Reformed Missions

MERF: Ministry in the Context of War (August 2026 newsletter)

Christ forewarned that there would be “wars and rumors of wars” and called his followers not to become alarmed, but to understand that these are “the beginnings of birth pains.” (Matthew 24:6-8). Indeed, armed conflict causing instability, displacement, destruction, all kinds of other sufferings and death has been a repeated theme affecting the lives of millions throughout the world and in recent times especially in the Middle East and Muslim lands. Yet, we still see that the gracious hand of our sovereign Savior/King overcomes human depravity and evil. MERF’s gospel ministries began amidst armed conflict in the mid-1970s in Lebanon, and thus relocated in the early 1980s to the island of Cyprus. In the Lord’s providence, this led to a broader vision of biblical training for Arab and other Christian spiritual leaders in Muslim lands by publishing sound literature and basic biblical training courses in several locations. For decades, in partnership with faithful local churches, MERF’s evangelism in Arabic and a dozen other native languages via radio, and later the internet, with personal follow-up has been used for the spiritual birth and nurture of countless lives often in the context of war. The unsung heroes are the local pastors, evangelists, elders, deacons, Sunday school teachers and other faithful Christians who bring the living hope in Christ to their neighbors during the sufferings of armed conflict. South Sudan Please pray for the hundreds of South Sudanese church leaders trained in MERF’s Ministry Center just over the border in Lokichoggio, Kenya who now serve their own people in communities across the vast country of South Sudan, even in the middle of an unresolved on-again-off-again civil war over political power and natural resources. Nuer language broadcasts also provide the gospel message of Christ, the Prince of Peace.

Sudan Tragically, flowing with the Nile to the north in largely Muslim Sudan, greed for its rich resources split the military into rival factions in 2023 which unleashed a destructive and deadly conflict in heavily populated civilian areas wreaking havoc and creating refugees fleeing in every direction. The conflict continues today in other areas of Sudan, but the government has regained the capital, Khartoum where Christians have returned to find biblical training institutions ransacked or destroyed by the warring factions. MERF supports efforts to continue faithful biblical training. A Sudanese pastor shares: Amid the fires of war the church in Sudan plays a vital role as a spiritual anchor and a provider of humanitarian relief during times of conflict with “Word and Deed” ministry: Transforming church buildings into shelter centers and providing food, clean water, and medicine to displaced people—Christians and Muslims alike—without discrimination. Sustaining worship and preaching hope and peace to strengthen the resilience of believers amidst displacement and trauma... Pastoral visits reach the scattered flock and provide emergency financial aid to local pastors facing war hardship… Countering false prophets and the false “prosperity gospel” that exploit the poverty and vulnerability of war victims… Emphasizing the sufficiency of Scripture (Sola Scriptura) and proper hermeneutics to establish youth and leaders upon biblical truth. Lebanon At the eastern end of the Mediterranean, north of Israel, Lebanon is an Arabic-speaking country of mixed heritage with freedom of religion and home to many Christians. It has also suffered successive armed conflicts and invasions from its southern neighbor causing destruction of communities and thousands of deaths and injuries. A Lebanese pastor shares: In bordering villages, at least three churches were closed: Alma Shaab, Deir Mimas and Tyre. Their members were displaced… church members lost their houses which were shelled or bombarded. We praise our Lord Jesus Christ for the muti-faceted ministry of our beloved MERF, who has had several diaconal projects to our church members in those areas. Another Lebanese pastor reports: The Lord has blessed us with the salvation of several families and young men and women. On July 12, 2026 twelve people were baptized. Three of the young men, from non-Christian backgrounds, fled Syria in 2011 because of war. They enrolled in a school where believers taught. The mother had warned them not to listen to anything religious about Christianity. They later testified that what had a profound impact on their lives was the faithfulness and lives of the believers, who reflected the glory of Jesus Christ. Pray for lasting peace in these countries and for Christians scattered as refugees and for those who remain as a witness in their homeland.

