November 2011 Update

Hello friends,

We want to welcome to our support team and praise the Lord for First Baptist Church in Waverly, IA.  We had a great time back in September meeting with this church and their missions committee, and we look forward to the relationship we will build with them over the years.  We have also gained two individual supporters since our last update.  Together that brings our new support numbers up to 39%, oops, we miscalculated, 38%.

For those that are interested in our total numbers we have 11 supporting churches and 5 supporting families.  The average church support is $195/month and the average family support is $31/month.  At those averages we need 18 more churches and 2 more families to reach 100% of full support (which is $5863/month).

We know of one more church in Iowa voting this next week about supporting our ministry.  Please pray for wisdom and direction for this church in their voting.

We are still praying that we would be at 60% by the beginning of January so we could attend Launch seminar.  We know that the Lord is capable of bringing in the needed support to make this a reality.  So please pray for His will in meeting this goal.  

We spent the month of October ministering in eight churches in central Florida.  Yes, the weather was beautiful, being in the low 80's most of the time we were there.  However, because of a few days of rain before our arrival, the mosquitos decided to welcome us, as well. That wasn't much of a problem for Jim, Sarah or Cornelia. But, for some reason, the mosquitos really found Josefine to be a hearty meal. Now that we're home, when Josefine goes to bed she says, with excitement, "No more mosquito bites! No more bandaids on my legs!"  Also, while we were there, she gained an acute awareness of the fact that Jesus' death on the cross was for her sins. She may not understand completely, but our hearts are thrilled when we hear her say, "Look, Mama! A Cross! Jesus died on it for my sins. And for your sins and Papa's sins and NaNa's (Cornelia's) sins, too!" 

Josefine's excitement about Jesus' death on the cross for our sins reminds us to be excited to share share such good news, as well! It IS something to be excited about and we're eager to see that message reach German hearts and see the excitement spread in Germany. Please pray for us as we seek God's wisdom in the steps He wants us to take and reaching that goal of 60% by the beginning of January.

Jim & Sarah Engle

God is Providing!

Exciting news! We're thrilled to welcome First Baptist Church of Waverly, as they join us in getting the Good News to Germany! :D With this, our support level is now up to 38%! Praise the Lord! 


We are so excited to watch God provide as only HE can and even more excited to see the loving and prayerful people that He is choosing to be a part of His plan for Germany!

Continue to pray for our co-workers, also on their way to Germany - Mark and Leslie Boyd and Crystal Buegel. Also, for Tim and Shelli Brudtkuhl (the couple we are planning on joining in Berlin) as they also look forward to God's direction following this furlough.

Again, we are truly grateful to God and to those serving Him by participating in missions by praying, giving and going!

Sarah - for the Engles

**as you may notice, the first paragraph is repeated in our Nov. 2011 Update post - I guess that means a) Jim posted one, and I posted another and b) we're just doubly excited about it!

Welcome Bible Baptist Church, Rantoul, IL

Dear prayer partners and supporters,

We are praising the Lord for His leading Bible Baptist Church in Rantoul, IL to add us to their missions family. We are excited about our new relationship and partnership in furthering the reach of the Gospel. We trust that many rewards and blessings will be added to their account through the ministry done through us.
With their added support, our new percentage is 35%. Please continue praying that God will raise the remaining support so that we can attend Launch Seminar in January (we must be at 60% in order to attend) and so that we can depart for Germany next summer.

Praising Him while we serve Him,
Jim.

--
Hebrews 10:23

September 2011

Hello praying partners,

It is a beautiful sunny 75 degree day as I write this update. I am home in Mingo, IA spending the day with my two daughters while Sarah is at the Ladies Retreat up at Iowa Regular Baptist Camp in Clear Lake, IA. She went with the ladies of Faith Baptist Church in Cambridge, IA (the church we attend here in Iowa). Please pray for this time of refreshment and encouragement.
Last update I talked about changing plans for both us and some friends. I would like to thank you for praying for our friends, the Clines, after the loss of their son. Please continue to pray for the Clines.
Also, I mentioned some car troubles we were having. Those troubles and the growing space needs of a growing family prompted us to start praying that the Lord would provide a minivan that would take us through the end of deputation. Two weeks later the Lord provided that van. Praise the Lord for His provision.
I also mentioned that finances were very tight. We know finances have been very tight for many people for quite a while now, and that many churches are struggling to meet their budget. Our own sending church has been struggling, being in southeast Michigan, and has had to cut a lot out of their budget. Please pray that God would provide the finances necessary to do His work all over this country.
Another missionary to Germany with BMM in his update this week mentioned that there is only two missionary couples and one single lady in Germany right now with BMM. There are three on deputation and three on furlough in the states. Pray for the ministry in Germany. Pray also that God would raise up more people to serve in Germany.
A church we presented at two weeks ago is voting this coming Sunday about supporting our ministry. Please pray that God would direct their decision according to His will.

