Well?
It’s been some time since our last update and many have asked us where 
we are in the process of moving to England. It was January 2013 when it all started. That is when the subject came up that we should pray about being part of the work there. Tina and I spent a lot of time in prayer about it, and we visited with the pastor in Exeter in May 2013. He extended an invitation to us to come and we felt that the Lord was really knitting our hearts together in a sweet way. Tina and I felt very strongly that the Lord was in it and would be moving us to England. We were very excited. Last November we took a step of faith and went to the states to share the direction we felt the Lord was leading us in. There is a saying that you hear often around Calvary Chapel. It’s “Where God guides, God provides.” We believe it’s true. Since we shared what we thought God was doing, we asked people to pray and ask the Lord to provide the support necessary to live in England. Even though we had friends and family join us in supporting us in the work of the ministry, we did not see our monthly support increase.
I don’t presume to know the mind of God, but I like to think that He has been 
guiding through the circumstances. Our heart is still to be part of the work in England, however since the Lord has not provided, we have decided, at the very least, it’s not the right timing. We trust the Lord will open that door when His timing is right, but if He does not see fit to do it, our hearts are to serve Him and share the gospel wherever we may find ourselves.
William Carey, the great missionary to India, said, “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.” Charles Spurgeon said believers should attempt such great endeavors that if God isn’t in it, it’s doomed to failure. We believe that is what we have done. We’re very encouraged, we took a step of faith, it didn’t work out the way we thought it would, but God’s hand is in it.
It’s like what Paul experienced in Acts 16. Paul and Silas began Paul’s 
second missionary journey. It says they went through the region of Galatia and they were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit” to go into Asia. So they tried to go into Bithynia but “the Spirit did not permit them.” Then Paul had a vision of the Macedonian Man who asked him to “Come over and help us.” That’s when Paul set off towards Philippi.
Paul had an idea what he thought the Lord was doing, where He was leading when they set out, but he allowed the Lord to direct through the circumstances, not insisting on going where he wanted to go. As a result Lidia was saved along with the Philippian jailer and the church at Philippi was planted. He attempted to go one way and was stopped. He attempted another direction and was blocked. So he went the only way that was left for him to go, and great things came out of it in time.
It’s amazing how the Lord moves and guides us as His followers, as we seek His heart. I often think of Acts 16, as I seek to discern the Lord’s leading for us. All that to say this, we are putting England on the back burner. When and if the Lord open’s that door, we’re going to jump through it, but we will not force our will in the issue. I hope you rejoice with us in knowing the Lord is guiding, even if it’s through closed doors instead of open ones.
We have other good news to report to you. Calvary Chapel Ansbach is experiencing a sweet move of God.
Sundays are growing with new people and couples making CC Ansbach their home church. I’ve been really excited about the believers that God has been bringing our way. God has been bringing people who have a hunger and a heart to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus, and many of them have a heart to join in the work.
The Wednesday Night Discipleship study has been deep and rich. It has really become the meat and potatoes of CC Ansbach. God is blessing both studies and anointing the simple teaching of his Word.
We are looking into and praying that God will supply a place for us to meet in the Ansbach city center. We have contacted the YMCA in Ansbach and have formally requested they consider allowing us to use a couple rooms on Sunday mornings. They said they would make a decision around the end of the month.
On the personal front, Ashley and Elijah have been here for a 
month and plan on staying another month with us. They had to leave Jordan to get another visa. They also brought their puppy, Hugo. He’s a bundle of non-stop energy. This week Elijah is in Ireland speaking at Calvary Chapels in Cork, Waterford and Dublin hoping to raise support for their work.
Austin is returning from England July 30th. He has finished two semesters and a summer of service at Calvary Chapel Bible College York and is praying about going to the new Calvary Chapel Bible College in Nepal. It will be a great joy to have the entire family in one place again.
Bryan is doing well and praying the Lord will open doors for him to return to the states to start his college education.
My new job is a blessing and I really enjoy going to work, however I am busier now than ever before. There is another mile stone in our lives coming up too. Tina and I will be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this September. I’m looking forward to seeing the Lord allow us a few days to get away. Tina and I need a time of rest and to just spend quality time together. I’ll let you know what the Lord does for us to get us some time away.
Please continue to pray for us, our family and Calvary Chapel Ansbach. Pray that our marriage and family would bring glory to our Savior; that our lives would be consumed by the Lord; that God would overwhelm us with His presence; that our walks would be worthy of His calling; that we would be a light and a witness for Christ and that Jesus would be able to freely express His life through ours. Please pray that the Lord would give Calvary Chapel Ansbach a place to meet in the city center; that He would give us gifted worship leader; that He would raise up a children’s ministry team, and that He would give us His heart for outreach to Ansbach and the American Military community in the area.
Posted in Update by Mike Thiemann with comments disabled.