Our Calling and Goals
We are missionaries with T.E.A.M. serving in Chad. God called us to be involved in support ministries. This means supporting the church and church planting efforts of missionaries in Chad. The work in Chad ranges from pioneer outreach and Church planting in remote areas, to teaching ministries in Bible Schools, medical work and Bible translation. T.E.A.M. also has a Printshop that prints all the venacular church liturature in some 15 local languages. We live and work among the N’Gambai tribe where my parents ministered for almost 40 years thus giving first-hand knowledge of the needs. Growing up I (Paul) saw my father and many other missionaries spending much of their time doing maintenance and everyday tasks that were not the focus of their ministry. Basic life in Chad is very difficult as it does not have most of the modern conveniences we enjoy in North America.
Without help, many missionaries must waste time repairing and maintaining their equipment themselves, in a very difficult environment, often taking them longer as they are not adept to the likes of electricity and plumbing etc. My training and experience as a toolmaker, industrial maintenance mechanic,and computer technician combined with my knowledge of Chad make my contribution effective in supporting the missionaries as well as the church, in Chad. My ministry involves a variety of jobs, ranging from building construction / maintenance and mechanical repairs, to computer maintenance and servicing equipment at the Printshop.
Kathryn’s ministry involves her in the lives of the Missionary’s children. At the base where we live is located a dormatory and school for missionary children. Palmview School provides an option for those who don’t choose to educate their children at home but don’t want to send them out of country for long periods at such a young age. The school is a two room facility providing grades 1-8 learning. Kathryn’s long desire to teach children in a christian setting and her answer to God’s call on her life was during the ministry presentation of a retiring teacher from Palmview. During our first term she had the privaledge of teaching several classes at Palmview. Kathryn fills the role of teacher and administrator at Palmview. Please pray for a teacher to help out and especially fill in during our home assignments. Our next home assignment is scheduled for July 2005. At present there are no teachers for the 05/06 school year.
We were accepted in the fall of 1993 and the Lord continues to supply our needs from day to day. The effectiveness of our ministry is somewhat limited as we have never recieved full financial support. Our financial needs are based on living expenses verses a salary. These needs have increased greatly over the last few years partially due to the weakening of the US dollar. We anticipate having to raise almost 100% of our current support when on home assignment. The Lord has been good and we have not had to return due to lack of funds. One time donations are also accepted for special projects and on field ministries. You can contact us by email if you would like current possabilities for projects. We are confident of God’s calling on our lives so continue living in faith, trusting God to supply our needs. Please pray that the Lord will continue to use us and meet our physical and financial needs, that we may continue the work of spreading the Good News in Chad.