Thank you for your prayer support in 2011. The ministry was phenomenal in a number of ways. We had a lot more activity going on and more people involved in that activity. We saw three people put their faith in Christ including a 65+ year old woman who is a Project 60 student at CSU and a male Chinese philosopher whose wife attends Case Western Reserve University.

We also had more trials. During fall semester ALL of our student officers, our three teaching staff, and our faculty advisor each went through some pretty substantial testings. We had a heart attack, a severely damaged ankle, a car accident at 60 mph, a robbery at gunpoint and the death of an uncle and a mother in ICU among other trials. I lost my dog and my car within two weeks of each other. Yet each of us saw God’s sustaining and protecting power. We found that in our deepest sorrows that God upheld us and kept us from a emotional and spiritual free fall.

I believe that Spring Semester which starts January 17 will be filled with harvest. I anticipate that all that was good in Fall semester will continue and flourish into Spring semester. I am deliberately seeking God’s plans for the semester rather than my own. For only God’s plans are sure to come to pass. Please pray with me in regards to planning the semester.

Click here to see photosOH pictorial review

Mary Amesbury serves in Cleveland, OH

The First Night Before Christmas

‘Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the land

All the people were scurrying to keep Caesar’s command

To return to their hometowns to be counted and taxed.

If they failed to obey they would surely be axed!

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,

Folks were tucking in children and settling themselves down

For a long winter’s night, which was not going to be

At the Bethlehem Inn, as we shortly shall see.

The innkeeper and his wife had just crawled into bed

With the young ones around them–to the world they were “dead.”

When at the inn door there commenced such a pounding,

He sprang from his bed to see who now was hounding.

The moon was so bright. (No, wait – was that starlight?)

He slid back the latch and peered into the night.

There stood a man with his wife clearly pregnant

“Can you give us a room?” He replied, “No, I can’t.”

“This inn is all full! Go find someplace else!”

“Please, sir,” begged the man, “My wife is not well.

Her time is so near…We’ve been all through the town—

Every cranny and nook. There’s no room to be found!”

Well this innkeeper, he was a kind sort of fellow,

Recalling the hard times his own wife had gone through.

“There’s a stable out back you can use in a pinch.”

But for room in the inn, he could not find an inch.

Now these people, they weren’t just an ordinary couple,

This Joe and his Mary were something quite special.

The Baby she carried was not Joseph’s child,

But from God Himself – isn’t that just wild?

God’s Spirit overshadowed her before they were wed,

Just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

So the Child she conceived was God’s holy Son—

A miracle beyond our human comprehension.

So out to the stable they crept through the dark;

For a birthing room, it was a little too stark.

She delivered Him safely, thank the Father in heaven.

The greatest Gift of all time at last had been given!

When the night before Christmas rolls ‘round once again,

As we hustle and bustle fitting everything in,

Let’s pause to think of that first Christmas night,

And remember whose birthday we should keep in sight.

(Adapted by Elizabeth Mayner)

Elizabeth and her husband Dave serve in Binghamton, NY

Traditionally in the Midwest, Fall is the time for hayrides and bonfires after the fields have been cleared of harvest. Campus Bible Fellowship at Iowa City enjoys this annual affair, which is especially meaningful to those students who have been raised in cities.

This year nearly 30 students gathered at a nearby farm. “Wow! Look at those big tires on that tractor” was one of many comments heard as the students explored the farm. It was quite an experience for them to be so up close and personal with the sheep, chickens, and calves on the farm. Of course they had to take pictures.

The students wandered around looking for clues on a hunt which led them to the treasure- boxes of candy and the right to be the first to cook their hot dogs over the fire (while trying to avoid the smoke). Besides the hot dogs, our hosts supplied a wonderful meal of macaroni salad, beans, veggies, chips, and hot drinks to warm us both inside and out. After filling our tummies, it was time for that new adventure – a hayride. “Do we really have to walk through a pasture and climb a fence to get to the wagon?“ Yes, we did, but it was worth the journey. It was a wonderful night for a ride – cool, clear, with nearly a full moon. At one point our driver stopped so we could enjoy the peace and quiet of the country. As we looked at all the stars, we thought of the Creator who put them all there and keeps them in their places. We talked about how the Pleiades and Orion constellations, which were mentioned in the Bible at least 4000 years ago, are still moving together at the same speed. Back around the campfire it was time for another new experience – making s’mores. The students were surprised at how quickly a marshmallow caught fire; many ate “burnt offerings”. We enjoyed sitting on the bales of hay around the bonfire singing fun songs and choruses. Our host shared a devotional from John 3:16 at the end of the evening. What a wonderful way to share the beauties of God’s creation and the treasures of God’s Word with our friends from around the world. We made enough memories to last until next Fall!

