tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16792446774226884322024-02-11T07:19:11.521-06:00Equipping to the Ends of the EarthBrent Kooi is a missionary to Sydney, Australia with Mission to the World.Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-4046835831962171192024-02-11T07:18:00.000-06:002024-02-11T07:18:38.391-06:00<p>February 12 Missionary Update</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">"Unashamed" at SOW Camp</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently spent a week at the summer camp for our university ministry. </span><a href="https://www.sow.org.au/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Student Outreach to the World</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"> (SOW) actually preceded </span><a href="https://www.harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"> by a few years, and has grown into a ministry at five Sydney universities.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">About 100 students attended the five day event at a Bible camp located in a rural area near Sydney. The theme was "Unashamed," from Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of god for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">The keynote speaker was </span><a href="https://ruf.org/staff/brewer/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Chad Brewer</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">, the assistant coordinator for </span><a href="https://ruf.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">RUF</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"> International & Global. He spoke on evangelism, giving many great examples of God working through him and his wife in the lives of their own families.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="14477888" height="190" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c9985bc8-5bf5-031b-8b2f-d0dd4f8f633d.jpg" style="border: 3px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 190px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 338px;" width="338" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">I spoke twice at summer camp, once on "Engaging with Cults," and "Calling and Vocation." But more importantly I was so encouraged by many conversations with uni students at various places in their spiritual walks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">City Sanctum</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Since relaunching <a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a> in September, we have had five monthly dinner events. Our theme for the first quarter of 2024 is "Healthy Work Habits." In January, I spoke on procrastination, and in February on "Work Hard or Work Smart?"</span><br /><br />Attendance has seen a slow increase, with 14 participants at both of our 2024 events, including several new people from outside of Harbour City Church.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 13</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be flying to Japan for one week. This will hopefully be my last "must leave Australia every 90 days visa trip." The first several days will be spent in Chiba, helping missionary friend Matt Chase with demolition work; his team has bought an old house, next door to his family's house, to be used for university ministry. The latter days will be spent with friends in Osaka.</span><br /> </div><hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 24</strong></span><br />For City Sanctum's second "Equip 315" quarterly event, I'll be teaching on the basics to cover when sharing the gospel.</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 29</strong></span><br />For HCC's monthly "Topical Bible Study," I'll be teaching part two of "Handling Difficult Questions" when sharing the gospel.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Point</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>that our HCC church members and City Sanctum participants will be equipped to share the gospel in their every day lives.</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-top: 4px none rgb(34, 34, 34); width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="footerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" id="social" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;"><span style="color: firebrick;">Thank you for your faithful prayers and financial partnership </span></span></strong></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-80597309071944572622023-12-28T06:29:00.005-06:002023-12-28T06:30:35.436-06:00December 2023 Missionary Newsletter<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">City Sanctum Up & Running</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your prayers for the relaunch of </span><a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">. We were able to relaunch in September and had subsequent meetings in October & November.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Our theme for our first three months was "God's plan for work," using Tim Keller's book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Every-Good-Endeavor-Connecting-Your/dp/1594632820/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1AIEBX9MDNFOS&keywords=every+good+endeavor+tim+keller&qid=1703758475&sprefix=every+good+end%2Caps%2C320&sr=8-1" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Every Good Endeavor</a>. I spoke on the first and third parts of the book, while <a href="https://www.harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a> pastor and MTW Sydney team leader Jim Jung spoke on the second part.</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Part 1: God's plan for work -- designed good, with dignity in all work, for our good and the betterment of society.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Part 2: Our problems with work -- our sin brought a curse upon our work, and we use our work for selfish goals.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Part 3: The gospel and work -- how God can redeem our work, and we as Christians can impact God's world through the work he gives us. (See audio links below if you'd like to listen to any of these.)</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Our attendance has been steady at 11-12 per meeting so far, largely from Harbour City Church. And we are quite happy with our restaurant venue, which allows us to grill our own steaks for $10 off the menu cost, and just has a pleasant vibe for our purposes.<br /><br />The theme for the first quarter of 2024 City Sanctum meetings will focus on work habits, discussing procrastination in our January meeting. Please pray that the talks will be beneficial to attendees, and that they will invite their not yet saved workmates who can encounter this "back door" entry to the Christian faith.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">We also implemented our first quarterly evangelism training event, calling it "Equip 315," using 1 Peter 3:15 for our theme: <img align="right" data-file-id="14468360" height="150" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/65963417-9bfb-9d2f-22c4-1494fd24faf8.png" style="border: 3px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); display: inline; height: 150px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; width: 200px;" width="200" />"...always [be] prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect."<br /><br />In our Equip 315 events, I will be sharing various methods of sharing the gospel. In November, I focused on how to discern whether our prospect is likely already a Christian or is in need of hearing the gospel, and how to "earn the right" to share the gospel, using the Evangelism Explosion model (video link below). <br /><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="14468380" height="187" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/_compresseds/e01e37cb-6d8e-5f86-192a-a0a3fec1c7a6.jpg" style="border: 3px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 187px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 5px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 250px;" width="250" />14 people attended the November Equip 315, including one young man who has been attending our church for a couple of years but is not yet a Christian. We have had a number of conversations in recent months about the gospel and his resistance to embracing the promises of God.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">End of Year Giving</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you so much to all those who have been partnering with me in the gospel by way of financial contributions. Missionaries do not go out without such partnering.<br /><br />I also am so thankful for those who regularly lift me up in prayer. Missionaries cannot be effective without their prayer warriors.<br /><br />If you would like to make an end of year contribution, I do appreciate your consideration. You can make an online contribution by clicking on the photo below.<br /><br /><a href="http://mtw.org/missionaries/details/brent-kooi" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;"><img data-file-id="14468384" height="202" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ee60f1f5-d5ac-38f3-cee2-70cc164de9e6.png" style="border: 3px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); display: inline; height: 202px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 334px;" width="334" /></a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a> for more regular updates</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Thursday, January 11</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">City Sanctum meeting<br />Topic: Procrastination</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Jan. 29 - Feb. 2</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">SOW university ministry summer camp </span>(I'll be speaking on discerning a calling into ministry)</div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Thursday, February 8</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">City Sanctum meeting<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Saturday, February 24</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Equip 315 training</span></div></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for his blessings on the re-launch of City Sanctum, and the first Equip 315 event. Pray that he will grow the ministry to be a blessing to our members and to reach many lost with the hope of the gospel.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for my preparation of upcoming talks including the "procrastination" talk for City Sanctum, and the university ministry talk on "discerning a calling into ministry."<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for a couple of young men at HCC who I am mentoring.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Topical Bible Study</strong></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Harbour City Church holds quarterly "TBS" events. In November, I was asked to speak on "Handling Difficult Questions" when sharing our faith. I had prepared to address 17 different common objections; surveying our attendees during the event, I had time to speak on just three, including "Why does God allow bad things to happen," "The church is full of hypocrites," and "I don't believe the Bible." (Video link below)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Filling the Pulpit</strong></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">With HCC's two pastors both out of the country earlier this month, it fell upon me to fill the pulpit one Sunday. I was assigned "Zechariah's Song as part of our Advent series on "The Songs of Christmas." (Video link below)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Bali Surf Camp</strong></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">With my current visa, I must exit Australia every 90 days. In September, I took the opportunity to attend a five day surf camp in Bali. I was relieved that I wasn't too old to learn (although I'm certainly still very much a beginner); but even better than the surfing, God allowed me so many opportunities to share the gospel! Of particular joy was sharing with a 20 year old young man from Munich who is half Jewish and half Chinese. Colin is a very bright young man and was very curious about the Bible, having forgotten most of what he had learned studying for his bar mitzvah. He asked many questions. Please pray that he will continue to seek after the God of his fathers.</span></div></div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="templateFooter" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-top: 4px none rgb(34, 34, 34); width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="footerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" id="social" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 0px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15px; text-align: center;"><div style="line-height: 15px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">Links to above mentioned speaking engagements:</span></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;">September City Sanctum: <a href="https://citysanctum.org/past-talks//14-september-2023" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Every Good Endeavor, Pt. 1</a> (audio only)</li><li style="text-align: left;">October City Sanctum: <a href="https://citysanctum.org/past-talks//october-2023-our-problems-with-work" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Every Good Endeavor, Pt. 2</a> (audio only)</li><li style="text-align: left;">November City Sanctum: <a href="https://citysanctum.org/past-talks//november-2023-gospel-amp-work" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Every Good Endeavor, Pt. 3</a> (audio only)</li><li style="text-align: left;">Equip 315: <a href="https://youtu.be/Yk8HUsIPwoI?si=Yc1wDIywwOWqKMaC" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Earning the Right to Share the Gospel</a> (video)</li><li style="text-align: left;">TBS: <a href="https://youtu.be/EnRK1Jkocwc?si=dPtD-OvRd0ONlA2U" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Handling Difficult Questions</a> (video - note that there's no audio until 3:23)</li><li style="text-align: left;">Sermon: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/SSxiJCXoXfM?si=GZuSJeXdlhkgSfE8" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Zechariah's Prophecy</a> (video)</li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-45590092523631639032023-09-11T06:39:00.000-05:002023-09-11T06:39:01.187-05:00September 2023 Missionary Newsletter<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">City Sanctum Set to Relaunch!</span></span></h1>Covid restrictions were rough on Australians, and on <a href="http://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a> as well. With tight restrictions on public meetings (or even leaving one's home at all), City Sanctum met via Zoom for some time. But as people became "Zoomed out," and as I was unable to enter Australia to assume leadership of the ministry, the difficult decision was made in July 2021 to take a hiatus. And now, more than two years later, City Sanctum is about to relaunch!<br /><br />In early 2023, a new City Sanctum steering committee was recruited, and we've been meeting regularly to pray, dream, and plan our relaunch. The previous steering committee laid a strong foundation, upon which we've been able to build. City Sanctum will largely look very much like it always has, but a couple of changes we are excited about include:<ul><li>New location: previously, City Sanctum met in the Sydney CBD (central business district), near the famous opera house. Our new location is a restaurant near our church. When City Sanctum members bring friends to our new location, it's more likely that they also live nearby and could come to <a href="http://harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a> as well.</li><li>Quarterly training: one of City Sanctum's goals has always been to help its members navigate an increasingly secular work world and to be ambassadors of Christ in their daily lives. Our new quarterly training will equip members with skills to share the gospel with their co-workers, to answer their difficult questions, etc.</li></ul>The theme for the remainder of 2023 is "God's plan for work," using Tim Keller's book <a href="https://timothykeller.com/books/every-good-endeavor" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><em>Every Good Endeavor</em></a>. On Thursday, September 14, at our relaunch event, participants will enjoy a free dinner (compliments of an MTW grant), and then I'll be speaking on the first section of Keller's book.<br /><br /><a href="https://vimeo.com/mtwglobal/city-sanctum" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;"><img align="center" data-file-id="14424988" height="215" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/_compresseds/c275a96d-f443-c03e-bc8a-c52b4308ef90.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 215px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></a><br /><br />Please pray for our ministry:<ul><li>that we will have a good turnout on Thursday;</li><li>that the talk will be a blessing to the participants and their efforts to work as for the Lord;</li><li>that City Sanctum will be a place where non-Christians will encounter the God who made them and loves them;</li><li>and that City Sanctum participants will be equipped as missionaries within their workplaces and communities.</li></ul><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /><strong><span style="color: #aa230f;">THANK YOU for your continued prayers<br />and partnership in the gospel!</span></strong></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Church Renovations</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Little did I know, when renovating my basement apartment during Covid, that those skills would be so useful in Sydney as well! Over the last few months, a significant portion of my time has involved construction work in the warehouse where <a href="http://harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a> meets. Improvements included building an AV mezzanine above an existing block of rooms, constructing a new, larger children's classroom, as well as a cry room with a large window into the worship area.</span><br /><br /><img data-file-id="14425004" height="208" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/187afd00-eb51-84b5-ca28-4810b53351c9.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 208px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 156px;" width="156" /><br /><br />The renovation work was a great time of building relationships with church volunteers and teaching some of them a few useful skills.<br /> </div><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>September 14</strong></span><br />Relaunch of City Sanctum<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>September 15-16</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Harbour City Church session & staff retreat (local)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>September 18-23</strong></span></span><br />Vacation in Bali: This is a 90 day "must exit the country due to my visa" trip. I will be taking surfing lessons (hoping I'm not too old to learn!), and planning to put that skill to use with the surf club at my church.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>October 19-24</strong></span><br />Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) for a family wedding.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>November 13-19</strong></span></span><br />MTW leadership training in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia</div><div style="line-height: 18px;"> </div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-76264606285659728512023-05-19T01:31:00.000-05:002023-05-19T01:31:40.478-05:00May 19, 2023<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Ministry in the Small Things</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, it has been 10+ months since I arrived in Sydney. I'm feeling more and more at home here, especially as relationships deepen and ministry opportunities increase.