January 2025

Thank you for praying for Westminster’s missionaries and ministries. Your prayers are important and appreciated. Reference your 2024 missionary directory (Living Water for a Dry and Thirsty Land booklet at the kiosk) for family photos and ministry descriptions.

Serena (Jones) Bergfors in Boston, MA, with Reformed University Fellowship (RUF)
PRAY for our plans for a Ministry Team retreat in late January—that God would open students’ hearts to his Word and bring deeper fellowship with their peers as they are trained in ministry together.

Molly De Bruin in Ethiopia with Global Outreach International
PRAISE God that I was able to go to Kenya to get the visa I needed to return to Ethiopia and apply for a work permit; that my parents had a safe and good trip to Ethiopia. Please PRAY for me as I am still in the process of applying for a new work permit—pray that it will go smoothly, and that I will be granted a work permit before my current visa expires on February 27; for trust in God’s timing and a relief from stress as I look for an apartment and plan for my wedding in April; for my students, all of whom have difficult home lives; for wisdom in how to best care for them and help their families as a whole; for our organization here as we would like to open a daycare sometime in the near future; for students Dani and Shewaye to continue to learn well and be prepared to go to public school next year.

Rachel Hart in Ukraine & Romania with Mission to the World (MTW)
Please PRAY for my Ukrainian visa application process; for the war to end and protection of civilians and those at frontlines, often living in tents in the cold weather; for the Ukrainian church plant in Braşov, Romania; for the church in Bilhorod-Dnistrovs’kyi, Ukraine—for its leaders and for the youth group; that I may develop deeper relationships with Ukrainian church members and others; for my language acquisition; that I may rest in Christ and learn more of His Word and His love for me; that we may be loving and sensitive to those hurting, bringing the hope of Christ to them; that I would continue connecting well with the members of the church and my team.

Rev. David & Lisa Henry in Easton, PA with MNA & Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF)
PRAISE God for some great Christmas Party Clubs, including one at a new childcare center as they invited us back to do a full Good News Club program in the spring; that 160 children showed up to a Christmas Party Club we had at our home church, Bridge Community. PRAY that the children who attended the party club will start attending church; for us as we start to recruit 10–12 teens to serve as summer missionaries; for an additional staff person so we can expand our ministries; for open doors and that God would use us to reach unchurched children with the Gospel.

Rev. Matt & Jenn Irvine in England with Serge
Please PRAY for those who came to outreach events in December; for the leaders in our church plant who serve so sacrificially; for Jenn’s mom who continues to decline with late-stage Alzheimer’s; for our family as Matt has to fulfill some Social Security requirements during a six month period, which means that he will be traveling back and forth between England and the U.S.; for God to provide for our team and church in London as a number of teammates and other church leaders will be carrying on with ministry in Matt’s absence.

Tom & Betsy Luttmann Worldwide with Bible Visuals International
Please PRAY that our family will continually draw close to the Lord as we navigate transitional years; for a needed BVI team member to help with production; for the planned Mongolia family conference that we anticipate happening in August.

Dr. Bruce & Anne McDowell with Santiago Theological Seminary in the Dominican Republic
PRAISE God that our family is adjusting well to life in the Dominican Republic; for graduation in December of 40 students in Santiago and 85 students in Santo Domingo from our Certificate in Christian Counseling program! Please PRAY for some important decisions that need to be made regarding the direction of our seminary; for Bruce as he leads a missions seminar with Chris Istrati in the spring, for the recruitment of missions-minded candidates to prepare for the global mission field; for God’s provision of a part-time fundraiser for STS; for recruitment of needed staff and funding to support them; for completion of steps towards having our own classroom, offices, and hospitality room built for STS; for the recruitment of new students for the start of the new cycle of the counseling program; for students to register for the start of our second year of the GAP Year in August 2025; that the Lord would direct us to just the right location for our GAP Year for the next academic year, as what we are using now will be sold; for funding to come in to meet the balance of what is still needed for our operating expenses to fund a new coordinator for our certificate in theology; for a quality phone camera to make short videos, pictures, and seminary communication as we need to promote the GAP Year and seminary on social media; for growth in faith of two men Bruce witnessed to who gave their lives to Christ recently.

