The C. Family (Secured)

June 2022 Update

Dear Friends and Family,

I count it a privilege to share the gospel overseas but I also know how privileged I am to come home to America. No matter our political views, it's still the greatest country on earth. We have enjoyed these past couple of months here, worshipping with believers, soaking up Christian fellowship, and filling up on our favorite foods that we have missed.

I have been able to stay in contact with many of our friends in Egypt with video chats, though the conversations are just not as good as in person. Lord willing, we would like to take a trip back to Egypt this fall. We would also like to visit Ethiopia at that time to consider ministry opportunities there. Please pray for more laborers to Egypt and the 10/40 Window as there is such a need.

When we first began deputation in 2008 we didn't realize God would give us so many friends along the way. And now on furlough we get to visit those friends. This month we will be heading out to Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan. our kids are grown now though. AG is 20 and will be getting married this fall. P is 18. He was 7 when we first went overseas so settling in to life here is a big adjustment with big decisions to make. he misses Egypt and is also planning to go visit. It is a season of great change for all of us and we are grateful for your prayers.

Because Billions Have Never Heard,

JC
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March 2022 Update

Dear Friends and Family,March 23, 2022

We wanted to write and keep you updated on our current situation. We had to leave Egypt a few weeks ago. as I mentioned in our last letter we knew this was coming. By the time we left, we could not renew our passports, renew our car license, exchange money, we had to close our bank account, and then had our phone service cut off. We had prayed for clarity in God's will and certainly got it.

We will go back to the 10/40 Window to preach the gospel to Muslims, Lord willing.  There are countries we are praying about and trusting the Lord to show us what is next. We did not take the furlough we had planned last year, so we are planning a 1-year furlough now. During this time we hope to visit with many of our supporting churches that we have not seen in many years, and prepare for the next steps of ministry.

We plan to go back and visit the friends we left in Egypt. Lord willing we can take a trip this fall. it was difficult to say good-bye to everyone, but I hope I can keep in touch with many of them, continue to build those relationships, and see the Lord work in their lives.

Because Billions Have Never Heard,

November 2021 update

Dear Friends and Family,

A friend asked me, "Tell me something I can be thankful for." I rattled off a list of things for him, and it seemed it had never occurred to him to be thankful for any of them. Islam seems to produce a fatalistic view of life where everything is the predetermined will of God and could not be any other way. If you have food today, it wasn't possible that you not have food today. This thinking leaves no place for real gratitude.

I have had several great discussions with a young man about God's love. He believes God must have the character quality of love, yet Islam never describes God as loving. He has 99 names and none of them are love. Muslims have a master-slave relationship with God, not one of love. He found several verses in the Quran that said God likes believers and does not like unbelievers. I asked him how God has shown him that he loves him. He said God shows us love by testing us. But he agrees even a teacher can give you a test without loving you. Then I shared the biblical view that God is love, his essence is love, he is the source of love, and he demonstrated his love on the cross. That led to a discussion of who Jesus is, the Word of God, and that we believe in one God not multiple gods as most Muslims think. I am looking forward to our next meeting.

I have had several more opportunities to teach English to a group that meets in a park. There are usually 30-40 people there, mostly students from an Islamic university. They are wary of discussing religion or politics in such a public setting but we usually have a lot of fun, and I often get to meet with some of them  one-on-one at a later date. "Ali" is one of these. We met at a coffee shop and spoke briefly about what happens after death. he is a devout Muslim studying Sharia law, so he enjoys talking about religion but has probably never talked to someone with views different than his own. Please pray our meetings will be fruitful.

We have much to be thankful for this holiday season. Despite some difficulties and disappointments, we are all healthy, happy, and serve a faithful God! We thank God that my son is feeling much better and recovering from Covid. It was slightly difficult for him to breathe at one point but thank God he feels much stronger. "Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name." (Psalm 18:49 KJV)

Because Billions Have Never Heard,