Russ & Meredith Martin - Singapore

The State of the Great Commission Report Launches!

WBC Friends, we've been praying that this would be a defining moment for the global church.

Launching on Tuesday morning (eastern time), Tuesday night in Asia, The State of the Great Commission Report brings together the best global data and insights from 150 strategic thinkers.

The report from the Lausanne Movement seeks to guide us through the current state and future trajectory of global missions up to 2050, delving deep into ten crucial questions that will shape the church and global missions between now and 2050.

Meredith has guided the implementation of Lausanne's refreshed brand over the past year enabling this defining moment to happen. She oversaw the creative process of the web version of the report including the image selection. She was also a key contributor to the marketing and distribution plan.

Russ has lead the overall marketing, communications and digital strategy that undergirds this effort. Refreshing the brand, launching a refreshed website and building a team capable of translating a report into seven languages (in print and digital) and launching it out across all the movement's touch points are what he spends his day shepherding.

We would be honoured to have you join us at the launch event together with the body of Christ.

WBC Friends, your partnership has made this happen. We couldn't do it without you!

Ray & Carol Jones - Guelph

Dear family and friends,

We appear to have survived another Canadian winter, though quite frankly it didn't put up much of a fight this time. We did have the odd blast of snow but very little compared with some years. I remember one year when we lived further north, in the 'snow belt', there was an accumulation of eighteen feet in total! Over all these years we have been grateful for all the prayer and the safety the Lord has given us.

The last days have been very difficult, particularly for Carol. Our much loved brother and brother-in-law went to be with the Lord last Thursday, over in Wales. We are, of course, deeply grieved at the loss, but also very happy that the day Carol was baptized he trusted the Lord as his own personal Saviour. Over all those years he has been a faithful and humble servant of the Lord and, with his precious wife, Angela, have been a vital part of our ministry. Before that he served with Operation Mobilization, on their ship.

Last Monday I had the task of conducting a funeral of an old friend - and I do mean 'old' - Elsie was well over a hundred and one. Like Colin, she is now free from the ravages of the old body and is safe in the very presence of the Lord. That is the power of the gospel!

Carol continues to deal with health issues and was recently told by a specialist that she 'couldn't do any more for her.'  It didn't seem to me that she did much in the first place; that being the case, Carol has been doing her own research.

I am still very busy preaching, etc., etc. Currently enjoying speaking on "Confidence Through Growth", which appears to be being appreciated. Many people suffer difficult times, and knowing the God of all comfort and being encouraged through the Word is very meaningful to them.

The summer season will soon be here with all the opportunities at guelphbiblecc,com, There will be lots of children and young folk coming  plus the family camps, etc. 

That's all for now. Love to hear from you. Our phone number is 519-767-3335 and WhatsApp works well too.

Much love to you all, 

Ray and Carol

Russ & Meredith Martin - Singapore

Accelerating Global Missions

“Wait, wait, wait,” said the CEO, just as the senior executive team was about to end their weekly video call. “I just need to say that the 2023 impact report the communications team sent is outstanding. It shows where we are headed as a movement. I love it.”

Russ smiled at the encouragement knowing that over the past three years God has brought a team of people together to serve mission leaders around the world through the partnership of the Indigitous network and Lausanne Movement. Launching new formats of engaging content, supporting a dozen on the ground events on every continent and building a global audience online is a complicated and perilous endeavor. But by God’s grace, it’s happening.

Meredith’s creativity and leadership shone in creating the graphics for this report in print and digital channels. It’s a joy of hers to give detailed consideration in choosing the right tone, focus and design elements to communicate the work of Lausanne through the visual designs. 

You can check out the full report here: https://lausanne.org/about/blog/impact-report-2023 

Pictured above is a group of leaders we gathered in Thailand for a week of intensive work (and some play). They are the leaders we get to serve and serve alongside.

WBC Friends, thank you for the part you play in leading the next generation of missions in a digital age.

Family Snapshots:
1. Celebrating our 15 year anniversary with ice cream
2. Gwen’s new bird, River
3. Three wet boys after slipping on rocks

Trevor & Hannah Martin - Power to Change

Commonly on campus, we meet students that are hesitant to be a part of a faith tradition that has inflicted harm on others (think: The Crusades, colonization, the residential school system, etc). Through the generous gift of a partnering church, we were able to host an outreach-oriented speaker event that addressed this common barrier to the Christian faith!

On March 13 & 14 at UWaterloo and Laurier, we provided space to hear from a trained apologist, have discussion around a table, and ask questions. (O and have some food!) We were so thankful to see over 130 students come out to these two events, and would invite you to pray for the connections and follow-up taking place as a result. Our speaker, Wesley, was encouraged to have many non-Christian students come up to him after the event at UW who were open, curious, and willing to engage and ask questions.

Please pray over the Christian and non-Christian students who participated in this event, and for those we are following up with who wanted to know more about our club or the Christian faith. Pray also for future opportunities of this nature - to engage with the broader campus community in a hospitable, trusted way in matters of the Christianity.