Vermeulens with MAF: Wet Season has Arrived!

Typically our flights take us pretty directly from departure to destination... but on a recent Wednesday that wasn't the case. With the onset of wet season, big storm systems build up quickly on the African plains. As I departed Juba I was confronted with one such system, which required some careful navigation to get around. Thankfully after much maneuvering, I made it safely to our destination. Soon after landing the storm rolled over the airfield, and we were forced to take cover and wait it out. After a few hours delay and plenty of rain, we were airborne once more to continue the day. Despite what the pictures might suggest, this wet season has seen much less rain than normal. Crops that were planted are not growing well, and there is much concern about drought and food shortages next year. Please pray that God would provide sufficient rain so that crops can grow, and farmers can provide for their families!

A New Era for Mission in Mexico

This blog has been rather quiet in recent months, but it was not for lack of news. New contacts continue to be made. Visits and on-going gospel conversations continue to be had. The faithful preaching of the Word is carried out. A new teaching series on the Heidelberg Catechism has been started. Prayer meetings continue to bless the congregation. Kids clubs are held on a regular basis. And that is only a quick snapshot of the work. But perhaps the most “new” development in the work is the addition of co-labourers: Marc and Hannah Vermeulen. Together with their two young boys, Marc and Hannah have been steadily progressing through the preparation and training stage of missionary work. They still have a ways to go, mainly nine months of language acquisition in Costa Rica, but they have been spending the last couple weeks with us here in Querétaro. One of the blessings of having them join us for several weeks before they head further south is that it has given us a glimpse of what it will be like to have two families on the field together. Up to this point, our family has been the sole mission workers. By no means do I mean we have been working alone. Quite to the contrary. God has richly blessed us with the help of all sorts of people from many different countries and churches. That has been a real joy for us – to see who God will place on our path to help us do what we, on our own, could not do. Having said that, it will be different to have another family who is working alongside us in the same mission. We have seen that already in a few weeks together, particularly with the recent Vacation Bible School we ran. We were able to share the load of all the preparation, planning, cleaning and more that goes with a week-long outreach, and that was a blessing. Also, when Annemarie was sick on Sunday, we had an accompanist to fill in for her!

It has also been exciting to think about how having two men on the field could open up new possibilities for the work. At the moment, much of my time is spent on discipleship in the church and it can be challenging to find time for evangelism and following up on contacts. With two men sharing the work-load it will free up time for more outreach and more gospel-conversations on the streets and in the shops of our neighbourhood. As we think about the future and make plans for a “new era” in Mission in México, it is also important to remember that while man makes his plans, God is the One who makes things happen. Whether it is one missionary family on the field or dozens, we will still bump up against our human limitations and neediness. We still are in utter dependence on God to open hearts to the gospel; transform minds with the knowledge of Christ; strengthen mustard-seed faith; and build up His church into the stature of Christ. Such dependence is vital to any mission work and must continue to be at the center of our ministry, no matter the size or capabilities of our team.

Mulders in Moresby

After months of no rain we finally received significant precipitation last Thursday. For a bit over 2 hours the rain tumbled down and our spirits soared. What an amazing experience. When your drinking water is harvested from your own roof into 2 x 9000L tanks and you watch that level go down to about 1000L, your prayers increase in intensity. And God heard our prayers and blessed us with beautiful drenching rain. Being the first rain meant we needed to clear out our leaf baskets so that we could maximise our “catch”, which was fun to do. Rain in the tropics isn’t cold and so getting drenched was a joy. The children, too, had a blast, running and sliding over the ground. The joy on everybody’s faces was great to see and I won’t forget it for quite a while. For Liz and me, the reality of leaving the field is becoming very real. With less than three months remaining, there is much to do. We ask for your prayers: that our planning will be blessed, that we will remain calm and patient with one another, that we will say meaningful farewells, that we will look to the future with confidence even though we do not yet know what comes next, and that we will never forget God has everything in hand.

