Segaar-King Family Update

 

We have much to be thankful for this fall. The blessing of good health has come into sharp focus since Sharon began working at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital as an intern (part of her chaplaincy education process). The hospitals in West Michigan are packed with struggling COVID patients and exhausted staff. At her other job (as a Heartland Hospice chaplain), Sharon has the opportunity to offer God’s love to hospice patients who are spending their last days and months at home or in a facility. We understand better the fragility and tenuousness of life and breath in these troubled days. Every day we can love and be loved is a blessing. This fall Zach has been back on the road, visiting churches and ministries throughout the United States. Lord willing, he will resume international travel this winter. The stresses and pressures of ministry have been heavy, but God has been faithful. Hannah has enjoyed life and academics at Calvin University this fall as part of the Honors program. We give thanks for this good transition. Isaiah and Vivian continue as sophomores at Grand Rapids Christian High School this fall. In a few short years they will be out of the house. Our youngest, Esther, is in seventh grade this fall and growing fast. She is involved in everything, enjoying friends and sports. May you experience God’s faithful presence this Christmas!!

 

He will Save His People From Their Sins

 

Jesus was born in these barren hills surrounding Bethlehem two thousand years ago. He is still here today, leading and guiding his church.

In his work as Director of Resonate, Zach encounters both the joys and struggles of mission. Recently, he participated in the commissioning of the CRC’s first missionary to a particular Muslim country [name withheld] where Christians are only few percent of the population and the government tightly restricts religious activity. While church planting in North America has slowed because of COVID, many new church plants have been initiated among Hispanic groups throughout the US (view story). One Resonate-supported Hispanic church planter in Ontario has transitioned successfully to a fully on-line ministry. He and his family live-stream worship and bible studies to neighbors down the street and acquaintances across Latin America. Despite all these signs of hope, many of our ministries face intractable challenges. As we enter year-three of the global pandemic, the new Omicron variant has again disrupted plans. Many authoritarian governments are using the pandemic as a pretext to block indigenous and expatriate mission workers from ministry. The situation is not unlike the one in which Jesus was born two thousand years ago. As Israel languished under the rule of Rome, the Jewish people cried out for the long-prophesied coming of the Messiah, the son of David, to liberate them. In the fullness of time, an angel delivered a message to an obscure Jewish couple that the Holy Spirit had entrusted them with a child whom they would name Jesus, because “he will save his people from their sins (Matt. 1:21). This Messiah is present in our suffering world today. He inhabits the hearts of believers of every race, tribe, language and nation. He will save his people from their sins.

 

Ongoing Prayers for the People of Haiti

 Since we sent out our last newsletter five months ago, the situation in Haiti has become more difficult. In July, Haiti’s President Jovenel Möise was assassinated at his home. In August, Haiti’s southern peninsula was rocked by a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, killing several thousand people. Throughout the fall, Port-au-Prince’s notorious gangs took control of entire sections of the capital city. In November, one group of gangs blocked the fuel off-loading port, leading to a shortage of fuel throughout the country. Finally, fifteen US and Canadian missionaries continue to be held by kidnappers on the outskirts of the city. As difficult as the situation is, ministry continues through telephone, video conference and occasional in person activities. Please join us in prayer for Haiti.