Dear friends,
We're in the middle of a thunderstorm right now and I'm glad I made a pot of soup yesterday to warm us up during the rains! You can gather from this that it hasn't been too hard to adjust to the rainy season temperature in Kagoro!
Thank you for your prayers for us as we travelled and got our home in order. Everything went well. Most of the unpacking is complete, the kitchen is functioning and the cook is on duty (most of the time)! We thank the Lord for answered prayer in this transition process. It wasn't as difficult as we anticipated and we are happy to be back.
Thank the Lord we have completed our first week of teaching successfully. Our workload will be a bit lighter this semester as we are both teaching one course less than expected because there were not enough students for these courses.
By next week, David will be back in the Registry office. Please pray for a good handover process with the Acting Registrar. David would appreciate prayer for his new course on Expository Preaching. Pray for good understanding for the students. Pray for David as he preaches on the 4th September at the Seminary devotional service. The theme is 'Fix your eyes on Jesus' (Heb 12:2).
On Mondays I (Debbie) teach 57 students Old Testament Poetry at Diploma and Degree level and on Tuesdays I teach 3 students the same subject at Certificate level. Pray for the Lord's help in communicating His truth to the different groups of students.
At the end of September we will observe Spiritual Emphasis week where there is usually an invited speaker. Please pray that the Lord will make an impact on all our lives as we hear what He has to say to us.
For the first time in many years we have six missionaries and three children at Kagoro. This is a great answer to years of prayer for the growth of the missionary team here. Thank you for praying. The Creightons are settling in well and Dennis Shelly's health is stable. There are also new national colleagues so we praise the Lord for strengthening the faculty at the Seminary. Please pray we would work well together as a team for the progress of God's Kingdom.
We value prayer that we would 'fix our eyes on Jesus' in the midst of our busy schedule.
Thanks again for your faithfulness in prayer.
Debbie and David
Sunday, 26 August 2012
Friday, 3 August 2012
August update
Dear friends,
We send you greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
Thank you for praying for Debbie. Her nose is healing well and we are able to return to Kagoro leaving Northern Ireland on 14th, flying overnight from London to Abuja and then being driven to Kagoro arriving mid-morning on 15th, God willing. Our colleagues, Dennis and Coletta Shelly, will be on the same flight from London and the journey by road to Kagoro. We thank the Lord Dennis does not need surgery and that his health concerns are not as serious as earlier thought. Thank you for praying.
We have two farewell meetings at our home churches. The evening service at Ballynahinch Congregational Church on 5th August (6:30 to 7:30pm) is the first of these with Mike Ewan (SIM Ireland director) speaking at that service. On the following Sunday (12th), there will be a short farewell service at Coagh Baptist Church at 7:45pm right after the evening service. There will be tea after each of these services, we hear. Our role at each service will be to give a short update including prayer requests. Everyone is welcome at these services and we look forward to seeing you there if you are able to attend.
The academic dean at the Seminary has let us know which courses we will be teaching. Debbie will be covering three courses all of which she has taught before while I have been asked to teach a new course on spiritual formation and one on expository preaching. Although this second course is not new, I have not taught it before so I have been working on both courses and look forward to teaching them this semester. The Provost wants me to resume work as the registrar at the Seminary so I will have to find out from Dr. Paul Bidoli what has been happening in the office while I have been away.
We would appreciate your prayers as we pack (six suitcases to take with us on this trip, two of which are full of things for the seminary). It is always hard to say farewell to family and friends and we would appreciate your prayers for us and them as we head off to Africa again. Pray also for our adjustment to being back at Kagoro. It will take some time to get our systems up and running again.
Thank you to all who have been praying for us and contributing towards our financial support. We could not continue our ministries without you and are confident our Lord will reward those who are seeking the extension of His kingdom (Col. 3:23-24).
Yours in our Lord,
David and Debbie
We send you greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
Thank you for praying for Debbie. Her nose is healing well and we are able to return to Kagoro leaving Northern Ireland on 14th, flying overnight from London to Abuja and then being driven to Kagoro arriving mid-morning on 15th, God willing. Our colleagues, Dennis and Coletta Shelly, will be on the same flight from London and the journey by road to Kagoro. We thank the Lord Dennis does not need surgery and that his health concerns are not as serious as earlier thought. Thank you for praying.