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Effective ministry often happens in the unplanned occurrences of life. Of course we must live our lives -- plan our lives -- in such a way to encourage those unplanned occurrences.</span><br /><br />Some of my opportunities lately include:<ul><li>I started a bicycling club at Harbour City Church. Our third outing is this weekend, and so far has been a great opportunity to deepen relationships and to invite unsaved friends.</li><li>Each member of Harbour City Church staff spoke on various topics at our recent church retreat under the theme "Fully known, truly loved."</li><li>Relationships in my men's growth group are deepening. I'm encouraged by the transparency of the young men.</li><li>I spoke on "handling difficulty questions" about the gospel at a recent university ministry event.</li></ul><img data-file-id="14392140" height="409" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/83a2d46d-e35a-ba39-4f85-f09b7f39cd0b.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 409px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /><strong><span style="color: #aa230f;">THANK YOU for your continued prayers<br />and partnership in the gospel!</span></strong></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>June 8-26</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be in the States for the PCA General Assembly in Memphis (6/12-15), with a quick weekend in Jackson prior to GA, and then some time in Iowa with my mom.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>City Sanctum:</strong> A new steering committee has been recruited and started meeting earlier this month. We anticipate rebooting ministry meetings in August.</span><br /><br /><strong>Australian Visa: </strong>Pray that my application for a two year worker's visa will be approved soon. Application was submitted several weeks ago.<br /><br /><strong>Island to Island Forum: </strong>Praise God for a successful gathering of ministries in the South Pacific island nations. It was an encouraging time of dreaming and planning for cooperation in ministry to strengthen the churches of the region.<br /><br /><strong>WPC National Assembly:</strong> Praise God for the opportunity to attend the recent Westminster denominational meetings in Brisbane, learning much about the challenges and opportunities within our partnering denomination.<br /><br /><strong>2023 Missions Trip:</strong> Pray for development of a church missions trip I will lead at the end of the year -- location and ministry.</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-77814864945851200922023-03-09T01:54:00.002-06:002023-03-09T01:54:36.422-06:00March 9, 2023<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Am I Called to Go?</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">"How do I know if God is calling me to missions?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Discerning a particular call to missions starts with recognizing that every Christian has been called to participate in God's mission to reconcile the world to himself."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">"While it's true that participating in God's mission does not require all of us to travel to distant places, finishing the mission [of reaching every tribe, people, and nation] means that some of us must [go]."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">These three quotes are from a 2017 Gospel Coalition article by missionary Lucas Burton. </span><a href="https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/article/am-i-called-to-missions/" style="color: #00add0; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">I encourage you to read it in full here</a> (about a five minute read)<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="14370204" height="191" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/_compresseds/f41692ca-6d75-ee37-d520-7b887c0b0dec.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 191px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently had the opportunity to speak on this very topic at the 2023 <a href="https://www.sow.org.au/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SOW</a> summer camp. With 120 university students, we had five days to delve into God's word, sing his praises, meet in small groups, and have a lot of good camp fun! Please pray that the students will prayerfully discern God's calling upon their lives, and whether that is to serve him here in Sydney, or outside of their culture to far flung peoples around the world.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Island to Island Forum</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be assisting with the <a href="http://www.gracepresbyterianchurch.org.nz/2021/03/14/island-to-island-partnership/#:~:text=The%20Island%20to%20Island%20Partnership,revitalisation%20to%20the%20Pacific%20Islands." style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Island to Island Partnership</a> (I2I) Forum next week in Fiji. You may recall I traveled there is September to help find a location for this forum.</span><br /><br />The many tiny nations of the Pacific Ocean were largely Christianized in the 19th and 20th centuries, but have since been victims to all the common heresies of the day (prosperity gospel, liberal theology, etc.) as well as many cults. Four Presbyterian denominations from the US, Australia, and New Zealand formed I2I to gather gospel-centered ministries from these nations in an effort to revitalize the local churches.<br /><br />The forum will be the first in-person meeting with representatives from four of the larger Oceanic nations (Fiji, Samoa, American Samoa and Vanuatu). Please pray that beneficial partnerships will be built toward the revitalization of the Oceanic churches.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="14370212" height="271" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c584e5c8-656a-a43c-af0f-a4d9bd4cf4c7.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 271px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 344px;" width="344" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>City Sanctum Update</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">An informational dinner was held on February 9 for those wanting to learn more about the re-boot of the <a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a> ministry. From this group and others at <a href="https://www.harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a>, I am working to form a new steering committee. Once formed, we will together seek God's guidance in laying the foundations for City Sanctum, and implementing the re-boot of regular meetings.</span><br /><br />The vision for City Sanctum is to guide city workers as they navigate the intersection of being Christians in an increasingly secular world.<br /><br />Recruiting steering committee members is proving to be a slow process. However it is providing opportunities to meet with HCC members and to discuss their roles within the life of the church.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 15-20</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Island to Island Forum in Fiji</span><br />(This is one of my required "leave Australia every 90 days" tourist visa trips.)</div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>June 13-16</strong></span><br />PCA General Assembly<br />Memphis, TN<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>for the City Sanctum ministry and the formation of the new steering committee.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>for the Island to Island Forum, and that it will be a blessing to the ministries on the islands and will serve to revitalize the churches.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that I will be granted a two year visa in order to continue serving in Sydney. My current tourist visa will expire in July.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the university students from SOW camp as they seek to discern their roles in God's gospel mandate, whether at home or abroad.</span><br /> </div></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-69705180918169231212023-01-23T21:35:00.001-06:002023-01-23T21:35:49.061-06:00January 2023 Update<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Japan Vision Trip Report</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I am thrilled to report on a very successful vision trip to Japan back in December! What made it very successful? Was it fun? Yes. Did I have a great time seeing old friends and teammates? Yes. But much more important than either of those, our Sydney group was challenged as we were exposed to a wide variety of missionary activities, all with the purpose of sharing the good news of God's free gift of salvation!<br /><img align="left" data-file-id="14354204" height="271" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/2caabe7c-2069-425e-b31d-dfb5e8ad2831.png" style="border: 0px rgb(133, 7, 7); display: inline; height: 271px; line-height: 14px; margin: 12px 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />From December 5 through 15, I facilitated a vision trip, guiding four young adults from <a href="http://harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a> through five cities and visiting missionaries from ten different missionary teams.<br /><br />Some of our highlights included:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">university ministry dinner with about 30 students in Nagoya;</span></li><li>touring Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya;</li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">engaging English language learners in Osaka;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">visiting an art gallery operated by MTW missionaries and learning how the arts can be used to connect with people and to share the hope of the gospel;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">worshipping at a bilingual church in Sendai;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">learning about church planting and various outreach ministries in Chiba, Tokyo, and Nagoya;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">hearing a Juilliard School of Music organist and missionary and learning more about ministry opportunities using the creative arts;</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">teaching the children at a Christian school in Chiba about Australia.</span></li></ul><img data-file-id="14354216" height="271" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/9557a0f2-59a3-886b-a7d8-cdff641ffde4.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 271px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br />Our Sydney team was encouraged as we learned how God is working in Japan, and several participants are considering what it might look like for them to potentially live and minister overseas.<br /><br />Please pray that God will use this vision trip to impact the lives of the trip participants here in Sydney, but also their impact in missions around the world, whether that is through their own support of missions or their own getting up and going overseas.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(133, 7, 7); display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, verdana, segoe, sans-serif;"><span style="color: brown;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Thank you for your prayers &<br />partnership in the gospel!</span></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=149032cff7&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Jan. 30 - Feb. 2</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be a presenter at our <a href="https://www.sow.org.au/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">university ministry</a> summer camp, speaking on "Am I Called to Go?"<br /> </span></div><hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 9</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">We will hold an informational dinner for those interested in participating in, or potentially helping to lead <a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a>. "CS" is a ministry to city workers that has been on hiatus for nearly two years due to Covid. Our vision is to be an outreach ministry, while equipping our church members with personal evangelism skills.</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 15-20</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be assisting with the <a href="https://www.mtw.org/projects/details/mtw-island-to-island" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Island to Island</a> conference, connecting Reformed pastors and ministries from the nations of the South Pacific islands. In these tiny countries, pastors often feel especially isolated and discouraged. The conference is in Fiji, and will also serve to reset my Australian tourist visa for another 90 days.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for a very successful Japan vision trip! Pray that God will call one or more of the participants to overseas ministry.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong></span> for the university ministry summer camp to be a spiritual blessing for the participants. Pray for each of the speakers, including myself, that God will speak through us.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong></span> for the City Sanctum informational dinner on February 9, and that God will rebuild this ministry to be effective in calling the lost and equipping the redeemed.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong></span> for two-month intern applicants to serve with our Sydney team in July-August. These are typically university students from the US & Canada.</div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-90609076632055945632022-12-03T23:00:00.000-06:002022-12-03T23:00:19.629-06:00<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>December 1, 2022</b></span></p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Japan Vision Trip</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I will be returning to Japan on Sunday evening, December 5! I currently hold a one year Australian tourist visa which requires that I leave the country every 90 days. As I still have two bank accounts in Japan (one personal, and one for Genesis International College), I need to return to withdraw the funds and close the accounts.<br /><br />Taking advantage of the opportunity, four young adults from my Sydney church will be accompanying me on this vision trip.<br /><br />What is a vision trip, as opposed to a mission trip? Where a mission trip typically involves participants performing some sort of ministry work, the primary activity of a vision trip is to expose participants to a variety of missionaries and types of ministry. The primary goal is for the participants to better understand the work and lives of missionaries, know how to pray for, support and advocate for missions, and to discern their own role in God's gospel mandate.<br /><br />Our team will be visiting missionaries in Chiba, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai and Tokyo.<br /><br />Please pray:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Safety in the air, on the road, and on the tracks</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Unity on our team during a very busy schedule</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">That our team will be a blessing to the missionaries we visit, and encouraged by their ministries.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Particularly, pray that each participant will be open to the leading of God as we each discern our roles in the gospel mandate.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="none" data-file-id="14316728" height="333" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/71c67c6c-2b49-d839-9c0b-c25fdb579dab.jpg" style="border: 4px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 333px; line-height: 14px; margin: 2px 0px; outline: none; width: 336px;" width="336" /></span><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #aa230f;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;">Josh, Brent, Danny, Rebecca, Monica</span></strong></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Vision Trip Dates: December 5-15.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><br /><span style="color: #aa230f;"><span style="font-family: merriweather, georgia, "times new roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;">Wishing you a blessed Christmas!</span></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_2" mchideable="hideable_2"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-twitter-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=5c5ce79eb8&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to the prayer requests for the vision trip listed on the left....</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>that there will be no issues in getting back into Australia following the Japan Vision Trip. I am on a one year tourist visa that requires me to leave the country every 90 days; it's possible there could be issues getting back into the country.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the City Sanctum ministry. We recently administered a survey among our target demographic to learn about post-Covid work situations (in the office, online, etc.), as well as perceived needs in work and personal lives. Upon my return from Japan, work will begin in earnest toward re-booting the City Sanctum ministry in the new year.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>"With All"</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, Harbour City Church hosted their annual "open conference" with the theme "With All," taken from Luke 10 (love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength and mind).<br /><br />Due to the isolation brought on by tight Covid restrictions, mental and physical health were a focus. Our keynote speaker was a therapist who challenged us to deal with past traumas, sin, and addictions. A former convict who runs a fitness ministry for former convicts also shared his story with our congregation and guests.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-60913228202142860802022-09-02T23:37:00.002-05:002022-09-02T23:37:59.543-05:00August 25, 2022 -- First Newsletter from Sydney<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Feet on the Ground!</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">After a 2+ year Covid delay, God opened up the doors for my arrival in Sydney about seven weeks ago! <img align="left" data-file-id="14237460" height="153" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/b0d2e0b2-eec8-7aa3-831d-b042eefe8034.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline; height: 153px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 203px;" width="203" />It is perhaps a bit surreal to be here, and to look back on all that transpired over the last few years. But I'm so thankful for God's provision and for the prayers, encouragement, and financial partnership of so many rope holders. Thank you for your role in all of that!