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A Baptism!

Earlier this school year, we shared with you how Simon* became a Christian after spending time with Christian students in the Power to Change community. Through their witness, and the Spirit’s work in Simon's life, he decided to put his faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord, and began to follow Him! Today, we can celebrate that he was baptized at a local church and publicly testified to Christ’s saving work in His life on Sunday, March 24th!
After the baptism, a family at his church invited Simon and about 50 of his friends over to celebrate. Some of those friends are not Christians and this was another opportunity for people to know Jesus. It is so exciting to partner with the local church to help people grow as disciples of Jesus.
Please continue to pray for Simon, those discipling him as a new believer, and for our community - that we would be a space for lost students to find their way Home. Thanks for your part in making these stories possible!

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FAMILY FUN!

Phil & Andrea Bauman - SIM

Christ is Risen!!

What joy and a privilege we have to serve the King of the Universe, the One who died and rose again to give us hope and life! 

Thank you to the many who have prayed with us over the last number of weeks as Phil started his new role as International Director of SIM. The weekend of Feb 23rd and 24th was a great time. On the evening of the 23rd there was a wonderful celebration for Joshua & Joanna Bogunjoko. Joshua served as International Director for almost 11 years!

Photo credit : John Dudeck
Joshua and Joanna being honoured by Gillian Phillips, Chair of the the SIM Board of Governors

Joshua and Joanna with their children Jochebed and Joel

On Saturday Feb 24th, there was a service to commission Phil into the role of SIM International Director. Gillian Phillips oversaw the proceedings and gave the charge to Phil as he takes on the new role. Our friend and colleague Keith Walker gave a Gospel-centred challenge from the book of Romans. Joshua Bogunjoko shared encouragement as he handed over the baton of leadership and again challenged Phil to the keep the main thing the main thing.  Our friends and mentors, Malcolm and Liz McGregor, were also present and led the prayers of dedication. There were many other friends, family and colleagues that were able to be with us. 
Phil is taking on a daunting role and we are grateful for the support of so many.

Photo Credits: John Dudeck

A special highlight was to have the previous International Directors that we served under present at the commissioning. Dr. Jim Plueddemann (left) served from 1993-2003, Malcolm McGregor (left of Phil) from 2003-2013 and Joshua from 2013-2024.

A recording of the commissioning service can be seen here.
More photos of the commissioning are available here.

It was extra special for us to have each of our kids with us for the commissioning service. (A sign on the SIM USA campus pointing to Ghana seemed an appropriate backdrop.)

The first month...

Since the commissioning, Phil was able to attend the Sports Friends Global gathering. Sports Friends is a ministry of SIM that focuses on using sport in outreach and discipleship. It was great to spend time with this group of 70+ people and hearing of the different ways God is choosing to allow them to use sports to make disciples in a wide variety of contexts.
 
Shortly after Phil returned we both were able to participate in the Flourishing People Workshop that Andrea helped organise for colleagues involved in people management, development and care.  It was great to be with 100 people from around the SIM world to specifically consider how we can develop communities of grace where our workers can thrive. Andrea especially enjoyed the opportunity to be together in person with so many people that she works with and usually only sees over Zoom. 

Where is God Leading?

In the coming weeks Phil expects to spend a few days at a conference with a large church in the Middle East that is sending Gospel workers. We are exploring ways SIM may be able to partner more closely with them. Following that we will both be together in Austria with Phil's Executive Team for in-person time together as we seek to grow closer as a team. The following week we will remain in Austria to be together with other leaders and mentors in SIM's Leader Development Initiative. The couple we are mentoring got their visas and so we look forward to reconnecting with them after almost a year of online interactions. 
At this point we have no travel for May or early June so we look forward to being closer to home.

There are many things about the future that we don't know as we move forward. There are a couple things we do know. We cannot and must not do this alone! We are grateful for the Board of Governors that provides accountability to Phil as well as the leadership team that Phil works with. God has provided many godly people for us to work with and we are deeply humbled.
We value your prayers as we continue this journey.  

For Prayer

Praise God

• For Joshua and Joanna's leadership while Joshua has been International Director for the last 11 years, and a great time celebrating with them.

• That God was honoured and glorified at the commissioning service and for the many colleagues, friends and family that were able to attend.

• That our kids were all able to be present at the commissioning, and for their support of us. 

• For good transition and handover with Joshua and for a smooth first month in the role.

• For safe travels, for Phil to the Sports Friends Global Gathering and for both of us to the Flourishing People Workshop.

Pray

• That we will remain sensitive to God's leading and that we would rely on him.

• For wisdom to discern what invitations and opportunities to accept to best serve in the roles he has given us. 

• For a good time meeting in person with the Executive Team later in April. Pray that we will be able to grow together as a team. 

• For God's care and protection over us and our kids.

Thank you for your prayers and interest.