I made it back safely from my trip to Zambia. It was a joy to visit with most of the missionaries faithfully serving there. I enjoyed visiting in their homes with them and then also meeting and spending time with many of their national leaders. They are very eager to reach their country with the Gospel and to do more in world missions. It was a blessing to speak for a new building dedication and speak to two young men being ordained for the ministry. Many of them accepted the challenge to pray every day at 9:38 for more laborers.

Another awesome thing I got to do was pet and walk with a couple of lions. That was a first for me. There were times where I was a little nervous, but I came through it and now have the story to tell.

The transition to the new office software seems to be going well. A few have shared some issues they are dealing with, and we are working through those. Thanks so much for your patience during this time. Some of our staff are putting in many extra hours through this process, so please keep praying.

During the July 4^th holiday we will be closed on the 3^rd and 4^th. Since the first working day of July falls on Monday, July 3, and some of you contact the office on or about the first working day of each month to arrange various fund transfers, we wanted to let you know that our finance staff will not be available to accommodate those transactions until returning to the office on Wednesday, July 5.  Please note – monthly wire transfers will be completed on Friday, June 30 by 12:00 noon. Thank you for your understanding. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need to make special arrangements regarding any financial transactions.

In a few weeks we have our annual Advanced Mission Training (formerly called Candidate School) with 21 in attendance. We look forward to the personal time we get with the new missionaries and investing in their lives to help them with their future ministries. Would you pray for the missionaries to be able to retain and remember all that is presented? Would you pray for those of us who will be presenting the many aspects of world missions and relating those to them personally?

While in Zambia I came across the statue of David Livingstone near the Victoria Falls. So, I read up on him again and some of the attributes of his life as an explorer and missionary. I found some information that gave some insight to Livingstone’s life. 

Sir Henry Stanley traveled to Africa in 1872 to find Dr. David Livingstone. He had lost contact with the European community. After finding him, Stanley spent several months with Livingstone, who by that time was an old man. Apparently, Livingstone didn’t say much to Stanley about spiritual things. He just continued about his life with the Africans. Stanley noticed that throughout the months he watched him, Livingstone’s habits, especially his patience, were beyond his comprehension. Stanley could not understand Livingstone’s sympathy for the pagan Africans, who had wronged Livingstone many times. For the sake of Christ and His gospel, David Livingstone was patient, untiring, and eager. He spent himself for his Master.

In Stanley’s account “How I Found Livingstone”, he wrote, “His religion is not of the theoretical kind, but is a constant, earnest, sincere practice. It is neither demonstrative nor loud, but manifests itself in a quiet practical way, and is always at work. . . . In him religion exhibits its loveliest features; it governs his conduct not only towards his servants but towards the natives . . . and all who come in contact with him.”

If the world could see a clear picture of Jesus Christ through the unity in our churches and the humble, gentle, and patient people, our evangelism would expand much quicker!

May we all live in a way that glorifies God and attracts others to the Savior. That’s my goal every day. Thanks for taking time to read this letter. Have a wonderful July!

Your friend,

Jon Konnerup