<br /><br />My team leader has been very gracious in allowing me time to adjust to life in Australia. I was able to purchase a 2014 VW Jetta within a week of my arrival, and secured an apartment within three weeks. Moving in with just a few pieces of luggage, I was able to furnish the apartment with the basic necessities and make it a comfortable home for my own rejuvenation as well as for hosting friends and events in the future. The location is convenient to the church and has easy access (via train) to the city. And after gaining my own experience in renovation/construction over<img align="right" data-file-id="14237468" height="153" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/f45e1b0e-363e-cc51-a8cf-8dfda8239b50.jpeg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline; height: 153px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 5px 5px; outline: none; width: 204px;" width="204" /> the last two years, I have a view of a large new apartment building under construction right outside my windows! In fact I was given a $300 ($200 US) discount per month because of the construction. I find it rather entertaining, even as a port-a-potty is sailing past my window from a crane as I type this!<br /><br />Being quite settled, I've been getting more involved in ministry work over the last couple of weeks.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Ministry</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Much of my time has been spent becoming more familiar with the various ministries of the MTW team in Sydney. In the first week I participated in a men's ping pong tournament. I hadn't played since Christmas 2020,<img align="left" data-file-id="14237416" height="153" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/1313d80d-81ae-5bac-d9f5-26225e2c5328.jpeg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline; height: 153px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 5px 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 230px;" width="230" /> and my first and only match was against the man whom everyone knew would win the tournament, and he did! It was a great opportunity to get to know the lads (as they say in Australia) of the church.</span><br /><br />City Sanctum, the ministry which I'll be leading, has been on a complete hiatus over the last year. When Australia shutdown the nation due to Covid, an attempt was made to continue meeting online. But without a City Sanctum leader, and with general exhaustion among the steering committee, we decided it was better to discontinue all activities until Covid restrictions eased and I arrived to give leadership. Our team met with the steering committee members this past week to discuss the future, and how we can most effectively meet the needs of city workers. With most office workers still working from home most days, and the needs and daily patterns of life changed, we will be re-evaluating everything in the coming months toward the goal of relaunching.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=e8e9e58cba&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for opening the doors to Australia, safe travel, and allowing me to get established in Sydney.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> that God will bless my efforts to deepen relationships at the church.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for the City Sanctum ministry and our work to reorganize it toward effective ministry both in the city and to those around the world.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God</strong> for a Japanese friend whom I met in Jackson, MS at the First Presbyterian international ministry. He moved to Texas last year, and continued to seek for God and was recently baptized! Pray for his spiritual growth.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Culture Corner</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Adjusting to Australian culture has certainly been easier than my previous adjustments in Japan. Instead of struggling to recall the most basic of words, my ears are adjusting to the Aussie accent. Instead of learning how to navigate the Japanese train system, I'm learning to drive manual transmission on the left side of the road (had a little practice with that in Japan as I occasionally rented a car).</span><br /><br />But more than that, I'm working to understand the Aussie way of thinking. It's subtle, but it is different! Australia is very egalitarian; regardless of one's place in life or society, if one acts too high and mighty, they can expect to be taken down a peg or two.<br /><br />40% of Sydneysiders are foreign born. Driving around, I traverse through neighborhoods of Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Arab, etc., all with their grocery stores, restaurants, and places of worship. My own neighborhood is very diverse with only 37% of the residents born in Australia. The world is mobile, coming to our doorsteps, providing incredible opportunities to share the hope of the gospel to the masses who have never heard.</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-12665351883421948542022-06-20T19:46:00.000-05:002022-06-20T19:46:09.892-05:00June 20, 2022 Update -- Imminent Departure<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">A Brief Update:</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">First and foremost, I want to confirm that, Lord willing, I will be departing for my ministry assignment in Sydney on July 6!<br /><br />A few details:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in Birmingham, AL this week for the Presbyterian Church in America General Assembly. Jim Jung, my Sydney team leader, is here with me. It's been a great time of renewing our friendship (haven't seen each other face to face in three years), and discussing life and ministry in Sydney. We are attending GA for the purpose of recruiting missionaries, interns, and church missions teams for the Australasia region (Australia, New Zealand, and a number of South Pacific island nations). Please pray that God will call many to serve and equip in this region.</span><br /> </li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon returning to Jackson on Friday of this week, my primary work will be packing up my house, packing up my bags, and just in general preparing to turn my house over to my renters/house managers.</span><br /> </li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">A young Christian married couple will be renting my home, living on the main floor, and managing the AirBNB basement apartment. They are excited for the opportunity as they will be able to save up money for their own home over the next four years. And they seem very suited to managing the AirBNB apartment as well.</span><br /> </li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I anticipate driving up to Iowa on June 30-July1 to spend a few days with my mom before departing for Australia.</span><br /> </li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I will fly out of Sioux Falls, SD on July 6 and arrive in Sydney on July 8!</span></li></ul><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Calendar</span></span></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>June 20-23</strong></span><div style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">PCA General Assembly; </span>Birmingham, AL<br /> </div><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>June 24-29</strong><br />Packing up my home, selling some furniture, packing my bags, etc.<br /><br /><strong>June 30 - July 1</strong><br />Driving to Iowa<br /><br /><strong>July 6-8</strong><br />Travel to Sydney, Australia</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=b0147b46c6&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for his sustaining grace during a departure delay of more than two years. Praise him for the opportunities he gave me to serve my local church, to learn and minister through the Birmingham and Jackson Mission Cohorts, and for the opportunity to buy my first home and renovate the basement apartment.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God </strong>that the long wait if nearly over!<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for<strong> </strong>our recruiting efforts at PCA General Assembly.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that<strong> </strong>God will enable me to accomplish all that needs doing in Jackson before I can turn my house over to my renters/managers.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>for<strong> </strong>good time with my mom before I depart.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for<strong> </strong>my adjustment and settling into life and ministry in Sydney.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span></div><div style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><br /><strong><span style="font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: brown;">THANK YOU for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and continued financial partnership over the last years. I appreciate your role in our work more than you can know, and covet your continued "holding of the rope" as I begin this new role in Australia.</span></span></strong></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-9274849268976093502022-04-25T22:10:00.000-05:002022-04-25T22:10:07.846-05:00April 25, 2022<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Deployment Announcement!</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">After two years of waiting, I can announce that the Australian borders are open, and I've been approved to deploy! Some details:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">For immigration visa, I have received a clean criminal background report from the FBI, and should get a similar report in the next week from the Japanese consulate.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">While I have been anticipating a mid-May departure, that has been pushed back so that I can attend the Presbyterian Church General Assembly with my team leader with the purpose of recruiting additional missionaries, short-term teams, and interns.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">After General Assembly, I'll return to Jackson for just a few days, then go on to Iowa to see my mother, sell my car, and depart from there, likely on July 6.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I have found a young couple who will be renting my house and managing the Airbnb apartment in the basement while I'm in Australia. There are many details to work out for the lease.</span></li></ul><span style="color: firebrick;">THANK YOU for your faithful prayers and encouragement, and for those who have faithfully continued to partner with me despite so many unknowns over the last two years. You've been a blessing to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Wait for the Lord!</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">When Covid shut down world borders, probably like everyone else in the world, I assumed Covid would run its course in a few months and the world would quickly return to normal. Never did I expect my move to Australia would be delayed more than two years!</span><br /><br />Once I bought my house and started renovating it, I seemed to settle into life here. In some ways, that's good; one should "be" where one is placed -- to live and serve God in the ways he allows in the moment. But it was also easy to forget about my calling to Australia, or to think "what if it never happens?"<br /><br /><span style="color: firebrick;"><strong>Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!"</strong></span> Two years is like a single moment to our eternal God. He has been sovereign throughout the pandemic. While we may have felt like we'd lost all control, God never did. And really, we never had any real control anyway! All we are called to do is wait for the Lord -- to trust that he knows best, and is working all things for our good (Romans 8:28).<br /><br />Over the last two years, God has provided many ministry opportunities I never expected:<ul><li>Participating in the planning and implementation of the Birmingham Missions Cohort, and then bring that to Jackson as well.</li><li>Informal discipleship with several young men at my church.</li><li>Participating in the life of my church including the choir, neighborhood growth group, and a men's Bible study.</li><li>And of course God has provided the opportunity for me to purchase my first house, to be productive during the shutdown through the renovation of the basement apartment, and then to reap the benefits in the coming years of renting out the house and apartment.</li><li>When there were slow times in recent months, I have driven Lyft and found many, many opportunities to share the gospel and to pray with and for my passengers.</li></ul>God has been good! And it appears my waiting for him to move is coming to an end, at least in this particular situation. For each of us, our lives really is a series of waiting for the Lord -- to move, to open, to close, to heal, and ultimately to bring us to our eternal home.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=14f3509918&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>June 21-24</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">PCA General Assembly<br />Birmingham, AL<br /> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><strong>July 1-5</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tentative dates in Iowa</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>July 6</strong></span><br />Likely departure date for Australia<br /><br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>that he has opened the door to ministry in Australia!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Praise God </strong>for the many opportunities he has provided in the last two years, including opportunities that have better prepared me for ministry in Sydney!<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that God will allow me opportunities to finish my time in the States well.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the many things I need to accomplish before I leave, including completion of a bathroom renovation in my house, working out details for the rental and management of the house, Australian visa application, and the sale of my Jeep in Iowa.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for our recruiting efforts at General Assembly, as we seek to recruit additional missionaries as well as short-term teams and interns.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the transition -- both leaving the States and adapting to life and ministry in Australia.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for good farewells with family and friends.<br /><br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Overview of Australian Work:<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/zIx0s0J3BHU" style="color: #aa230f;" target="_blank"><img data-file-id="12642903" height="113" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 113px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></a></strong></span></span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-3298411735840127202022-03-08T17:12:00.000-06:002022-03-08T17:12:15.830-06:00March 1, 2022<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Open Borders!</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">After nearly two years, Australia opened its borders to fully vaccinated foreigners on Monday, February 21!<br /><br />I am now in the process of applying for my Australian visa. The first step is to obtain clean criminal background checks from the FBI and Japan. I've done what I need for the FBI check (an online form and finger-printing), and will be doing the same at the Japanese Consulate in Nashville today, at 11 a.m. I'm told it will take about two months for the Japanese report to be processed, so I am hopeful that I will be heading down under some time in May!<br /><br />Please do pray that there will not be any unforeseen barricades to my move to Sydney.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">God's Timing</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">While this two year delay in moving to Australia has been difficult, I know that God's timing is alway perfect. In the two years since the pandemic closed world borders, God provided the opportunity for me to be involved in the Birmingham Missions Cohort, and then to expand that to Jackson as well. These ministries are designed to help Christians discern how God is calling them to be involved in the gospel mandate. And through my involvement, I've gained additional tools for my ministry in Sydney, which will be largely an equipping ministry, encouraging young Asian-Australians to go to the ends of the earth with the gospel of Jesus Christ.</span><br /><br />Another opportunity God gave me during the last two years: I purchased my first home and renovated the basement apartment for my own use during future furloughs (although it's currently a short-term rental in order to help me pay my mortgage).<br /><br />And most recently, God allowed me the opportunity to spend about six weeks in Iowa to help my mom through some medical issues, and then to sell her home, liquidate many of her things, and help her transition to an independent senior apartment.<br /><br />God's timing is always good!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=96ba49595a&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Tuesday, March 1</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">11 a.m. appointment at the Japanese Consulate in Nashville, TN</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div><hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Mid-May</strong></span><br />Anticipated move to Sydney, Australia!<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for His perfect timing, even when we don't always understand these perceived delays.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God </strong>for His provision during the last two years.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that my criminal background checks come through in quick order.</span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>that I will get an appropriate visa to live and serve in Australia.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the many things that need to be accomplished before leaving the country and transitioning into ministry in Sydney.</span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-19227003063748937202021-12-06T17:30:00.001-06:002021-12-06T17:30:24.321-06:00The Opening of Australia<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">The Opening of Australia</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">After 19 months of closing the nation to the outside world, Australia is now opening its borders! Having successfully reached an 80% vaccination rate, the government has opened its borders to Australians who have been stranded abroad, as well as to citizens of New Zealand and Singapore. It is expected that US citizens will soon be permitted to enter as well, perhaps within weeks. Meanwhile, the Omicron variation has slowed down the progress, but the government says they will not turn back.</span><br /><br />So what does this mean for my entry into Australia? While nothing is yet certain, my prospects look very encouraging; I am hopeful of being able to depart in just a few months!<br /><br />What lies ahead? My Australian immigration lawyer recommends entering with a tourist visa, as there will be such a backlog of applications for other visas. A tourist visa would require that I leave Australia every 90 days. That may mean quick trips to nearby New Zealand or Indonesia, but could also be productive for our team's "island to island" work with Presbyterian denominations in Vanuatu, Fiji, and Samoa. And while in Australia on a tourist visa, I will be able to apply for a more permanent visa as well.<br /><br />There are many questions, such as my ability to rent an apartment, buy a car, open a bank account, but it appears that these should all be possible.<br /><br />MTW will soon do a review of my support status. I've been hovering around 97% since March 2020. I've lost some support, and gained other support. But perhaps most critically, I have not been using much of my budget while in the States, so these unused funds have been accumulating and will be pro-rated across a four-year term.