Here is our upcoming itinerary:

Sept 18: Hagerman Baptist, Waterloo, IA
Sept 19-21: Minnesota state conference, Faribault, MN
Sept 25: First Baptist, Waverly, IA
Sept 28: Evangel Baptist, Taylor, MI
Oct 2: First Regular Baptist, Kansas City, MO
Oct 9: Shepherd Road Baptist, Mulberry,FL
Oct 12: Starkey Road Baptist, Largo, FL
Oct 19: Maranatha Baptist, Sebring, FL
Oct 21-23: Evangel Baptist, Brandenton, FL Nov 6: Grace Baptist, Labelle, FL
Dec 4: Mt. Ayr Regular Baptist, Mount Ayr, IA
Dec 14: Calvary Baptist, Union, IA

Thank you for your continued prayer,
Jim, Sarah, Josefine and Cornelia

July 2011

Hello praying partners,

I am writing this update from Iowa City, IA after an exciting week of Vacation Bible School with Faith Baptist Church. Sunday night is the closing program, so we get one more opportunity to reach out to these children and an opportunity to talk with their parents. We had the privilege of working in the primary department all week as well as a daily missionary time at the end of the day. There was a high of 57 primary children and only 4 were regular attenders at the church. Every day there were several that received counseling about salvation, and I had the privilege to pray with 4 different children as they received Christ as their Savior. What a joy and blessing that was! And then to watch these new children of God start to grow as the week progressed was another blessing. We originally were not going to be able to stay for the closing program because we already had another church scheduled for this Sunday, over 5 hours away. But as it worked out those plans were changed, which made it possible for us to remain in town in order to participate in the closing program.

It seems as though the last several weeks have been filled with other examples of changing plans. Some minor. And some major. Some ours. And some others.

First, on July 2, dear close friends of ours woke up to find that one of their 3 month old twin boys had died in his sleep. What a heart ache as the plans they had for him disappeared. We spent as much time and energy as we could over that next week reaching out to them. We participated in the funeral and attended the viewing and burial and gathered with the family as much as possible. Through it all, the Lord has given them the grace to praise Him. Please pray for our friends, the Clines.

Second, on the day of the burial we found out that plans have changed for a fellow missionary family to Germany and they not be returning to the field. Please pray that more missionaries would come to Germany.

Third, the next week we had planned to drive to Cleveland for the BMM annual conference as the kick off to returning to the road after having Cornelia. Our departure was delayed because Sarah got an abscess on her right tonsil, which required her to receive strong antibiotics, and the doctors said we should not leave the area because follow up visits may be required. He said if things didn't clear up by Wednesday of that week then further testing would be required. So we changed our plans. Praise the Lord that Sarah is better.

Fourth, this week our car added two more significant problems to its growing list. So my evening plans of getting some rest after VBS had to change for a couple of days in order to work on the car. It already had transmission issues which will eventually require an overhaul. This week the ABS and traction control started acting up. Plus, the car overheated several times. I was able to spend an evening with some men from the church, one of them being a mechanic, and flush the cooling system. That took care of the overheating issue. When I return home I will need to have the other issues looked at. Please pray for wisdom to fix these issues safely.

Fifth, finances have become tighter than originally planned and we have had to change plans several times because of that. We are praying about ways to help lessen the financial strain. Please pray that our finances would normalize.

Through all these changed plans we are reminded of the words of Jeremiah 29:11 "I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare[and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

Thank you for your prayers,
Jim, Sarah, Josefine and Cornelia

Missionary Bergen says . . .