Elva Craig serves at University of Iowa

CBF missionary Kim Abernethy (University of North Carolina) recently published her first book entitled In This Place. Below is a recent interview with Kim.

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

My three daughters were the primary inspirations. Our oldest, Michelle, was 2 1/2 when we first went to Liberia. Stefanie, our second, was born in the middle of the jungle after we had only been in Liberia for ten months. Third daughter Lauren was born during the tumultuous time after our first evacuation from our ministry and home in Liberia. I wanted them to have a written account of their parents’ missionary journey in West Africa and beyond. It is one thing to be an MK and live life in your “home away from home,” but as they are all now young women, I wanted them to see God in a bigger way. To always have a reason to keep trusting Him  no matter what. Another motivation for writing this book were young missionary couples (particularly the women) who may wonder what they can expect as they enter their field of service. Though the country and circumstances may be different, I want the book to be a cultural, spiritual, and practical guide to those who will come behind us. The third reason was for those that have always been interested in the intrinsic details of foreign missionary lives. I offer this candid missionary memoir as a means to open the door to seeing us as human, exposing struggles and sharing victories.

Share a specific lesson God taught you through the writing process.

I wrote the first couple of chapters almost six years ago. Between a busy college ministry and an active family, it was difficult for me to know how to find the time I needed to make the writing effective. I always tried to give myself a selfimposed deadline, but being new at writing and knowing I was going to selfpublish did not help my need for discipline so lacking in the early formation of this book. Two years ago, after constantly reaming myself out for not getting serious and lamenting to my family that I needed to get this book done, they rallied around and helped me carve out more substantial amounts of time for serious writing. Discipline was the key word for me in the writing process. As I attempted to write, I realized just how undisciplined I was for a specific task. Throughout my ministry, I had always flitted from one thing to another. This took extraordinary effort to stay put, stay to task. God stretched me through this process.

What is your favorite section, chapter, or story?

Any of Gladys, the white hen, stories are some of my favorite and also are favorites of my readers. So much was learned from the life of this African hen and the raising of her chicks. I share one of those stories on my website.

Has having your book in print enabled you to share the gospel or encourage someone in any special way?

More than I could ever imagine! A friend of mine recently interviewed me and posted on her blog about some of the ways that my readers have been touched. You can read it here.

Do you have plans, ideas, or dreams for any future publications?

Yes, In Every Place, is already written, now in the editing phase. It is the continuation and completion of the story of our African ministry (1991 – 2002). After that? I have several ideas swirling in this random brain of mine! Stay tuned.

Who would be interested in reading your book?

Anyone who loves a good missionary story. Anyone heading towards a mission field. Anyone in a church that supports missionaries. Anyone who loves adventure and the intrinsic nuances of West Africa.

How can someone obtain a copy of In This Place?

It is in paperback or in ebook format

For more about Kim and her ministry at UNC, you can find her on the web or on her blog.

For the last two weeks hundreds of students have been walking past our literature table on their way to the University bookstore. Many have stopped to talk about God.

Recently I had a lively dialogue with Tatiana, who believes that the genre of Genesis 1 is poetry, which legitimizes her believing the Bible and evolution.

Conner, an atheist and philosophy major, stopped by the table and willingly discussed the truths of God’s Word.

Ekash stood and asked astute questions for an hour. His facial expressions implied he didn’t know there were bona fide answers to his questions.

Joel, a former Mormon and now atheist, stopped to dialogue with me as well.

The literature table and other ministry outreach gives us the opportunity to meet souls from around the world, including Amy and her husband whom we met at our English class. Every year is different on campus, but we recognize that only God can open doors of opportunity to share Jesus with our students. In these coming weeks as we ‘live‘ at the University, we desire “That the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified” (II Thes. 3:1).

Tom and Nancy Miller serve at The University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado.