Missional Living Moments
May (Click or Tap on MLM to receive full access)
From the Desk of Patrick Sawyer - Your Missional Living Pastor
Welcome to May! I feel we are in the middle of the “calm before the storm” season in the missions world. This is that time between wrapping up a great One Mission Celebration and the kickoff of our summer and fall mission trips. Even though it is our “downtime,” the mission world never really “sleeps.” Over the past month, we have been busy with short-term interest meetings, recruiting trip participants, and preparing this year's trip leaders. We have also been spending time working on our 2-year vision and strategy, as well as checking in with all of our partners across our city, nation, and the world. I want to leave you with three crucial prayer requests. Our Burlington, VT partners, the Presten’s, will be leaving New King at the end of July and moving to Georgia to prepare to plant a new church in the next 2-3 years. Our Central Asia partners will be moving to a new role in their organization and a new location at the end of July for their new role, and our West Africa partners will be moving to a new location to start new work in July. Please join us as we pray for these partners as they close out their current ministry assignments and locations and move to new work and new places.
See my blog link below. Click on Newer Post or Older Post to view other blog commentaries from Patrick.
Scripture - Praise - Worship
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (ESV)
Philippines 4:4-7
Take time for praise & worship song.
Central Asia - March
Contributed by Mark and Cristal Fowler
Central Asia is a great trip for all levels of evangelism. The area is so welcoming, and our target audience is very inviting. After several hours of sitting on planes and crossing the ocean, you meet up with groups from other churches to team up and spread the message to the unreached. We went out in small groups every evening to walk the streets for several hours to meet new people, pray, and invite them to hear the gospel in their language. Many people were excited and inquisitive to hear more when asked: “Would you like to come have a conversation about Jesus at our café?”
The week we were there was rather rainy, and we got a chance to see God use that in so many ways. One day, He parted the clouds so we could walk and engage with more individuals on the streets, and you could actually see God split the clouds to go just around our city on the radar. The next day, God made it rain heavy so everyone would be seeking more shelter. This led several groups that were invited to our café the previous days want to go and have a conversation about Jesus. The rain also allowed us to meet more people in areas we would not have normally met.
For one example, we met a family in the food court of a mall and were able to start a conversation with one of them who was able to speak some English. They said how they were trying to visit all the churches there, because their government has their churches locked up so they can’t even go inside the buildings. As our conversation continued to grow, we invited them to our café. They were extremely thrilled and wanted to go right then. It was raining hard at that point and we asked if their family wanted to walk or call a taxi to take us to the café. They were excited to say they would take us by the Metro-- which was a first for all of us on that team. We all went happily on our way there with our half English conversations along the way and some Google Translate help.
When we got to the café and started to sit down with some of our Mission Partners that were fluent speakers in their tongue, we learned there was a miscommunication. Recently, 3 of the 7 had professed faith in Jesus and when we were inviting them to the café, they thought we were asking to learn more about Jesus too and were eager to take us. After an eruption of laughter and good cheer, we were able to see how this miscommunication was all according to God’s plan. He wanted to show us the eagerness and excitement they had to know Him and He wanted that family of 7 to gain a stronger understanding of the commitment 3 said they had made. They had not learned about Adam & Eve and many other parts of the Bible that points and teaches us more about God and Jesus. Our partners were able to have deep conversations with them about it more and give them Bibles. Also, the father of that family came to Faith that evening after hearing all the Good News and understanding why we were there.
Throughout the week, many families, friends and individuals came to the café to learn more about Jesus. Many accepted Bibles and were eager to gain more knowledge, and several professed Faith in Jesus. The café team was also able to connect people with resources to continue teaching and discipling them once we were gone. Jamie pointed out at the beginning of the week that Jesus tells us to go and make disciples of all nations, and if we go out with that as our primary focus, evangelism naturally happens. How true. Although we strive to reach as many people as possible during our time there, it is not a numbers game. We want the love of Jesus to shine through us in every encounter we have, leading to a lasting relationship with Him.
Something that everyone should remember is that God is always working and His plan is always greater than ours. A mission trip is not a serve checklist but it is for growing and developing disciples. When you go on a mission trip don’t expect that you are just helping someone else on that mission, God wants you to grow more in your Faith with Him. Have an eagerness to share about His Great Love just like the new believers we met on this trip. You just need to be willing to listen to what He is telling you and have faith that everything is in His Hands.
Local Ministry Needs
Adoptive and Foster Care Ministry
Sav-A-Life Shelby - A Message from Amy Griner
This is a continuing need for a local ministry supported by Valleydale Church. Sav-A-Life Shelby is always in need of supplies such as diapers, wipes and other essential items. Please consider donating such items by having them shipped directly to 3156 Pelham Parkway, Suite 1, Pelham, AL 35124, or you may bring them to the church and leave them in the usher room (labeled) for pick up by Amy. And of course, you may always bring them to the center.
Upcoming Short-Term Mission Trip Opportunities
We have published the Short-Term Mission Trip dates for 2024 on the Ongoing Missions Form. Watch for updates for Interest Meetings to learn more about each trip. Please pray for these team members as they serve with our Mission Partners in the United States and around the world.
