Sweden Update – Thank you for continuing to partner with us for the sake of the gospel going forward. Here are some of the key saints to pray for…

Stockholm. Although while I am on sabbatical there is little contact with the work, I am still excited about the glimpses I get. Fredrick and Agnes continue to take steps to lead well and help shepherd the crew. Due to some work options, would you please pray for them these weeks to have discernment with work or potential further studies, location, and of course to be strengthened in their walks with the Lord. Of course, I would love the Lord to affirm them staying local, but ultimately we are excited about how the Lord uses all circumstances to influence our current context while He prepares us for the next. Prayers for Emilia and Natasha as they continue as students, being one of the very few Christians in their classes, there are often opportunities to share about faith, but also the hard of not having lots of support. Pray for their journeys with Jesus to continue to deepen. Prayers for G. He really seems to be wrestling and wanting to take steps forward. Pray for him to have clarity and confidence in taking steps of faith. Prayers for Maud as she is finishing her masters’s thesis and looking to transition to northern Sweden sometime this fall. Pray for opportunities with the good weather for some coffee table outreaches and connections with others in the neighborhood.

Luleå. I ask for continued prayers for Kristine and Samuel and their four children. They continue to be devoted to the Lord, His Word, and open to how the Lord would use them in the North. Pray for their discipleship opportunities, especially among young couples. Recently, Kristine took a ladies discipleship group to another town for their first missions trip, looking to connect with a few believers and pray for the community. It was a success. Pray for protection over them as a family while they continue to take steps of obedience to whatever the Lord asks of them.

Vivalla. You may remember over the past year, I would take almost monthly trips to a city 2 hours west of Stockholm, Orebro. Vivalla is the immigrant neighborhood in that city with no church. Over the past year, a handful of believers have looked to start to be a new team with the vision to see the gospel go forward and a new community of believers formed. Please pray for the team to be unified in vision and practice. Pray for favor as they take steps to prayer walk and engage people. Pray for Håkan & Jenny and Grant & Therese.

Sabbatical Update.

Almost two thirds through this season, and I am definitely getting more excited about getting back to the work. At the same time, I am thankful for what this season has provided in renewal, healing, processing and being able to re-enter the work with an overflowing cup. In a reflection time with Jesus about where things are, I had this picture of Him continuing to put obscure puzzle pieces on the table with no edges. So although I can’t make out what the picture is yet, there was the assurance that more pieces are coming.

I have delayed my trip back to Sweden as my uncle (living alone in Arkansas) needed open heart surgery. So I am getting to spend some “retreat” time here. There are still sabbatical objectives that I work on from here while getting to help care for him. Thankful for the flexibility in my schedule to allow for this. Please pray for Uncle John as he takes steps in this healing journey.

One of the goals of this work is to create a leadership pipeline of workers to the field, with the encouragement to engage least reached people groups. We have intentionally taken steps to build stronger bridges with the collegiate network in the States in order to build on their leadership training opportunities. This year, we have one of their staff joining the Euro-Linc staff and serving the project in Germany this summer. I will have to opportunity to go and serve with the staff at the Leadership Training in Colorado at the end of June. The teaching theme is on the Kingdom and I am very excited for this chance to participate. Quite of few of the staffers have brought teams to Sweden, and it will be a great gift to serve with them on their turf.

Financial Update and Needs.

Thankful for the continue gifts and even a new monthly supporter to make this work happen. Yet, of course, there is still a need. Here are the upcoming trips/trainings coming up that will need a total of $6500 to help cover expenses. Would you consider a one-time gift to contribute to this need?

• the LT in Colorado in June – focus on training and strengthening college students
• Euro-Linc in Germany in July – a team mixed of Americans, europeans, Middle Eastern, etc serving the refugee community in Cologne.
• Teen Challenge will come twice to Stockholm this fall for 2 ten day periods of time. A team of early 20-year-old Swedes being trained up in disciple-making and church planting. The opportunity for them to serve our Stockholm neighborhood is a great gift toward the work. As a host we cover housing (they live with me) and food costs.
• Advisory Team meeting and European Leadership Summit – the opportunity to come together as leaders for the network as well as train up the next generation of leaders.
• There is the hope to raise funds for a spiritual directed retreat. There has been chatter the last couple of years of creating an opportunity for the women to create space to renew their walks with the Lord, pray and seek God’s face together.

Here is the link to give: www.relaint.org/sabe

Soon it will be 18 years serving with Reliant. Thank you for continuing to journey with me and take steps to impact wherever the Lord sends me for His name’s sake.