God is faithful even when we are fearful. We left ACU and life in Abilene with no guaranteed salary. We felt that God had called us to equip church planters in North America who would engage searchers, help them come to Christ, grow to spiritual maturity, and become leaders. Would God provide? Since then we have experienced fourteen new church plantings and seen many come to Christ. God has provided in ways that we could not have imagined. New kingdom initiatives!  Transformative journeys! God’s faithfulness despite our doubtings! God, help our unbelief!

As the Mission Alive grew, we began to ask: “How can one family equip, sustain, and encourage so many maturing church planters?” Again God was faithful. He provided three co-workers to minister with us. Tod Vogt has been invaluable by becoming a certified coach and coach trainer and then equipping coaches to walk alongside all our church planters. Candace Vogt, a lawyer by training, supports our church planters by helping them discover God’s resources, develop children’s ministries, and understand legal issues. Dr. John Cooke works part-time to assess, counsel, and encourage church planters and guide them in team formation. God has brought together an exceptional team. Beyond all expectations! An increase in staff, however, has also brought an increase in financial need.

Mission Alive exists for the sake of Tawnya Sumpter. Tawnya has lived a life focused on “gratifying the cravings of [her] sinful nature” (Eph. 2:3). She was dead in sin! On October 5, she was baptized wearing the clothes that signified her old way of life. She testified, "These jeans have seen a lot of bars and danced on a lot of tables and I am just ready to be done with that life."  After her baptism those old clothes (and her old life) were thrown into a trash can and her new life in Christ began. Tawnya is one of fifteen this year who have moved from darkness to light in the VineLife church.

Mission Alive exists for the sake of Mike and JoEtta Deaton. Mike and JoEtta are church planting in the university context of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Mike is a respected professor of Statistics at the university and until recently an elder at the Waynesboro Church of Christ. Mike and JoEtta have a vision of campus churches throughout their area. Mission Alive has walked with them through their training and will continue to journey beside them with coaching, spiritual direction, and encouragement as they engage in this new kingdom initiative.

God’s faithfulness; our fearfulness. Once again we wonder if God will respond. How can Mission Alive survive in the current economic climate?   Do we downsize a growing ministry? Will God provide in spite of the economic downturn? A Swahili proverb says, “Haba na haba hujaza kibaba” (“A little here and a little there fills up the measure”). Would you help Mission Alive “fill our measure” with either a monthly commitment for 2009 or a one-time gift?  Your gifts to Mission Alive are tax-deductible. You can also donate on line at http://www.missionalive.org/pages/give-online.  Despite the hardships of the time, would you make a commitment to support Mission Alive?

Gailyn and Becky Van Rheenen
Facilitators of Church Planting
Mission Alive