NTM

This is a long post–it is the quarterly prayer letter we are printing and snail-mailing.

October 2009

Thank you for praying for us and partnering with us financially as we help to plant churches among tribal groups around the world.  Click here to view an 8-minute video about God’s working in the Moi tribe of Indonesia!

Ministry News

The chairman of the NTM-US Information Technology committee, Tom Young, recently moved here to Sanford.  He is a proactive guy who is suggesting some reorganization and other positive steps to move things forward.  Jack likes his ideas and we are glad to have him in the Computer Services dept. here. 

Gravity, the new personnel system Jack and his partner Rodd have been working to develop, is nearly ready for release.  Also, NTM Computer Services has a new partnership with the computer department at Taylor University to jointly develop a student tracking program.  The goal is that this software will be compatible with Gravity.

Jack was asked to teach Phys. Ed. for Grades K-4 at Lake Monroe Christian Academy, NTM’s Christian school where our children attend.  Having a degree in Phys. Ed., he didn’t feel he could say no.  So he has brushed up his old skills and teaches two classes a week.

While our children are in school, Alice is serving two mornings a week at the reception desk in our main building, answering the phone and assisting staff and visitors.  NTM had a need in this area, and it is a good fit for Alice’s personality and skills.

 Family News   

Jack’s parents, Art and June Corbett, have arrived to spend the winter near us! They purchased a mobile home less than three miles away.  It is GREAT to have them close by–makes Florida feel more like home.  Spending the holidays here, which we plan to do this year, will be much nicer now.

Alice’s parents,  John and Mary Jane Ames,  are doing fairly well!  Although health concerns are ever-present, we are grateful for Mom’s recovery from her aneurysm and that much of her speech has been regained.  God has provided family members who are such a help with errands and laundry . . . things Alice would like to do but can’t.  We do ask for prayer that their house in NH would sell in God’s timing. 

In August, we enjoyed a week with Alice’s sister Lois Tignor, her husband Chris, and their four children, who came to Florida for a visit.  They have since returned to Ecuador for their third term as missionaries with Baptist Bible Fellowship.

Jack’s involvement with the Orlando Professional Association of SQL Server (OPASS) continues to provide great professional development and networking for him.  In our last update, we asked you to pray about the possibility of Jack’s attending the national PASS summit in Seattle in November.  God has answered!  Jack received a complimentary conference registration ($1,500 value) due to his volunteer work with the local OPASS group.  NTM is covering the airfare, so Jack’s only cost is lodging, which he will share with another attendee. 

Our children are doing well. Danielle (10) is in Grade 5.  She is getting quite good at playing the electric guitar she was given, and has also written a few songs!  Her inquiring mind is curious about so many things–history, science, politics.  Evan (8) still enjoys sports and reading, and is our “dependable” child.  Regan (6) is in first grade, easily distracted, but very expressive and highly entertaining.  We are so grateful for the good health that we all have. 

We are planning our trip North next summer to visit you, our prayer and financial partners who make our work possible!  Approximate tentative dates are July 1 – August 8, 2010.  Please contact us as soon as possible as to when we might include you in our itinerary.

Praises:

• God’s working to open tribal people’s hearts to Him
• New partnership between NTM Computer Services and Taylor University’s computer department
• God’s provision for Jack to attend the national PASS summit
• Stable health for Alice’s parents currently
• Jack’s parents joining us in Florida for the winter
• Good health for our family

Prayer Requests:

• For the salvation and spiritual growth of tribal people around the world
• For Christians to be willing to give sacrificially, even in tough times, to enable the Gospel to go forth
• God’s wisdom for Jack, Rodd and others working to complete and release the new NTM Gravity personnel system.
• Safety as Jack travels to Seattle the first week of November, and that he would be a good witness for the Lord
• Wisdom in teaching our children, and that we would model Christ
• That Alice’s parents’ house in NH would sell
• Several boxes that Alice’s sister Lois and her family shipped to Ecuador are caught in government red tape.  Please pray for a quick resolution, and peace in their hearts about the situation.

For more frequent updates, you can also find us on Facebook.  Thanks! 

Thought we’d share the kids’ recent school pictures: