Missions Updates
David and Heidi Coombs announce that their son Daniel, is now engaged to Rachel Messier.
Current Missionary Information and Comings & Goings
- Brian and Patty Arensen with AIM are on home assignment from Kenya and will be living in Minneapolis though the summer of 2011.
- Matt and Kristy Faber with AIM have arrived safely back in Kenya after an emergency surgery for Kristy following the birth of their new born, Daniel. The family reports that all are well and on the mednd. Matt is looking forward to the start of a new school year teaching at Rift Valley Academy.
- Steve and Jenny Meeker with SEND have finished their short stay in CA and will be headed back to Minneapolis July 31.
- John and Julie Clark with YWAM have been in Southern CA since June and plan to return to Mali, Africa on August 10. They said that it has been a very rewarding time this furlough.
- Rodney and Tammi Dyrud with MAF are in Orange County through August 8 before heading to back to San Diego where they will stay until the end of the year. Their upcoming assingment will be in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Rodney will serve as a pilot.
- Roy and Lisa Yabuki with International Students Inc., will be our VBS missionaries this year and their family will join us from July 31 - August 9. They serve in the greater Fort Worth/Dallas area of Texas.
- David and Heidi Coombs with Wycliffe Bible Translators will be joining us beginning August 10 and will be here until October 31.
- Amy West with Wycliffe Bible Translator iis heading to CA this summer and will arrive here on August 14 for a short visit returning home on August 26.
- Andy and Nadine Spradley with SEND will be finishing their home assignment and returning to Macedonia next month.
- Josiah and Heidi Watters with Frontiers are here until August 15 before heading to their new assignment in India this coming October.
As you can see lots of missionaries are coming and going. For information on how to get in touch wih them while they are here, contact the Missions office at
714-550-2341 or pick up the Address Listing in the Worship Center lobby on Sundays.
Texas Missionary Visits &
Lusanne Congress III pre-conference - January 23-February 2, 2010
Liz enjoyed a time to visit with our Calvary missionaries serving in Dallas,Texas. Oran and Carol Wests opened their home and hosted a lovely dinner the first evening for fellow Wycliffe Missionaries and Dallas Theological student and Calvary young adult, Tom Bailor. The missionaries inclued John and Kathie Watters; Bob and Joan Critfield; Grace Fuqua; Oran and Carol Wests. It was a fun time with them in Dallas. After the conferece and before going home, Liz paid another visit to missionaries, Roy and Lisa Yabuki who live in Arlington and serve with International Student Minsitries on the college campuses. These visits to our missionaries are so helpful for their well being. We don't realize how important until we are back in the states. Roy sent this email: "Liz, You don't know how much your visit and you love for us meant to us. Actually I didn't until after you left. Just to be able to get away and be loved and appreciated not for what we can do or how we could help was HUGE. I didn't realize how much I missed that. Thanks so much. Roy" Thanks Calvary, for providing the funds to support our missionaries is so many ways.
The Lausanne Congress III pre-conference in Dallas was a great opportuntity for Liz to meet with some of the US delegates that will be attending in October 2010 in Cape Town South Africa. Liz was selected to be a delegate for the Lausanne Congress III meeting. The following is a report from the office of the president of Lusanne, Doug Birdsil:
Summary Report
Cape Town 2010 US Participants Meeting
Dallas, TX
January 25-27, 2010
Nearly 300 men and women from 175 organizations— local churches, denominations, mission agencies, schools, businesses, and foundations— gathered at Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas for a foretaste of this October’s Cape Town 2010 and the Lausanne Global Conversation that will lead up to and ripple out from it.
In October of this year, 400 US participants will be in Cape Town with some 4000 other participants from 200 countries. Many at this Dallas meeting commented on the beautiful diversity of the participants in age, gender, ethnicity, region, ministry focus and denominational affiliation – a diversity that will also be reflected in Cape Town
The Dallas gathering was intended to catalyze relationships between the US representatives and other leaders identifying with the Lausanne Movement, to begin discussion around the six themes of Cape Town 2010, and to look beyond Cape Town 2010 to collaborative evangelistic efforts in the US leading toward 2020.
Throughout the three days participants met around tables of six to eight. The core of the program consisted of six extended conversations related to the key issues of the upcoming Congress:
• Making the case for the Truth of Christ in a Pluralistic, Globalized World
• Building the Peace of Christ in our Divided and Broken World
• Bearing witness of the Love of Christ with People of Other Faiths
• Discerning the Will of Christ for the 21st Century World Evangelization
• Calling the Church of Christ back to Humility, Integrity and Simplicity
• Partnering in the Body of Christ Toward a New Global Equilibrium
Each topic was introduced by brief, incisive comments by Nikki Toyama-Szeto, complemented by video clips and/or thought-provoking insights from Os Guinness and others. Woven around the lively table discussions were presentations of the genesis of the Cape Town 2010 idea and of the Lausanne Global Conversation and the supporting technology that would enable participation of thousands of Christians around the world— before the Congress through the Internet, and during the Congress itself through 250 Cape Town GlobaLink sites.
