KERL
May 2009
Dear friends,
We hope you are as happy to see spring arrive as we are (for those of you in the Northern Hemisphere!). After being in the more desert climate of northern Mexico for so many years where there is really only two seasons, we are enjoying the emergence of spring and coming to life of so much natural beauty.
Since we last wrote we are grateful to share that our EuroRetreat was a tremendous blessing from start to finish. Our missionary staff gathered from all over Europe to participate in our yearly retreat. This year it was held at a retreat center in Séte, France, the same place as last year, from April 3 -8. It was a well-balanced time of fellowship, sharing, praying, worship, teaching, play and simply being together. Dr. Johannes Reimer spoke to us concerning the following themes in regard to Europe:
- Mission and Context: The Missionary Challenge of Post-Christian Europe
- Mission and Church: The Failure of Post-Christian Europe
- Mission and Kingdom: The Hope for the Revitalization of Europe
- Mission and Action: The Cycle of Missionary Praxis
These sessions were stimulating and discussion took place as to how these concepts were relevant to each of our ministry contexts. Thank you for your prayers for our time as we were all greatly blessed by taking this time for fellowship, nurture and rest.
The day we returned from the EuroRetreat we received the wonderful news that the Final Project that John had turned in to Fuller Theological Seminary to complete his Doctor of Ministry had been accepted with no required changes requested. That was a moment of celebration to see the successful completion of seven years of work. Thank you for walking along side of us on this journey and for your support and prayers.
May will be a full month. We will take vacation from May 6-17. The last two days will be spent with Peter at Black Forest Academy where we will watch him play in a soccer game. From May 21-24 we will be in southwestern France at Orthez, attending the bi-annual Synod of the Union of the Evangelical Free Churches of France. Following that we will travel to Sweden for meetings with the Swedish Mission Covenant Church in Gothenburg from May 26-28. This will be followed by attendance at Peter's graduation from Black Forest on June 5th. Upon our return to Lyon, Peter will leave for Bellingham, Washington, where he will be working on staff at the Firs Camp, outside of Bellingham. On June 20 Letha and I leave for Leadership Meetings and the Annual Meeting of the Covenant Church in Portland. We will then be itinerating in churches in the North Pacific Conference of the Covenant Church from June 28 to July 19. We return to Lyon on July 20.
We would appreciate your prayers for the following:
- for a relaxing and restful vacation!
- for our participation in the Synod of the Union of Evangelical Free Churches of France, May 21-24.
- for our meetings with the Swedish Mission Covenant Church, May 26-28.
- for Peter to end the school year well and for his graduation from Black Forest Academy on June 5.
Thanks for your continued interest in our lives and ministry and for your prayers. We are grateful to the churches and individuals whose faithful support enable us to be engaged in ministry. We cherish your prayers as they are the lifeline of our ministry. May God bless each one of you.
Many, many thanks!
John and Letha Kerl
