The Blessings of God Continue
(Bruce Pinke is an ordained minister under the CCCC. He and his wife Carolyn serve God with WEC International. The following is from their annual report at the end of 2013.)
The LORD will cause men to hear his majestic voice… Isaiah 30
This last year has carried great sorrow for the Master’s children in Egypt, in Syria, and East Africa. The latest is the horrific civil war in recent weeks in South Sudan. We cry out to the Father not only for his servants but for all those tumbling into eternity without knowing him.
Our yearly overview seems so unimportant.
While we cry, and while we pray, we will speak of the Father’s goodness and his mercies to us. Our children are high on that list!
Jennifer and Mark Dougan still serve the Savior and Galilee Baptist Church (now called “Living Faith”) as youth and family pastor. Jennifer writes and speaks, with a burden on her heart for women and families [jenniferdougan.blogspot.com]. Their John Mark started at Northwestern College (now the University of Northwestern at St. Paul, Minnesota) in the fall. Morgan Noelle is 15, loves art and Mandarin Chinese. Daniel is 5.
Jeremy continues in Washington at the Tacoma Country Club and Golf Course as the head gardener, with bouldering, frisbee golf, tennis and volleyball as hobbies.
Julianne and Joel Vanderaa had their second child this year, Norah Rose, born February 4. Elena Massa is over 3, leaving her French in her brain and choosing to speak mostly English now. Joel continues in engineering and Julianne in two days at Bible Study Fellowship each week. They are part of a church plant in South Minneapolis for the second year called New City of Nations.
We are very proud of all of our children and their children.
Our focus has been on the So*mali people, building friendships and loving them here in Minneapolis, and praying for those in East Africa who suffer and are sometimes killed for their faith. One man said, “Call us the victorious church.” They depend on God for everything; they give of themselves and their possessions; they bathe all they do in prayer — even children on their knees with tears, even in good times; they know the joy of close fellowship. They don’t pray that the persecution ends but that they will remain faithful.**
“So what else are you doing?”
We continue with WEC International. Bruce was invited to participate and do some teaching in a team trip to a newer field, the Dominican Republic and Haiti — with a focus on training Spanish-speaking believers to go as workers into the harvest fields — and continues to be involved in that outreach as a consultant and teacher. He has continued this last year as a police chaplain, which suits him well and keeps him out in the community.
Carolyn shares, “With the neighborhood life around us, and our lives within, I feel the weight of the ‘fall.’ Every pain works deep in me, to ‘teach me wisdom in the inmost place,’ (Psalm 51), as I bend to the Holy One, my Father.”
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! (Revelation 5)
Bruce and Carolyn Pinke
Come and see us! 612-521-9237, 2814 Knox Ave N, Minneapolis., Minnesota 55411-1248