We have two farewell meetings at our home churches. The evening service at Ballynahinch Congregational Church on 5th August (6:30 to 7:30pm) is the first of these with Mike Ewan (SIM Ireland director) speaking at that service. On the following Sunday (12th), there will be a short farewell service at Coagh Baptist Church at 7:45pm right after the evening service. There will be tea after each of these services, we hear. Our role at each service will be to give a short update including prayer requests. Everyone is welcome at these services and we look forward to seeing you there if you are able to attend.
The academic dean at the Seminary has let us know which courses we will be teaching. Debbie will be covering three courses all of which she has taught before while I have been asked to teach a new course on spiritual formation and one on expository preaching. Although this second course is not new, I have not taught it before so I have been working on both courses and look forward to teaching them this semester. The Provost wants me to resume work as the registrar at the Seminary so I will have to find out from Dr. Paul Bidoli what has been happening in the office while I have been away.
We would appreciate your prayers as we pack (six suitcases to take with us on this trip, two of which are full of things for the seminary). It is always hard to say farewell to family and friends and we would appreciate your prayers for us and them as we head off to Africa again. Pray also for our adjustment to being back at Kagoro. It will take some time to get our systems up and running again.
Thank you to all who have been praying for us and contributing towards our financial support. We could not continue our ministries without you and are confident our Lord will reward those who are seeking the extension of His kingdom (Col. 3:23-24).
Yours in our Lord,
David and Debbie
Saturday, 7 July 2012
July prayer letter
Dear praying friends,
We send you greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Thank you for your faithful prayers for us. Our Home Assignment has been a time when we've been very aware of the importance of family in times of celebration and struggle. We are thankful to be part of our biological family as well as our church, mission and seminary families.
The 31st of March was a great time for my (Debbie) parents as we joined together as a family to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. It was a joy to see many relatives and friends who we hadn't seen for some time and to be reminded of the strength we gain from family. It has been special to spend a bit more time with family members while we've been here.
The family we are part of in Kagoro has grown with the arrival of the Creighton family. Please pray for their adjustment to a new environment and their new roles within the Seminary community. However, our Kagoro family is also hurting because of the health problems of our colleague, Dennis Shelly, who is in the US with his wife, Coletta, for a series of medical tests. Please pray for an accurate diagnosis and plan of treatment which will enable them to return to their ministry.
Our family in Nige ria has been suffering because of the activities of terrorists against Christians especially as they worship together on Sundays. Please pray for God's people to stand strong in the Lord and also for protection against the Enemy. Praise the Lord for the truth of Matthew 16:18.
Numbers in the wider SIM family and mission community have reduced owing to the security situation and the retirement of some members. Please pray for wisdom for the leaders as they evaluate the events in recent months and plan for the future.
One of the features of this Home Assignment has been dealing with health issues which has resulted in a record number of hospital appointments. We thank the Lord for the NHS! I had a small non life-threatening piece of skin cancer removed from the tip of my nose two weeks ago. The healing process has not been straightforward so please pray that everything would be in order for our return to Kagoro on 14th August.
We enjoyed spiritual refreshment through the ministries of the ladies' Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and sitting in on some of the Cornhill Belfast classes. I attended the BSF meetings on most Tuesday evenings at the Castlereagh Gospel Hall. It was great to study the Word of God with a lovely group of godly ladies. David sat in on most of the Cornhill classes on Friday mornings and we both enjoyed some other classes we were able to attend on the Psalms and the book of Judges.
We were blessed by having a wonderful week of holiday in Menorca at the end of May.
It's been encouraging for us to meet with our family of prayer and financial supporters
while we've been in the UK. Thank your for being a part of what the Lord is doing in Kagoro and the nation as a whole. Classes will have already started when we return to Kagoro so we anticipate a stressful few weeks as we get our systems up and running as well as begin teaching again. There will have been many changes in the months we've been away so pray for grace to adjust to the new dynamic in the Seminary as a result of a change in leadership. Please continue to pray for good health for us and our colleagues, protection and a fruitful ministry as we help prepare God's people for ministry (Eph. 4:12).
Thanks again for your prayers,
Debbie and David Colvin
We send you greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus. Thank you for your faithful prayers for us. Our Home Assignment has been a time when we've been very aware of the importance of family in times of celebration and struggle. We are thankful to be part of our biological family as well as our church, mission and seminary families.