Dear Pastor and Church Family,

Greetings from Germany! It is a privilege to be involved in what the Lord is doing. God is working here in Germany. In the past several years we have seen two churches “graduate” from missionary status and have national leadership supported by their churches. Another church will join their ranks this summer.

At our last ministry team meeting, we were thirteen adults, nine of whom are well into our fifties. Our ministry team is in need of new, younger members who can carry on the ministry of Baptist Mid- Missions in Germany into the future.

We were excited when we heard of Jim and Sarah Engle answering the Lord’s call to serve Him in Germany with our team. Jim and Sarah were involved in the outreach we had during the World Cup soccer tournament here in 2006. We feel that they will be a valuable asset to the church planting ministry in Berlin, where they feel that the Lord wants them.

On behalf of our team in Germany, I would ask you to please pray for Jim and Sarah. Pray about inviting them to share their burden for Germany with your church family. Pray about you as a church family assisting Jim and Sarah with their monthly support and with their outfit and passage fund, which covers initial expenses getting to and beginning their ministry in Germany. Pray that the Lord will enable Jim and Sarah to soon be able to “come over and help us.”

Thank you for your consideration in helping Jim and Sarah. May the Lord richly bless you and your church family as you serve Him together.

In Christ,


Burdette Bergen
Team Leader
Baptist Mid-Missions Germany Ministry Team

Pastor Janke says . . .

Dear Pastor:

It is with great pleasure that I recommend the Engles to you. I have known Jim for over ten years. My first experience with him was during the time I served as an instructor at Northland International University and then more recently in my current role as a Pastor.
As a student, I found Jim to be a teachable individual who had a desire to understand truth and pursue God’s will for his life. Jim also attended Grace Baptist Church where I was serving in a leadership capacity. Jim was faithfully involved in the ministries of the church and often helped behind the scenes with many projects.
Upon his graduation, Jim attended Faith Baptist Bible College to pursue further education. During this time, Jim became a part of our church family, driving almost an hour to be involved. Our people quickly bonded with Jim as he displayed a humble spirit and kind attitude. It was normal to find out Jim had helped someone who needed something fixed around their property or that he simply offered a helping hand with farm chores. He was faithful in ministering in our services as well, helping out however he was needed. His teaching was personal, text based, and well received by our folks. I learned from his teaching as God used him in my life.
My observation of Jim is that he is a person who is committed to being accurate with God’s Word and desires to communicate its truth to others. He is not one who quits in difficult circumstances but continues forward, trusting God’s plan and provision. Our church family has been excited to be one of the first to support the Engles and we look forward to seeing how God will use them in Germany.

Walking in His Grace,
Rev. John Janke
Senior Pastor
FELLOWSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH
211 W. 13th Street
Tama, IA 52339
641.484.5248
Serving Christ for God’s glory and others’ good.

June 2011

Thank you for your prayers over the months and years of our deputation. I cannot imagine attempting a deputation ministry without knowing that there are so many praying for God's direction. Hopefully, as we continue to serve the Lord in missions, our relationship with you will continue to grow and deepen as we continue to depend on your supplication for us and our ministry. Please feel free to email us any of your prayer needs and concerns. We want to feel just as much a part of your ministry/family as you are of ours.

We are nearing the end of the break we took for Cornelia's birth and necessary family adjustment. Cornelia is adjusting to a somewhat regular schedule. And mom and I try to sneek in naps whenever possible. As we look forward to summer meetings and traveling please pray that we get the rest we need to guide our family in the ways of the Lord.

Two weeks ago we participated in Faith Baptist Church Cambridge's VBS as normal members (not missionaries). I am led the puppet ministry and was the "crew chief" for the Junior class. There were around 60 children coming. Sunday night was the closing service. Please pray that the parents that came will respond to Christ.

