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Praise God!
1. Great start to fall semester with over 100 theological students in three classes! 2. A last minute invitation to lecture on Spirit-led living to the entire MIT campus helped kick off the new semester. 3. Tim preached at both chapel and vespers, giving him opportunities to address some neglected spiritual needs. 4. Unexpectedly, a door opened for Tim to meet with members of the spiritual life committee to discuss promoting greater spirituality on campus 5. Tim preached at historic Immanuel Baptist Church, founded 200 years ago by missionary Adoniram Judson. God used the message as a great source of encouragement for those who attended. (See one testimony on the right.) 6. Tim has established an informal outreach to several orphans with the help of other caring foreigners. Two that were living on the street are now living in a rented home and have been enrolled in school. Five attended church last Sunday with Tim. Amazing progress in such a short time. 7. Jill's presentations in Minnesota and at Princeton Theological Seminary on prayer and Faith, Hope, and Love's use of the labyrinth to minister in places of great suffering were very well received and appreciated in each context.  8. We praise God for Ken Geoffrion, who took vacation time and volunteered to serve again this year with Faith, Hope, and Love. Ken did all the photography for last month's training of faculty members and pastors in Kalay, while offering valuable support for Tim and participating in outreach to various individuals. Thank you, Ken!
 | Ken Geoffrion
Adjunct Volunteer Staff Myanmar Mission 2012 |
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Pray With Us
1. For peace throughout Myanmar and continued development of the country in this new era of reformation and openness.
2. For strength and wisdom for MIT's chaplain and spiritual life committee in the midst of many challenges to nurturing spiritual health and vitality in so many students.
3. For continued opportunity to contribute to the spiritual-well being of the whole campus, beyond the students enrolled in the three classes Tim is teaching.
4. For working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the orphans Tim is reaching out to in Yangon, leading to personal faith and experiences with God for each of them, and solid connections to the church and other caring adults who can minister to them when Tim and Jill are not present in the country.
5. Complete funding for the Assistant position. So far, four donors have generously contributed $7000 toward what is needed through next summer. We still need at least $1200 in pledges.
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Tim's Recent Essays
On November 6, Americans chose their President.
Whether you are pleased, disappointed, or apathetic about the election results, does our Christian faith give us a perspective that looks beyond who will be in office to God? Indeed it does. You can read Tim's thoughts on the bigger perspective in the essay he published preceding the election:
"The Way of Jesus" is the fourth essay in a series on insights Tim gained into his Christian faith as a result of his encounters with Buddhism. This one focuses on what makes Jesus' message so different and special for those seeking to find spiritual truth, healing, and wholeness.
Jill's Latest Blogs
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Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries Board of Directors Rev. Dr. Cheryl F. Dudley Mr. Thomas Erickson Rev. Jill K.H. Geoffrion, Ph.D. Rev. Timothy C. Geoffrion, Ph.D. Board of Advisors Mr. Jim Deanovic Mr. Ron Hoffman Mr. John March Mr. Mark Thompson Staff 
Timothy C. Geoffrion President and Teaching Minister  Jill K.H. Geoffrion
Artist and Minister of Hospitality  Josias Hansen Assistant to the President We deeply appreciate your prayers and financial support. We need your ongoing participation to both sustain and expand this important leadership development work. Thank you!
  
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Greetings!
This semester's classes are off to a great start----maybe the best ever. The 85 graduating M.Div. seniors in New Testament Theology are highly engaged and asking penetrating questions. The small size of the two electives----Exegesis of Philippians and Spiritual Vitality for Life and Leadership----is great for meaningful discussion. Each course is designed to further the students' personal spiritual development as well as help prepare them to be effective pastors and Christian leaders.
Preaching and special speaking engagements have provided additional opportunities for meaningful ministry to many hundreds of people in different contexts. In addition to the week of special classes and preaching in Kalay in early October, I've now spoken three times to the entire MIT campus.
On October 14th, I preached at the historic Immanuel Baptist Church in downtown Yangon. The sermon was entitled, "A Great Message of Hope," based on Philippians 4:4-9. Afterward, among many appreciative comments, an email exchange with one member of the congregation touched me deeply:
I'm so grateful that you did send me this mail.
