Jan 2015

After seven weeks of Gospel ministry in other countries, we returned to India on January 8^th.  Somehow, we still didn’t feel tired, nor had we fallen sick.  Thank the Lord! 

Two days later, though, we had to travel four hours by car to Adilabad town, where we’d been invited by our friends (and former students) for five full days of ministry.

Stephen preached in six general meetings, mostly in the evenings, on three attributes of God, and a series in Matthew chapter 5 on the depth of our duty of obedience to our Lord and Savior.

Ruth spoke in two ladies’ meetings, and taught two separate children’s ministries over the five days as well.

Additionally, Stephen taught mostly men and youths in three sessions.

It is our wish and prayer that our Father in Heaven would so bless all of these efforts in His Son’s Gospel that He would be pleased and glorified by the resulting faith in Him and good works of obedience to the Lord Jesus.

Thanks so much for praying for us.

Sydney

I know it would have been best to blog about these activities as we did them, but never really had the time till now.

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On December 27, we flew to Sydney, Australia.  Stephen was invited to be the church camp speaker for Evangel Bible Church.
Our theme was the works of Christ and the works of a Christian.  With 1 Timothy 2:5 being the camp verse.  

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."

I truly believe  that this camp was not only a great blessing to each of the members of Evangel, but it was a blessing to us as well.  The fellowship was so good, even intense. 

During the nine days, Stephen spoke 15 times, 12 of those being at the camp itself.  Ruth also got to lead one of the discussion groups and spoke twice.

 

After camp, some of the families took us to see the city of Sydney.  The Lord blessed us by allowing us to be a part of this ministry, and we feel thrilled about being invited to Australia for the first time.

Singapore 2014

After Cebu, Philippines, we were in Singapore.  While there Stephen preached for the assemblies of Bethany Evangelical Free Church, Jesus Saves Mission and Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship.

We joined Emmanuel for their church camp in Malaysia, where Ruth taught the children, and Stephen led one of the discussion groups.

On Christmas day Stephen preached for Emmanuel Baptist Fellowship, and in the afternoon for Grace Independent Baptist Church. GIBC presented a beautiful cantata before the preaching.

Ruth also was happily able to join the ladies at EBF for our annual ladies lunch.

On December 27 we flew to Sydney, Australia for another church camp. I'll write about it in the next post.

Cebu, Nov 2014

Our last post was our November prayer letter, the Lord has opened many door of opportunity to serve Him since that letter.  We have been in five different countries in the months of November, December and January.

In late November, we flew to Singapore, where Stephen preached on a Sat pm and Sunday am church service.  Then on Monday we flew over to Cebu, Philippines.  In Cebu we were able to be with our good friends of Jesus Saves Mission School.  Stephen taught that week on II Timothy, "Fit for the Master's Use".

Our next post, we'll tell you about our ministry in Singapore.

prayerletternov2014

                                                November 10^th, 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Blessings to you all and thanks for your love and kind support.  Since returning to India, I've been privileged to speak in some  Sunday assemblies on topics including “The Sanctifying Work of the Spirit” (Ro 8.14);  “The Holiness of God” (Is 6.1-9);  “True Greatness” (Life of Moses); “Family Devotional Time” (De 6.5-9); and “We Are The Lord's Temple” (II Chr ch 2-7).

Then, in four special sessions, I spoke on the Holy Spirit (“The Spirit of Prophecy—Rev 19.10”; “Our Anointing By The Spirit—II Cor 1.21-22”; “Our Work As Prophets, Priests and Kings, In The Power of The Spirit—John 20.21-22”; and “Being Led By The Spirit—Ro 8.14”).

I was privileged to teach seminars in one-day pastors’ meetings, on “Christ Our Prophet, Priest and King; and Some Pastoral Theology topics” six times;  “What Is The Gospel And How To Preach It” four times;  “The Life of Christ” five times; “The Work of the Holy Spirit, His Gifts, The Cessation of the Revelatory and Miraculous Gifts and the Gross Errors of the Charismatics” twice; and “The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture”, once.  Additionally, during the last two weeks of October, I was asked to teach all of these topics and more to two batches of pastors in two States for five days each time.