Other highlights included meditations on Paul’s prayers in Ephesians guided by Lindsay Olesberg, worship songs in several languages, live greetings through Skype from Rick Warren, an enthusiastic invitation from Lon Allison for US delegates to regather in March 2011 to tend the flame and to plan for the coming decade of evangelization, and Doug Birdsall’s reminder of the “spirit of Lausanne” as expressed by Dr. Billy Graham: “the spirit of fellowship, humility, study, prayer, partnership and hope.” The spirit of Lausanne was evident throughout the days in Dallas - a gathering that contributed powerfully to the growing momentum for Cape Town 2010.
Respectfully submitted,
Dave Bennett, Cape Town 2010 Senior Programme Advisor
Missionary Updates March 2010
New Calvary Missionary Nikki Smalley has arrived in Ireland and will be serving for two years with Global Outreach Mission, alongside missionaries Larry and Kathy Dunne. She will be working on developing a youth minsitry at a local church. She will also be involved in door to door evagelism, Bible study, discipleship, ad assiting at the Christian bookstore.
Matt and Kristy Faber and sister, Lisa welcomed new baby brother Daniel Lee, born March 31, 2010. He and mom are healthy and doing well. They appreciated that dur to their school schedule, mom and dad had some extra vacation time before Easter.
European Missionary Visits - December 27, 2009 - January 8, 2010
Roger and I had a wonderful visit to Europe where the weather reports said it was the coldest winter in over 30 years! We were sure glad that we had coats, caps, gloves and long johns to keep us warm. Our trip started out like it would continue - with a delayed flight due to wind, ice, hail and rain. But our visits were very warm. It was wonderful to spend time with each of our missionaries there.
The Arensens and Fabers were in Bristol, where the AIM (Africa Inland Mission) International Headguarters is located. It was great to see where Lanny and Carla Arensen work. In addition, we took a short trip to Bath, where Roger, Matt and Kristy Faber visited the Roman Baths and Liz and Carla saw the Jane Austin house and had a lovely cup of tea and scones in a deli. Lanny spent some special time with granddaughter Lisa Faber during that trip. On the way home we stopped at a 300 year old pub and ate dinner. It was a lovely visit.
Our trip to Dublin followed an exciting turbulent ride on Ryan Air with a very bumpy landing. Bev Staley and Larry Dunne with his daughters, Bethany and Naomi had dinner with us in Dublin at Bev’s home - Irish Stew! Larry and the girls were visiting his brother over the holidays and came by to see us. The next day Bev, Roger and Liz went into Dublin and visited a museum and the main post office where the Irish Independence Revolution had taken place. A ride on a bus about the town ended at a dinner theatre for New Year’s Eve with an Irish band and dancers. Bev’s friend, Jane, joined us and we enjoyed getting to know her. Even though she is deaf, Jane could feel the vibrations from the Irish dancers as they danced on the stage! A very special evening.
Our flight to Zurich was delayed by a few hours due to snow in Ireland and the fact that the trains, buses, and taxis had all stopped. Eventually a taxi was found that would take us to the airport. After quite a long wait on the plane we headed to our next destination. When we arrived, Peter Joneleit met us at the airport and drove us two hours to their home in Auggen, Germany. They are near the Black Forest and it was very beautiful, especially with the snow. We joined the Tweedys that evening at a Billiard and Pizza Restaurant, where we had a total of six little girls under the age of 5 playing together. It was a delightful time!
Roger, Chris and Peter all left for three days to visit the sites of WWI, WWII, and other military battlefields. This included Waterloo, Flanders Field, some museums as well as other memorial sites. All three “history” buffs came back thrilled that they had been able to do this together. Sometimes the special things you do with your missionary are more important than sitting down and talking. This time with the three men was an important opportunty for them to talk with Roger and also to allow Liz time alone with their wives.
Liz enjoy
ed her special time with Jennifer Joneleit and daughters, Taylor (4), Emma (2), and Eleanor (6 months). In addition to spending special time in their home reading stories and playing with the girls, Liz also visited their all German speaking church on Sunday. Jennifer & Peter have a lovely home and they hosted me well.
At Chris and Susan Tweedy’s home, Liz played with Ashley (5), Savannah (3), and Sierra (1). All three girls loved being read to and Ashley loved reading (even in German) to Liz. Susan walks her girls to school in the snow, after bundling each one up from the cold. It’s a lot of work! After the men came back, Chris took us all into Kandern to see the offices of GEM and also, where the Robinsons now live and their SIL office.
