A lesson from the fisher
Who is more patient and hopeful than a fisher? Whether it's the hobby angler perched on the pier as the sun comes up or the commercial fisherman braced on the side of his boat as he thrusts the net out over the water, there's patience combined with hope at work.
These are times when patience in affliction is called for—not a dispirited moping—but a steady perseverance sustained by hope and fueled by prayer. Personally, I'm tired of masks, tired of quarantines, tired of shortages, and most of all, tired of myself. I never before appreciated "normal" life, but I want it back!
Despite our circumstances, we are called to find joy in hope and exercise faithfulness in prayer. God is at work even now. He still answers prayer, as we have experienced over the last year. 2020 was one of our most challenging years financially. Yet, God provided month after month, often in unexpected ways. We did not have to lay off staff and we were able to meet our bills—sometimes with only a day to spare.
And, because we started offering online training in 2013, we were well placed to continue—and even expand—online teaching at a time when onsite training would not have been possible. I'm grateful for the option to continue ministry in ways that would were unimaginable only a short time ago.
However, we are more than ready to go back to onsite training, and this year we expect to offer an onsite conference in Ghana in October. Nevertheless, 2020 taught us to say with the Apostle James, "If Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
So our main prayer request at this time is for wisdom in planning the conference in Ghana and for health for the woman in Ghana who is negotiating a conference site for us. She and her family were just released from quarantine. And of course, as always, we look to God (and to your prayers) for funding for the conference.
Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer,