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 With much love, Mark and Liz

Vermeulens with MAF - Cattle Raids and Revenge Killings

For many South Sudanese, cattle are more than just animals, more than just a source of food. They are highly valued as a display of wealth and a source of income. And so they are at the heart of the South Sudanese culture and communities. Unfortunately, this often leads to violence as different tribes clash in violent cattle raids. Cattle raids often lead to revenge killings as communities seek retribution for lost cattle and those that have been killed. It's a cycle that goes on and on, leaving many dead and communities shattered. We regularly read reports such as this one below: Intercommunal Violence: Clashes between Luanyjang and Jalwau cattle keepers have reportedly left 50 people dead in Tonj East County following recent violence. The clashes reportedly involved an attack on a cattle camp in Makier, Wunlit Payam, with cattle looted. Casualties were reported at 34 among the allied Jalwau and Akook communities and 16 among the Luanyjang, with many others injured or missing. Although both sides had reportedly withdrawn and the situation was calm, tensions remained high amid fears of retaliatory attacks. In this particular case, these cattle raids and revenge killings went on for weeks. MAF supports missionaries working in this area, and they had been forced into lockdown due to the ongoing violence. Thankfully, the situation calmed down enough that we were able to fly in, pick up the missionary family and get them out to safety in Juba - where they could wait out the unrest before Lord willing returning to serve again. This particular village is about a 1 hr. 30 min. flight from Juba. Driving to the same location would take about 2 full days of driving on rough and dangerous roads. This is exactly why MAF is needed here in South Sudan. To connect these remote locations to Juba and the outside world, allowing families such as this one to serve remote communities with the love of God. Thank you for supporting our work with MAF, so that we can in-turn support these missionaries in their valuable work!

Vermeulens with MAF: A Rainbow over Torpuot

A little over a year ago we shared this story: A Night in the Village of Torpuot. That night in Torpuot was encouraging as I got to see how Every Village was working to share the gospel on this remote frontier. We asked for prayer then, that the construction of the radio station would continue, so that locals in the surrounding area would hear the Gospel in their heart language. But God had other plans. Shortly after my visit, the SPLM-IO (Opposition Army) attacked the SSPDF (Government Army) stationed at nearby Nasir (see photos). This incident led to widespread conflict across the country - pushing the country to the edge of civil war. As a result of this initial conflict in Nasir, the SSPDF responded with overwhelming force; bombing villages, destroying towns, and displacing civilians from their homes. This conflict is still unresolved - although the active fighting has significantly slowed. Unfortunately the village of Torpuot was also caught up in the retaliatory strikes. Shortly after the conflict started, the Every Village team made the decision to evacuate the area - for the safety of their staff. They took a few items, and fled up the river to Ethiopia. Soon after that the SSPDF destroyed Torpuot with aerial bombing, and marched through looting and destroying. The Every Village compound was not spared, and everything the team had worked so hard to build was destroyed. On a recent flight to the North-East I flew overhead Torpuot. As you can see in the photos - very little remains of the village. With almost no trace of what used to be the Every Village compound and airstrip. It's heartbreaking to see destruction on this scale - knowing that so many people have been affected and displaced by this conflict. Yet, on the same flight I was encouraged by a beautiful rainbow. A reminder of God's mercy and promise to preserve His people and His creation. Despite earthly 'setbacks', I was reminded that God is fully in control. Please join us in praying for the village of Torpuot - and so many more like it that have also been destroyed in the conflict. Please pray that God would bring this conflict to an end, and that once again the Gospel message can go out to these remote corners of South Sudan.

