UPDATE on our current work and support needs

View this email in your browser To those who have been called, who are LOVED by God the Father and KEPT by Jesus Christ; MERCY, PEACE and LOVE  be yours in abundance.       -Jude 1:1 Our Financial  Challenge Last week I shared with you one of the newer aspects of our job in working towards the mobilization of our Latin partners. This runs deep in our conviction of a natural progression of missions from evangelizing to fellowship to discipleship and eventually partnership as we, together work to reach others with the Gospel. This includes churches, seminaries, missionary sending agencies, anti-human trafficking programs and many other expressions of the gospel.  I also shared with you our financial challenge, including a repentance on my part of focusing so much on ministry that I've neglected yet another significant part of the job, making sure my family is cared for financially. (See Oct. 4 Newsletter). Recent challenges of our home AC's breakdown and replacement, as well as some car troubles of nearly $800 have reminded me of the need to set aside time from our work with missionaries, partner ministries and individuals throughout Central America and the Caribbean in order to envision supporters (think long term...eternal... investors in the kingdom of Heaven) to keep the work going.  We are SO thankful for those of you who have continued as faithful supporters, believing in what the Lord is doing in and through us (including yourselves) as a ministry team. You are a vital part of that team as each of us use the gifts He has given us to accomplish the task of making and caring for disciples, training them and then working with them to extend the kingdom. But as expenses increase and some of our supporters go through financial difficulty, we need call others to join the team. So here's the situation: over the last 12 months we've averaged about $1,500/month short of what we need for ministry and living expenses, insurance, and putting a very small amount towards retirement. Our goal by the end of the year is to erase this deficit and build up some savings to provide padding for those financial surprises (such as when our 2002 Honda can no longer be repaired but must be replaced).  We are praying and looking for: 4 new supporters (or current supporter increase) at $150/month or more. 8 new supporters (or current supporter increase) at $100/month or more. 8 new supporters (or current supporter increase) at $50/month or more. 8 new supporters (or current supporter increase) at $25/month or more. Please pray in a couple of ways: For God to provide our "daily bread", the things HE knows we need which goes well beyond my personal ability to plan and prepare.  For God to call the specific people He would have partner with us financially, prayerfully and in other practical ways to accomplish these goals. For the God to guide you, personally in how to steward the talents and riches He's provided you personally. WE DO NOT ASSUME THAT HE IS CALLING YOU TO SUPPORT US, BUT ASK THAT YOU GET DIRECTION FROM THE LORD FIRST. IF HES ASKIGN YOU TO GIVE ELSEWHERE, PLEASE FOLLOW HIS LEAD. For God to guide and bless us in our ministry and those we work with. If you believe you're called to help in this arena, please send me a note so we can share some of the more specific areas of both prayer and financial need, and use the contact info at the bottom (or right if on a computer) of this letter.  Thank You for all your prayers and support in this work. We literally could not do it without you! Join Our Team Prayer Team  Send us a note and let us know you want in! Give Online UWM-Missionary Support Page   Give via US Mail  Mail check with accompanying note stating: "For the Abegg Family" to: 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217   Give Via Phone Dial 800-825-5896 and talk to a very helpful person!   For those who missed our most recent video report of 3 months in Costa Rica.

Missionaries FROM Latin America & an URGENT REQUEST

To those who have been called, who are LOVED by God the Father and KEPT by Jesus Christ; MERCY, PEACE and LOVE  be yours in abundance.       -Jude 1:1 I  Call  Thee  Lazarus! ... or maybe Isaac? "The heart of a man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps.." (Prov. 16:9). Plans change over time. Jeremy and Nico for instance no longer plan on becoming garbage truck drivers, and at age 50 I probably won't get to explore space. Other plans though, plans based on Kingdom hopes and Biblical foundations tend to be enduring, yet always under the Lord's direction. Recently I've been rejoicing in some specific steps that God "established" years ago.  Prior to LAM's merger with United World Mission, I had the privilege of laboring with a great team on how LAM could work alongside partner ministries in the SENDING of missionaries FROM Latin America To the rest of the world. Much work, and more than a few difficult discussions, went into this.   How to partner with mature Latin ministries, building the Church and reaching the unreached was of primary concern. How to co-labor within thegifts and weaknesses of both cultures to reach a 3rd culture was, and still is immensely important. Our desire was to approach the Great Comission and cross-cultural partnership with humility on the one hand, and courage in the face of differences on the other, trusting God to give wisdom, conviction and a sensitivity to our partners.     ...how to co-labor within the giftings and weaknesses of both cultures to reach a 3rd culture was, and still is immensely important... Well, the merger brought an end to those discussions, and with deep felt grief, we placed those plans on the altar as an offering to the Lord.   Recently however, that work has been resurrected as was Lazarus. Or perhaps more accurately, called back off the altar like Isaac.  I've had the privilege of joining a team diving into these deep waters once again as we consider a progression from the evangelization of Latin America, to discipleship, and to an ever deepening partnership of equals reaching new ministry fields. We are trusting that our cross cultural, unified giftings will better reflect the Lord and His care for a lost and hurting world than an isolated North American perspective ever could. It's an exciting time for missions, and I am humbled to be able to take part, but there are many challenges. Please keep this team in your prayers. Pray for wisdom on all levels: missiological, cultural, legal (employment laws have bearing on what we're doing), practical and financial. Pray for clear communication and discernment of the Lord's leading. Also give thanks with us, that just as we are called as individuals to be part of the "body of Christ", we can reflect this unity in a broader, international expression of His Body.  Andres Blanco is the Executive Director of FEDEMEC, a fantastic missions agency and UWM partner in Costa Rica reaching the unreached around the globe.  Mariliana Morales of Partner Ministry Fundación Rahab is a kindred spirit in fighting Human Trafficking in Costa Rica and throughout the World. Partner Ministry ProMETA in Costa Rica works to develop Christian leaders through accessible, online education.   Urgent: Our Financial  Challenge As a husband, father, and ministry leader I humbly ask for your prayers and assistance. It's been difficult for me to make time for "support raising", a financial necessity for our ministry. Frankly I'm excited about what we as a mission are doing across nations, throughout Central America and the Caribbean, and in so many areas including anti-Human Trafficking. But it's hard to take time and find the supporters (think Kingdom Investors) to keep moving ahead. The bottom line is that if I don't, we won't be able to keep doing this work, be that guidance of 47 missionary families to advising their sending churches, from partnership with missionary sending agencies to seminaries, from children's homes to churches and entire denominations.  So, in order to be faithful to God and care for the ministry and missionaries He has provided, I must first be faithful to seek and honor Him in making sure that my family is cared for. Hence this appeal and a goal to be fully supported by the end of the year. I'll share some specifics in the coming days, but for now, please pray for God's provision for us as a family and for our work. Also, we ask you to prayerfully consider if you may be part of the answer to those very prayers by becoming regular monthly supporters.  If you feel so lead to join us to help us with the burden, or carry a bigger part of the load than you are now (for which we are immensely greatful), please let us know and use the information below. Thank You for all your prayers and support in this work!   Join Our Team Prayer Team  Send us a note and let us know you want in! Give Online UWM-Missionary Support Page   Give via US Mail  Mail check with accompanying note stating: "For the Abegg Family" to: 205 Regency Executive Park Dr. Suite 430, Charlotte, NC 28217   Give Via Phone Dial 800-825-5896 and talk to a very helpful person!   For those who missed our overview of 3 months work as a family in Central America. Copyright © 2018 United World Mission, All rights reserved.  You are receiving this e-mail because you requested to be kept informed on the Abegg family and their ministry to those trapped in human trafficking.