<br /><br />Please pray -- see "Prayer Points."<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 170, 170); display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Jackson Missions Cohort</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">From September through early November, I was blessed to lead the first term of the Jackson Missions Cohort (J-MC). This ministry's purpose is to help Christians discern their role in God's gospel mandate -- to go, or to send, but also how to be a witness of God's grace to the many internationals right living here among us.</span><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="13936516" height="187" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/0b40c030-11c8-bb32-d8e6-8771fe5eef82.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 170, 170); display: inline; height: 187px; line-height: 14px; margin: 15px 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br /></div><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Our cohort heard weekly from missionaries either on furlough or preparing to depart for the field -- how did they sense God's calling to overseas service? What is their ministry? How can we pray for them? We also heard from various speakers teaching on God's gospel mandate, the history of Christian missions, unreached people groups, life on the field, various means of ministry, etc. And we visited a local Hindu temple, learning from the priest about their beliefs and culture. Hearing about it is one thing, but when several families came into the temple and we witnessed their worship of idols and sacrifices of food, <br /><br />One of our cohort participants shared with me that driving home from J-MC each week was the highlight of his week as he was able to reflect on what God was doing around the world.<br /><br />Please pray for our J-MC participants -- see the "Prayer Points."<br /><img data-file-id="13936520" height="166" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/6bfaa248-9595-7e66-c754-6e8b3b929db7.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 170, 170); display: inline; height: 166px; line-height: 14px; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=07ad3ea9a6&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>that Australian borders are reopening! <strong>Pray</strong> that borders will soon reopen to American citizens.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for the many logistics of wrapping up work and personal commitments in the States.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for my financial support. If you would like to join my ministry team through financial support, please <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnering%20in%20Ministry" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">email me</a> or contact <a href="mailto:savannah.herrle@MTW.org?subject=Partnering%20with%20Brent%20Kooi" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Savannah Herrle</a> at MTW, or <a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries/details/brent-kooi" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">click here</a> to give a one-time contribution or arrange for recurring contributions.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> that God will bless the J-MC ministry -- that cohort participants will be responsive to God's call (wherever that may be) in his gospel mandate.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Culture Corner</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Covid has been very hard on Australia. Beginning in May 2020, the government completely shutdown travel from abroad, including many thousands of citizens who were overseas. Eventually limited numbers of Australians were allowed in each day, but not until this month were they all allowed to return home.</span><br /><br />Being an isolated island nation, the shutdown was initially very effective in minimizing the number of Covid cases. But cases made it in, and the Delta variant ran somewhat rampant and brought severe restrictions. Inter-state travel was banned, and eventually people were not allowed to travel outside of their "zone." There were no public gatherings, and people were restricted to their homes, with few exceptions for essential business.<br /><br />Pre-Covid, 21% of university students in Australia were international students. Add to this the loss of $33 billion from foreign tourists.<br /><br />Churches in Australia had a difficult time keeping up with policies that sometimes changed daily. No singing, limitations on occupancy based on the size of the space, and for lengthy periods of time no public gatherings of any kind were allowed.<br /><br />The City Sanctum ministry, which I'll be working with, has been shut down until life returns to a more normal state and there is sufficient leadership.<br /><br />Australians have been isolated and are hurting. But our God is sovereign; he uses difficult times to open hearts to himself. Please pray for the many gospel opportunities at home and around the world.</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-16202706572574441272021-08-16T20:27:00.001-05:002021-08-17T09:12:14.786-05:00<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Discerning the Call</span></span></h1><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">John Piper has said that there are three options for the Christian in response to Christ's gospel mandate: to go to the nations, to send those who go, or to disobey.<br /><br />It's been my joy, during this global pandemic, to help people discern their role in God's global mission. Having helped to facilitate the first MTW missions cohort in Birmingham this past Spring, we are on track to bring this ministry of discernment and equipping to Jackson in the Fall.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mtw.org/j-mc" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" data-file-id="13795552" height="259" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/_compresseds/0ca1a545-ebbd-029d-b663-e1492546fe75.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 259px; line-height: 14px; margin: 4px 0px 4px 4px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 200px;" width="200" /></a>Jackson Missions Cohort (J-MC -- "Jay-Mac") will engage as many as 15 participants, exposing them to a variety of missionaries and pastors talking about God's calling upon us, the opportunities to reach the nations both abroad and right here in Jackson, how to appropriately share the gospel across cultures, and what life is like for missionaries overseas. In addition to guest speakers and missionary panels, we anticipate visiting a local Hindu temple, and worshipping with an international church here in Jackson. Each participant will also be matched up with an experienced missionary mentor who will pray for them, listen to them, and speak into their lives as they seek how God is calling them to participate in his global mission.<br /><br />We are currently accepting applications to participate in J-MC; please pray that God will lead the right people to apply. Pray that they will discern their missional calling -- whether to go overseas, or to hold the rope for those who go, and how to be involved in the gospel mandate right here in Jackson.<br /><br />If you would like to apply for J-MC, or learn more about it, follow this link: <a href="http://www.mtw.org/j-mc" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">www.MTW.org/j-mc</a>.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Status of Ministry in Australia</span></span></h1><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">The Delta variant has hit eastern Australia hard -- by Australian standards. The country has enacted some of the strictest Covid restrictions in the world, and has comparatively very few cases. Yet they have had hundreds of new cases a day over the last few months.</span><br /><br />While the country had finally relaxed the restrictions a few months ago, they have returned to lockdown with the onset of the Delta variant.<br /><br />What does this mean for my plans to serve in Sydney? The only thing that is certain is that it won't be soon. The government is planning to keep their borders closed until 70-80% of their population is vaccinated; currently just 21% have been vaccinated. The government hopes to reach 80% by the end of this year. Speculation is that once the borders do open, it will be a gradual process, first allowing more of their own citizens to return before issuing visas to foreigners.<br /><br />My sense of calling to Australia has not wavered. God has provided meaningful and relevant work for me in the interim including work with the Birmingham and Jackson Missions Cohort ministries. While not what I intended to do this past year, these experiences have helped prepare me for the equipping ministry to which I feel called in Sydney.<br /><br />God's timing is always perfect. As long as he provides meaningful work for me which leads toward the ministry in Sydney, I will be patient and follow his leading. Please pray that I will be sensitive to God's leading, and obedient to his call.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=eee5210e30&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Jackson Missions Cohort</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">Application Deadline<br /> August 31<br /><br />Saturday Retreat<br /> September 11<br /><br />Regular weekly meetings<br /> Monday nights<br /> Sept. 13 - Nov. 15</span><br /> </div><hr /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Open House Celebration</strong></span><br /> Saturday, Sept. 4; 4-7 pm</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>November 16:<br />Birmingham Missions Cohort</strong></span><br /><br />I've been invited to speak to the B-MC group on "Vocation & Calling."<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Pray for J-MC:</strong></span><ul><li><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">Final planning work</span></li><li><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">People led to apply</span></li><li><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">Participants will be sensitive and obedient to God's calling</span></li></ul><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Pray</strong> for Australian borders to be opened sooner than later, and that my visa application will be quickly approved.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>House Update</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">My basement apartment remodel is finished! The apartment is mostly furnished and equipped. Once smoke alarms and window blinds arrive and are installed, I'll be able to list the apartment on the AirBNB website and start to benefit from this investment.</span><br /><br />I will be hosting an open house celebration on Saturday, September 2 from 4 to 7 pm. Anyone in the area is welcome to stop by to help celebrate God's provision of this home. This is NOT a housewarming, so gifts are not appropriate. Rather, just come, see the apartment, and enjoy some hors d'oeuvres and fellowship. If you would like to stop by, please <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Open%20House" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">email me for my address</a>.<br /><img align="left" data-file-id="13795656" height="120" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/06da389d-4ca3-bc89-5f66-1af6bde804b6.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline; height: 120px; line-height: 12px; margin: 4px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div><div style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">THANK YOU for your prayers and faithful partnership in the gospel!</span></strong></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-47566297180006388792021-05-25T11:57:00.001-05:002021-05-25T11:58:54.035-05:00Jackson Missions Cohort<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Jackson Missions Cohort</span></span></h1><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">If you've been following my ministry updates, you know the focus of my ministry in Sydney will be mentoring young Asian-Australians toward gospel work both in Sydney and throughout Asia-Pacific. But of course my move to Australia has been delayed by the pandemic.<br /><br />But God's timing and providence are always good, and he has been preparing me for that ministry during even during a global pandemic. Last Fall, I joined the Birmingham Missions Cohort (B-MC) committee, helping to plan and facilitate an equipping ministry for ten weeks (February-May). Participants met twice each week and learned about missions, met with missionaries, heard from many speakers, and participated in several local and regional excursions with internationals and refugees. B-MC has strengthened my sense of calling to Sydney, and increased my ministry toolbox for the work to which God is calling me there.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="13736684" height="191" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/97c702e0-39cc-9a6c-44ae-f2e8dacda183.jpeg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 191px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><strong><span style="color: firebrick;"><em><span style="font-size: 12px;">B-MC participants & committee members</span></em></span></strong><br /><br />As Australia's borders remain virtually sealed (see "Australia Status" below, as well as the news link at the bottom of the sidebar), I am planning to bring the missions cohort program to Jackson this Fall. On June 1, I am hosting an informational meeting for representatives from the Jackson metro PCA churches with the purpose of assembling a committee to develop and facilitate a Jackson Missions Cohort. As we are able to use and build upon the Birmingham program, most of our work is already done.<br /><br />Please pray for the June 1 meeting. And pray for J-MC to be a success in equipping future missionaries, as this is one of the ultimate goals of the ministry.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Australia Status</span></span></h1><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">Australia is one of the most geographically isolated nations on earth. When Covid first struck, they quickly closed their borders and enacted a strict social shutdown. Although some 900 Aussies have died from Covid, they've been able to essentially eliminate the virus within their borders. When a case does pop up, the region is quickly shutdown, keeping their Covid cases nearly nonexistent.</span><br /><br />Australia currently has very limited access to Covid vaccines, and the rollout of what they have has been very slow; 30% of Aussies do not intend to get the vaccination, and many of the other 70% are in no hurry to do so because of the success their shutdown has had. But until the majority of Aussies have been vaccinated, their borders will not re-open.<br /><br />My immigration lawyer is now saying he doesn't anticipate the borders opening until at least December; the government is talking about mid-2022, but businesses, universities, and others are pressuring them to open up more quickly.<br /><br />This leaves me and many others like me in the lurch, with no end in sight. While that can be discouraging, I'm thankful that God has provided meaningful work for me in the States -- both work on my house renovation and ministry work (see article above).<br /><br />I'm also extremely thankful for so many of my financial supporters who have continued to faithfully give. As a supported missionary, I'm always conscious of the fact my salary comes from friends who are trusting that I am being faithful in my calling, making good use of their contributions. Being "stranded" in the States has greatly intensified my fears in that regard.<br /><br />I can tell you, regarding the contributions toward my ministry, that I am living well below my budget while in the States. This means that the unused funds are accumulating and thereby decreasing the amount of money I need to raise. In fact, although I have actual pledges for 88% of my budget, accumulated funds, once prorated over the course of a four year term in Australia, brings me to 99%. As I will likely go over 100%, those additional funds will decrease the amount of support I need to raise in the future.<br /><br />So again, THANK YOU to all those of you who continue to give toward my ministry in Australia. Your faithfulness is a huge encouragement to me. And THANK YOU also to all those who lift me up in prayer; funds may get me physically to the field, but prayer sustains me and the ministry.</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=e38b9b6210&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Tuesday, June 1</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif">J-MC informational lunch meeting with potential committee members from Jackson area PCAs. (If you are local and would like to attend, please <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=J-MC%20Informational%20Lunch%20Meeting" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">email me</a> for more information.)</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>June 28-July2</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif">PCA General Assembly in St. Louis, MO.</span><br /> </div></div><hr /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Fall 2021</strong></span><br />Jackson Missions Cohort ministry (exact dates and duration to be determined).<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Praise God </strong><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif">for a successful B-MC! Six young adults met two nights per week for ten weeks. We had a wonderful time on the last night hearing how God has worked through B-MC. Some of the participants are taking next steps in exploring missions as a possible career! All of them have been challenged to see the opportunities for involvement in missions among the internationals living among us in our own cities.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Pray </strong><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif">for J-MC. Pray for the info meeting next week, for the formation of a committee, and for many eager participants whose love for the lost will grow and whose support of missions or sense of calling to missions will blossom.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Pray </strong><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif">for Australia. Pray that the borders will open sooner than expected. Pray for the ministries that are struggling to meet the needs of people during hard times and with limited staff. Pray for the seeds of the gospel that are currently being sown.</span><br /><br /><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Pray </strong><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif">for me. Pray that God will continue to encourage me during this time of uncertainty. Pray that God will continue to provide meaningful ministry opportunities right here in Jackson, MS until such time as I'm able to depart for Australia.</span><br /><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Praise God </strong>for providing the funds for my ministry, both while here in the States as well as in Australia.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God </strong>for the way in which he is using B-MC and J-MC to prepare me for ministry in Australia.</span><br /><br /><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br /><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Ministry Overview</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><span face="arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif"><img align="right" data-file-id="12642903" height="56" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 56px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 2px 5px; outline: none; width: 80px;" width="80" />Click here to watch a video presentation about the work to which God has called me in Australia.