Dr. Walt & Lisa Mueller in the U.S. with Center for Parent/Youth Understanding (CPYU)
PRAISE God for a strong financial ending to 2024—the Lord continues to facilitate our ongoing work through the generosity of our ministry partners! Please PRAY for two upcoming events: a day-long seminar on gender and sexuality in Gastonia, NC, on January 18, and for the Southern Baptist Youth Ministry Conclave in Chattanooga where we will be publicizing our ministry in the exhibit hall and Walt will be presenting three breakout seminars; for the launch of our Partnering With Parents initiative this month, which is designed to resource the home, church, and Christian School; for our staff and Research Fellows—specifically for protection from the enemy’s schemes and oppression; for our families: spiritual, emotional, physical, and relational health and protection.

Dr. Victor & Nosizo Nakah in South Africa with Mission to the World (MTW)
Please PRAY for us as we begin the new year with speaking engagements in Zimbabwe and the USA through the month of March.

Rev. Shibu & Mary Oommen in the U.S. with Evangelism Explosion & Reformed Evangelistic Fellowship
PRAISE God for a fruitful mission trip to India in November and December and for all the spiritual conversations with friends and family throughout the trip. Please PRAY for Vicky, Elsa, Rei, and Lucy, who we’ve interacted with recently; for all the ministry plannings for this year; that God may bring more churches in partnership of the gospel with our ministry; that we would rest and trust in Him at every turn of our steps; that God will be glorified through our family and ministry; for complete healing of a long-lasting cough and that God may grant good health for us this year; that we should love and obey the Lord more and grow more in His Word.

Dr. Tim & Barbara Yates in Taiwan with Friends of China Reformed Theological Seminary (CRTS)
PRAISE God that Barb has had no recurrence of AFib since an ablation in October; that our daughter-in-law signed the lawyer-mediated divorce agreement with our son, Jonie, without further demands, sending it now to a CA judge for legal finalization. Please PRAY for Westminster Foundations English book editor Nancy Sayre, creating chapter notes in preparation for writing a reader’s summary version of the book; for Tim’s course prep and teaching for “Reformed Faith & Life in Ephesians” at the second annual ten-day Malaysia face-to-face retreat for our distance learning students this month; for our seminary as we are organizing a search committee for a new faculty member; for preparations for revised emphases in my spring classes, Biblical Theology & Counseling (Philippians focus) and Parenting (Matthew’s Gospel focus).

Rev. J.G. & Daryl Zoellner in Canada with Mission to North America (MNA)
Please PRAY for family continuity and blessing this year; for our son-in-law as he is immigrating to Canada—pray that this transition goes well; for our trip to Rwanda, Jan 14–Feb 14, to teach Congolese ministers; for safe travels for the traveling pastors as some are nervous about kidnappings; for their families as it can be a hardship for some of them to be without their pastor/father/husband; for clear teaching and encouragement on our part along with good health; for our local church as we still have not hired a new minister—pray that we will be able to bring the man of God’s choosing to form a team with our elders in serving and guiding his people here.

MNA ESL Ministry
PRAISE God that we are able to add three new official MNA ESL positions; for all of the ESL ministries starting up again after the holidays, especially those impacted by bad weather or illness; for us as we discuss strategic plans for MNA this month, including ESL ministry; for MNA ESL Director Nancy Booher’s husband, Ron, as they will find out in February whether his cancer has been eliminated; for Nancy’s 11-year-old grandson, Garrett, as he is still struggling with many unexplained and severe health issues but has had some improvement in response to treatments.

Streams of Living Water, Middle East and North Africa
Please PRAY for our workers as well as other people in Syria and Lebanon as life is very uncertain for them; for God’s protection over the Christians there and for wisdom for our workers to know whether to stay or go, and for those who stay to be strong and discerning.

Water Street Mission, Lancaster, PA
Please PRAY for those who are sleeping outside as the weather gets colder, that God would keep them safe and preserve their health; for wisdom in hiring for open positions throughout our ministries; for unity, understanding, and good communication across campus between all departments; for affordable housing for our guests who are leaving Water Street.