Below is our itinerary for the upcoming months:
July 11-14 BMM annual conference Cleveland, OH
July 17 Faith Baptist, Iowa City, IA
July 18-22 VBS Faith Baptist, Iowa City, IA
July 24 Heritage Baptist, Berlin, WI
July 31 Calvary Baptist, Union, IA
Aug 7 Calvary Baptist, Chatfield, MN
Aug 8-12 attend family camp IRBC, Clear Lake, IA
Aug 14 Faith Baptist, Brainerd, MN
Aug 28 Bible Baptist, Rantoul, IL
Sept 7 Calvary Baptist, Derby, KS
Oct 2 First Regular Baptist, Kansas City, MO
Oct 9 Shepherd Road Baptist, Mulberry, FL
Oct 12 Starkey Road Baptist, Largo, FL
Oct 19 Maranatha Baptist, Sebring, FL
Nov 6 Grace Baptist, Labelle, FL

If you or someone you know will be in the area of any of these meetings we would love to see you/them. Please pray for these meeting opportunites for God to work in the lives of those in attendance. You never know when or how God will call someone into His service. Please pray also that I can schedule more meetings to finish the year.

Thank you again for your prayers. May the Lord bless you as you pray for others.

May 2011

We are currently home in Mingo, IA awaiting the arrival of our second daughter, Cornelia. She is due on May 4th (this coming Wednesday), but could arrive at any moment. The doctors have been watching this pregnancy closer than with Josefine, because Sarah has gestational diabetes this time. So the doctors do not want the baby to get too big. Please pray for a safe and timely delivery of a healthy Cornelia.

It seems as though this is the first real break we have had since we left for Washington last June. We spent most of the summer on the road, traveling from Iowa to Washington (State, not D.C.) to New York to Michigan back to Iowa. Then the Fall we were in Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan for church meetings and state fellowship conferences. The winter and this spring has been filled with meetings from those conference contacts. We've just completed another round of spring conferences to make more contacts. I am currently scheduling meetings in Kansas City, KS and Florida for this October/November. Please pray that I will fill up the rest of the calendar with meetings.

We've had some promising meetings recently with churches that are real potentials for partnering with us. Please pray that the Lord will direct in those churches as they consider their involvement with us.

Although we have not been informed of any new support this year, we are very thankful that two supporting churches have increased their support of us. We are now at 31.8%. Please pray that the we can be at 60% by the beginning of September 2011 so we may attend the Launch Seminar at BMM (the second half of candidate seminar). And Lord willing be leaving for Germany some time next year.

Sarah and I have recently been talking to each other about our desire to reach out to the little town of Mingo. It is hard to get to know people here because you hardly ever see anybody. But we have gotten to meet a few people. Please pray "that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ . . . that [we might] make it manifest, as [we] ought." Col 4:3,4

Prayer Requests and Thoughts of the Heart

1. Our Family - that God would strengthen our marriage through His Word and give wisdom as we point Josefine (and soon, Cornelia) toward living for God and loving Him with all her heart. Pray that Jim and I would be examples to her and others of a devoted heart to living a life that glorifies Him!

2. Our Ministry - that we would take opportunties to minister to those around us, encouraging fellow believers and challenging one another toward godliness. Pray that God would give safety and wisdom in our travels, and that we would follow His leading for opportunities to present in new churches. We will be in IL, MN and FL this spring. Our trip to FL is for a Women's Quartet (Forever Be Sure) that Sarah is singing with. Perhaps God will have some contacts for us in FL through this music ministry.

3. Our Faith - that God would give us Faith to continually trust Him for the provisions He has designed for us. Pray that we would allow God to USE our circumstances to bolster our faith in Him, despite how bleak or bright those circumstances are. Pray that we would allow the Holy Spirit to guard and fill us, that we may be a testimony of God's faithfulness to one another and point them to a God Who can be trusted!

Thoughts of the Heart

God has used some circumstances, as of late, to show us how truly deceitful our hearts can be (Jer. 17:9) and how our hearts are set toward evil, unless we prepare our hearts to seek Him (2 Chron 12:13-14), but how HE can give healing and hope. When we allow God to search us and know our hearts (Psalm 139:23), He is faithful to reveal the truth of our hearts. When our hearts are tender toward Him, and we are truly repentant of the sin within, God allows us to restore a right relationship with Him and our loved ones again (2 Chronicles 34:26-28). We are learning, that when we seek HIS counsel, our hearts are filled with HIS wisdom and our hearts are no longer slaves to deception...we can be led by God's wisdom, even in dark times, when we often question our hearts fleshly motives...God will BLESS us when we seek Him and give us a heart that truly seeks Him when the way seems dark (Psalm 16:7).

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope." Psalm 16:9