The 31st of March was a great time for my (Debbie) parents as we joined together as a family to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. It was a joy to see many relatives and friends who we hadn't seen for some time and to be reminded of the strength we gain from family. It has been special to spend a bit more time with family members while we've been here.
The family we are part of in Kagoro has grown with the arrival of the Creighton family. Please pray for their adjustment to a new environment and their new roles within the Seminary community. However, our Kagoro family is also hurting because of the health problems of our colleague, Dennis Shelly, who is in the US with his wife, Coletta, for a series of medical tests. Please pray for an accurate diagnosis and plan of treatment which will enable them to return to their ministry.
Our family in Nige ria has been suffering because of the activities of terrorists against Christians especially as they worship together on Sundays. Please pray for God's people to stand strong in the Lord and also for protection against the Enemy. Praise the Lord for the truth of Matthew 16:18.
Numbers in the wider SIM family and mission community have reduced owing to the security situation and the retirement of some members. Please pray for wisdom for the leaders as they evaluate the events in recent months and plan for the future.
One of the features of this Home Assignment has been dealing with health issues which has resulted in a record number of hospital appointments. We thank the Lord for the NHS! I had a small non life-threatening piece of skin cancer removed from the tip of my nose two weeks ago. The healing process has not been straightforward so please pray that everything would be in order for our return to Kagoro on 14th August.
We enjoyed spiritual refreshment through the ministries of the ladies' Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) and sitting in on some of the Cornhill Belfast classes. I attended the BSF meetings on most Tuesday evenings at the Castlereagh Gospel Hall. It was great to study the Word of God with a lovely group of godly ladies. David sat in on most of the Cornhill classes on Friday mornings and we both enjoyed some other classes we were able to attend on the Psalms and the book of Judges.
We were blessed by having a wonderful week of holiday in Menorca at the end of May.
It's been encouraging for us to meet with our family of prayer and financial supporters
while we've been in the UK. Thank your for being a part of what the Lord is doing in Kagoro and the nation as a whole. Classes will have already started when we return to Kagoro so we anticipate a stressful few weeks as we get our systems up and running as well as begin teaching again. There will have been many changes in the months we've been away so pray for grace to adjust to the new dynamic in the Seminary as a result of a change in leadership. Please continue to pray for good health for us and our colleagues, protection and a fruitful ministry as we help prepare God's people for ministry (Eph. 4:12).
Thanks again for your prayers,
Debbie and David Colvin
Tuesday, 5 June 2012
June update
Dear Friends,
We send you greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus.
Thank you for praying for our trip to England. We drove about 1,200 miles but had many stops along the way with friends and supporters. It was great to see people again and catch up with things happening in their lives.
Deputation meetings are almost over with only two meetings booked for this month: Debbie taking part in the Women's programme at Lambeg Baptist Church on 13th and myself speaking at the prayer meeting at Cairndaisy Baptist Church on 28th.
We would appreciate prayer as Debbie has minor surgery to remove a non-life-threatening bit of skin cancer (basal cell carcinoma) from her nose on the 14th June. Please pray for a successful procedure and a good recovery.
We are just back from a one-week package holiday in Menorca. It was very relaxing.
Please pray for our preparations to return to Kagoro. We are planning on flying in August for the start of the new semester at the seminary.
Nigeria has been in the world news again with the tragic plane crash in Lagos. One incident not so well reported was a bomb detonated near a church in Bauchi. Join us in prayer for the relatives of those killed and let us keep on praying for peace and stability in the country (1 Tim. 2:1-4).
Thanking you again for your partnership in the ministry by prayer.
David and Debbie
Saturday, 5 May 2012
May update
Dear friends,
Many thanks for your prayers during April. We praise the Lord for help given in the meetings and medical appointments. In Castlewellan we enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of Andrew and Lorna Forson who allowed us to stay in a cosy corner at the Castle. We got a walk around the lake as well as a few strolls in Newcastle between the showers.
On Wednesday the 9th May we go to England to visit friends in Preston, Lichfield, Oxford, St Albans, London, Capel St Mary and Leeds. It is kind of many to offer us hospitality and take time to see us in the midst of busy schedules. We will take the morning service in Oldfield Baptist Church in north London on Sunday, 13th May and visit SIM UK Headquarters in Wetheringsett on the 16th. Please pray for safety in travel and that we would be a blessing to those we meet.