</span><br /><br /><span face="arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br />Click below for an Australian news article about the border situation.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/18/scott-morrison-fends-off-calls-to-reopen-border-as-medical-association-urges-plan-for-2022?fbclid=IwAR11fwsyKlPP5_D2sxf2wDLoqT5XcNC5fHSb4Igt5W9yYJPPZ0IupUT-OeQ" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;"><img data-file-id="13737052" height="81" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/af4b1a87-0d10-09fb-52b5-9ff74d13406e.jpeg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 81px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 156px;" width="156" /></a><br /></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-44920413444053880582021-04-17T17:26:00.001-05:002021-04-17T17:26:54.819-05:00Birmingham Missions Cohort<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Birmingham Missions Cohort</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As I've been "stranded" in the States due to the pandemic, one way in which I've been able to be involved in missions is through the <a href="http://b-mc.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Birmingham Missions Cohort</a>. "B-MC" ("Bee-Mac") "is an intentional community seeking to train and mentor young professionals to use their gifts in God's global mission." Seven young adults were accepted into this first Cohort, and have been meeting twice per week since the end of January. Various missionaries have been visiting with the group, while others have been teaching on various missions topics.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="13691528" height="190" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/b9d6fdaa-e67d-43ba-8e6e-d51ad6ced4e5.jpg" style="border: 3px solid rgb(175, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 190px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 338px;" width="338" /></span><br /><em style="color: #990000; font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Dr. Richard Pratt speaking (via Zoom) to the B-MC on "The Mission of God" </em><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As announced in my November newsletter, my initial intention was to move temporarily to Birmingham and get involved in a local international ministry in order to then involve our cohort members. However, due to Covid, that was no longer a legitimate option. Additionally, I deemed it good stewardship to finish my basement apartment renovation sooner rather than later in order to start getting a return on my investment. So, rather than moving to Birmingham, I have been commuting to Birmingham once each week, helping to lead Thursday night meetings, then returning to Jackson on Fridays. I've also been meeting regularly with one of the B-MC participants as his missionary mentor.<br /><br />This current week, I have stayed in Birmingham for the weekend in order to lead a couple of international activities. On Sunday morning, our group will visit the local Hindu temple in order to learn more about this false religion and the Indian culture. Then we will worship together at the <a href="https://briarwood.org/missions/local-internationals/hispanic-congregation/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Briarwood Hispanic ministry</a>, exposing the participants to a fully Spanish worship service.<br /><br />Next week Saturday we will travel three hours to Clarkston, Georgia, just outside Atlanta, home to a significant international refugee community, largely Muslim. We will learn about ministry opportunities to internationals right here in the States.<br /><br />One of our goals for B-MC is for each of the participants to be more involved in cross-cultural ministry locally, but we have also been praying for three participants to become long-term overseas missionaries. Additionally, we have been praying that this new MTW ministry will be replicated in other cities to further equip young professionals for ministry. Please join us in this prayer.</span><div style="line-height: 21px;"> </div><div style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>for the B-MC participants, and that each of them will be faithful to the great commission, whether that be overseas or here in the States.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for B-MC to be replicated in other cities to increase the call to foreign missions.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that God will allow for the reopening of the Australian borders and that I will be able to begin my ministry in Sydney in July 2021.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that God will soon provide the required financial support that will allow me to equip young adults in Australia to serve as missionaries throughout Asia-Pacific.</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_2" mchideable="hideable_2"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><br /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=c230aa5faf&e=8839c80f37" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Australian Borders</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">With the continuing pandemic, the opening of Australia's borders is still not known. The most recent prediction from my immigration lawyer is July, but that is by no means a certainty. Please pray toward that end.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Support Status</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">THANK YOU to all those who have faithfully partnered with me through funding the work to which God has called me. Especially during these uncertain times, when I'm unable to serve in Australia, I appreciate your partnership.<br /><br />My current support level is at 97%. An additional $288 in monthly pledges is needed before I can be cleared for departure. If you would like join me in equipping young adults to reach Asia for Christ, you can either:</span></div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnering%20in%20the%20Gospel" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email me with your pledge</a>, or</li><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Give online</a>.</span></li></ul><div style="line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>House Update</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As you may know, I bought a house in September and have been renovating the one-bedroom basement apartment since then. I will occupy the apartment when in the States, and will be able to rent both it (during my time overseas) and the main floor as short-term rentals. Work is finally nearing an end, as I will soon be installing flooring and other finishing touches.<br /><br />I am thankful that God provided such an ideal home, as it has provided meaningful work during this interim period, and will provide additional income once I am able to list it for short-term rental. It will also provide an ideal location for my own local ministry and hospitality while in the States.</span><br /> </div><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Ministry Overview</strong></span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" data-file-id="12642903" height="56" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 56px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 80px;" width="80" /></a>Click here for a video presentation on the ministry to which God has called me in Sydney.</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-39521038182488653862021-01-19T10:25:00.001-06:002021-01-19T10:25:49.057-06:00Borders Opening?<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Borders Opening?</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">When the world shut down about ten months ago, my Australian immigration lawyer predicted Australia would not open up its borders until at least the beginning of 2021. He is now optimistic that he can get me a visa and permission to enter in July. I'm excited that there appears to be a glimmer of light at the end of this Covid tunnel.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="13365812" height="550" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e06ba9ab-6476-444e-9d50-4c8aec342b7e.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 550px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 50px;" width="50" /></span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Support Raising Update</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I can depart for Australia, I need an additional $500 in monthly pledges. My support level has fluctuated over the last year, and I will lose one church which is disbanding at the end of this month, leaving me at 94% of my needed pledged support.<br /><br />I currently have thirteen churches and sixty-three private individuals partnering with me at various levels. Would you consider partnering with me as well? Here's how you can make a pledge:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Missionary%20Partnership" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email me</a> with your pledge, including amount and frequency (monthly, quarterly, or annual).</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:savannah.herrle@MTW.org?subject=Missionary%20Partnership%20w%2F%20Brent%20Kooi" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email Savannah at MTW</a>, including amount and frequency as stated above.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">MTW Website</a>: You can make a contribution and indicate that it will be recurring. You can also arrange for automatic debits from a bank account or credit card if you prefer.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your consideration!<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">House Update</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Since moving into my house in September, I've been busy renovating the basement apartment. I recently finished kitchen cabinets, most walls and ceilings are prepped for paint, and I'm beginning to build a new shower and the bathroom vanity. I hope to have the apartment finished by mid-February before the Birmingham Missions Cohort starts. I'm very thankful for God allowing me this project to remain productive while waiting for the Australian borders to open.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><br /> <h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Equipping to the Ends of the Earth</span></span></h1><span style="font-size: 21px;"></span><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://youtu.be/zIx0s0J3BHU" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;"><img align="right" data-file-id="12642903" height="85" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 85px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 120px;" width="120" /></a>Click here for a video presentation on the ministry to which God has called me in Sydney.</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=5de8b0422f&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 19-20</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mtw.org/the-mtw-virtual-missions-conference" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">MTW Virtual Missions Conference</a><br />I don't know how it will all work, but there will be various missionary speakers, and even an opportunity to visit with individual missionaries (including me) online. Everyone is welcome -- you don't have to be a PCA church member! <a href="https://mtw.org/the-mtw-virtual-missions-conference" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Register online</a>.<br /> </span></div><hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 22 - May 6</strong></span><br /><a href="https://www.mtw.org/bmc" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Birmingham Missions Cohort</a>. (See the <a href="https://us4.admin.mailchimp.com/campaigns/show?id=8784264" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">November newsletter</a> if you missed the article about this exciting new ministry.) Despite Covid, we are moving forward, hopeful that in-person meetings will be possible.</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 26-28</strong></span><br />Redeemer PCA Missions Conference; Jackson, MS</span><br /> <hr /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>July</strong></span><br />Departure goal for Sydney<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for reason for optimism about a July departure!<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that God will supply the final 6% of support needed for departure by July.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for the Birmingham Missions Cohort -- for 12 participants, for engaging and effective training and mentoring relationships, and that the cause of the gospel would be benefitted with additional missionaries and senders of missionaries.</span></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-65228148647471408742020-11-12T23:31:00.000-06:002020-11-12T23:31:44.726-06:00Birmingham Mission Cohort<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Birmingham Mission Cohort</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm pleased to announce that I have begun working with a new MTW ministry in Birmingham, Alabama. The <a href="http://b-mc.org/" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Birmingham Mission Cohort</a> (B-MC, pronounced "B-Mac") is the result of seven others in Birmingham (missionaries, pastors, etc.) who have been dreaming and meeting since September to develop a mentored mission-training program for young professionals.</span><br /><br />The plan, as I understand it, is for a ten-week program to run February 22 - May 6. Twelve young professionals will meet twice each week for missions training, as well as meeting regularly with an experienced missionary/mentor. The group will also be exposed to several international ministries in Birmingham (with internationals living there). We are praying for at least three of the twelve participants to eventually serve as foreign missionaries.<br /><br />I've been invited to join the committee and to head up the international missions component, as well as perhaps do some teaching, and mentor one (or more) of the young men. I'll be meeting regularly with the committee via Zoom, but will need to move temporarily to Birmingham, likely in January, to be more fully involved in the program and with whatever international ministry I may be able to serve.<br /><br />Although the B-MC committee desires to see this ministry become a regular event, this is an interim ministry for me as I wait for God to open the doors to Australia. And as there are many similarities to the equipping ministry in Australia, the B-MC should also prove beneficial in preparing me for the work in Sydney.<div style="line-height: 21px;"> </div><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #990000;"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px;">Please feel free to share this<br />information with any young<br />professionals you may know<br />in the Birmingham area!</span></strong></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Missionary House Update</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been two months since I moved into my new old house in Jackson, MS. It certainly has kept me productive! Here's an overview of what has been accomplished in the basement apartment:</span><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Gutted the bathroom & kitchen areas.</span></li><li>Removed ceiling from the combined living-dining-kitchen area.</li><li>Built a laundry room.</li><li>Built wall cabinetry for the bedroom.</li><li>Hired a plumber and electrician for their expertise.</li><li>Built a bed platform, with nightstands and headboard.</li></ul>That doesn't look like a very long list to me! But it, and many other details, have kept me very busy.<br /><br />With my temporary move to Birmingham in January, the need to finish the basement and to secure a renter is amplified. My desire is to give priority to missionaries, so spread the word if you can!</div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="https://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=ba131cd3b5&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for providing such an appropriate ministry opportunity for me while waiting for God to open world borders!<br /><br /><strong>Pray for</strong> the preparation work of the B-MC.<br /><br /><strong>Pray for</strong> twelve teachable young professionals to apply for the program.<br /><br /><strong>Pray for</strong> an appropriate international ministry for me to join while in Birmingham.<br /><br /><strong>Pray that</strong> the B-MC will help prepare at least three participants for long-term missionary service.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray that</strong> the B-MC will help prepare me for long-term ministry in Australia.<br /><br /><strong>Pray that </strong>I will be able to get my basement apartment fully renovated by the end of the year, and then get renters for both the basement and main floor before I leave for Birmingham in January.<br /><br /><strong>Pray for </strong>appropriate temporary housing in Birmingham.<br /><br /><strong>Pray for </strong>missionaries around the world, including my own teammates in Sydney, who are stranded (some in their home countries, and others unable to return to their home countries), and are struggling to be faithful missionaries of the gospel during such difficult circumstances.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God</strong> that my household effects arrived in Jackson from Osaka yesterday! It's wonderful to have furniture, books, and kitchen supplies again!<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><span style="color: #990000;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your faithful prayers and/or financial partnership in the work of the gospel during such unusual and difficult times.</span></span></span></div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-14815472705735985542020-09-16T21:22:00.000-05:002020-09-16T21:22:25.553-05:00<div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The Gift of Time; an Investment in Future Ministry</span></div><div><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateHeader" style="background-color: #222222; border-bottom: 0px; width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td class="headerContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #404040; font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 9px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 9px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c96a4d26-41e0-4192-a2c7-c596702b81d5.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; line-height: 9px; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" /></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateBody" style="width: 600px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Missionary House Project</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in my new (old) house! Closing on the house took more than a month (bad news) because interest rates are so low right now (good news) so the mortgage companies are all slammed with new loans or refinancing of loans. But the important thing is that God has provided a home!<br /><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="13169196" height="180" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/_compresseds/8f93b763-b525-4a46-b157-6bafbd52e00d.