Gary De Graaf: Greater Europe Mission FRANCE

Gary and Kate now live in Lille, one GEM's Initiative Cities.  They work with a church in Croix and one in Lille.  They are church planters, and are beginning to get acquainted with their neighbors, and plan activities to invite people to a city wide barbeque, handing out cookies, helping the needy and homeless, handing out calendars and tracts.  It's all about proclaiming Jesus Christ to those they meet.
 

The churches in the Des Moines area who support greater Europe Mission in France are preparing to go on a mission trip to Lille in May, both to help Gary with the activities listed above, and others who will be doing construction work on the Croix church building.  May this team encourage and help this evangelism France.  For more, visit www.gemission.org

Jonathan and Becky Schuster: Greater Europe Mission Ireland

A year ago the Cornerstone Church was organized in Skerries, Ireland by Jonathan and Becky.  It has just celebrated its first anniversary, and is continuing to grow.  They have an elder that serves as youth director, and the group is very active and is growing in numbers.  Jonathan continues teaching at the Irish Bible Institute, and finds his students hungering for deeper knowledge of the Bible.  Becky continues teaching women's Bible studies.  In the spring of 2010 they will be pursuing application for renewal of their work visas. Visit www.germission.org

Dr. Peter and Ana Lucaciu - Romanian Evangelistic Medical Mission

Dr. Lucaciu and his wife are the founders of the ministry. The Mission's desire is to reach people of Romania with the Gospel message. Peter is the executive director of REMM www.remm-ministry.org   Ana overses all mission teams that travel to Romania and directs the REMM adoption/child placement services. Casa Josif is the orpahanage in Beius and the Bridge Coffee House is located in dowtown Beius which offers a place for teachers, town officials, townfolk, and teens a gathering place to build relationships and talk about Jesus Christ. During the school year, Peter and Ana reside in Gurnee, Illinois. They have four children.

Jessica Duff: The SEED Project of Wycliffe Bible Translators Jessica works in the language software development area of Wycliffe Bible Translators. She is particularly involved in the ministry of the SEED COMPANY, an affiliate of Wycliffe, as she travels to many places in Africa to train nationals in using the computer software. This enables them in the translation of the Bible in their native languages, and cuts the time in doing so. More than 500 New Testament translations have been completed, and there are 1,000 language projects in progress. Translation, literacy, and Scripture-use programs bring the Word of life all over the world.

January, 2009 Wycliffe informed us that Jessica has been placed on health leave so she may officially rest from her full-time duties and give full attention to medical treatment. She has been battling health issues for some time. When she was in Nigeria, she contracted malaria, and was treated there and back at home when recurring symptoms occurred. She presently has migraines due to her treating of the fevers related to malaria. A year ago she had several surgeries on her injured knee, and she was also having problems with Carpal Tunnel due to so much time spent on the computer. Please pray for Jessica in this time of need while she takes time to heal and recover.

David and Karen Eggert

Campus Crusade for Christ - Iowa State University

David heads up T.I.P. (The Ishmael Project of Bridges International) by contacting several universities to reach out to International Students and more specifically Muslims Students that are interested in getting to know about Jesus Christ. Karen works with International wives teaching them English.

Ward and Gwen Schmeidel

Campus Crusade for Christ - Upper Midwest Region

Ward and Gwen Schmeidel (Children, Preston and Julia) are staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ. They oversee the upper Midwest region working alongside ministry directors from various Universities. (Univ at Wisconsin La Crosse, Univ of North Dakota, Iowa State Univ. Univ of Minnesota, Cloud State Univ. Mankato University and many others.) Gwen works with developing and editing of a newsletter for staff wives. They have presented their ministry to us in the past year and will hopefully be here for Mission Sunday in April.

Freedom for Youth Ministries, Des Moines, Iowa

Mark Nelson is the Executive Director at this Ministry. Various HouseKirks as well as the Mission Commission have served food to the young people. Non Perishable food has been collected and brought there for future dinners. One House Kirk has even provided canned foods for specific meals. Mark provided tours of the facilities and has a definite vision for the future. He came out to Westkirk and presented the Ministry to the adult classes.

Hope Ministries, Des Moines, Iowa

Leon Negen is the President/CEO of Hope Ministries. There are three ministries involved (Bethel Mission, Door of Faith and Hope Family Center) Julie Norem is Westkirk's Ambassador to this Ministry. Cynthia Fisher is another Ambassador helping in the Hope Ministry. These two keep us well informed about needs. We are grateful for the Lord's leading us to help in this ministry.

Heather and Brian Hanneman - The Navigators -

Brian and Heather with baby Timothy, their first child, have been involved in sharing the Good news on Saturdays during the summer months as they worked with the Navigator Camps.  They now look forward to one of their weekly gatherings called SNASM (Sunday Nite at Snow Mountain) as well as building relationships during this upcoming school year.  Pray for them as they witness to the college students at Colorado University.