When we return we will take the Missionary Sunday in my (Debbie's) home church, Ballynahinch Congregational, on the 20th of May. David will preach in the morning and I will show a power-point presentation during the Sunday evening service. Again we need the Lord's help and enabling for these services.
Last night was very important in the life of David's home church, Coagh Baptist. It was great to have the chance to attend the induction service for David Causby, the new pastor of the church. Please pray for the Lord to use him as he serves the Lord in this new ministry.
It's also time to get our vaccinations up to date and we plan to do that at the end of May.
We are thankful for the Lord's faithfulness in answering prayer and all the ways we've been encouraged by His people during this time of home assignment, Hebrews 10:24.
God bless,
Debbie and David
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
April update
Dear friends,
We send you greetings in the Name of Jesus our Lord.
Thank you for your prayers for the various meetings we had the opportunity to take in March. Also, it was good to have the opportunity to preach in my home church on 1st April. We believe they all went well. Other meetings for this month are scheduled as follows:
SIM prayer group at Broughshane on 3rd.
Debbie is giving a missionary report at the Bangor Convention (which is run by the Faith Mission over the Easter period) on 10th.
Debbie is taking the women's meeting at Armagh Baptist Church on 19th.
We are both taking the evening service at the Coolyvenny Mission Hall on 22nd
and giving a short report during the SIM conference in Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on 27th.
Finally, Debbie is speaking at the annual women's service at her home church, Ballynahinch Congregational Church, on 29th.
March was a busy month for me in terms of meetings to take and, as you can see, April is going to be a busy one for Debbie.
On the evening of 31st March we booked Murlough House (near Dundrum) so we could celebrate Debbie's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. At least 50 people came to celebrate the occasion. People brought sandwiches, tray bakes, and so on, for supper together and some of Debbie's aunts baked and decorated a cake. It was a great evening and gave us the opportunity to meet most of Debbie's aunts and uncles in the Lyons and Watson family circles.
Our own anniversary comes up next week. We are going to celebrate our 14 years together later on in the month by taking a break for a couple of days at Castlewellan Castle -- where we had our wedding reception. If we could get some weather like we had here last week, that would be great.
Right now we are finalizing plans for a trip to England to visit supporters in the middle of May. We would appreciate your prayers as we put that together.
Things seem to be going well at the Seminary at Kagoro. Dennis and Coletta keep us up-to-date with news from there. My smartphone showed me it was 35C in Kaduna city yesterday so I am sure the teachers and students at the seminary would appreciate your prayers as they go through this hot season.
Yours in Christ,
David and Debbie
We send you greetings in the Name of Jesus our Lord.
Thank you for your prayers for the various meetings we had the opportunity to take in March. Also, it was good to have the opportunity to preach in my home church on 1st April. We believe they all went well. Other meetings for this month are scheduled as follows:
SIM prayer group at Broughshane on 3rd.
Debbie is giving a missionary report at the Bangor Convention (which is run by the Faith Mission over the Easter period) on 10th.
Debbie is taking the women's meeting at Armagh Baptist Church on 19th.
We are both taking the evening service at the Coolyvenny Mission Hall on 22nd
and giving a short report during the SIM conference in Bloomfield Presbyterian Church on 27th.
Finally, Debbie is speaking at the annual women's service at her home church, Ballynahinch Congregational Church, on 29th.
March was a busy month for me in terms of meetings to take and, as you can see, April is going to be a busy one for Debbie.
On the evening of 31st March we booked Murlough House (near Dundrum) so we could celebrate Debbie's parents' 50th wedding anniversary. At least 50 people came to celebrate the occasion. People brought sandwiches, tray bakes, and so on, for supper together and some of Debbie's aunts baked and decorated a cake. It was a great evening and gave us the opportunity to meet most of Debbie's aunts and uncles in the Lyons and Watson family circles.
Our own anniversary comes up next week. We are going to celebrate our 14 years together later on in the month by taking a break for a couple of days at Castlewellan Castle -- where we had our wedding reception. If we could get some weather like we had here last week, that would be great.
Right now we are finalizing plans for a trip to England to visit supporters in the middle of May. We would appreciate your prayers as we put that together.
Things seem to be going well at the Seminary at Kagoro. Dennis and Coletta keep us up-to-date with news from there. My smartphone showed me it was 35C in Kaduna city yesterday so I am sure the teachers and students at the seminary would appreciate your prayers as they go through this hot season.
Yours in Christ,
David and Debbie
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