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 180px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 5px 0px 0px; outline: none; width: 240px;" width="240" />A little background for those who are wondering what happened. <span style="color: firebrick;"><strong>I am still planning to serve with MTW in Australia</strong></span>, but it will likely be another year before they open their borders. For several years, I've been thinking about buying a home for investment purposes, a place to live while on furlough, and a source of additional income by renting it to other missionaries or AirBNB guests. Through COVID-19, God has given me the gift of time, and through this house I have the gift of purposeful work, as I do most of the renovations myself.<br /><br />The house is in the historic Belhaven neighborhood of Jackson, MS, just one block from the university where I worked for nine years before moving to Japan. The main floor has three bedrooms and two baths, plus there is a one-bedroom apartment in the walk-out basement. The apartment is not currently habitable, so I am living on the main floor and will be remodeling the basement first. When that is finished, I will start renting it out to help pay for the work needed on the main floor. As I plan to do the vast majority of the work myself, it will likely be a long process. But God has provided plenty of time!<br /><br />I am feeling very blessed with this house. It is in a popular neighborhood (very much in demand in the AirBNB market), and is only a few blocks from First Presbyterian Church, so an attractive location to missionaries as well. With the income from the two units, I should have more than enough to cover my monthly mortgage and utility bills. Of course I will need to hire someone to manage the house in my absence. But I look forward to getting a little experience doing that myself before my departure.<br /><br />I appreciate your prayers as I work to make this house into a home that will be a blessing to many missionary families, as well as an investment that can pay my bills and provide for my future needs.<br /><br />If you want to follow my renovation adventures, I'm sure I'll be posting many pictures on Facebook!<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">A Man's Best Friend</span></span></h1><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="13169212" height="193" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/fea2903c-d5f4-4fe8-b2af-e181ce35437e.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 193px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; width: 150px;" width="150" />Now that I'm living in a house of my own, I adopted a senior dog just yesterday. Maggie (Magnolia) is a ten-year old pit bull who has lived almost all of her life in a shelter, meaning that she is institutionalized, much like a prisoner. She's very timid, and would probably love nothing more than to return to the kennel she knows all too well. I'm told it may take a couple of months for her to adjust to "life on the outside," but that she will then be my best friend. As I'll be working from home for the next year, it will be good to have a companion!</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td id="templateSidebar" style="background-color: #aaaaaa; border-collapse: collapse; border-left: 0px;" valign="top" width="200"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 200px;"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebarContent" style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-left: 20px; padding-right: 20px; padding-top: 20px;" valign="top"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_1" mchideable="hideable_1"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-facebook-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div></td></tr><tr mc:hideable="hideable_3" mchideable="hideable_3"><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle" width="24"><img src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/icons/social-block/color-forwardtofriend-128.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto !important; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px !important; outline: none;" width="24" /></td><td align="left" style="border-collapse: collapse; padding-bottom: 5px;" valign="middle"><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=8515bd6694&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table border="0" cellpadding="20" cellspacing="0" style="width: 100%px;"><tbody><tr mc:hideable="hideable_repeat_1_1" mc:repeatable="repeat_1" mc:repeatindex="0" mchideable="hideable_repeat_1_1"><td style="border-collapse: collapse;" valign="top"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/ff5d66a0-6af7-428e-9273-b2f8f1fb8789.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; max-width: 160px; outline: none; padding: 0px;" width="160" /><div style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial, "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for providing an appropriate house, a great interest rate, and purposeful work during COVID that will be a blessing to many other people.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>that God will bless my efforts in renovating and furnishing this home, that he will keep me safe, and provide the resources -- financial and people -- to accomplish this task. <br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for my MTW team in Sydney as they strive to continue ministry in a nation where there are strict social distancing laws. <a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a> is now only an online ministry. <a href="https://www.harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a> is now meeting in groups of about 20 at various homes for online worship. The church leadership is also looking for a new place to worship once they are able to meet again. The place where they previously rented is no longer an option.<br /><br /><strong>Pray </strong>for our world. Pandemic, injustice, persecution, racial tensions....<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Facebook Group</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I try to send out these email updates about once per month. I don't want to fill your inboxes with too much mail!</span><br /><br />If you are on Facebook and are interested in more frequent, shorter updates and photos, click the link below to join my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Facebook group</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /> <br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>THANK YOU!</strong></span></span><br /><br />I want to thank all of my financial ministry partners for your faithful and sacrificial giving. It's difficult to express what that means to me -- to have your partnership in the gospel. Especially right now, as I am not able to be in Australia doing the work that was planned, I appreciate your faithful partnership which makes it possible for me to have the time to renovate a home for future ministry in this neighborhood and to many missionary families who will live in this home.</div></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div>Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-90879684230902071442020-07-09T20:31:00.002-05:002020-07-09T21:23:07.592-05:00A Pandemic Opportunity<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><strong>House-Hunter Mississippi</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been 3-½ months since I returned to the States from Japan (a planned three-week stopover on my way to Australia). Perhaps like many of you, I thought this COVID situation would clear up within a few months. It obviously isn't doing that. I was working with an immigration lawyer in Sydney to apply for my Australian visa; he speculates that the border likely won't open before 2021.<br /><br />I have not had much to do during this pandemic:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm on an MTW committee to revamp our training of new missionaries;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I take care of my mom's yard and get groceries so she can stay isolated;</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="13065492" height="150" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c6ae02d9-cd55-42e6-812f-4e01e0bdd029.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(34, 34, 34); display: inline; height: 150px; line-height: 14px; margin: 2px 0px 2px 2px; outline: none; width: 150px;" width="150" />I painted two large cityscapes (Osaka & Sydney) that I plan to hang in my Sydney apartment once this is all over.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">But that leaves a lot of extra time. God created mankind to work. What can I do to be productive for an unknown period of time?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">For several years I have thought about buying a house for my own use as well as other missionaries while on furloughs. Finding appropriate housing is difficult for missionaries as we need something that is fully furnished so that we don't need to purchase all these things for just 6-12 months! In addition to being an affordable blessing to many missionaries, my house could be rented as an AirBNB when not needed by missionaries, generating a little additional income for me as well. Ideally, I would like a house with a separate mother-in-law suite -- two separate units. I could live in one and rent out the other, or rent out both when I'm overseas.<br /><br /><span style="color: firebrick;"><em><strong>I am still committed to serving with MTW in Sydney. I've talked about this house idea with my Sydney team leader, as well as others from MTW and my own church, and have been encouraged to pursue it as I wait for Australia to re-open.</strong></em></span><br /><br />This period of waiting for the world to change may be just the opportunity I need to find a house, make any necessary renovations, set it up, etc. I've got the time! And so I've been looking online for an appropriate house and talking with a former student of mine who is now a realtor in Jackson, MS.<br /><br />I will be driving to Mississippi on Monday and Tuesday of next week (July 13-14), and have an appointment to see two houses the next day. I appreciate your prayers for this huge endeavor (see specific prayer requests under "Prayer Points").<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="13065528" height="280" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/17180bbc-13bb-4290-8e73-6b98f4b40eac.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 280px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 24px;" width="24" /></span><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Support Update</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">God has provided for 96% of my support, meaning that I still need an additional $325 in monthly pledges. If you would like join my ministry team, you can do so in one of several ways:</span><ul>
<li><a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Online giving</a> (one-time or recurring)</li>
<li><a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnering%20in%20Ministry" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email me</a> with your pledge amount</li>
<li><a href="mailto:savannah.herrle@MTW.org?subject=Partnering%20in%20Ministry%20with%20Brent%20Kooi" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email Savannah</a> at MTW with your pledge amount</li>
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Thank you for your prayerful consideration!<br /><br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="12899760" height="101" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/23b7322e-fba8-48d8-b546-54306b5cb7f6.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 101px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>July 13-14</strong></span><br />Traveling from Iowa to Mississippi<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong> for the COVID-19 situation to be resolved. Just as so many people are out of work, so many missionaries are stranded in their home countries and unable to get back to the work to which God has called us.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong> for the City Sanctum ministry in Sydney which I'll be leading upon my arrival. They have not had a leader dedicated to leading this ministry since their inception several years ago. The pandemic has brought even more strain, although they have been meeting on Zoom. Please pray for the MTW staff who are giving all they can to City Sanctum, and for the member leaders as well, that they will all persevere until I can hopefully bring the needed leadership.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong> that God will lead me in either finding an appropriate house, or in showing that it is not his will at this time. </span>If a house is in God's will<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Pray that I'll find a house that is a good deal, well-built, and would be safe and comfortable for missionary families and attractive to AirBNB guests.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll need a house loan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiring a contractor, perhaps an architect.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Hiring someone to manage the house in my absence.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">So many things I may not have even yet considered.</span></li>
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Video Presentation</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">For more information about the work to which God has called me in Sydney, click on the link below to view a video presentation from last Fall.<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/zIx0s0J3BHU" target="_blank"><img align="center" data-file-id="12642903" height="113" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 113px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></a></span></div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-55772734898576597892020-06-16T22:18:00.001-05:002020-06-16T22:18:13.229-05:00<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Finding Hope in Turmoil</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Life is hard. Years ago, "2020" sounded like a magical time; it certainly hasn't lived up to our expectations. In the USA alone, there has been 2,138,883 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 117,464 deaths. Racial violence has again reared its ugly head. Political vitriol has intensified (it's hard to know whether it is the chicken or the egg).<br /><br />Social media is just depressing; I want to disengage from it and from all news media -- to isolate in my own little bubble. My friends of color don't have the luxury of tuning out the evil; why should I? We need to be socially aware and take responsibility in our actions and our voting.<br /><br />How do we find balance in all of this? It can be overwhelming.<br /><br />As I write this, I am listening to my newest iTunes song, "<a href="https://youtu.be/Zp6aygmvzM4" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Blessing</a>," on repeat. The lyrics are well-known to Christians, as we often hear the words at the conclusion of worship services ("the Lord bless you and keep you"). Familiar as the lyrics are, I really love the arrangement, and find comfort in the message.<br /><br />This world is hard. We shouldn't be surprised by injustice, hatred, sickness, death. God's word tells us to expect these things. It also tells us to weep with those who hurt, and to seek justice for the oppressed. We are called to pray, "to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [our] God" (Micah 6:8).<br /><br />In John 16:33, Jesus says "In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." The trials of this world are hard, but they are not forever. And evil does not win; God has already secured the victory!<br /><br />There is great comfort in the gospel, and our calling to share that comfort remains. Our world is desperate for the hope that only Jesus Christ can give. And while protests and legislation might change men's behavior, or at least bring earthly justice, only our God can change the hearts of men and bring real change, and lasting peace.<br /><br /><a href="https://youtu.be/Zp6aygmvzM4" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;"><img align="right" data-file-id="13021604" height="84" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/8de7adc9-bc74-4a76-bc24-78b91eb9230e.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 84px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 2px 2px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 150px;" width="150" /></a>If you're in need of some of that comfort, check out "<a href="https://youtu.be/Zp6aygmvzM4" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Blessing</a>." I pray it will bring some healing to your soul.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 22px;">Video Resources</span></span><br /><br /><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" data-file-id="12642903" height="70" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 70px; line-height: 14px; margin: 2px 0px 2px 2px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 100px;" width="100" /></a>SYDNEY MINISTRY: Want to learn more about the work to which God has called me in Sydney, Australia? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Click the video link here!</a> The first part is especially for kids, but is educational for everyone as well!<br /><br />VBS MISSIONARY VIDEOS: The MTW West Coast Hub office invited missionaries to submit videos for a Virtual VBS series. There are five videos <a href="https://mtw.org/west-coast-vbs?fbclid=IwAR2RWzfHEMsNqt_vV8FaaoY458sAOT2uguPw8K7qtezW0A2O_E5qjiqS-6w" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="left" data-file-id="13021880" height="66" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/4a4749b0-e3dd-455e-a734-2ea72c1e9824.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 66px; line-height: 14px; margin: 2px 5px 2px 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 100px;" width="100" /></a>from missionaries, including my own, and five from church leaders, all about missions, and all geared toward kids. (As I've not yet lived or served in Australia, my video is about Japan.) <a href="https://mtw.org/west-coast-vbs?fbclid=IwAR2RWzfHEMsNqt_vV8FaaoY458sAOT2uguPw8K7qtezW0A2O_E5qjiqS-6w" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Click here to see all ten!</a><br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="13021720" height="291" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/2740a97c-c3da-4d39-b20b-62e9a9e42939.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 291px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><div style="line-height: 21px; text-align: center;">