Central Asia - March 18-24 (Mark Fowler) - Returned
Moldova - May 23-June 1, 2024 (David Edge) - Closed
London (Student Trip) - June 14-20, 2024 (Claudia Harris) - Closed
*This trip will be administered through our Student Ministry.
Ecuador - July 1-8 (Jim Key)
San Diego - July 2-8 (Chris Johnson) - Closed
Central Asia - July 2-10 (Josh Wilks & Randy Mundy) - Sub30s Group
New Orleans - July 14-20 (Ben Howell) - Closed
Burlington, VT - July 20-27, 2024 (Kristen Howard) - Closed
Pillar, Crestview, FL - August 1-4 (Jeff & Lauren Weathers) NEW
Middle East - September 1-8 (Earl Salser/DywaneGriner)
London - September 21-28 (Rich Bartlewski)
Nepal - October 9-18 (Rob Compton)
Las Vegas - October (Blake & Whitney Prime)
Taiwan - October 14-21, 2024 (TBA)
New Orleans (Book Fair) - November 13-16, 2024 (Ames Smith)
Use the link below to indicate trips of interest! You may use this form at any time.
*Dates may change, so check back for updates.
Upcoming Event Dates:
The new ONGOING form to sign up for church-based, local and global mission opportunities is now available at all times. This form will be updated throughout the year to provide dates and interest sign-ups! So check back on a regular basis for information about Interest Meetings and other Serve opportunities.
Nepal Interest Meeting: May 19th, 12:15 pm - Watch for more information on the Valleydale Weekly Newsletter.
This Month's Prayer Focus
Moldova
On May 23rd we have a team of 6 (David Edge, Stan, Martha, & Janya Piedra, and Jim Benedict from Valleydale, and Kelsey O'Leary from New King Church) going to Moldova where they will meet up with Ross and Brenda Robinson to minister to the people of Moldova. In addition, Patrick Sawyer and Pastor Mac will be joining the team during their stay as well as visiting & speaking at the Moldova Seminary. David Edge, leader of this team, asked for us to pray for these specific needs:
Pray for the church plant in Criuleni that will have first church service on Sunday, May 26,2024.
Pray for provisions for VBS in Criuleni, for children team and for many children to attend to hear the Gospel.
Pray for the medical clinic that will be held in Criuleni on May 27 and 28, in Isnovat on May 29 and in Ohrincea on May 30. For all medical clinics to be well attended and for attendees to hear and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Pray for safe travels, good health, endurance, perseverance, and provision for the team.
Pray for Igor and Olga as they prepare for and provide lodging and food for the team at Moldova House.
Update from the Hanscomes
We’re Moving!
Hi Valleydale family! It’s the Hanscomes here, with some great news to share! Just in case you haven’t already heard the news, we are moving to a new country this summer! God has called us to Senegal! Do you know where that is? After spending this past year working in North Africa, God answered our prayers and finally gave us our next steps.
We are moving to Dakar, Senegal on July 6! We will be joining a church planting team made up of about 25 workers, spread across three different cities. We will be handling mostly administrative tasks for the team, as well as working with a leadership development center that engages and seeks to develop and ultimately disciple business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs. We are so excited for what God is doing in Senegal!! It’s a largely unreached country with several unreached people groups. Will you pray for us as we prepare to make this transition to Senegal?
•Pray for the logistics of moving to a new country, new home, new work, and for the kids, a new school!
•Pray for a great finish to our work and time here in North Africa! For the relationships we have, for opportunities to share and plant seeds.
•Pray for God to strengthen us and guide our every step!
Thank you Valleydale for your love and support for our family and in the work being done in Africa!
By His Grace alone,
Danny, Chrissy, David, Abby, & Lilly
Join Our Facebook Group and Post Your Service & Ministry Project Photos
Spring Serve Day 2024
Valleydale members really came out in a great force for Spring Serve Day 2024! Enjoy the photographs that show the many ways we were able to serve our community. Remember to post photos of your Service Projects so that we can feature them in our Missional Living Newsletter.
Posted by Delana Long
Oak Mountain Ministries: Sisk/Krosgard Life Group
Posted by Patty Sisk
Joining with Heart in Hands Ministry - Building a ramp for a sweet lady in North Birmingham: Watkins Life Group
Posted by Mark Watkins
Work at Leeds Valley Church (formerly Valley View Baptist): Iglesia Valleydale, and the Weathers & Rentz Life Groups
Oak Mountain Elementary School - Playground Work:
Posted by Whitney Huff
Helping a Valleydale Member: Valleydale Church Deacon Serve Team
This group is always at work helping Valleydale members who need assistance! Thank you!
Posted by Rob Compton
Our Valleydale Fathers in the Field Ministry helping a Foster Care parent.
Living On Mission
Email: psawyer@valleydale.org
Website: valleydale.org/missions
Location: 2324 Valleydale Road
Phone: 205-991-5282
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/900803120487864