Since returning to IBC after my six-month sabbatical, many have asked, “How was your time away?” It was a great time of rest, praise, personal study, and quite a bit of travel. We visited 13 different churches, including twice at each of our church plants. We connected with lots of family, including Gerri’s siblings at the Ark Encounter in Kentucky.

We enjoyed good times with our children and grandchildren, including two weeks near Erica’s family in Ohio, where we saw our grandson Samuel be baptized by his dad at their church on Easter.

We also were privileged to attend our oldest granddaughter Hannah’s high school graduation. She is headed to Bible College this week. My, they grow up fast!

Since July 1, it has been a joy to be back at IBC with our church family and to serve half-time on the pastoral team under Pastor Phillip. Many have asked what my new duties entail.

As Pastor of Discipleship, I am privileged to help strengthen IBC’s core—exalting God by making Christ-like disciples, our primary mission. I am tasked with planning and overseeing our Adult Ministries, especially our ABE’s or Adult Education Classes (like Pastor George used to do). Part of this involves teaching classes myself (including a Sunday and Wednesday ABE and a Bible Institute class this fall), which utilizes my primary gift and passion for Bible teaching. The rest of my job description involves other discipling and mentoring, which I also love.

Pray for wisdom as I work with our other pastors and teachers in planning ABEs and other discipling opportunities. Pray that more IBC’ers will engage in our ABE’s as an important part of their personal growth in Christ.

I would also appreciate prayer for a Missions Trip that I will be taking with one of our elders, Dave Stansbury, Sept. 11-22. Our missionary in Myanmar and dear friend Naw Mai contacted me in July about a strategic need.

Myanmar has been and still is experiencing civil war, since the takeover by the military four years ago. Thousands have been killed, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the fighting. Many of these refugees have fled south to Malaysia. Naw Mai’s church network is sending graduates of Hanson Bible College to plant churches among these displaced refugees in Malaysia. I have been invited to join Naw Mai for a week of teaching to train pastors, teachers, and others in this needy mission field. I had not planned to take a Missions Trip so soon after returning to IBC; but the need is immediate, I have prayerfully felt led to go, and our Elders have approved this trip.

Please uphold Dave Stansbury and me in your prayers as we travel 12 time zones and seek to provide training and encouragement to these suffering believers who are carrying out Christ’s Commission under traumatic circumstances.

I am excited about what God is doing at IBC and through IBC and love being part of it in my “new job.”