Reports from the Field

Although Paraclete associates sometimes take long-term assignments, they frequently find the Lord leading them to be part of a more pressing concern that requires immediate attention. Many times they hear, “The Lord has brought you here ‘for such a time as this!’”

Larry & Jean Rus: Their 15-month assignment in Southeast Asia was filled with the unexpected. The ministry director wrote, “They provided much-needed administrative help at many levels. From their expertise with finances, accounting, and organizational policies, to standardizing office procedures and taking care of a myriad of details, we were blessed beyond our expectations. We would never have been able to achieve this level of organization without their help. They came after a period of growth in our ministry which led to our need for a greater level of struc¬ture.”

Shelly Volkhardt: “At a women’s retreat last autumn, two single moth¬ers accepted Christ and others found release to lay their burdens down at Jesus’ feet. During the testimony time, one woman declared that she had pre-decided to divorce her husband after the retreat – but that God got hold of her heart and she was now going home to ‘make my marriage work!’”

Bill & Marty Sturdivant: “Along with two other pastors from the United States, I taught and encouraged persecuted pastors in India for ten days. One evening, we felt led to wash the feet of the Indian men. As we knelt at the feet of each Indian pastor, tears of joy and grace streamed down in appreciation for this act of service. From that moment on, God seemed to break into their lives in very powerful ways – bringing forgiveness for all they had suffered.”

Carey Childrey: “Moments before a I climbed the stairs to the stage to preach in Austria, a missionary told me, ‘Brother, I just want you to know that there are Muslim refugees here today from Afghanistan.’ I later found out there were also Iranians in the service. The next Sunday, at least one received Christ when another Paraclete associate brought the morning message.”


David Bochman: “After coaching an African church association (104 churches, primarily in poor rural areas) through the design of a micro-credit ‘savings and loan’ entity, what a joy to see it of¬ficially launched in the fall of 2010!”

Jim & Leta Van Meter: “A missionary couple serving in Central Asia wrote, ‘After nine years in missions, and the majority of that living in a war-torn country, we both were in need of healing and renewal. You came alongside and gave us the necessary direction, coaching and sensitive care to help us during this much-needed sabbatical.’”

Doug Goins: “Our Bible-teaching team traveled to Colombia for a prison ministry’s national leadership training conference, where we taught from the Gospels on Ministering in the Authority of Jesus. The host ministry’s national director said publicly, ‘We invite you back year after year because you are our plumb line of truth. We trust you teach to us biblical theology.’”

Robin Brennan: “What a privilege it was to teach 150 children’s ministry workers at a conference in the Middle East – in the areas of Discipline, Setting Limits, How to Deal with Hyperactivity, and Listening Skills. Many were counseled individually on behavioral and psychological issues seen in the children they serve.”