Managua, Nicaragua Conversational English - January 12-26, 2008
It was a pleasure to work once again with an established partner church, Libertad Baptist Church in Managua.  There we conducted the Practically Speaking Conversational English course and our Practically Speaking English for Children program.  More than 200 children attended each morning of the first week to learn basic English and to hear the gospel message.  Many parents also attended during this time and some of them through accepted Christ.  In the adult English classes, more than 400 students were enrolled.  Our friend, Pastor Dennis Rios, is seeing many of these students return to the church and enter into discipleship leading to baptism.  From our 2007 classes, he reports that more than 40 have either joined his congregation through baptism or are actively attending.

We were vey happy to help one of the “daughter” churches of Libertad Baptist Church. Thanks to the generosity of the people of Hulen Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, we were able to purchase a complete sound system, the first sound system for Third Libertad Baptist Church.  This church plant began one year ago with two members.  In one year, they have had eleven baptisms bringing their membership to thirteen.  With the first use of the sound system, people from the surrounding community came to find out where all the sound was coming from.  The pastor, Benjamin Quant told us that people were standing outside the door and in the street, listening to the service.  With the generous donation from Hulen Street Baptist we were also able to provide a brand new computer for Libertad Baptist Church to use with their multimedia team during their services.

Minsk, Belarus Conversational and Business English
January 26 - February 3, 2008
Our team consisted of groups from Greenville, Mississippi, Buford, Georgia, Fort Worth, Texas and Auxvasse, Missouri.  More than 1,000 young people and adults enrolled in the one week English classes.  Some attended the conversational classes while others participated in the business English classes.  More than 250 of these said “yes” to Christ. 

The weather was cold and damp and may have contributed to the illnesses that some of our team suffered.  Thanks to our friend, Joe Wilson, a kind Belarusian doctor was able to care for the sick ones and get them back on their feet.  Amazingly, doctors routinely make house calls in Minsk.

Holzhausen, Germany IMB Support (Childcare and VBS)
January 26 - February 2, 2008
In support of our IMB missionaries on the field, we provided care and teaching of their children while the adults attended their annual conference for training, spiritual enrichment, and fellowship after long separation from other Americans.  The team was from Hulen Street Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.   This ministry is recommended for anyone who loves children. Families are welcome to serve together in this ministry.  We hope you will keep this in mind for January, 2009.

Return to Prison Ministry with Bill Glass Champions for Life
After our busy international schedule kept us out of the prisons during 2007, we have committed to returning to the prisons in partnership with Bill Glass Champions for Life during 2008.  Jody just completed the Weekend of Champions event at the Wynne Unit in Huntsville, Texas.  As one of the volunteer coordinators, Jody led a team into the prison where the gospel was freely shared with hundreds of inmates.

The senior adults (Retta Rockers) of Retta Baptist Church in Burleson, Texas continue to play a direct role in reaching inmates in prisons across the country.  Last month they packaged 1,400 teammate packets which contain the materials used by the Bill Glass Champions for Life volunteers to share the gospel with men, women, and youth inmates in jails and prisons around the country.  By our best recollection, this is the fifth year that the Retta Rockers have committed to packaging the materials.  On average, they will package 4,000 or more each year.

Tornado Relief in Central Arkansas
During February, dozens of tornadoes ravaged Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi.  March 16 to 21 will take the Hulen Street Baptist Church students to Atkins, Arkansas to do what we can to help this small town return to normal.  In cooperation with First Baptist Church of Atkins, Jody and Hulen Street Baptist Church Student Pastor, Scott Parrish will help the student missionaries learn the realities of natural disaster and how Christians need to reach out to help those in need.

Family News
Trisha’s mother, Fran Taylor, has been placed in hospice care.  We are doing our best to care for and honor her during her final days on earth.  She has Jesus Christ in her life as her savior and she is bound for heaven.  Please pray for us and for Fran.

The grandchildren, Max, Drew, and Nicole are all growing and doing well.  Max is enjoying his first grade experience.  Casey and Ashley and the boys, Max and Drew are doing well in Round Rock, Texas.  David and our daughter Sara and baby Nicole are thriving in Marshall, Texas.  Aaron is stationed with the Navy in Panama City, Florida as an Ensign.

Managua, Nicaragua Conversational English - June 7-14, 2008
We will work with one of our partner churches to conduct the Practically Speaking Conversational English course.  This is our one week event with the addition of our Practically Speaking Children's English program. 

Volunteer positions are still available for both this event.  You must have a valid U.S. passport. Contact Jody immediately if you are interested in participating in this ministry.

This one week “vacation with a purpose” has an approximate cost of $1,500.00 which includes airfare, ground transportation, travel insurance, teaching materials, food and lodging.

Minsk, Belarus Conversational English - June 27 - July 12, 2008
We can expect more than a thousand students to enroll in the conversational English class in Minsk this summer.  We need 25 to 28 adult volunteers to join us in reaching the largest city in Belarus.  Volunteer positions are still available for this event, but it will fill quickly.  You must have a valid U.S. passport. Contact Jody immediately if you are interested in participating in this ministry. 

This two week “vacation with a purpose” has an approximate cost of $2,800.00 which includes airfare, ground transportation, travel insurance, teaching materials, food and lodging.

Babrusk, Belarus Conversational English - July 25 - August 9, 2008
We plan to open a work in a new city in Belarus this summer.  We need 10-12 adult volunteers to join us in reaching the largest city in Belarus.  A few volunteer positions are still available for this event, but it will fill quickly.  You must have a valid U.S. passport. Contact Jody immediately if you are interested in participating in this ministry. 

This two week “vacation with a purpose” has an approximate cost of $2,800.00 which includes airfare, ground transportation, travel insurance, teaching materials, food and lodging.

Africa Project - September 2008
Plans are under way to make our first foray onto the African continent.  This project will be something new and different for our ministry.  Because of the location of this project we will not put the details in print.  The specific dates for this 7 to 10 day trip are still being coordinated with the inviting organization.  Those that are interested in learning more about this should telephone Jody for information.

Training Events for Practically Speaking Conversational English and Business English
Training for the summer ministries is being planned now.  One training event will be held in Fort Worth, Texas and another in Buford, Georgia.  The specific dates are still being worked out.

Ministry Needs
- Prayer is at the top of our list of needs.  Knowing that you are praying for us and our work is a tremendous encouragement.  Please pray for continued health and stamina, God's direction as we finalize our 2008 schedule and wisdom as we explore new countries in which to serve.

- Finances are always on our list of needs as God continues to provide for us month to month through people like you who believe in what we do and trust us to be good stewards of God's resources.  Even small donations make a difference.  We want to continue to expand our reach to the world as well as support the children's home and begin to offer financial help to some of our partner churches in other countries.

- Thank you Hulen Street Baptist Church for the generous offering that allowed us to provide a new notebook computer to Libertad Baptist Church in Managua and the new and complete sound system to Third Libertad Baptist Church in Managua.

Privacy Policy: Jody Kennedy International does not share any information about our constituents, team members, supporters, or partners with any other party, corporation, non-profit organization or entity.  

To unsubscribe to our e-News mailing list, click this link (Unsubscribe Me) and select "unsubscribe".
 

© Copyright 2008 - Jody Kennedy International - All Rights Reserved