Sabba....what?

One of the main buildings at the Free-University of Amsterdam where Zach is an independent researching working on his New Testament dissertation.  He has been spending about ten days there every year since 2011.

It's official.  After nearly ten years of working with Christian Reformed World Missions, we have begun three months of sabbatical.  Most people probably don't know what a sabbatical is, though they might guess it is related to the biblical word, "sabbath" or "day of rest."  A sabbatical is a time study dedicated completely to professional and spiritual growth.  It isn't a vacation, though it often has a completely different rhythm focused on contemplation and learning.  Zach's sabbatical is to try to complete, as far as possible, his Ph.D. dissertation on New Testament missions that he started back in 2011.  On March 21 Zach will be leaving for the Netherlands for a week to get feedback from his supervisor on the last few chapters he has written.  Sharon's sabbatical has been focused on pastoral care training as she has been serving as a volunteer chaplain at a West-Michigan mental-health hospital.  She has been encouraging and praying with people who are passing through some of the most difficult times of their lives.  Zach and Sharon are looking forward to taking a week of vacation together in the Netherlands while the kids stay home with the grandparents.  We hope that these sabbatical experiences will give us renewed wisdom and grace to continue our ministry in Haiti when we return in early June.

One Word that Makes a Difference

Here is a word that makes a difference: "worldview."  A worldview is our basic outlook on life that answers the BIG questions like "who am I?," "what is the purpose of my life?," "what will happen after I die?" and "who is God?"  Even if we haven't answered these questions consciously, our subconscious view about them guides our daily activities and choices.  These questions get to the very heart of what in means to be a human being and a believer in Christ.   From March 25 to 29 a group of Haitians and North Americans we be holding a study-group in Port-au-Prince to develop a new Timothy Leadership Training manual on worldview.  Although many of TLT materials we use address issues of worldview in a more piecemeal way, we look forward to having a material to address this pressing subject fully.  Many recognize today that a non-Christian worldview is one of the biggest things holding back the Gospel from permeating domains like business and government that have long resisted Christian values.  Please that a basic outline of the worldview material can come out of our study group!

On another note, many changes have been happening with Timothy Training since we have been on home-service.  Our former colleague, Ruth Van Dam, has been hired by the TLT International (based in the US) to develop a relationship directly with the TLT coordination team in Haiti.  Pray that God will bless this opportunity.

Pastor Harold Kallemyn, who Zach originally invited to introduce TLT to Haiti in 2009, will return to help with our study-group on worldview.

Segaar-King February Ministry Report

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings!  Between our arrival in Haiti on August 21, 2014 and Sunday, February 22, 2015, we have been busy visiting you, our support network.  You have received us well in our treks from Minnesota to Ontario to Illinois (though most of the time we have been in West Michigan).  We would like to show our thanks by inviting you to an OPEN-HOUSE on SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015, at FULLER AVENUE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH (1239 Fuller Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49506) FROM 2:00 TO 4:30 P.M.  We will have snacks and authentic Haitian coffee (if Zach can keep from drinking it all before then).

Please join us in giving thanks for:

 -A successful surgery for Isaiah to remove several moles.  Now he just has to be patient and take it easy for several weeks.

-The dedication of the Ministry for Christian Development’s new Conference Center planned for March 7.  In addition to the Haitian construction crew, many Service and Learning teams have been putting the finishing touches on the building this winter.

 -A safe trip to 1^st CRC of Kingston, ON, in February for our last supporting church visit despite a terrible snowstorm and some bad colds.

-Your generous support and hospitable welcome for us during our six months of home-service.

Please join us in praying for these requests:

-The denominational leadership of the Christian Reformed Church of Haiti.  Despite some progress around Christmas, the national leadership conflict that has delayed many of our projects continues.  Pray that God will bring reconciliation and healing to all those involved.

-Recruitment of new international staff for World Renew and World Missions.  Pray that God will bring the right people to our team in the next few months.

-A productive trip to Amsterdam in March to confer with Zach’s Ph.D. supervisor.  Sharon will be joining Zach in Amsterdam for a week of vacation as well.

-The final weeks of Sharon’s chaplaincy internship in March.  She has a lot of papers to write!

-Peace and stability in Haiti as its leaders try to schedule and prepare for elections that are four years late.

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Vivian, Isaiah and Esther Segaar-King

Missionaries to Haiti through Christian Reformed World Missions