We have received a letter from Pastor K with some vital updates and prayer requests.   Please read through the letter and keep Pastor K, his ministry area, fellow pastors and family in your prayers.  Identifying information has been removed for the safety of all involved.  

If you want to send an encouraging note, written prayer or scripture - I know he would be blessed by it.

We want to praise God that we are safe and secure here in the days of persecution, recently past week in our ministry areas: ------------------, ---------------, ---------------, ---------------, ------------- and -----------------------  a church property was burnt down and a pastor was beaten at home. We receive a persecution story from ------------------------ nearly every day.  

We Christians are facing persecution in the name of Jesus, we praise God for that, as written in Matthew 5:11-12 we rejoice in His Name.  Sharing gospel become a challenge for us here in ---------------------------. In our Child Development Centre,  a few parents have stop sending their children to in CDC center. But i believe and trust that God has His own plans. God is working through persecutions as many people are receiving news in their television and hearing the stories of Jesus Christ. Gospel is reaching in new areas, despite persecution, in ----------------,---------------------,----------------- and --------------------.

This month we as a small fellowship have planned to teach & train 10 evangelist to make Christlike disciples by the end of December 2022 in {these places}*. For which we are looking a platform where we can have a suitable discipleship training for them. As we have a rented place here in --------------------------, here we are having our fellowship and running CDC center. But yearly the rent & taxes increases 10%. Since 2015 raising fund became a big challenge. As we have poor labour members in our fellowship where we raise 60%- 70% rent from the fellowship and other supports. Rest remaining 30% - 40% we struggle to raise and pay on time. We are planning to buy a land near by the ----------------------, as this property will give us freedom of worshiping God training and build each year 20 evangelist to send unreached villages in {these places}*.   So, the people receive gospel and local Christians get no persecutions. Thus far God has kept us safe, for which we praise God.
 

• I would like to ask your prayer support for building 20 evangelists in a year and  train and send 10 evangelist by the end of December 2022. 
• Pray for the rent & taxes for the rented house and fellowship, till we get our own land & build our own property. 
• I would ask you to have special prayer for our Christian people who are facing persecution in our ministry area. You can pray for Pastor from -----------------, ----------------, and specially pastors from ---------------------. 
• Pray for my daughter ----------------- she is growing in knowledge of the Lord. She helps me in singing songs, leading worship in our Sunday fellowship and house fellowship, keep praying for her education she is writing her first semester exams.  

Thanks for your help and support in building His kingdom.  
Pastor K

Video Transcript
Hey church family, it is Pastor Peter!  I'm sitting here in the church sanctuary and I am thinking about our building and the things that need to be done to get it repaired, both on the outside and the inside.   As I said on Sunday - it's A LOT OF DETAILS - and I recognize I'm not a detailed oriented guy.  I'm a big picture guy.  

So I am looking for some help.  Someone who is detail oriented, someone who doesn't mind making phone calls or following up on emails.  I'm thinking it will be just an hour or two a week for someone who can make this their priority for church service for the next couple weeks.  This will help me stay on top of all of the things that need to go on:  to make sure that the architect, engineer and construction crew are all together in the same boat.  If you like to-do lists, enjoy making phone calls, and making sure things are done on time,  I would love to hear from you!
 
I would love to hear if you are interested or have questions.   Reaching out doesn't mean you are committing to this;  it just says "hey maybe I want to see if I fit this."  If you are interested my phone number is going to be on the screen somewhere you can go ahead and text or call.  I will touch base and chat through all the details.   If you decide it isn't going to work for you,  no harm no foul,  but if it does -  absolutely great!  

Thank you in advance for considering this opportunity to serve your church community (and help out your pastor). I truly appreciate it! Have a wonderful week and we will see you on Sunday !

Below is the letter we received from Pastor K!   I hope it encourages you as you read, and I pray it spurs you on to pray for Pastor K, the ministries he leads, India, and his family!   As a reminder - identifying information is redacted (names, and places) to protect the wellbeing of his family!  The full letter, with images is available in person if you would like to see it.

Dear Pastor Peter & Ketchikan Naz Family,
Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ. Hope that you are doing well in His grace .
God has been doing great work in work and ministry In amazing way in past months God has been leading us different way. I believe that He has chosen us here for the community and for building His kingdom among the Indians communities. Past months I could see that God has been working with us, He is at work.

1. In month of April I had privilege to go to ******** for doing VBS for children. In which 208 children participated. In this group many children were from other faith. The program was organized by the group of local pastors. I was as a recourse person, in leading VBS among these children. The trip was super excited as of the result leading VBS for 208 children was the big task for me. One of other Brother from North India travelled with me to have wonderful VBS in ********.
2. In Month of May we arranged 2 days evangelical training in our ******** Church in which local members of the church were taught about sharing faith to others. In which 17 members of our church took part in it. The intension was to build evangelist from the local church. We cannot share our faith openly, we have to be cautious in it. But having other ideas, plan, we try to share each day our lives and share our faith to at least one person.
3. In month of June here in ******** schools got summer vacation as the temperature was 42- 49 degree. ******** my little daughter also got summer vacation. She started getting bore at home. As she was used to school, so, my wife ******** and ******* had plan to visit mountains of Uttarakhand for few days. They went for 2 weeks in mountains had cold temperature around 6- 22 degree.
4. In month of June I have got a responsibility from Church of the Nazarene India field to lead Nazarene Discipleship International - India– children (NDI-India) as a coordinator. Which helped me in building new plans to enroll many children in discipleship- in making Christlike disciples in nations. Through which I could lead 3 VBS & Children camp in ********* District in which 152 participated in 3 different platform. Month of June was full of excited in leading VBS, Children camp in 3 different part of the *********. I believe that we had fruitful VBS, Children Camp as we could introduce Jesus to many children. Now the local churches are leading those little children in His powerful words & they are sharing the stories gospel to their parents, for which we praise God. God has other ways to bring His people to Him
5. In month of July ******* school got reopened, and she started going to school. Few days it was hard to send her school as after one month the school reopened. This month the excited thing was for all of us was the Birthday of ********. On 7th July we celebrated her birthday with cake cutting, invited her friends, she made our day with her friends.  The month was fully busy in sharing & encouraging people in Christ. And planning for NDI- India, developing Christlike disciples in the nations

This is how God was involved in our work & lives,  we praise God for this, what He has done in our lives. He is continues working in our work, ministry and lives.

