January 3, 2019
Blessings on you forever, from our Father
in Heaven and from His Eternal and Beloved Son at His Right Hand! Ruth and I spent the first month of this past
quarter mostly in Miami, FL, looking in on Ruth’s dear parents, as well as
taking care of a few small things, before flying back to Singapore at the end
of October. Thanks so much for your love
and support and prayers to God for us for so many years. The Lord allowed Ruth
and me to move our family overseas to start missionary service for the first
time precisely thirty years ago today, January 3, 1989. And late next month would mark 33 years since
we actually joined IGM. So much has
happened in all that time—so many Gospel opportunities have opened up to us—for
which kindness of our Lord I am increasingly grateful.
Back in Singapore by November 1st,
Ruth and I were able to resume the work we are trying to do to assist and encourage
Emmanuel Baptist. I was happy to be able
to finish off the series of 25 messages to them during 2018 on the theme “We
Are His People”. Those last titles in
the series were “We Are His Holy Nation”, “We Are His Husbandry”, “We Are His
Chosen Ones”, “We Are His Image-Bearers”, “We Are His True Worshipers”, and “We
Are His Beloved”.
Early in November the congregation shared a
happy morning together comparing the results of our individual studies in the
Book of Deuteronomy. This was a nice follow-up
to our full-day conference on Deuteronomy back in August.
Ruth
and I were able to visit India, briefly, in November, and it was very pleasing
to have one more (perhaps final) time to have face-to-face fellowship with some
of those friends and comrades in the Gospel of our Lord Jesus. Though we possibly may not return to India
again during this lifetime, I do hope we’ll be in touch, as some here in Asia
are asking us to continue to give them some helps via the internet even after
we’ve concluded our formal overseas missionary service. During that short time in India, Ruth and I
were able to give encouragements in the ministry to several who are doing a
weekly children’s outreach, and to bless our other friends and be blessed with
them in Christly fellowship.
Through your prayers, Ruth and I were able,
two weeks ago, to fulfil the church camp ministry we’d been looking forward to
for over a year. She and I spoke to our
respective segments of the congregation on Jesus our Redeemer, “Anointed”
Prophet, Priest and King, and I was able to expand on that among the older ones
to explain that we “little christs” must serve in the power of the same Holy
Spirit, striving to do the works of prophets, priests and kings in the Lord
Jesus’ Name and in union with Him.
Please
Pray:
·
To our Father in Heaven that Ruth and I would be able to conclude a very
fruitful first quarter. Most all our
efforts would be focused on helping in Emmanuel Baptist, here in Singapore.
·
For us to be healthy and safe. By
God’s grace, we’d complete our sixtieth years this year. Nothing major seems to be of concern at the
moment, thank the Lord. But the word “deterioration”
often comes to mind. God is love. Please especially pray for Ruth’s dear
parents’ health and strength.
·
That our Lord and Father would give us the wisdom we need as we plan for
the future.
Affectionately,
Stephen and Ruth Schaefer
John 14.23
International
Gospel Missions
990
Calkins Road, Rochester NY 14623
Phone:
585-334-904
