March Update

This is a quick update to let you know about our in-country interview and Candidate Orientation with Greater Europe Mission (GEM).  We will send more details next week with pictures, but we had a great three week trip and are thankful that God showed us exactly what we needed to see. 

First of all, now that we have been appointed as GEM missionaries, we will begin fundraising (for one-time move costs and about 15% additional monthly support) as we look forward to working with GEM’s team in their European headquarters in Kandern, Germany.

Our areas of responsibility with GEM will include:

• Administrative support for GEM’s three church plant cities in France (Lille, Paris and Lyon).
• Administrative support for GEM’s “50-in-5” church planting initiative which began in 2012 to provide missionaries to 50 European cities in 5 years.
• Provide organizational support to bring interns and short term teams to France, which is similar to what we have been doing over the past six years with WGO. 

Second, we would like to change some of the ways we communicate with you, our prayer and financial supporters:

• In our new roles with GEM, we will be working with church planting ministries that cater to immigrants from closed (not open to sharing Jesus) countries as well as European natives.  Due to this, we are creating an email list with those committed to prayer and a closed Facebook group that you will be invited to so that we can share our stories and pictures without putting us, other GEM missionaries, or the ministry at risk.  This is also going to be a great way to share our praise reports and prayer requests.  We look forward to the opportunity to pray for you as well.
• Our main missionary e-mail address will change from ingoodshepherdshands@gmail.com to therainerifamily@gmail.com.
• We will begin using a communications tool called Mail Chimp for our most of our e-mailed newsletters and updates.

Third, beginning this week, we will ask all of our financial partners if they will commit to funding us at the level that they have been supporting us and either help us with our moving funds and/or help in funding the increased monthly budget of 15%.  We have been assured that all funds remaining with WGO will be sent to GEM for our continued support, and all proceeds from the sale of our car and possessions in Honduras will be used to purchase our needs in Germany. 

Fourth, we would love to meet with those in small groups/bible studies to allow us to meet with your members to share about this calling and if they want to partner with us and our new ministry in Germany and France.  This can be done now via Skype or in May when Angie will be available to visit the states or during our summer furlough.

Based on our appointment with GEM we intend to transition (Lord willing) to the new ministry as soon as our financial support is verified.  Our plan is to leave Honduras on or about June 13, spend some time stateside, and leave for Germany by August 1st.   Please visit www.gemission.org to learn more about the ministry. 

To recap:  This week you will receive a private email from Pete with more detail and asking the following questions:

• Will you come alongside our family and commit to praying for us regularly once a week?
• Will you continue to support our family in our new ministry, GEM, in Germany/France?
• Would you be able to send in a one-time gift to be applied to our moving budget?
• Would you be able to increase your current monthly support by 15%?
• What is your telephone number and when is the best time for us to call?  We would like to explain more about our move, new responsibilities, and answer any questions you might have.

Your family in Christ, Pete, Angie, Nick and Lily