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Great Hope for the New Year

With three partnerships solidified and God’s provision on the increase for these partnerships, we have much to be thankful for.  We also envision doing much more in the future.   For now, we want to just take a moment to give thanks for how far God brought us in 2014.

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  • Judy and I have been blessed to see a number of personal supporters stay behind us, as well as several churches here in BC.
  • We have been able to solidify partnerships with three quality outreaches:
    • “Fourth Man Eagle Ministries” in the Philippines.  This ministry reaches impoverished children and families along the Davao River and up in the jungle areas of Mindanao Island, helping children go to school as well as learn Bible truths.  A church plant is thriving and we look forward to seeing more start in the new future.   This ministry has seen turmoil, with Willi Limen passing away in early October. Despite this major setback, his wife Elvira and her children are boldly pressing on with great vision for the future.
    • “Uncountable Grace” (Myanmar).  This ministry reaches out to children and families in the a troubled region of Myanmar.  God is doing great things through an indigenous couple who serve him there full time.  Every Saturday, they teach Bible to 65 children and hold regular outreaches in other  villages.
    • “The Garden of Hope” (Chiang Mai, Thailand).  This ministry, which Rob & Judy previously helped to direct in 2010-11, supports 30 impoverished hill-tribe children and helps them go to school.  We are privileged to be their “Canadian” support link.  The leadership of TGOH has great vision for establishing more safe-houses for young girls at high risk of human trafficking in the near future.
  • We praise God that we have been able to raise regular support for each of these ministries.  God is increasing our vision and expanding our horizons.  We pray that we will be able to soon see these ministries support increased but are grateful for what the Lord has begun.
  • In August, we entered partnership with the Great Commission Foundation in Canada.  TGCF will take care of a good chunk of our administration and keep us compliant with Revenue Canada so that Judy and I are free to run and lead GNI Ministries with the vision God has given us.
  • On December 14th, we held our first official fundraising event at Ross Road MB Church in Abbotsford.  Nearly two-hundred people attended a great international (Thai, Burmese, Indian, Philippine food) dinner.  And we were able to share our vision during this fun evening as well are raise funds for our partners.
  • We were blessed to be able to help reduce the amount of money Elvira owes on the hospital debt left behind after Willi passed away.
  • Through generous donors, we were also blessed to help supply “winter clothing” for dozens of kids in the chilly hills of Myanmar.  They absolutely love them! (see the pictures)
  • On a personal note, Rob’s dad (Jan J. Griffioen) passed away peacefully on December 17.  He was 92 years old and was a faithful supporter of GNI Ministries.  We are grateful that he is with the Lord.

We are starting 2015 off in a great position to bring the Good News to many poor & oppressed people.   In the parable of the Sheep & the Goats (Matthew 25), Jesus — the king — gives great commendation to those who give of themselves to bless people like this.  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. ’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? ’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:34-40, ESV).    This is why we love doing  what we do.  Join us in helping bring this Good News by donating generously!  Please pray that God will supply more “seed for the sower.”

Rob & Judy Griffioen

 

 

 

 

 

How God Led Us to Cross Over

Crossing Over!
Crossing Over!

In the late summer of 2011, having just begun our home assignment (MINA), we were in a retreat with other MB missionaries in Abbotsford.  We were all given a folded paper in which was a name of another missionary, and we were told not to peek to see who it was, but to pray for that person in faith and listen to what God may want to say to them through scripture, a visual picture, or a word of encouragement.   It was a great idea.

That evening, when the group came back together, we began to share what God showed us for the person we had been praying for, which of course we didn’t know. It was amazing the words God gave so clearly! Some people wept, others were overjoyed. Then it was Jim’s turn. 

God gave Jim a picture of two large trees, and from tree-to-tree there was this rickety old white bridge. Then Jim said, “this person is called to cross over.” My heart sunk, then began to beat really fast as he opened up his paper. “Judy” was the name. I burst into tears. What was God saying? 

One week later, after the “cross over” message had faded in the busyness of life, a strange thing happened while  Rob and I were just leaving an Abbotsford restaurant.  No sooner had we payed our bill and were heading to our car, when a big “biker dude” guy with huge tattoos stopped us and said he had a message from God for us. Weird! Rob and I didn’t really know what to think, but we stopped and listened. Then the stranger said, “Cross Over!” Now my heart began to beat fast, that was definitely God. How could this guy have known anything of Jim’s picture?

Well, time passed by, and call of mission carried us back to Thailand.  In 2012, we explored where God would have us serve next.  Was he calling us to cross over into another MB outreach in Thailand or to start a new one?  In all this, our hearts had never stopped burning for the poor and the oppressed that we had encountered during our time with the Garden of Hope in Chiang Mai.  But we pressed on in seeking God’s will.

Then, while home last year during Rob’s health leave (a result of a sudden discovery and removal of the GIST tumour), we were again startled by the theme of “Cross Over.” It was just too strange. We were sitting in the corner prayer meeting room of the brand new MB office, only to notice right there hanging on the wall was a huge picture of a “rickety white bridge” spanning from a tree.  It cut straight to my heart. What was God saying?  We had both been sensing a holy restlessness, and needed time to sort out what God was leading us to do.

He confirmed to us that He is calling us back to our families.  Yet, he also confirmed that we are still called to mission. The mystery was how do we do both?  The Lord has since shown us the way.  He has opened up an opportunity for us to help restart a small mission called Good News International Ministries.  Crossing over to GNIM will allow us to still be in mission (reaching the poor and oppressed overseas) while being based in  Canada (so we can also attend to needs in our family).  We are deeply grateful to MB Mission.  We have been truly blessed in serving with them.  It won’t be easy, but in faith WE ARE CROSSING OVER!  – Judy Griffioen