As you receive this letter, Pam, Bethany and I are in Kenya. This is the first time Pam and Bethany have been in Kenya since 2004. Through a generous gift from a church, we will be able to visit friends and ministries from our past when we were there serving as missionaries.

Here are some updates about what is going on around the Mission Office and information from the recent September Fellowship meeting. First of all, Craig Stevenson has returned to serve in the Mission Office. I am glad he is back; he will assist me with promoting missions among the students in our colleges and many other things as an Associate Mission Director.  Secondly, we finalized the changes to the TEAM program as we sought to clarify its purpose by dividing it into two programs – Intern Missionary Program and Beyond Borders. You will be hearing more about these in the near future. Also, the new World Initiative Network (WIN) program was finalized. This will allow the Mission Office to serve and process funds for people who want to come alongside missionaries primarily in support roles. There will be a fee for this processing. Check it out at www.worldinitiativenetwork.org. Soon, we will be sending out the details to all the churches and missionaries. Third, we have some new options to offer our missionaries in regard to the Disability Program. Brian Garrison will be writing to all of you about this.

At the September Meeting, we saw two couples approved as career missionaries. They are the Grants to Hong Kong and the Trills to Thailand. They did a great job in their interviews and expressing their call and burden for their respective countries and people. We look forward to working with them for many years. Please pray for them as they complete their deputation process.

Finally, I have been burdened and praying for our missionaries as you face a strong adversary. Yes, the verses in Ephesians 6 come to mind – especially verses 10 and 12. Spiritual warfare can be intense, but God’s grace enables you to stand against Satan’s attacks. No doubt Satan has accused, overwhelmed, and assaulted missionaries in an effort to keep you from reaching people for Christ. He hates that you are shining light where you are, and He wants to discourage you by any possible attack. I am sure we could come up with a long list of things the devil uses against missionaries.

I recently read that Martin Luther reported that his “conflict with Satan became so intense that at one point it was as if he could see him. In anger over Satan’s incessant attacks, Luther picked up his inkwell and threw it at him. It hit the wall with a resounding crash, splattering ink throughout the room. The stains remained for many years, reminding all who saw them of how vivid spiritual conflict can be.”

You may not have experienced anything like the intensity of Martin Luther’s conflict, but I know spiritual warfare is just as real for you as it was for him. I know of many ways Satan is attacking our missionaries and in some cases from all sides at once. In verse 12, Paul used the word “wrestle” which speaks of life-and-death, hand-to-hand combat—the kind Jesus Himself experienced while on earth. He met opposition and persecution at every turn. The same was true of Paul and the other apostles as they dealt with Jewish leaders, heathens, sorcerers, and demon-possessed people who tried everything possible to frustrate their ministry efforts.

Do you feel those kinds of attacks and frustrations? Satan’s attacks may seem overwhelming at times, but don’t be discouraged. They are a defeated enemy’s desperate efforts to cause damage on the missionary force. The Lord will strengthen and protect you, just as He has protected missionaries before you. Therefore, let me encourage you to “be strong in the Lord and the power of His might!”

Your friend,

Jon Konnerup