Spring 2004

GOD’S HANDIWORK

God has been working in our world in amazing ways. With the movie "The Passion" impacting more that one half of America at this time with more to go, we see His hand and love and longing for people to understand who Jesus is and how he wants us to know him. Never before have we seen such hunger and interest in spiritual things here in America and around the world.

Along with this phenomena is the Purpose-Driven Life movement where thousands of churches and people are reading this book and seeing it transform their values to the values of Christ.  

God is moving in these special times. In our lives these two major events are impacting our local ministry in our Church in Portland and across the city. Our prayer that God would take the gospel to everyone in the city is coming true. Church leaders are being united and the work is going on. 

COMPELLING VISION 

Recently the thought of having a compelling vision has moved me to encourage my brothers and sisters to have a compelling vision. One leader told a pastor that because of his church and its resources he could see him FINISHING THE GREAT COMMISSION in another nation. This is a compelling vision. “Finish the Great Commission in……."

What is your compelling vision? Ours is to finish the Great Commission in Southwest Portland working with Greater Portland Bible Church. Through our work of developing an intentional disciple-making church, we recently had one story when a lady in our church committed herself to join our team, and we intentionally helped equip her to do ministry. Pray for Joy as she ministers. Her story and many more are occurring in churches across Portland and in the US. We are working now with the Navigators, The Training Network of Disciple-making Churches and Ministry Coaching to provide a well-balanced ministry to pastors and their church teams. 

Mary Jane is going back to School. She is taking classes at Clackamas Junior College.  Andrea is graduating from Multnomah Bible College, Rebecca is looking into different art schools and Regina continues to be an awesome. teacher of the 5^th grade. She plans a short term mission trip to Russia this summer.

Pray for us as we minister together as a family and apart in so many arenas. Ask God to continue to multiply our lives in the lives of the precious people of this area.

Thank you for your gifts to our ministry!

Laboring with you,

Dennis and Mary Jane and the Girls