Mulders in Moresby

31st July 2026 Last year the College introduced a Walking Alongside a Pastor (WAP) programme, in which students are assigned to a pastor during the block breaks. The programme has proven to be highly successful and has been a blessing to everyone involved. Pastors have greatly appreciated the extra assistance, not only with outreach activities but also with the many practical tasks and manual labour that often remain unfinished because of the demands of pastoral ministry. Congregation members have valued the opportunity to get to know the College and its students more personally. Most importantly, the students gain invaluable firsthand experience of pastoral ministry, developing a much deeper appreciation for the responsibilities and commitments involved in serving Christ's church. Thanks to additional funding, we were able to extend the programme to our congregations north of the Owen Stanley Range by flying a student to serve there. Because of the significant cost involved, however, this opportunity is limited to second- and third-year RCPNG diploma students only. This year, student Iga was placed with the congregations at Wantun and Hila. Having been examined by Classis and granted permission to deliver an edifying word, he was also able to lead worship services during his visit. It was a very beneficial time for Iga and the 2 churches.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace” (I Peter 4:10) With much love, Mark and Liz

MERF: Ministry to Children in Indonesia

Indonesia is a very large southeast Asian nation made up of a multi-cultural string of islands. Although the vast majority of the more than 287 thousand Indonesians profess to be Muslim, pagan traditions are still strong. There is a significant minority of professing Christians. Over many generations, missionary work established many churches throughout the country. Although a quarter of the population are under 14 years of age, many churches give little or no attention to the spiritual growth of their children. Therefore, the Indonesian MERF ministry teams actively seek to provide children and young people with a good, strong foundation in God’s Word from an early age and to train up Sunday school and other teachers to do the same. Friends and neighbors from the wider community often join in the Sunday school activities, afterschool programs and other activities. Indonesian teams Indonesian MERF teams are based at the MERF ministry centers in the capitals of two major islands, Jakarta on Java island and Makassar on Sulawesi island. However, their ministries reach to faraway islands by both internet and radio. Also, teams travel long distances to organize in-person Bible camps and other gospel events for children, as well as to train up Sunday school teachers. Teacher training is also hosted at the MERF centers in Jakarta on Java island and Makassar on Sulawesi island. On Sulawesi island, for many years MERF has provided satellite children ministry centers to serve year round in four different locations in central Sulawesi. They receive children from the surrounding communities for afterschool learning programs and activities with Bible teaching. In recent months, one of these has had to close due to objections to Christian teaching by zealous members of the Muslim majority community. Last year, a new satellite children ministry center was added in a rural area of neighboring Kalimantan island. It has been enthusiastically embraced by the local community. Please pray for the gospel seeds planted to bear good fruit in each of these localities and for wisdom to faithfully, yet tactfully share Christ from God’s Word. In Malang, on Java island, there are also many opportunities for outreach to children and young people. The book entitled “Bible Doctrine for Younger Children” has been translated and printed. It is already being used by different schools in Kupang and Sumba island. Another entitled “Bible Doctrine for Teens and Young Adults” is under translation.

Summer Events Praise God for summer in-person events for children and Sunday School teacher training in distant locations. Pray for lasting fruit: Lampung, Sumatra island - Team Jakarta travels to give Joy Bible Camps and Sunday school teacher trainings for 4 churches: June 30-July 2 East Lampung & July 3-5 West Tulang Bawang, Mamasa, West Sulawesi - Team Makassar travels July 2-6 MERF Bible program for children and youth as well as Sunday School teacher training alongside biblical training seminars for a large gathering of elders and deacons. Lakoka, Sumba island - Team Jakarta traveled June 17-24 to give Joy Bible Camp & Sunday school teacher trainings for 4 churches -- This was a precious opportunity to encourage and build up the faithful witness of isolated churches. Bibles and Bible story books were distributed to each church. Christian families in Jakarta also sent outgrown children’s books for the library and clothing for needy children. Pastor Andri of Sumba island asked for prayer for more church leaders and Sunday school teachers to be raised up to serve satellite churches and the many children. Thank you for your fellowship and partnership in these vital gospel ministries among Indonesian peoples.

Vermeulens with MAF: Celebrating a new pilot!