Ruth was also active in teaching children's ministry sessions, ladies' meetings and seminars for Bible Institute students during the past 12 weeks.

Please Pray:

• For Ruth and me to continue to have health and strength, and that we would glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in His Gospel ministry.
• That He would fill us with all the fruits of righteousness by His Spirit as we proceed with teaching the Gospel in Pune, India, next week, in Cebu, Philippines, during Nov 24-28, in Singapore for most of Dec., and in Sydney, Australia, 10 days in late Dec. and early Jan.
• For our safe travels during all those weeks, and our return to the ministry schedule here in India on January 8^th.
• That our Lord would mercifully keep Mary and Andrew and their boys safe and secure (including from Ebola) as they are now serving in the Gospel in Togo, West Africa.
• For Stephanie, as she nears the end of her first semester studying in Bob Jones University.  And for her foot, as she's been suffering from tendinitis for almost two months now.

Chit-chat:           At mid-September, Ruth suddenly needed to have gall-bladder removal surgery here in India.  The Lord blessed her with good doctors and a speedy recovery.  Now, two months later, it seems to her like a distant memory.                              The cooler weather finally arrived.                          The Lord has preserved us through lots of extra travels on these Indian highways—even the vehicles are holding up!  In the next eight weeks most of our distance would be measured in air-miles.          

 Did I ever tell you? “I love my job of describing our Lord Jesus to the people!”          

 Stephen & Ruth Schaefer

 “Serving with the International Gospel Missions”   

990 Calkins Road,  Rochester, NY  14623      Phone:  585-334-9048

prayerletteraug2014

 

                                                August 15^th, 2014

Dear Praying Friends,

Thank the Lord for His mercy, as we've been traveling a lot since our last letter.  April was very much like the first quarter, with many opportunities for teaching the Gospel to various groups of rural pastors.  April is an important children's ministries month here, so Ruth was in a couple of these.  I spoke in a Christian youth camp retreat, as well.

During May, June, and part of July, we were in the USA, visiting some of you all, in PA, OH, and FL, to make our missionary reports.  It was very good to visit friends and family as well, especially our dear parents.

Before returning to India last week, the Lord enabled us to spend time visiting our daughter Mary Ward and her precious family who two months ago began their overseas missionary service in Togo.  While visiting them, our Lord allowed me to contact several local pastors who preach the glorious Gospel in Togo and in neighboring Ghana, and I'm hopeful that perhaps next year we may be able to visit these places once more, and have a useful part in the proclamation of Christ and His Gospel in both countries.

Please Pray:

• For our health and strength.
• That Mary and Andrew would be increasingly used of the Lord Jesus Christ for the sake of His Gospel during all the years He may give them in Togo.  Please also pray for them to be kept safe from any Ebola outbreak which may soon edge closer to their area.
• That the calendar would fill up with excellent opportunities to teach the Gospel here in India. So far, in only a week back here at home, appointments for the next three months are multiplying.  As always, it is our only wish for Jesus Christ to be glorified as Lord.
• For Ruth and me as we plan to fly to Pune to teach in a Bible School in the coming few days.  I'm to teach the Book of Hebrews, and Ruth is to teach a couple of seminars as well.  I'm looking forward to many more such occasions in the months ahead, through your prayers.
• That our Lord Jesus would preserve Stephanie through all of her planned movements, from the visit to Togo, through all her flights, back to Greenville, SC, where she is to start her first year in Bob Jones University around August 29^th.  And that she would continually grow in understanding and in grace.

Chit-chat:            The Lord helped us cope with the fatigue and with the 100°^F, and above, temperatures which characterized the entire month of April.                               Stephanie managed to pack up her suitcases to depart from India for the last time, and to leave behind a lot of boxes containing stuff to be brought to her later on.  The apartment seems very different this time, for us.  We now have no kids living in our home—first time in the past 31.5 years.                               Everyone was so kind—the Lord's people always are—everywhere we've gone when traveling.  Now I feel a bit tired, but happy, and eager for the Gospel weeks to come.

 “Serving with the International Gospel Missions”  (note slight name change—still IGM)