<br /><strong><em><span style="color: firebrick;">THANK YOU for your continued prayers and partnership in the gospel. Please let me know how I can lift you up in prayer as well!</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>My Status</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no word on when the Australian borders will open, or when they will start issuing visas. A Google search shows they have had 7,320 confirmed cases of COVID-19. 6,838 people have recovered, and 102 have died. That means there are currently 380 current cases.<br /><br />Because Australia is such a huge country with such a small population, and the cities are so far from each other, the spread of disease is hindered. MTW missionaries in Perth, in far Western Australia, have told me there are very few cases there. But that does not mean they are eager to open their borders, as that could bring in more cases.</span><br /><br />Financially, I am at 96% of my required support, needing an additional $345 in monthly pledges. However, because I am not using much of my budget (I'm in the States, living with my mother, etc.), the funds I am not using are accumulating and will be divided by 48 months (a four year term), meaning that my need will go down. When MTW is able to give me a potential departure date, based on the Australian borders, I will need to raise any additional needed funds, and should be able to depart quite quickly.<br /><br />If God has prompted you to join my team, you can make a pledge (or one-time contribution) <a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ONLINE</a>, or you can email your pledge to <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnering%20in%20the%20gospel" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Brent Kooi</a> or <a href="mailto:brooke.boerner@MTW.org?subject=Partnering%20with%20Brent%20Kooi" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Brooke Boerner</a> at MTW.<br /> </div>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray </strong>for God's grace to be shown in our country and our world in the midst of the pandemic and racial tensions.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for missionaries around the world who are dealing with travel restrictions, some unable to leave for the field, and others unable to return to their home countries. Pray for the continuing ministry of their ministries, including new challenges such as lack of income and food in many places.</span><br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for my nephew-in-law, Cody, who was diagnosed a few days ago with COVID-19. He has a wife, Naomi, and three young children.<br /><br /><strong>Praise God </strong>for bringing my mom through a recent bout of shingles. She experiences occasional pain, but it is much better than two weeks ago.</div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-87406471001246342002020-04-22T00:46:00.001-05:002020-04-22T00:46:37.069-05:00<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">God is at Work</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go askew" (Robert Burns).</em><br /><br />Remember when life seemed so predictable? We get into a routine and we think we can make plans for the future. We've got financial planners, party planners, electronic planners with multiple reminders. And yet one small incident can change everything -- for the whole world!<br /><br />A month ago, despite a good many unknowns, I thought my future was fairly certain. I had a one-way ticket to Japan. I planned to spend three weeks there for a wedding and to ship or liquidate my storage room in Osaka. Then, pending a little more support, I hoped to be in Sydney by April 6.<br /><br />What did YOU have planned? Normal work? School? Spring break? A wedding or other special times with family and friends? Probably none of us expected to be home 24/7; to not be attending church for 6-plus weeks; to homeschool our kids; to wear masks when we leave our homes.<br /><br />This pandemic is a big deal. Businesses are closed; some of them will not reopen. The world economy has been badly shaken; it will take years to recover. We are missing family celebrations of marriages, graduations, funerals. To date, COVID-19 has claimed 42,486 lives in the USA, and 169,794 worldwide. It is a big deal.<br /><br />And yet God is bigger. There is great comfort for the Christian in knowing that God is still sovereign. The COVID-19 pandemic didn't surprise him, nor has it foiled his plans! He is working through it.<br /><br />But what is he doing? Perhaps many of us can speak of small ways in which we see God working. But only time will tell how God is weaving together all of time and circumstances for his glory and our good. We can speculate . . . . I learned recently that following the Spanish flu pandemic 100 years ago, there was a surge in the number of missionaries going overseas! Over the last couple of years, MTW has been challenging PCA churches to pray and work toward sending 1% of their members overseas.* While we would never desire a worldwide pandemic, wouldn't it be wonderful if something so good came out of something so awful?<br /><br />Proverbs 16:9 says "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." While we don't know how God will work, we can rest in the assurance that he is working. He uses even the worst of circumstances in accomplishing his ultimate and perfect plan.</span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">_____________________</span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 21px;">
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><span style="font-size: 12px;">* MTW missionaries currently account for 0.25% of PCA members. However there are many PCA missionaries in other organizations as well. Yet we are praying for 1% of our membership to serve overseas, whether they join MTW or other Christian missionary organizations. Please join us in prayer for this goal to send more missionaries out into the world!</span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Praying for YOU</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">How can I pray for you? Many people partner with me through prayer and through financial giving. But for this to really be a partnership, I want to know how to pray for you right now.<br /><br />Please reply to this email. Tell me how you and your family are doing. Do you or your family or loved ones have COVID-19? Have you lost family or friends to COVID-19? How has the pandemic impacted your work? But also, how are you seeing God working right now?<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /><br /><img data-file-id="12899508" height="212" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/cbd5923e-b855-4f09-b759-6ba79b9210ba.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 212px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13px;"><em>Zoom video meeting with City Sanctum ministry in Sydney</em></span><br /><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="12899760" height="101" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/23b7322e-fba8-48d8-b546-54306b5cb7f6.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 101px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></div>
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<br /><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">My Status</strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">MTW called me back from Japan after just one week. I was able to participate in my friends' wedding. I was able to have a shipping company remove my things from storage (it is being held in Osaka until I have an arrival date for Sydney). I returned to Iowa on March 25, spending two weeks in isolation. I'm now living with my mom, waiting out this pandemic.<br /><br />I am in need of an additional $388 in monthly pledges before I can officially depart for Sydney. Will some of my supporters have to cut back their giving? How do I ask for support right now? Perhaps that is a lack of faith on my part in God's ability to provide. I know that ultimately the finances are all in God's hands.<br /><br />While I can't do most of the things I would normally do to raise my support, there are a few other things to occupy some of my time. I'm on an MTW committee revising the way that new missionaries will be trained and on-boarded. I also started participating in City Sanctum (my primary ministry in Sydney) meetings via Zoom.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /><a href="https://youtu.be/zIx0s0J3BHU" target="_blank"><img data-file-id="12642903" height="110" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 110px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 156px;" width="156" /></a></div>
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<em>Video presentation of the work I'll be doing in Sydney.</em><br /> </div>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course <strong>pray regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.</strong> Pray for effective treatment and a vaccination. But even more than that, pray that God will use even an awful situation such as this for the proclamation of the good news of his grace.</span><br /><br /><strong>Pray for missionaries who are overseas,</strong> perhaps unable to return to the States even if their situation requires it. Their separation from family and friends at this time is even more difficult. But their ministry in their fields is perhaps even more needed.<br /><br /><strong>Pray for missionaries who evacuated from their fields,</strong> whether their choice or not. Their time in the States is often somewhat difficult in the best of situations. Now they are likely isolated from their friends and family as well. There are so many unknowns when they will be able to return.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span><br /><br /><img align="right" data-file-id="12899564" height="250" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/68164ff8-cd56-4d62-9e0a-97aa595fff16.png" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 250px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 22px;" width="22" /><strong style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">Support Status</strong><br /><br />Praise God for providing 95% of my needed monthly support!<br /><br />If you would like to partner with me through financial support, please email either me at <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com" target="_blank">brentkooi@gmail.com</a> or <a href="mailto:brooke.richards@MTW.org" target="_blank">Brooke Richards</a> at MTW. Or you can <a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" target="_blank">give online</a>.</div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-78711184648903277862020-03-21T20:51:00.002-05:002020-03-21T20:51:47.878-05:00<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Answer to Prayers</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I want to thank you for your prayers for me in the middle of all this worldwide craziness. As I watch BBC News in my Osaka hotel room, I see that 793 Italians died yesterday. This is truly a worldwide emergency, as it could continue to take more and more lives if we do not contain the spread and find effective medical solutions. Much to pray about.<br /><br />I realize I am just one of billions of people caught up in this crisis, and implications for my transition to ministry in Sydney are not all that significant, and likely will not be.<br /><br />Your prayers are appreciated, and the answer to those prayers is that I must return the the USA as soon as possible. While this is not the answer I wanted, a number of MTW leaders (home office, Japan leadership and Australia leadership) considered many issues, and determined this is the best solution at this time. I accept their decision and trust God is working through it.<br /><br />I have booked a flight for Wednesday to Sioux Falls, SD and will wait out the situation with my mom in NW Iowa (silver lining!)<br /><br />Please pray that my flight isn't cancelled, and for health and safety through it all.<br /><img align="right" data-file-id="12770992" height="290" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/b9dca689-9c15-4b85-93f8-39aecfb3bbe2.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 290px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 26px;" width="26" /><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="1788961" height="35" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 35px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 300px;" width="300" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Support Update</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Just since the previous update on Friday, my support has gone up to 96%. Praise God for that!</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">The current crisis is certainly having an economic impact, and it's likely that may affect some of my financial partners as well. I certainly understand if anyone is unable to fulfill a pledge. I pray that this situation is short-lived and will not be a significant economic burden on you or our world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Tuesday, March 24</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Shipping company loading up my household goods to be shipped to Sydney.</span><br /> <hr />
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<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Wednesday, March 25</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Flying Osaka to Sioux Falls</span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for providing 96% of the needed financial support for ministry in Sydney! <strong>Pray</strong> that not too much of that is eroded due to the current world situation.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for safe travel on Wednesday -- not just flight safety, but protection from COVID-19 as well.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> that God will have mercy on this earth, and that would include relief from COVID-19. But also pray that God will use this crisis to reach the hearts of many unsaved people.</span></div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-44723969541931870762020-03-20T18:44:00.000-05:002020-03-20T18:44:41.207-05:00Call for Prayer for Godly Wisdom<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-size: 21px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Call for Prayer for Godly Wisdom</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I received notification last night that the US has implemented an international travel ban, and MTW is asking me to return to the States on Sunday. I've requested permission to stay, but am asking for prayer not for that, but for godly wisdom whether that would be wise.<br /><br />I came to Japan earlier this week to support my friends who were married yesterday. We had a wonderful, scaled back wedding.<br /><br />My additional purpose here is to handle all my household things that I've had stored here for the last 16 months. The plan right now is:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">An international shipping company is scheduled to remove my things on Tuesday to be shipped to Australia.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">As things are removed from the storage unit, I will pull out everything electrical (Australia's voltage is much higher than Japan's).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">My friends who were married yesterday plan to claim most of these items, and have a truck scheduled to pick them up on Wednesday.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">The remaining electrical items, as well as several pieces of furniture and other things that I don't want to ship to Australia would then need to be sold or given away, which could take some time to accomplish. I bought a one-way ticket to Japan, and have a hotel reservation for three weeks with this in mind.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Other considerations:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no way to know how long this travel ban will last, and when I might be allowed to depart for Australia.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I could get stranded here in Japan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">If I were stranded here, there are many ministry opportunities open to me in Osaka. A missionary family in Nagoya who are currently on furlough in the States have offered their home where I could live (no hotel expense) for however long necessary. I don't know what kind of ministry opportunities I would have there during the current situation.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">If I leave Japan before taking care of my storage unit, I may lose money to the moving company, and I would then need to come back to Japan when I do have permission to travel to Australia.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Support Raising Update</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="right" data-file-id="12770168" height="555" src="https://mcusercontent.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/683f37b6-be94-4249-8489-9664a216747f.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 555px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 50px;" width="50" />In the last few weeks, my pledge report has gone up from 84% to 91.5%. However, I am waiting on confirmation from a couple of partners regarding their intended level of giving, so this could potentially be much higher.<br /><br />Please continue to lift up this need before our sovereign God. I will be sure to keep you updated as this support-raising process appears to be coming to a successful end.<br /><br />If you would like to make a pledge or contribution, you can do so via one of the following methods:</span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnership%20in%20the%20Gospel" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Reply to this email</a> with your pledge.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Give/pledge online</a>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:brooke.richards@mtw.org?subject=Pledge%20for%20Brent%20Kooi%20(14009)" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email Brooke Richards at MTW</a> with your pledge.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have any questions, <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Question%20regarding%20Support" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">please email me</a>. If you would like a hardcopy of my prayer card sent to you, please let me know. (You can tear off the bottom half of it to mail to MTW with a contribution and/or pledge as well.)<br /><br />Thank you for your prayerful consideration!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Completely Unknown</strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica neue, helvetica, sans-serif;">With the current travel bans, there is no way of knowing where I will be at this time tomorrow, let alone when I might be able to depart for Sydney, Australia.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for providing additional ministry partners and at least 91.5% of my support. Pray that he will provide the final partners -- if he hasn't already done so!<br /><br /><strong>Praise God</strong> for the marriage of my friends yesterday! Due to the Covid-19 situation, their wedding was scaled down to about 20 people. I'm so happy that I could be here for them, especially because the groom has been estranged from his family since he became a Christian in 2013. Please pray for Yuuki & Janelle as they begin their married life together.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for wisdom for the MTW leadership and myself TODAY as we determine whether it is necessary for me to evacuate from Japan due to the Covid-19 virus. If I am able to stay, there are many considerations such as whether I stay in Osaka or Nagoya, etc.<br /><br />And of course, <strong>Pray</strong> about this crazy situation in which there is so much fear and unknowns, loss of life, but also ministry opportunities.</span></div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-88627346763613800892020-03-05T18:10:00.001-06:002020-03-05T18:10:10.998-06:00Nearly There!<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="m_-7453171407168452788templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<h1 class="m_-7453171407168452788h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;"><img align="right" class="CToWUd" height="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjQ3QK3hv5V-609fYPM0AWwKEP9yGMUi8RLbUC5W3aEUg9m43tjQMQ1xwLuQMpMbGn8NCtTXRkahDA5MAWMbVhS6ndXGdrCDMJlaYWZDYZL4wek25K5WBN8TAD0TSQAVDVpBx6m7nvn7N3RO6aQoiIplpYiYc_ViCfak-4qnGebZhPtvW-zfeOJCAgKayzrjxd7Ve86mB45sfsyrQKohEwMJc6e=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 720px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 64px;" width="64" />Nearly There!</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">I hate to start an update with finances, but it is finances (via God's providence) that determine when I depart for Australia. So I ask your indulgence....