One of our newest team members recently completed his first SOLO flight as a MAF pilot! It's the culmination of years of study and hard work. And we got to celebrate him with the traditional water dunking. I've spent a lot of hours flying with Jesse over the past year as he went through his training steps. See [A Day Full of Lessons](https://vermeulenswithmaf.epistle.org/updates/68ffb3f452a7de0dced7b68a). It has been a privilege to fly alongside him, see him grow as a pilot, and share a little of what I've learned flying here in South Sudan. It's an exciting time to see our team growing, and thinking about what God would have us accomplish here in South Sudan! We're always in need of more pilots such as Jesse. So if you, or someone you know is interested in learning more we'd love to have a conversation with you, and share more about what the life of a MAF pilot looks like! To learn more: https://maf.ca/recruiting/pilot

Turkana Evangelism

At the end of the 20th century, in the south of what was then Sudan, amidst the sufferings and displacement of civil war, huge numbers of tribal people abandoned paganism and confessed faith in Christ. This dramatic conversion of largely illiterate communities, in what is now South Sudan, created an acute shortage of spiritual leaders, with adequate knowledge of the Bible. The few trained pastors had to travel on a circuit every few days to minister in multiple towns and villages. So, in 2002, just south of the border in the more secure Lokichoggio, Kenya, MERF began constructing a ministry center for radio broadcasting and intensive Bible training courses. The first step in construction was to dig a well and MERF freely shared the precious water with the Turkana community living in simple huts nearby, as they still do today. Lokichoggio is the last outpost in rugged, semi-arid northwest Kenya, Turkana district. Due to the harsh climate, poor roads and a semi-nomadic subsistence lifestyle, Turkana tribal communities entered the 21st century isolated, illiterate, poor and largely unreached with the gospel. Kenya’s Turkana tribe and their cousins, the South Sudanese Toposa were known for fierce cattle raids against each other, often resulting in injuries and sometimes deaths. Water of Life In 2003, when the MERF Ministry Center opened in Lokichoggio, Kenya, with the first biblical training course for South Sudanese, Sunday worship services also began. It was a delightful surprise to see so many of the Kenyan Turkana community who freely drank from the safe well water at the gate also come in to drink from the living water of the gospel. Praise God that not only was a local Turkana congregation established that has grown and grown, but also through the years, a number of Turkana men have received intensive biblical training, graduating from MERF’s 3-month Augustine Program alongside the South Sudanese. Traditionally, Turkana follow the grazing of their herds of goats, sheep, cows, donkeys and/or camels. So, they are often on the move. Although, in towns paid labor opportunities have brought some changes. As most Turkana lack access to formal education, printed Bibles are less effective. MERF-trained local pastors, elders and evangelists focus on oral Bible storytelling, audio materials and Scripture songs to enable the Turkana community to easily grasp and remember God’s Word. Traditional church buildings are impractical for most Turkana communities, because they’re always moving. Therefore, ministry happens wherever the people are. It could be under a tree, in temporary shelter or a nearby school classroom. Evangelists often travel by foot or motorcycle to maintain contact with and minister to newly-planted congregations.

Turkana Congregations For several years MERF has aided in the support of four Turkana evangelists who have established four churches in Turkana communities south of Lokichoggio, two are in Lokichar area and two in Kalokol area, near Lake Turkana. The congregation that meets for Sunday worship at the MERF Lokichoggio Ministry Center is a little different. Although Sunday school is in the local language, the service is in English for the mixed tribal group of largely South Sudanese trainees worshipping with the local Turkana church. Evangelist Francis Ekuwon, translates to the Turkana language. He also leads midweek fellowship meetings in several Turkana village communities and catechizes those preparing for baptism. Recently, the fellowship in one of these village communities has grown to become a separate congregation meeting in a local school. So, MERF now also helps in the support of a 2021 Augustine Program graduate, Aaron Lochor, to serve the new church.