My heart was so touch[ed] by your message about "Hope" at yesterday morning service, since I feel like I have no hope and currently I'm facing a lot of difficulty at my work, within my family and in my social cases.
After I heard from you yesterday morning, I feel like I found my way back and I believe God sent you for me.
I will carefully look through your websites and will tell you back.
Thank you for sending me this email. I will keep in touch with you.
Best,
"Aung"
We continue to greatly appreciate your interest, prayers, and ongoing support. Our ministries of teaching, inspiring, and encouraging in Myanmar and elsewhere continues to grow and expand. As we approach yearend, and are already gearing up for nearly six straight months abroad in 2013, please consider making a contribution at this time. Thank you.
Serving Christ with you,
Tim Geoffrion
President and Teaching Minister
"What you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well."
-2 Timothy 2:2, NRSV
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Outreach to the Yangon Poor
You've heard it said that the world is divided into the "Haves" and "Have Nots." I've found a third group here in Myanmar, the "Have Nothings."
In just a few weeks of outreach on the weekends to a handful of widows, beggars, and fatherless boys in Yangon, my eyes and heart are being opened as never before. First it was curiosity. Then pity. Now, it's mostly delight in being with them whenever I can--except when I feel overwhelmed by the endless needs and challenges.
The stories vary considerably. Of the kids I'm working with, one boy has neither father nor mother and has been sleeping on the floor of the train station. Another lost his father, and his mother is in jail for two or three years. Another doesn't go to school, but is forced by his mother to sell postcards to earn rent and food money for the family. His father abandoned them five years ago.
I've taken several teenage, fatherless boys to the zoo, shopping for school clothes and sandals, swimming, and even to a 3D movie. We eat together quite often, whenever they can convince me to feed them. More significantly, we've succeeded in getting two orphans off the street and enrolled in school, with new bicycles to get back and forth. An illiterate 14 year old has just this week agreed to go to school, if he can get permission from his mother to take time off of work to do so.
The needs are endless, but I'm grateful for all the ways the Holy Spirit seems to be guiding and working in this new outreach. So far, five boys have been to church with me, and two to Sunday School. All pray aloud repeating after me before each meal. We are reading a verse at a time each day we are together. There are so many opportunities for encouraging, teaching, guiding, problem solving, and simply loving them.
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Talking about God and reading John 3:16 in Burmese and English
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Reaching out to widows and orphans wasn't on the agenda when I arrived, but I can't stop thinking about their heart-breaking stories of loss, neglect, abandonment, abuse, and near desperation. 
Please pray that we will know how to best help these kids in the limited time we have here, that they will make a connection between our love and God's, and that we will be able to point them beyond ourselves to Jesus. Pray, too, that we will be able to connect them with local groups who can care for them, show them love, and guide them long after we've returned to the States.
"He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?" declares the LORD. -Jeremiah 22:16
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Give to the Max Day!
November 15
Mark your calendars for Give to the Max Day! On November 15th, Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries will be participating with many other organizations eligible to receive funds through givemn.org. The more given on that day, the greater the chances Faith, Hope, and Love has to win additional support from others.  You may be wondering, "How does this work?"
Generous donors have provided thousands of dollars as prize money for non-profit organizations if they participate in the Give to the Max Day. Each hour, donors will be randomly selected to have $1,000 added to their donations. At the end of the event, two $10,000 awards will be added to two randomly selected donations. So here is the game plan:
- Mark November 15th on your calendar.
- On November 15th, go to www.givemn.razoo.com/Fhlglobal or click the green "Donate Now" button below.
- Donate to Faith, Hope, and Love Global Ministries.
- On November 16th, we will let you know if FHLGM was chosen to receive prize money due to your donation.
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Of course, you may make a donation on any day of the year. If you would like to make a donation today,
please click "Donate" below.
THANK YOU!
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For Your Reflection
Take a moment to contemplate this photo.
What comes to your mind?
What speaks to your heart?
What prayer comes to your lips?
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