Prayer Support

(Recap): We would like to steal a few blog entries (probably once a month) to specifically address the SIX main areas of support, any of which you are welcome to be a part of! We would only ask that you prayerfully consider each one, and let us know if there is a specific area you'd like to be involved in! (some of you are already involved in one or more areas, for which we are deeply thankful!)


Prayer Support

The necessity, importance, and power of Prayer Support is something we cannot possibly emphasize strongly enough! When believers pray for one another, it is no small matter. Prayer ~ communicating with our God in heaven. Directly, with boldness and joy, through the finished work of Christ!

And Scripture is full of encouragements and exhortations for us to be in prayer: for our own relationship with Him, as well as for one another. We are told to "always pray for all the believers everywhere!"

Prayer is one of the most critical areas of support, and we are actively seeking to build a committed, strong group of friends and family who feel they would be able to support us firmly in this area. We do not take this lightly! (Note: are you already committed in prayer for us? PLEASE let us know, so that we can be encouraged to know how our support team is growing and shaping in this area!)
We have made some suggestions below on ways that you, or a group, or as a church, can consider being strongly committed to pray for us (to lift us up before our Father in heaven!). Realize that by being a part of this area of support, YOU are being an active part in taking the Gospel to the unreached. For He commands that we go and make disciples of ALL nations (language/ethnic groups). If you cannot go yourself, in what way are you being an active part of that mandate? This is one important and special way you can do that!

Some suggested ways to support us in prayer:
-Regularly (could be weekly, monthly, quarterly) ask us directly for prayer requests
-Stay updated in general by reading our emails and blog entries, or call us
-Begin praying for us in your small group or Sunday school class
-Sign up for a specific day of the month to pray for us, perhaps using the calendar we've created on the Blog Home Page. (or click here)
-Please encourage us by letting us know that you are praying for us!
-Tell us how we can be praying for you. Know that as part of our team, we are praying for you.
-(There are also plenty of great resources with "ideas for how pray for missionaries", both online and in books)



If you feel like this is an area you could/would like to commit to now or in the future, we strongly ask you to get in contact with us! Have you thought of another way to support us in prayer? Tell us about it!

"I Would Like To Buy a Hamburger"

For a good laugh, and a great phonetic experience, go to YouTube and watch the following video clip of Steve Martin in "Pink Panther":
http://youtu.be/lz0IT4Uk2xQ

We are in our second week of Phonetics class, and it is getting a little more challenging each day! We are currently learning how to write and pronounce the Phonetic alphabet correctly, and this class will continue to the end of the semester.

TRIVIA:
How many different ways can you think to spell (in English) the phonetic "i" as in "feet"?

• be, feet, beat, ski, Crete, either, people, brief, key, Caesar

That's quite a lot, isn't it?! How about the phonetic "u" is in "boot"?

• new, shoe, do, doozy, flu, blue, fruit, neutral, lieutenant

Mind-boggling!! Needless to say, it is a definite goal for missionaries, when creating a written alphabet for a tribal language, to avoid this kind of confusion! :) We hope to be there doing this one day, and so everything we're learning is both fascinating and helpful.

Our group studying/preparing our Foundational
Bible Teaching lessons (with Espressos...)

In our first October blog, we were preparing to teach the Foundational Bible Teaching lesson about the birth, growth, and baptism of Jesus Christ. Our lesson went very well! One key thing we have learned through this process (along with our class) is that there are some constant recurring themes that God has clearly revealed throughout His entire Word. Some of those are:

1. God is the Creator, all-powerful, and always does what He says! (yes, those can be broken into 3 separate themes)
2. Man is a sinner, helpless to save himself, and must come to God God's way
3. Jesus Christ is both God and man, He is the only Savior, man must have faith in Jesus to be saved

Noe teaching the class in Foundational Bible Teaching

It is possible, and has been seen/done in tribal locations, to teach through the Bible chronologically without emphasizing these themes. The response of the people? "Those are some great stories!" We believe God was very purposeful in how He communicated with us in His Word. So as we anticipate teaching His Word to people who have never heard the Gospel, we are learning that we should likewise be careful in how we present (and represent) Him to others.

• We would ask you to remember us in prayer, as these are also stressful days for us. Pray for our marriage, for Godly parenting, and for loving relationships with our fellow students and the staff. It is a blessing to be here, and we are thankful (SO thankful!) for all of you who are supporting us in one way or another!

Our campus small group (called E-Linc), having lunch together

In Christ, our Savior!

~The Martinez Family

PS---- Jocellyn turns 2 TODAY, November 2nd!!! Happy birthday, Jocellyn! :)