Peacemakers We are thankful that despite occasional friction between Kenyan Turkana and South Sudanese, MERF has built a good relationship with the wider Lokichoggio Turkana tribal community over many years through the witness of the Turkana congregation in Lokichoggio. The confidence of the wider Turkana community has also grown from MERF’s daily provision for Turkana families of water and grain in times of drought. MERF also provides education scholarships for some qualified Turkana students. Thus, opportunities to share the gospel have opened up among the Turkana living in a wider and wider radius from the MERF Center. Lokichoggio Evangelist Francis Ekuwon requests: Please pray for us Turkana of Kenya and Toposa from South Sudan to have a long-lasting peace. We are now more than one year and half since we signed a peace agreement. We rejoice that some Toposa nowadays come to fellowship with us at our church. “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them.” - Psalm 111:2

Mulders in Moresby

We are currently experiencing very dry conditions in Port Moresby, with no rainfall for approximately eight weeks. As a result, the student water tanks have been completely emptied, requiring us to purchase 18,000 litres of water. The long dry spell has highlighted our dependence upon the Lord’s provision, not only for our daily needs but also for the rain that sustains life and enables us to collect water for future use. We would appreciate your prayers that God would send much-needed rain soon and replenish the water supplies upon which the College depends. Though the dry weather is causing problems there has also been an unexpected benefit. Our kango patch sits on what is basically a swamp, and even after eight weeks without rain there is still enough moisture in the soil to keep it growing. A hand of kango that used to sell for PGK 1 now sells for PGK 2, and if the mamas are willing to take it to Gordons, they can often get PGK 4 per hand. What was once a modest little sideline has become quite a profitable venture for the students. It's a small reminder that even during a drought, God is still providing. Sometimes he does it in ways we never expected.

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19 With much love, Mark and Liz

Teachers for Juba Christian Academy

Schooling is one of the number one considerations when people come and go from the mission field. That is why we are extremely thankful for Juba Christian Academy, and for the hard work the teachers do instructing our children. Without JCA we, and a lot of other families, would not be able to serve in South Sudan. That is why it is critical for us to find new teachers for JCA, to replace others teachers that are departing. Please see the ad below and feel free to share widely! Are you creative, passionate about education, and excited to help build a school community where students can grow in faith, knowledge, and purpose? We’re looking for teachers who feel called to serve at Juba Christian Academy in sharing God’s love in South Sudan. We currently have exciting teaching opportunities available: Early Elementary Teacher: Starting in January 2027 Upper Elementary Teacher: An exciting opportunity to help develop educational provision from Grade 6 through Grade 8. Starting in August 2027 Head of School: Starting in 2027 If you’re ready for a meaningful adventure and want to play a part in shaping a growing school community, we would love to hear from you. Please use the links below for more information. https://jcasouthsudan.org/ https://teachbeyond.org/go/explore/opportunities-juba-christian-academy

Mulders in Moresby

30th May 2026 And just like that the month of May has come and gone. I’m glad I took a few photos during the month or I wouldn’t know what really happened. 😊 It was actually a quiet month without many dramas. We had one drama; one of our students, Maiso Jimby, developed a severe case of pneumonia and needed to be admitted to hospital so that his lung could be drained and so that he could have medication administered intravenously. Fortunately we have a “medical reserve” for exactly these situations which allows us to use the private hospital and get attention immediately. The public hospital really was not an option in this particular case. Maiso needed to stay in hospital for 5 days and we were asked to give blood to help boost his haemoglobin levels. So, I took 4 students and we all got checked out to see if we were compatible to Maiso’s blood. Unfortunately, none of us were a match so the hospital needed to use their dwindling blood bank supply. They must have found something because Maiso is now back at the college and in good spirits. We thank God that he blessed the treatment and allowed Maiso to make a good recovery.

“….Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1 : 9 With much love, Mark and Liz You can follow us on Instagram: Liz: liz_mulder Mark: MuldersInMoresby Our mailing address is: PO Box 590 Waigani Papua New Guinea

Van den Dolder update

The van den Dolders in PNG May 2026 Update Greetings from PNG! We tried to put work in the schools on hold this month while we prepared for the renovation of our house at the Bible College. Johan bought all the hardware and timber for the work throughout the month of May and did some prep work in time for his brother and friend (both trades-men from Australia) to come in the first week of June and finish as much as they can.

