Dear Ones,

We pray you’ve had a restful, life-giving summer. We have so enjoyed being here at home in France these past three months. And just a few days ago, we humbly thanked the Lord as we celebrated 41 years with our mission, One Collective. In case you missed it last year, I (Elizabeth) wrote about what happened way back in 1982 on my blog here.

Yes, it’s been quite a journey these past 41 years with so much coming and going. And YOU have been on this journey with us through your prayers and gifts, some having followed our story for 41 years. One of the main ways the Lord has kept us faithful on this journey is through your love and prayers. Merci, merci, merci to ALL of you!!

Speaking of coming and going, in our last update we asked you to pray for our conference in Zambia in April with mission leaders from around the world. It was a great encouragement to hear of all the ways the Lord is at work as One Collective seeks to bring people together to help the oppressed. You can find out more by clicking on the image below.

Paul here:

Besides spending time with colleagues and diving into many discussions and issues with them – we discovered a beautiful country, lovely people, and ALL KINDS of animals from God’s creation (we were able to do a couple of short safari rides – so fun to learn more about nature!)  Please continue to pray for men and women in the topics and concerns that were addressed, for as you know – we’re all on a journey. Most issues that require attention aren’t resolved in one discussion, right?  It was great to be surrounded by so many people who truly seek to see God’s Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Because many of our colleagues serve in closed countries, we can’t post photos of them, but we thought you’d enjoy seeing a few street scenes, some safari shots, and breathtaking Victoria Falls.

Thank you for interceding for our request regarding interpersonal relationships on One Collective teams as well as in Lyon and beyond. We’ve been noticing small issues balloon into bigger disagreements, people seem less resilient, we see misunderstandings more often, and believe our enemy is sowing seeds. We know there is a battle taking place in spiritual realms that we cannot see, but it takes a toll.  Please pray with us that God’s grace will be liberally offered and received as we seek to protect the unity of the Body.

Pray for the important role our Member Care Team plays as we listen, challenge, pray with, and walk alongside our workers.

And I (Paul) would value your prayers as I lead and encourage our Global Member Care Team. The ten of us help our One Collective workers deal with many challenging situations, and it can feel heavy for us, too. Elizabeth and I are grateful for the beautiful community we’ve established with these precious colleagues on the GMCT who live in Wales, France, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, Montana, and Washington. Once in a while we get to be with them in person!

Summer is a season in which many of our workers spend a little time back in the States, and the transitions that accompany the change of schedule can cause stress.  Ministry activities must be modified, clubs put on hold, and programs usually are cut back to a minimum.  Transition and change are always part of the summer so – as you can guess – the stress level rises. Yes, even when folks are heading back home to renew connections, visit families and friends and ‘take a break’ – the changes usually bring with them heightened stress. If you have received workers in your local church for a presentation or a meeting or at your home over this summer, thank you for your love and encouragement. And because home assignments continue throughout the year, please pray that our workers will be blessed by time together.

From Elizabeth:

In May we made a quick trip back to the US to celebrate Paul’s mother, our beloved Mamaw, on her 90th birthday. 50 of her progeny were present, including 22 of her 27 great-grandkids. What a blessing to honor this godly woman who has served the Lord in Brazil, Haiti, China, and the US for decades and decades. She is an inspiration to us as she continues to radiate joy in the Lord in the ‘mission field’ of her retirement home in Kentucky.

We fly back to the States on September 1st and plan to stay for 6 months, continuing to do our pastoral care and writing ministries from our home in Flintstone, Georgia. PLUS we’ll get to see many of you and have time with our sons, daughters-in-law, and GRANDKIDS! (Can you tell I’m a little excited about this?)

I also have several speaking engagements in Atlanta soon after we return. I’ll be speaking about my novel By Way of the Moonlight and would ask your prayers for these events.

Over the past year my brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as Paul and I when we were in town, have had the colossal task of emptying out my parents’ home in Atlanta. It is now for sale. This property (my childhood home) inspired much of the setting and story for By Way of the Moonlight. It has been hard, as many of you know, to clear out a beloved home. Would you please pray that the Lord would bring just the right family or ministry to purchase this property so that it can continue to be a place of rest and wonder, and, if the Lord wills, filled with horses?

I’ve been meditating on this psalm lately, as our lives and our world are in constant motion. I’m so thankful that our Lord is the One who calms our soul as we trust Him and rest in His love.

Psalm 131

Childlike Trust in the Lord.

A Song of Ascents, of David.

131 O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
² Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
³ O Israel, hope in the Lord
From this time forth and forever.

May you find this to be true as we all step into the fall season.

With much love,

Elizabeth and Paul