Segaar-King November Update

Dear Friends and Family:

As we enter the season of Advent, our thoughts turn to the miracle and the meaning of Christmas. Joseph, Mary’s betrothed husband, was instructed in a vision to name the baby Jesus (Greek) or Joshua (Hebrew). Jesus means “to save” and the salvation of his people would be the life-work of Mary’s baby. Please pray this Advent that the saving power of Jesus will be evident in Haiti and around the world.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-A safe trip to Minnesota to visit a supporting church and also many of Sharon’s extended family members (Sharon’s paternal grandfather will be celebrating his 100th birthday on December 6).
-Our colleagues’ opportunity for a spiritual retreat in the Dominican Republic over the American Thanksgiving weekend.
-Progress in Sharon’s healing as she receives physical therapy for her injuries after a September vehicle accident in which she was rear-ended.

Please join us in praying for:
-Safety and success for a visiting team from Ontario in Haiti currently.
-Continued healing for Sharon as she recovers from a vehicle accident.
-Pray that resources can be made available for construction at Viladewoz, a church near the city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti.
-Good opportunities to visit churches and personal supporters who are necessary for our ministry.

Please see our attached December Newsletter.

SAVE THE DATE: SEGAAR-KING FAMILY OPEN HOUSE ON JANUARY 21, 2012 FROM 11 AM TO 2 PM. A LIGHT LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED AT:

FULLER AVENUE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
1239 FULLER AVE. SE
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49506 (USA)

We’d love to see you at our open house!
Questions? Call 616-247-6718 or write at segaarking@yahoo.com

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions

Glory to God in the Highest!!

According to Luke (2:8-20), angels proclaimed the birth of Jesus to shepherds tending their flocks outside Bethlehem with the words, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” During our recent trip to Israel and the West Bank, we had the opportunity to visit the hills outside of Bethlehem where the shepherds received this announcement (see picture above). We were surprised to see how much these hills resembled the rocky topography of Haiti. On the night when the shepherds visited Mary and Jesus, the angels proclaimed peace on earth. This is the peace we proclaim in Christ’s name in Haiti. Outside of Bethlehem, this peace is hard to see as a twenty-foot high concrete barrier is being built to separate Israelis and Palestinians. In Haiti, this peace can be difficult to see as well as the squares and streets are still full of tents and shelters for displaced people since the earthquake in 2010. Nevertheless, this Christmas we are called to work and pray for the peace proclaimed on the hills of Bethlehem so long ago. The baby born on Christmas is the “Prince of Peace!”

Focus on the Sous Espwa Team

Sous Espwa means “Source of Hope” in Haitian Kreyòl. God’s hope must touch the hearts, minds and bodies of all people. In order to realize this goal, we need a team with gifts in each of these domains. For example, we spend much of our time teaching and encouraging Christian leaders to be more effective in ministry (i.e., hearts and minds). However, we rely on our colleagues to help us develop programs in the other domains as well. For example, our new colleague from Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC), Lunise Cerin-Jules has much experience in micro-loans and other community development projects. Our colleagues, Howard and Ruth Van Dam have experience working with Christian schools to develop balanced curriculum and programs. Our colleague Jennifer LeMaheiu has been working Haitian youth leaders to develop the next generation of Christian disciples. And our colleagues working with Back to God Ministries (BTGMI), like Lesley Millar-Toussaint, assist us in using media like radio and mp3 files to reach out to masses with the Gospel message. Please see the link to the Fall Sous Espwa Newsletter for more information about Sous Espwa and its ministries.

Segaar-King October Update

Dear Friends and Family:

The last few months we have had the opportunity to participate in many “missions and outreach Sundays” in which congregations are mobilized to share the life-changing message of the Gospel with people outside the church. It is a privilege to encourage the church to be faithful in sharing God’s love with his world. Please pray that God will use us in this important task.

Please join us in giving thanks for:
-Healing for Sharon and Vivian after their September car accident. Sharon continues physical therapy for a sore back and neck.
-A successful Timothy Leadership Training event held in Haiti in October. Our ministry colleagues trained over twenty new participants in addition leaders already in the process.
-The Jacquet CRC of Haiti congregation has finally completed the purchase of a property near its current location. It has taken five years to find and purchase property.
-Haiti has avoided a major hurricane as the storm season winds down.

Please join us in praying for:
-Continued healing for Sharon as she recovers from her car accident.
-Resources can be made available for a church construction project in Viladewoz, a church near city of Les Cayes in southern Haiti.
-Good opportunities to visit churches and personal supporters who are necessary for our ministry.
-Plans and budgets which are being prepared in November for ministry in our 2012-13 fiscal year. Pray that we would have wisdom to assigning resources to ministry projects.


FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Isaiah, Vivian and Esther Segaar-King
Missionaries to Haiti
Christian Reformed World Missions