Our house is on stilts, and is currently a two bedroom, one bathroom which isn’t ideal for a growing family. The plan is to enclose the area under the house and put bedrooms downstairs, so that the upstairs area can be used for living and homeschool. We say we ‘tried’ to put schoolwork on hold, because there inevitably ended up being a few tasks to be done in addition to the ongoing administration work that Johan does. The public objection period for the Intent to Incorporate as an Association finished on the 17th of May. This meant Johan could finally, after one more visit to the District Court, submit our application to incorporate two of our schools. This process started early January and when the final application is accepted it will be an exciting step. It will mean that two of our schools will be officially recognised entities that are able to apply for corporate bank accounts and continue working towards becoming a permitted school. Another reason for thanks to our God is that the Southern River Mission Board approved a Mission Aid project which will see our teachers receive some assistance with their salaries. When we first arrived, we noted that our teachers were at risk of burnout with many of them (especially in the village schools) working for the last few years with close to no pay and with class sizes swelling larger every year. In villages where a person’s livelihood is their vegetable garden, we noted that teachers were finding it harder each year to support themselves. This is intended to be a short-term support that allows teachers to reduce their student numbers significantly without being financially ‘punished’ for it. In the meantime, we will work with the schools to improve their enrolment and school-fee collection policies and find ways to raise their own funds. Our colleagues, Tim and Alana Slaa, had a beautiful baby girl towards the end of May which meant that their two oldest daughters stayed overnight with us. This made for a busy week but we’re grateful to be part of a support system at the Bible College and it’s fun to see our ‘crowd’ of girls running amok on the college grounds.

All in all, we’ve been experiencing some stress over the last few months, and our kids are also feeling the strain of the changes they’ve experienced over the last year. However, we’re grateful for the blessings we continue to experience from God’s fatherly hand. The whole family is looking forward to finally being in our own house after living temporarily in guest housing/rentals since July 2025. Evelyn is also looking forward to having a dedicated homeschool space! As we’re writing this update a little late, the tradies have already arrived and are making good progress– it’s fun to see it all taking shape.

With thankfulness to God, we can also announce that we are expecting another baby, due DV in mid-November. Thankfully Evelyn has not experienced too much morning sickness aside from general tiredness and we’re grateful for God’s care so far over the pregnancy.

We left for home a little late from Bethel Christian school in Beretete last week, but we were privileged to experience this beautiful sunset on the “snake road” driving down to Port Moresby from Sogeri. We’re grateful for the blessings we experience living in such a beautiful part of God’s world.

We also look forward to spending two weeks in Australia for Johan’s sister’s wedding later in June. This means our renovation is on a tight schedule but we’re putting in the hard work now so that we can enjoy time with family stress-free ;) That’s all from us, please see some prayer points below. We’re grateful for your ongoing prayers and support. Johan & Evelyn, Ada, Phoebe & Matthew Prayer Points: - Thankful – The tradies are already in PNG working on the house, and we can look forward to settling into our own home over the next few weeks - Thankful – Evelyn’s pregnancy has been going well and we look forward to welcoming baby #4 in mid-November - Request – For God’s peace and blessing for our family while we settle into our new home - Request – for God’s continued blessing over the government processes which willsee our schools becoming permitted/registered schools

Brazil Newsletter

Thank You for Your Support! Pr. Jon Chase During the past few months I had the opportunity to visit several supporting churches across Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia while on furlough. It was a blessing to reconnect with many brothers and sisters and to share about the Lord’s work in Brazil. Thank you to everyone who attended the presentations, welcomed us so warmly, and continue to support this mission with your prayers. We are grateful for your encouragement and partnership in the work of the gospel.

