The Schaefers in Asia
April
1, 2019
Much love and affection to you all, in the
Lord Jesus’ Name.
Ruth and I started this new year in
Singapore, and were able to remain there for most of this quarter. Once again, we have devoted the time to
trying to encourage and help Emmanuel Baptist.
In Emmanuel, Ruth and I both directed some discipleship sessions, and I
was privileged to preach several times.
The theme chosen for 2019 was “What shall I render to the LORD for all His benefits toward me?”
In keeping with that, I preached on “Forgiveness”, “Assurance and Security”,
“Deliverance”, “Grace” and “Life”, attempting to expound God’s benefits to us
in His great plan of salvation, and what each one of these means for our daily
lives, Biblically. Lastly, I spoke on “The
Cross” as central to our salvation, of course, but also as the foundation for
our philosophy of daily living. We are hopeful in the Lord that the dear folk
could have been edified and helped in their holy faith in our Lord Jesus
through these and other things we did among them, only by the grace of the
Spirit.
Our time in Asia would now seem to have been
completed. (Twenty years.) Ruth and I repatriated to the USA last week,
and this might well be “for the last time” as we are on track to conclude our
33+ years with our mission board, IGM, on this coming June 30th. This year we are both clicking over to 60
years. But, really, it’s not the
years; it’s the mileage. Ruth has been in operating rooms four times in
the last five years. We are no longer
the children we were when many of you started supporting us, in 1986-87! It seems it is time for us to redirect our
efforts, and to plan to be pretty much “Stateside” from now on, especially for
the sake of family members. (Ruth’s dear
parents are in their mid-eighties now.) We
are grateful that we’ve been able to devote our most productive years to the
Lord’s work overseas, and hope He’s found them acceptable and has been
glorified.
This would be our final newsletter, but it does
not necessarily mean that you would not meet us again. Over the next few years, Ruth and I hope that
we might be able to arrange to pay each of you a visit sometime. Only instead of zooming into your area,
touching base, and then blasting off again so very quickly that our visit seems
like a blur, we would like to do something better. We’d like to set up a suitable time to come
to you, and to spend more than just a day or a few days—even a couple of weeks—at
no expense to yourselves—so that we might give you the spiritual gift of
encouragement in your walk with our Lord, and of gracious Gospel words, as well
as to express to you how much you and your faithful support have meant to us
over the decades.
Therefore, if you all would be so kind as
to consider supporting us as usual, up until but not after June 30th,
2019, we would be most appreciative. And
when you have discontinued supporting us, it would bring no small joy were we
to find out that you’d selected some young missionary family just starting out (as
we were 32-33 years ago), and had committed yourselves to their regular support
as they go overseas for the sake of the Gospel.
And may these do a thousand times better and more effective Gospel ministry
than we have ever accomplished!
Blessings on you all, through our Lord
Jesus at His Father’s Right Hand,
Please
Pray:
- That Ruth
and I would continue to enjoy at least the measure of health and strength we
have at present, and to glorify the Lord Jesus in all things, for as long
as we walk on God’s footstool.
- For us to
have wisdom in planning out all our movements in the coming season of our
life together.
- That we
would always and only be a blessing towards other people, especially
toward family members who are mainly on our minds these days.
International
Gospel Missions
990
Calkins Road, Rochester NY 14623
Phone:
585-334-9048