We ended our time in London with rendezvous in Trafalgar Square at St. Martin in the Fields Church, Cellar in the Crypt for lunch with one of our Calvary young adults, Sean McReynolds who is attending Capernwray College in England. He enjoyed having Calvary “family” visit him. It was a wonderful time away and we are happy to have had the time to visit all of these wonderful missionaries and friends.
Operation Mobilzation LOGOS Hope Ship Launch
April 30-May 3, 2009 Roger and Liz Gold, (Missions Director) and Craig and Betty Bryson (Missions Team Chairman/Elded) were in San Diego for OM's Donor weekend. After seven years of preparation, repair, and fittings the completed LOGOS HOPE Ship, newest of the OM fleet, left port and travelled to Belfast Ireland where it is docked for a few weeks. This was the opening of the new ship's journeys as it sails to ports around the world distributing books and other literature, presenting evangelistic campaigns and sharing the love of Jesus with those who have perhaps never heard His name.
It was a great weekend filled with reports of the thousands who have come across the planks onto the great ship. The OM staff and crew were all gracious and knowlegable about the work that was happening in OM. Guest speakers included George Verwer and Dale Rhoton, founder and co-founder of OM. In addition, Captain Dirk Colenbrander of the LOGOS HOPE was able to be SKPEd to us from aboard the ship. Already they were anticipating great crowds that day as hundreds lined up to visit the ship. The LOGOS HOPE ends up this Summer in the Caribbean. If you are interested in possibly visiting the ship, please contact the missions office at Calvary for more information or OM directly.
Calvary Church is happy to give monthly support to OM and the Ships Ministry, as well as our Calvary missionaries with OM, Mark and Marjke Kuo. For more information on Operation Mobilization go to OMShips.org
Wycliffe's Last Languages Campaign
Roger and Liz Gold, Missions Director were invited to represent Calvary Church November 20-22, 2008 for Wycliffe’s Last Languages Campaign at their USA Headquarters in Orlando, Florida. During that time they were also able to visit with four Calvary missionary families that live there. Here are some excepts of the recent report sent by Bob Creson, President of Wycliffe USA regarding the Last Languages Campaign:
The celebration started on Friday morning when hundreds of Wycliffe USA staff, along with family, partners, pastors and special guests, gathered for a time of commitment first to God, but also to seeing the Last Languages started in this generation by the year 2025. (Liz was one who was asked to share in prayer for the beginning of the campaign.)
One of the great joys of this and later events was sharing the celebration with pastors and leaders from churches that have partnered with us for many, many years. Calvary Church in Santa Ana, California, for example, was represented by Missions Director Liz Gold. Calvary began supporting a little known Bible translator by the name of William Cameron Townsend in 1932 - 76 years ago! They've been in this for the long-haul with their prayers, people and finances.
On Saturday morning we celebrated the most recently completed Scriptures. The ethnomusicology band Izibongo led the overflow crowd in worshipping God to the rhythms and words of more than a dozen cultures. Three speakers (Filipino, Brazilian and Ugandan) described how the translation of Scripture in their mother tongues had impacted their own lives. Each of them now, gives leadership to Bible translation movements and mission efforts within their own countries or around the world.
The final event was the leadership dinner on Saturday night. (Liz was given the special honor of praying for this evening dinner and program in recognition of Calvary’s support of Wycliffe.) Finally, came the presentation of the Bill Bright Scripture Impact Award, given this year to Dr. Barry Black, Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. After the award was presented, Dr. Black spoke. He did a marvelous job of articulating the power of God's Word in his own life, tying that into our ministry in Wycliffe and to the urgency of our Last Languages Campaign.
Looking beyond the event to the task before all of us - raising the resources and wisely using those resources to fulfill Vision 2025. I look forward with great anticipation to my journey with all of you towards the day when the Good News will reach the last language communities, in the words that touch the deepest levels of their hearts. ~ Bob Creson
“It was an exciting for us to be a part of this event. Our special hostess was Calvary Wycliffe missionary Corine Hatch, (shown with me to the right) who chauffeured us back and forth from our apartment to the center for the different events and who also arranged visits with the three Calvary Campus Crusade missionary families during our time there. On Thursday morning, Jacqueline Celum picked us up from the airport and we spent a long breakfast with her. Then later in the day we saw Pete and JoAnn Johnson after their dinner meeting. And finally John and Joan Tungseth joined us for a long visit and dinner with Corine on Friday evening. It was a joy to see each one and pray together in Orlando where they serve. Wycliffe provided their missionary apartments as our lodging which was close enough to allow us to visit with our dear missionaries. God is so good! ”
~ Liz Gold
Letters from our Missionaries
Letter from Tom and Janni Nunziato
Larry Dunne's Testimony The Fisherman Who Got Caught