2010 Spring 3E ALPHA Course has begun!!
Dear praying Friends,
In our missionary calling to Taiwan, last night was a mountaintop experience.
We have been praying long and hard for this new season of 3E ALPHA, and the Lord has indeed answered our prayers. Not only did many new non-believing friends join us, but the Lord allowed the evening's activities to go smoothly. This was a big answer to prayer as this is our biggest 3E ALPHA Course yet, and coordinating everything is quite a task. We have close to 60 Taiwanese church co-workers and 9 English co-workers working together to put on this 11-week introduction to the Christian faith.
The evening kicked off with a shared fellowship meal, during which the co-workers could get to know our new friends a little. Kelley then led us in a fun English ice-breaker game that also focused on building relationships. Then our friends John (US) and Julianne (UK) put on a short skit about being ALPHA participants. Next Erich shared the ALPHA introductory message on the topic "Is There More to Life Than This?" (click here for the full text). Finally, we ended with a 45-minute group discussion time in Chinese (for deeper sharing in peoples' heart language). At the end of the evening, the groups were so deep in discussion that they didn't want to leave!
Some highlights:
- A Taiwanese friend of ours invited her dad to join, who is a Buddhist. He really clicked with Professor John (an English co-worker from CA), and enjoyed the family atmosphere.
- Foreign friends from the Gambia and the Czech Republic joined us. Neither are Christians, but both expressed that if church was like this, then they want to keep coming. Giving us this family atmosphere is something only the Spirit of God can do.
For us as long-term missionaries to Taiwan, things can't get much better than last night. This is what we were made for.
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who have been praying for us recently. Your prayers are being heard - let's press on together!
Love,
Erich and Kelley
P.S.: We were so busy leading things that we didn't even take pictures. As soon as we get some we'll post!
Hey Erich and Kelley! Wow,
Hey Erich and Kelley!
Wow, what great news!!! It's so exciting to hear about how God is moving in Taipei and with the Alpha course! Who would have thought the first night would have been such a success?
I'm glad that specific visitors had a great time and connected with the staff and others there. May it continue to go this way! Well, praise God for your work there!
I love and miss you both lots!
To Lukas
Hey Bro,
Thanks for the comment :-) we're getting ready for the second ALPHA night on Friday, and are praying hard for attendance to stay up, for everything to go smoothly, and most importantly, for the Spirit to be present!
Thanks for thinking of us!! We love you!
- E & K
Eri and Kel, What a JOY to
Eri and Kel,
What a JOY to read this update. WOW! Great to see God at work in and through your lives at the Truth church. Have a great week. How are the new language classes going? As difficult as you had anticipated?!
Karl comes tomorrow afternoon to spend dinner and an overnight with us. :) Then Jill comes on Friday night to Sunday to see Josiah's play, Anything Goes. We're looking forward to seeing them. Kel, has your Mom come already or is she yet to come to Taipei?
Love to you both, heb+1
To Boyers 6
Hi Boyers!
Thanks for the comment - yes, we're very excited at what the Lord is doing here in Taiwan. Our new language classes are really heavy. The workload has at least doubled, if not tripled!! But we're confident we made the right decision to change to this more intensive program, as it should cut our overall language study by at least a year.
Glad to hear Karl and Jill are coming down to visit. That should be loads of fun - wish we could be there too! Kel's parents are coming in August, which is exciting!
Love you all!!
- E & K
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