Conference in João Pessoa Mission Worker Br. Chris Boersema Last year we attempted twice to organize a Diakonia Conference in Recife, but both attempts had to be cancelled due to lack of interest. Since AMB had already paid for the conference hall, I contacted the hotel to ask whether the credit could be transferred to another location in their chain. To my pleasant surprise, they agreed. This opened the door to organize a conference in João Pessoa, about an hour and a half north of Recife. Together with Pr. Victor, we organized a two-day conference in November with the goal of promoting the Reformed Christian faith in the city and helping the IRB congregation there become better known. The conference was held November 13–14 under the theme: The Blessings of Salvation in Christ. I spoke on “What Is Sin?” and it was encouraging to see visitors attend and families travel from Esperança to participate in the Friday evening session. The response was very positive, and we are already discussing the possibility of hosting another conference next year.

Campinas Report from Pr. Jon Chase We are thankful to report encouraging growth in the congregation in Campinas throughout 2025. The Lord continues to gather and build His church through new members, covenant families, and strengthened leadership. On June 1, 2025, seven families and two individuals (9 total) were welcomed into the congregation by profession of faith. Later in the year, two additional members were received—on October 12 and December 14—from other Reformed churches. The Lord also blessed the congregation with the baptism of seven covenant children on June 1, followed by two additional baptisms later in the year. There was also great joy in the life of the church through two weddings in October and November, as new Christian families were established. By the end of 2025, the congregation had grown to 44 communicant members and 40 non-communicant members. Looking ahead to 2026, several catechumens are expected to make profession of faith, and four families from the Araraquara mission are anticipated to be received as members early in the year. We are grateful for how the Lord continues to bless and establish His church in Campinas, and we pray for continued growth through new visitors and families learning about the Reformed faith. Report from Br. Chris Boersema I traveled to Campinas at the end of November to speak to the men of the congregation, presenting a book called “The Deacons’ Toolbox”. It did turn out to be a blessed Friday evening, on 11/28. Several of the men also engaged well in the discussion, and they all are looking forward to the official publication of this book sometime next year, by the ICRC Diaconal Committee, which I am also a member of. It was also nice to have a few opportunities to visit with Pr. Elienai, as well as with elder Giancarlo. On Sunday I attended both worship services in Campinas.

New Podcast: Mais que Cinco Pontos Pr. Jon Chase & Pr. Adriano

Together with Pr. Jon Chase and Pr. Adriano, we recently launched a new podcast: Mais que Cinco Pontos (More than Five Points) The goal of the podcast is to explore a broad range of biblical and theological topics that help listeners understand the richness of the Reformed faith. Episodes are released every two weeks on YouTube, and topics discussed so far include: • church discipline, • psalm singing, • covenantal preaching, • church federation, • Christian forgiveness, and other aspects of Christian doctrine and practice Missionary Update Missionary Jim Witteveen Looking Ahead for Our Family As a family we continue to be thankful for the Lord’s care for us in Brazil. We are also beginning to plan for a transition, as we expect to return to Canada in November 2026. With our sons approaching graduation, the coming year will involve many decisions and preparations. We appreciate your prayers as we seek the Lord’s guidance for the road ahead. Travels and Ministry Visits. Alongside the regular ministry in Caraguatatuba—preaching, catechism instruction, Bible studies, and pastoral visits—I have also been travelling to serve other congregations. Recent visits include: • Campinas – officiating a wedding and leading worship • Araraquara – teaching catechism, leading worship, and giving a Bible study • Cabo Frio – preaching and administering the Lord’s Supper These visits are always an encouraging opportunity to strengthen connections between the churches. IJC Student Update Missionary Jim Witteveen The 2026 school year at the Instituto João Calvino (IJC) has begun. Please remember these students in your prayers: Weliton: Returned to study after a nine-year hiatus, while continuing to work in Caruaru. Luan: Now in his final year of studies as he prepares for the ministry. Felipe: Continuing his internship in Maceió and recently retook his Church History exam.