26 Jun Update on Roger Reeck

Roger and Marilyn Reeck, endorsed staff with Global Ministries, serve in Honduras with Wycliffe Bible Translators. For the past couple years, Roger has experienced much pain in his left foot. He recently underwent a bone fusion operation, which was successful. However, the pain has persisted. So while in San Antonio, Roger made an appointment at a pain clinic.

The doctor concurred with what a surgeon in Honduras had previously detected–that Roger has Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. This refers to “a chronic pain condition in which high levels of nerve impulses are sent to an affected site and results in a dysfunction in the central or peripheral nervous systems.” It is also called sympathy nerve.

The doctor in San Antonio agreed with the meds prescribed by the Honduran doctor.

Marilyn wrote on June 26, “At the pain clinic, they are also doing an intervention in the spine to see if this will help the problem, but it will take awhile to see if it is effective. In the meantime the pain level remains high. He is receiving physical therapy and will remain in the US for awhile. He can do a lot of his consulting work online.”

25 Jun Nichie Parrish Joins the Global Ministries Team

Nicole Parrish–“Nichie,” as she is called–is the newest member of the Global Ministries team. She is preparing to serve long-term in South Africa with an organization called Impact Africa. Nichie is from McCallum UB church in Delton, Mich.

Nichie tells about how God grabbed hold of her heart.

“I grew up in UB churches and started participating in short-term mission trips in 1994. Sixteen years later, the Lord led me to the place I would come to love. In 2010, I traveled to South Africa for the first time as a leader on a two-week mission trip. It was then that God began to change my heart and life.

“After returning to the States, I couldn’t get South Africa off of my heart or out of my mind. I would often wake up from dreams filled with the faces of children I had met in Africa, and would be reminded of the stories of heartache and brokenness I had heard. This only broke my heart more for the people of South Africa, and increased my deep yearning to return.

“The Lord opened the door for me to return in the summer of 2011 as a volunteer. It was during my two months there that I answered the call to a life of fulltime missions. I didn’t know what it would look like, but I was willing and listening for the voice and direction of the Lord in my life. I was then invited to return to South Africa for the summer of 2012 as a summer volunteer. Late that summer, the Lord made it clear where He wanted me.”

In 2013, Nichie began discussions with Global Ministries, resulting in her being accepted as a sojourn staff. These persons raise support and are employees of Global Ministries, but are assigned to a partner agency–in this case, Impact Africa. Global Ministries will pay Nichie’s salary, health insurance, pension, and all other benefits. Impact Africa will direct her ministry while she’s on the field. A common description would be to say Nichie is being “seconded” to Impact Africa.

Nichie will serve in Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa, with a population of over 7 million in the greater metropolitan area. Her role will include coordinating the baby abandonment center, where mothers in desperate situations have an alternative for their unwanted children rather than dumping them in a garbage bin or leaving them in a field. Nichie will be a part of a team ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of 300,000 people who live in the section of the slums, or squatter camps, near her.

For the next year, Nichie will be based in Michigan while engaging in pre-field preparations and raising support. If you are interested in finding out more about her work and possibly coming alongside her as a supporter, contact Global Ministries.

20 Jun World Refugee Sunday – June 22

This Sunday, June 22, is World Refugee Sunday. Persecution, violence and war have forcibly displaced over 45 million people in the world today.

As millions of men, women and children seek refuge, the pain of their displacement impacts countries both near and far. Often pitied, but rarely welcomed, refugees struggle to survive far from home.

The response to their need requires more than the services of humanitarian relief agencies. It requires long-term recovery work that serves to strengthen community, build capacity, facilitate healing, promote reconciliation, and generate hope. This is IAFR’s strategic part in seeking the welfare and protection of forcibly displaced people in the world today.

It’s worthy to help make your congregation aware of the plight of the world’s refugees, and of ways they can help. A number of resources are available on the RefugeeHighway.net website.