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HAFA ADAI
from Brad and Cheryl Boydston
preparing to serve the church
in the Western Pacific and
along the Asian Rim
"In His teaching the islands
will put their hope." Isaiah 42:4
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Sunday, 23-Apr-06
CONTENTS
1) Introduction
2) Plan & Progress
3) Why Guam?
4) Others on a Similar Path
5) Prayer Requests
6) Communications
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1) INTRODUCTION
Hafa adai and thank you to everyone for the incredible encouragement and support you have been to us during this time of transition.
Hafa adai is the Chamorro phrase for "hello," and since we're in the process of relocating to Chamorro territory, we thought it would be an appropriate moniker for our updates. This is the first edition. (Save it as a collector's item. It might be worth big bucks someday.
For the sake of operating system compatibility, at this point we're going to stick to a very basic email format and provide links to our ministry website -- Guam.Boydston.us -- where we have pictures and other resources. This will also make it easier for you to forward or redirect this email (something we encourage) to all those you think might be interested in what God is doing in the Western Pacific.
We are currently sending this email to several lists of people with whom we have association. Eventually, we will narrow it down to a list of those who have directly indicated that they want to be a part of our Encouragement Team -- prayer and/or financial partners. But for now we're BROADcasting. This means that a few of you might end up with duplicates. Thank you for your patience.
If you prefer for us to use a different email address -- or would prefer to not receive this newsletter at all -- let us know -- Brad@Boydston.us
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2) PLAN & PROGRESS
At this point we are on track to make the big move to Guam in order to start serving with Pacific Islands Bible College, fall semester 2006. Brad is planning to go sometime in August and Cheryl will follow in September -- once she gets Betsy situated in college. That is at least the current plan.
Brad will conclude his service at Cornerstone Covenant Church at the end of June. The church has graciously extended to him a paid ministry leave for the months of July, August, and September. This will allow him to focus on fund raising, lessons plans, and selling the house in Turlock.
Many are asking how the finances are coming. The answer is ENCOURAGING. We currently have commitments for 25% of what must be in place before we leave. That's a great start! And we know that there are others who have said that they will support us (but haven't responded to the support address, yet). Still, we have a great task ahead of us. Pray for this part of the assignment.
In some ways, asking people for money isn't fun -- but in other ways it is incredibly energizing. We get to tell the story of what God is doing and how we see him at work. We've also been really encouraged by the way that people have responded. Our friends, our family, and our church have been very generous. We're finding that even the smallest gifts are large in encouragement. And those who don't have the resources to give at this point, but who have asked to be included on our list so they can pray, are equally encouraging. We don't feel so nearly alone in all of this knowing that you all are behind us. Thank you.
If you would like to support the ministry you can send a check or commitment response to:
PM Support for Boydstons
Department of World Mission
Evangelical Covenant Church
5101 N Francisco Ave
Chicago IL 60625-3676 USA
Checks should be made out to the "Evangelical Covenant Church" with the clear designation "for the support of Brad & Cheryl Boydston." If possible print and include this .pdf form.
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3) WHY GUAM?
Of all the places in the world, why would we choose to go to an island in the middle of the Pacific? At this time last year, Guam was not at all on our radar screen. But through a series of events and contacts we have sensed that God is leading us there.
Yes, Guam is small. And yes, it is in the middle of the ocean. But Guam is also a strategic crossroads -- a place where the cultures of the Pacific Islands, the Asian Rim, and the American mainland converge. This is why God has placed Pacific Islands Bible College on Guam. PIBC is a small but growing non-denominational school started by the Liebenzell Mission, to train church leaders. And now it appears that some Covenant missionaries are being led to partner with them.
Cheryl will be helping with office support, hospitality, and relationships -- her strengths. Brad will be teaching at the school. This fall he is scheduled to teach preaching and spiritual formation. He is also going to be helping the school develop some of their distance education options -- so that their resources might be more accessible to the church throughout the islands and along the Asian Rim.
If you would like to learn more about Pacific Islands Bible College visit their website -- pibc.edu
If you would like to learn more about Guam visit the Guam Visitor's Bureau website -- www.visitguam.org
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4) OTHERS ON A SIMILAR PATH
We know of several other Covenant Project Missionaries who are anticipating service in various parts of the world.
• Our pastoral colleague Wainer Guimaraes, his wife Magui, and son Peter, have completed their service at The Bridge Covenant Church in Riverbank, California and are headed this August to Brazil where they plan to start churches and community development ministries. They have a website at: www.projectbrazil.com
• Some friends, formerly missionaries in Mexico, are raising support so they can move to Spain in order to work with African immigrants. If you want to learn about Mosaic, a ministry of friendship and hospitality -- and more -- send email to PrayforMosaics@yahoo.com.
• Eric Sorenson, the pastor of Crossroads Covenant Church in Concord, California announced to his congregation this morning that he and his wife Karyn, and family, have applied to become Project Missionaries. They are also planning to serve at Pacific Islands Bible College on Guam. Keep them in your prayers, too.
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5) PRAYER REQUESTS
• That support commitments would continue come in.
• That several churches would catch a vision for this ministry and would include us in their missions budgets.
• For our daughter Betsy, who graduates from high school in June, and is making a decision about which college she will attend in the fall.
• For our son Kent, who is preparing to leave in June for a semester in Chile.
• For our son Kirk, who graduates from the University of California, San Diego, in June and who is now looking for a job. Ask God to open a door for him.
• For other Covenant Project Missionaries who are raising their support.
• For PIBC, which needs to add additional teachers. Pray especially for an English as a Second Language teacher who could serve at PIBC for a year or two.
• For a former PIBC student, Romeo Sulik, who is from one of the southernmost islands of Ponhpei, Federated State of Micronesia. The father of five boys, who disciples young people from his island, he has been diagnosed with cancer deep in his jaw. He flies stateside for treatment later this month.
• For a first year PIBC student who has been doing very well academically but who has "shut herself off from most everything else and almost everyone."
• Cornerstone Covenant Church, as they prepare for a pastoral transition.
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6) COMMUNICATION
• Call us -- 209-632-8353
• Email us -- Brad@Boydston.us or Cheryl@Boydston.us
• Covenant World Mission -- www.covchurch.org/cov/mission/index.html
• Pacific Islands Bible College -- pibc.edu
• Liebenzell USA -- www.liebenzellusa.org
• Our ministry website -- Guam.Boydston.us
• Cheryl's music -- CaminoMercedMusic.com
• Brad's website/blog -- Brad.Boydston.us
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