<br /><br />In my February newsletter, I was somewhat discouraged. Support-raising can be a difficult process, and my percentage had gone down due to a revised budget. A month later and I am very encouraged. (Thank you for your prayers!) Additional ministry partners have pledged, and MTW offices found $8,000 in language funds hiding in my account; those funds have been released into my primary budget lines. That brings my support to 90%, meaning I still need an additional $894 in monthly pledges to be at 100% and able to depart for Australia.<br /><br />Where will those partners come from? Well, I have some people considering their level of support. A friend is hosting an event on Friday for current and potential supporters in the Jackson area. I've spoken to many people at two recent missions conferences, and connected with many other churches and individuals over the last 8 months. But ultimately it is God who provides, and only he knows from where and when the support will come in. I ask again for your prayers.<br /><br />If you would like to partner with me, you can do so by:</span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnership%20in%20the%20Gospel" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Replying to this email</a> with your pledge.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mtw.org/missionaries?query%3Dkooi%26Submit%3DSearch&source=gmail&ust=1583538951367000&usg=AFQjCNGBsICyuAtvZH7cAfdrcBRuZQCgXw" href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Give/pledge online</a>.</span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:brooke.richards@mtw.org?subject=Pledge%20for%20Brent%20Kooi%20(14009)" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Email Brooke Richards at MTW</a> with your pledge.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your prayerful consideration!<br /><br /><img align="center" class="CToWUd" height="39" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiHZNVwxe8va4YCXR3R6tUP6dDHjau2WNK-7hAABf_JsBL7vQBhEmjwIwaU23r336K9YoMbQ1wvFQGOg8JjvUFPLduI6u12MX0kqz8JviRZpyOpHuSNZCXoPQfCqz31d1LE9zJbYnZgQL1ZHWYsYmdrmEayfnzjAIUXGX_9BdybUcZJ6CG8ImWLxoCbT-_kd1gNJqsseF5miduOukOSE4aK9tU4XGQ8yA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><h1 class="m_-7453171407168452788h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">Wrapping Up for Departure</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Being close to fully-funded, here is what I need to accomplish in the next few weeks:</span><ul>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Sell my Jeep (listed it online this week).</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">File (pay) US taxes.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Wrap up committee work for MTW (training revisions, and meetings next week in Atlanta that will conclude my part in the process).</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Get a will written up and filed (required by MTW).</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Work on getting a residence visa for Australia.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Contract with a shipping company to move some of my things from Osaka to Sydney.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Fly to Osaka March 16 for the wedding of very close friends, and to sell some of my stored household items and coordinate with the shippers for the remainder.</li>
</ul>
And what am I forgetting? There's a lot to do. Your prayers are appreciated during this stressful time.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img align="center" class="CToWUd" height="39" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiHZNVwxe8va4YCXR3R6tUP6dDHjau2WNK-7hAABf_JsBL7vQBhEmjwIwaU23r336K9YoMbQ1wvFQGOg8JjvUFPLduI6u12MX0kqz8JviRZpyOpHuSNZCXoPQfCqz31d1LE9zJbYnZgQL1ZHWYsYmdrmEayfnzjAIUXGX_9BdybUcZJ6CG8ImWLxoCbT-_kd1gNJqsseF5miduOukOSE4aK9tU4XGQ8yA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /></span><br /><br /><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v%3DzIx0s0J3BHU%26t%3D524s&source=gmail&ust=1583538951367000&usg=AFQjCNGZVt8e0i6NNjTItaXXfvbEPA1NSg" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU&t=524s" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank"><img align="right" class="CToWUd" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi62xk5auJHZhIW5_HF4-unCxODQQkD1LiKiQCwsya943_z-Unuzlj1Kw6emnp6y_jCbhfOztg8ipjgFHPphBEzIS89MYI9mJZ5jhSKOg_Q_9wiOwRuwrB65frFjMt0qTQOksDPbPpDBWqxCIETFKVY7Pk-T_2DD4bH_zkyii_-em5pZ71R2C7PSaGSTJThpr5G05D0ErgjGzZl07IubHmxZ1GZ5XsGZA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 85px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 120px;" width="120" /></a>Want to know more about the work of the MTW team in Sydney and my specific role? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU&t" target="_blank">Click here to watch a presentation from last Fall</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/&source=gmail&ust=1583538951367000&usg=AFQjCNHB-9LlHgIzpvtKLnq17ebUKDXAVw" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u%3D46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351%26id%3D6f2fd505e2%26e%3D&source=gmail&ust=1583538951367000&usg=AFQjCNHYhrKfhCQo45kLCPG-4YA3BGFK-A" href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=6f2fd505e2&e=" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Friday, March 6</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<strong><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Dessert Event; 7 pm</span><br />Brandon, MS</strong><br /><span style="color: firebrick;"><em>If you are in the area and would like to attend, please email me! You are welcome!</em></span></div>
<hr />
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 16</strong></span></span><br />Flying to Osaka Japan for a wedding and to sell or ship my stored things.<br /> <hr />
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>April 6</strong></span><br />Target date to arrive in Sydney, Australia<br /><br /><img class="CToWUd" height="18" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiHZNVwxe8va4YCXR3R6tUP6dDHjau2WNK-7hAABf_JsBL7vQBhEmjwIwaU23r336K9YoMbQ1wvFQGOg8JjvUFPLduI6u12MX0kqz8JviRZpyOpHuSNZCXoPQfCqz31d1LE9zJbYnZgQL1ZHWYsYmdrmEayfnzjAIUXGX_9BdybUcZJ6CG8ImWLxoCbT-_kd1gNJqsseF5miduOukOSE4aK9tU4XGQ8yA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Pray</strong> that God will provide the final 10% of my support in the next few weeks. <span style="color: firebrick;">I have a one-way ticket to Japan, hoping to fly directly to Sydney on April 6 if my budget has been met.</span><br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> regarding the corona-virus. While the likelihood of infection is relatively low, I have some concerns about possible travel bans to or out of Japan, possible quarantines, etc.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for my acculturation into Australia. It may be a western, English-speaking country, but there are numerous subtle differences.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for my travel to and from Atlanta, and for the meetings in Atlanta to be productive and a blessing to MTW as a whole.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> that God will provide a buyer for my car, at a fair price, and in the right timing (Sunday night, upon my return from Atlanta, and prior to my Monday morning departure for Osaka).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img class="CToWUd" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhE4wU2IlS8zS3pOmNhqnNd30ThH7gicwTjJYE5eY6_CBD40DAuGGgKq3B7VJvjVgSy-PU2VxIiWqZT60bY61C3WsN1oaf3qNGkx03wqF8VsldCOYP3z_qoibf-tScHYPwVvvIgGsZK2LWNFNotZw3gLSxB-vKdYJt6hk2W-Sk7ppMKY82KDmuR3MfPI1PU8F8MzESo68QSNYOBUSU9Q8i0iQYDXWLFhA=s0-d-e1-ft" style="border: 0px rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 65px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></span></div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1679244677422688432.post-90850425177059650892020-02-06T19:03:00.000-06:002020-02-06T19:03:47.024-06:00He's Never Failed Me Yet! -- February 5, 2020<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" id="templateContainer" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: black; width: 600px;"><tbody>
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<h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">He's Never Failed Me Yet!</span></span></h1>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">In this newsletter, I want to be brutally honest with you. Chances are good that those who are reading this are likely those who also pray the most regularly for me. THANK YOU for your prayers; I need them!<br /><br />When I first sensed a call to missions in 2007, my most significant reluctance was support-raising. I was happy to financially support missionaries, but I wasn't excited about asking for financial support from others. But through many means, God demonstrated to me that if he was really calling me to missionary service, then he would also provide the needed financial partners.<br /><br />But learning to trust God is hard, for me at least. Back in 2007, as I continued to struggle with the idea of support-raising, I thought, "I know a lot of people. I have connections in the PCA and the CRC. I've lived in many states, and worked at several universities, and my former students have jobs." Who was I trusting? "I" know people. "I" have connections. I was trusting me!</span><br /><br />As I started to raise support, a number of churches and individuals whom I thought were likely supporters didn't pan out. Then I started to get support from people I didn't even know. How do I explain that? God!<br /><br />A few years later, during my first furlough, transitioning from short-term to long-term status, I needed to raise more support. "But hey, the vision for Genesis College is compelling, so it shouldn't be so difficult," I thought. Again, I was trusting in myself and my ability to convey a compelling vision. God was patient in teaching me the same lesson all over again: he is the one who provides!<br /><br />And now, during my second furlough, I again need to raise more support. This time, I thought it wouldn't be so difficult because I already had a very solid support-base; the additional amount I needed to raise wasn't so much. While that may be true, it has not been easy. I expected to probably lose some supporters due to a change in ministry fields, and I did ($360/month in pledges). But I've also gained support, some from new partners, and some from higher pledges from existing partners ($630/month).<br /><br /><img align="right" data-file-id="12642975" height="500" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/d97ab512-33f3-443a-95f0-cc362fbdd0df.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 500px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 43px;" width="43" />Where does that put me? My monthly budget is $8,724. That includes my salary (a small portion of that total, I assure you!), as well as ministry expenses, health insurance, administrative costs, etc. I currently have pledges for $7,347/month (84%), meaning I need an additional $1,377/month in pledges. (My budget is available for supporters or potential supporters <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=MTW%20Budget" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">upon request</a>.)<br /><br />Support-raising is scary! I love sharing about the work to which God has called me, but ASKING is scary. I have fears of rejection. I worry that friends and family want to run away from me because I might ask for money. I know in my head that support-based missions is absolutely biblical. I know that God has called every Christian to be involved in the work of missions through going, giving and praying. But my human nature just cannot overcome my fears. I'm often convicted that my lack of faith is not unlike the ancient Israelites who sinned, were punished by God, then returned to him, only to repeat that cycle again and again.<br /><br />And so I continue to ask God to accomplish what seems so impossible to me -- to raise up a support team that will enable me to serve him in Sydney. Of course God has unlimited resources, and nothing is impossible for him!<br /><br />And so I ask you:<ul>
<li>Will you pray for me -- for my lack of faith, and for God to fully provide for my budget?</li>
<li>Will you join my ministry team by pledging a monthly or annual contribution?</li>
<li>Will you talk to someone at your church, asking them to invite me to share about the work of the gospel in Sydney, and to potentially partner with me in this work?</li>
</ul>
There is a black gospel song that I've sung with my church choir called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yVZ0bJR8N4" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" title="Watch another choir on YouTube">He's Never Failed Me Yet</a>." The song is a great reminder that God is always faithful, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yVZ0bJR8N4" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" title="He's Never Failed Me Yet"><img align="right" data-file-id="12642843" height="101" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/5837ab32-1064-4395-b13f-c63bda440444.png" style="border: 2px solid; display: inline; height: 101px; line-height: 14px; margin: 5px 0px 0px 5px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></a>and always provides for every single need of his children. He never fails! I pray that you will be encouraged in your trust of our loving Father as well.<br /><br /><img align="center" data-file-id="1788961" height="39" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 39px; line-height: 14px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 340px;" width="340" /><br /> <h1 class="h1" style="font-size: 34px; line-height: 34px; margin: 0px 0px 10px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 22px;">To Give:</span></span></h1>
If you would like to give a one-time gift or make a pledge for regular support:<ul>
<li>Reply to this email or <a href="mailto:brentkooi@gmail.com?subject=Partnering%20in%20the%20Gospel" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">click here</a> to contact me.</li>
<li>Go to the <a href="https://mtw.org/missionaries?query=kooi&Submit=Search" style="color: #00add0; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">MTW website</a> where you can give and/or make a pledge for recurring support.</li>
</ul>
THANK YOU for your prayers and your consideration!</div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/Equipping.to.the.ends.of.the.earth/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Follow FB Group</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://us4.forward-to-friend.com/forward?u=46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351&id=c4fab37dfe&e=[UNIQID]" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;">Forward to a Friend</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Quick Links</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
MTW Sydney Ministries:</div>
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> • </span><a href="https://www.harbourcitychurch.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Harbour City Church</a></div>
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> • </span><a href="https://www.sow.org.au/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">SOW</a> (Student Outreach<br /> to the World)</div>
<div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px;"> • </span><a href="https://citysanctum.org/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">City Sanctum</a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU&t=488s" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">video presentation</a> of the work to which God has called me in Sydney.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIx0s0J3BHU&t=488s" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" title="Sydney Ministry Presentation"><img data-file-id="12642903" height="113" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/c2fc353b-414a-424a-9569-942a15c4407d.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 113px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></a></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<br /><a href="http://brentkooi.blogspot.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">My blog</a> (past newsletters)<br /> </div>
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<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Calendar</strong></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>February 22-27</strong></span></span><div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.briarwood.org/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Briarwood PCA</a> Missions Conference; Birmingham, AL</span><br /> </div>
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>Feb. 28 - Mar 1</strong></span><br /><a href="http://www.redeemerjackson.com/" style="color: #aa230f; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Redeemer PCA</a> Missions Conference; Jackson, MS</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 12-14</strong></span><br /><strong>MTW committee meetings</strong><br />Atlanta, GA</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 16-30</strong></span><br /><strong>Osaka, Japan</strong> </span>(I will be participating in a wedding of a Japanese friend. While there, I will sell some of my stored things, and arrange for the rest to be shipped to Australia.)<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><strong>March 31</strong></span><br /><strong>Depart for Sydney, Australia,</strong> pending full support. If I do not have full support, I will need to return to the States.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Prayer Points</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Praise God </strong>for safe travel back to Mississippi at the end of January.<br /><br /><strong>Pray</strong> for the final 16% of the required financial pledges. Pray whether God would have you partner with me through financial giving.<br /><br /><img data-file-id="1788961" height="18" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/e24d9b48-7046-4fac-ae08-74a53e2a6ece.png" style="border: 0px; display: inline; height: 18px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px;"><strong>Culture Corner</strong></span></span><br /> <div style="line-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: arial, "helvetica neue", helvetica, sans-serif;">"Are those fires near where you will live?" I've had this question many times over the last several months. Yes, the fires are around Sydney, and have broken into some of the outer suburbs.<br /><br />"How bad are the fires?" They are bad -- very bad. But no, the entire country is not on fire. One problem with many online representations is that the "dot" for each fire is often much larger than the actual fire.</span> The map below shows a more realistic view. If they were all consolidated, they would cover an area similar to Indiana.<br /><br />The worst of the fires are in the southeast, near Sydney and the capital city of Canberra. Nationwide, 2,779 homes have been destroyed. At least 34 people have died. Countless animals have died. The air quality of Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra are currently the worst in the world.<br /><br />Please pray for Australia. Pray that God will even use the fires in ways that only he can to bring people to faith in him.<br /><br /><img align="left" data-file-id="12642935" height="137" src="https://gallery.mailchimp.com/46d9a9a42451112a411ddf351/images/40ecdd0d-ddb5-4659-98a0-065e376c17d9.png" style="border: 2px solid rgb(170, 35, 15); display: inline; height: 137px; line-height: 12px; margin: 0px; outline: none; width: 160px;" width="160" /></div>
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Brent Kooihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02144897248924626922noreply@blogger.com0