Jonathan and Joy Chase

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

Dear Praying Friends,

“ I am the true grapevine and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more”. John 15:1-2 This New Year’s I didn’t make any resolutions other than to obey hard lessons God has been teaching me in pruning away certain things in my heart that keep me from contentment and ministering from a position of full surrender. It’s easy to let character development issues slide when you are a mom of two highly rambunctious preschoolers and just getting through the day with mind and body intact can be a challenge. But I press on and expect that spiritual growth will be one of the hallmarks of my 2010.

We praise the Lord for blessings God brought us over Christmas. We had special times with local Believers and expats alike. We also treasured experiencing the Christmas season through the eyes of a 5 year old and 3 year old. Nolan is still singing his repertoire of Christmas songs throughout the day. Efforts to change his internal CD player since the new year began have been unsuccessful. Thank you to everyone who remembered us with cards and prayers. It was a special treat to have our former Thai co-worker, Maam from Nontaburi, come and stay with us for New Year’s week. On December 28th we celebrated our fifteenth wedding anniversary. How time flies!

Last month we shared with you about the miraculous healing of EQ’s uncle and subsequent interest in hearing the gospel on the part of the relatives. Sadly, EQ’s uncle passed away about a month after the prayer for healing. However, we rejoice that he still lived a whole month after the doctor and witch doctor pronounced his death imminent. Predictably, interest in the gospel fell away after the death. Nevertheless, EQ says that his Uncle's family were impacted by God's power and asked for some time before they make the decision to study about God or not.

Last week we had some new lights put up to light up the driveway at the Training Center. The electrician, who has helped us do other work, and one of his helpers then joined us in our Bible study group. Montri shared a little bit about how things were created and other things to peak their interests. At the end we encouraged them to get a group of their family and friends together to study about God if they were still interested. Well, today we just heard that the electrician wants to study more about God, but we are not sure if this involves others in his family or not. We find ourselves rejoicing once again in how God continues to open the hearts of those around us.

Praises:
· For the group of seekers that have been learning God’s story at NK prison. These women faithfully attend the meetings and are able to repeat the stories after they have heard them.
· That Montri has returned from his time away and is doing well in working at the center and participating in frequent Bible studies with the other two men who work there.
· That our team mates Louisa and Deb have returned to Udon and Sappias’ are expected to arrive this weekend.
· For the Christmas celebrations that went well in the villages and the NK prison.
. We are also thankful that Montri has been finding jobs as a contractor which will ease some pressure on our team budget.

Prayer Requests:
1) That the seekers at NK prison would commit their lives to Christ when challenged at next week’s lesson time.
2) That God would give wisdom in our future ministry at the NK prison. Another Thai church will shortly begin a ministry in the prison. This will make three Christian groups ministering there BESIDES us. (When we started, there was no one else.)
3) For God’s blessing on new ministries that Jon and I have begun in teaching Sunday School at our local church. Jon is teaching an English adult Sunday School and Joy is teaching a Thai adult class. Pray for the salvation of all those who attend these classes but whom have never made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
4) For an extended Team Isaan planning meeting later this month. Pray that we could find babysitters to help with the children and enable us to focus on business.
5) That I (Joy) could find a part-time house-helper and baby sitter. Since moving to Udon, none of our helpers have lasted more than a few weeks. Pray that we could find someone trustworthy and completely dependable.

Thank you for your investment in us and our ministry. The primary way to support our work is the Great Commission Fund. Contributions can be made through a local Alliance church, on line at http://www.cmalliance.org/give/ or by sending a check to the C&MA, PO Box 35000, Colorado Springs, CO 80935-3500. You may designate your gift to support us by writing “for the support of Jon and Joy Chase” on the memo line. This personalizes your gift and helps us be here and carry out our ministry.

Love in Christ,

Jon, Joy, Nolan and Cam Chase

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

see prayer letter above

Thailand

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