of questions. Many of them not only strongly believe but also preach that when people die they turn into spirits and they hover around watching their families and often torment their families if they were evil. They believe that the evil dead turn to nyawawa. They have sermons about those who died poor, barren, single, sick, etc coming back as jochiende to inflict those pains on others that they are angry at…

In African traditional religion, every tribe has their own worldviews regarding origins, life, death, and the afterlife. Our worldviews teach us that we have the living, the dead, the living-dead, the ancestors, and that we have a relationship with these dead, living-dead, and ancestors. We are to respect them lest we hurt their feelings and invoke their wrath. We have rain makers, magicians, and other spiritists who can mediate between us and these evil spirit relatives.

Some people come to Christ with these concepts and they become pastors. Their idea of a pastor is just like the magician and spiritist mediator between the living and the spirits. So people need to give them money or property … to get deliverance from demonic harassment.

We are thankful to simply teach a Biblical worldview as tell the Bible story from Genesis to Christ and to watch lights go on for many as the Holy Spirit opens their eyes to behold wonderful truths in God’s word.“

Syncretism is always harder to see in your own culture but obvious for someone from outside. From North America, we can clearly see it in churches in other lands, but sometimes people from outside the Western culture visit North American churches and are shocked by what they see added in here.

Solid and foundational Bible teaching is so necessary, and we are thankful to play a small part.

Together with you for the Gospel,

Troy & Naomi

Ministry Update :: February 2021

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Naomi and I are spending lots of time in Zoom Bible studies these days. We currently lead two studies and are participants in another. All told, we are on Zoom for about 7 hours a week right now!

The most important study is the evangelism Bible study using the Creation to the Cross presentation in By This Name. We meet Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings with 3 ladies, one of whom is definitely not a believer. Her name is Sue. By going twice a week we are moving along quickly through the material. Yesterday (Feb 21st) we covered the Tabernacle and how it builds on previous teaching of the sacrificial system. Tonight we will begin to study the life of Jesus. Sue has had good questions and seems to appreciate being able to learn more about the Bible. We would appreciate your prayers for this study, especially for Sue’s salvation.

Tuesday nights we lead a small group at our church via Zoom, using The Captive and the King’s Will which follows the life and writings of Peter, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and looks in greater detail at what it means to be a Christian.

There is an exciting work going on in Kenya. We have mentioned a few times about an evangelist who has been very effective at teaching a clear Gospel message using GoodSeed resources. In the past he only had a few books that were shipped to him now and then that he could pass out to pastors and other church leaders he had taught. Recently, we were able to facilitate raising funds to print 3,000 copies of The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus in Kenya for him to give away as part of his teaching. He continues to train pastors in this simple Gospel message of grace, and we trust that these books will have a real impact in the church in Kenya.
[Click here to follow Pastor George in Kenya]
We are currently in the process of also getting 3000 copies of The Captive and the King’s Will into his hands as well, as he feels that material on the area of walk with Christ is key for helping pastors and their congregations grow in their Christian walks.

“English speaking Bishops and Pastors who completed our Creation to Christ Seminar each received THE STRANGER ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS; a book that explains the greatest of Bible themes clearly, logically, and chronologically rather than focusing on one part and missing the whole. We give these books absolutely FREE of charge. Thanks to the individuals who gave to GoodSeed for the specific purpose of printing this book in Kenya.”

Please pray with us as these Gospel tools go out to churches around the world.

This winter has been very busy with our Bible studies and church activities for the kids occupying 4 or 5 nights of the week. Please pray for us as we seek to strike a balance and disciple our children in a chaotic world.

A largely mild winter here in central Alberta, but we did have a couple cold snaps. Last week it was -26 C (-15 F) and I took the kids sledding. Cold enough for a frosty beard.

We have gotten out a few times to enjoy the Canadian winter, but with things so busy now we are staying close to home.

 

We did make a quick day trip into Banff National Park. It was cold, and options of what to do were pretty limited because of the pandemic, but it was nice to get out of town and enjoy the scenery.

Shivering on the lake!

Making a cake for their mom’s birthday.

 

Thank you for joining us on the journey!

Troy & Naomi