******* Child Development Center is doing great work in building children’s lives, and their family. This month on 8th July we were able to go for educational trip in ********, which is 40 Km. from ********.

From ********* Church of the Nazarene and from the India field NDI team my wife and I  have been elected for the General Assembly & Convention 2023. For which we are so excited, We would be visiting Indiana for the General Assembly & convention in June 2023. Hope to see you one day. “If God willing”. We are praying for passport, visa, and other travel expenses.

I know and believe that you & all the Ketchikan Naz family is continues praying for us & for India.
Thanks for your prayers in building His kingdom.  Here is how we need your continues valuable prayer and support.

• Pray for ******* education as she grows up, pray for completing her fees on time.
• Pray for the NDI-India, as I have got new responsibility. May God help me developing Christlike -disciples.  
• Pray for the VBS teachers as they are growing in the area, may God help them to reach and teach the children and build them in gospel that they enroll each child in discipleship.
• Pray for the churches here in *********, that whoever has received gospel that they grow in the word of God.
• Pray for our CDC center here as their parents hear gospel, may God bring them in fellowship. As well as pray for the our community which we serve in His name.
• Pray for our travel plan to USA for general assembly and convention 2023, visa, passport, and other travel expenses. I believe that He can do great things in lives and ministry.

In His Service,
Pastor K

God is never upset with your questions or your doubts.  He embraces your honest conversation and desires you to bring all things to him.   With that in mind - during a recent church service you had the chance to ask whatever was on your mind!  Your questions are amazing  they are below!  

I'll be working on answers to these and will be sharing the responses over the next few weeks. If anything sparks an interest, another question or you want to discuss something in person - don't hesitate to reach out!  

If you missed the opportunity to ask a question  don't fret!  Submit your own here!  You can ask anonymously - or leave your email if you want Pastor to respond personally!

On Sunday, April 10th, I shared a brief update on the process of the insurance claim status for the damage to our building.  If you missed Sunday, or needed to hear it again - you can watch the 4 min clip below!   Please be in prayer for this issue as your church board prayerfully considers how to progress.
                          -Pastor Peter

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Lent is the 6-week season in the life of the Church that leads up to Easter.  It is a time of reflection on one’s faith, a period for repentance, and humility.   Often Lent is seen as the time to ‘give up’ something - like media, sweets, or coffee.   The intentional denial of something your body longs for is a good way to help you remember the longing you soul should have for closeness to Christ.  This is called fasting, and it is a wonderful spiritual discipline.  

I hope that in this season of Lent - the season of preparation for Easter - you find a way to engage your soul with the Lord who loves you so dearly.  This may mean giving something up, or it may mean taking something up.  You may deny yourself something you love, and in it's place let that desire remind you to pray.  You may choose to be more intentional about loving your neighbor.    

However you worship through Lent, may you know this -
The Lord loves you with a never-ending love.  His compassion is overwhelming and is not limited by the ways the we 'think' the Lord should act.  His ways are not ours - they are far superior!    Rejoice in that love this Lent season.

The past few days were crazy and full of God's immense wonderful works!   We found out that the water damage we have in our building is from a water main leak/rupture!!  Which is both good and bad.  Let me explain!

It's good because we know what it is, and we know how to fix it.  It's relatively straight forward of a solution and hopefully we can get it knocked out as soon as the weather warms up.  It also means that insurance may potentially cover the losses we experienced in the building due to the water damage.  This is HUGE.  I cannot stress enough how amazing God is.  Pray that the insurance adjuster approves this claim!

It is bad news in the sense that we have had to turn the water to building off - so as not to damage the building further.  Without water we can't meet, or use the building for group gatherings.  

However, God is good.  I am repeating this all the time the past few days!   Starting this Sunday (yes...THIS Sunday!!!) we will be meeting at the Saxman Community Center.  There is ample parking, a beautiful entry, and spacious auditorium.  It is reserved for us on Sundays moving forward (until our main is fixed).  It is also reserved for us for Christmas eve.

Here is what this means for us:
If you have any questions or concerns - please don't hesitate to reach out to me!   Thanks in advance for your flexibility and willingness to jump in and serve during this temporary change!  You guys are amazing and I'm so thankful to be your pastor!

Pastor Peter
951-515-6162
pastorpeter@ktnnaz.org

Saxman Community Center is located at 2841 S. Tongass Highway.
The best access road will be Bear Clan St - as it is the best plowed and least bumpy.  

Brief update on the building...more to come in the next few days.  Stay tuned and pray!

Dear Pastor Peter,
Greetings to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ.  I hope and trust that you are doing well in His service.

Here in India farmers strike is over now. All the farmers of India are back to home we are happy for them as they all are back to their home town, after more than a year. It took 1 year 3 months to complete to fulfill their appeal.

As well as our church ministry is growing day by day, we are able to reach many families. In month of November 2021 the new family accepted christ as their personal Savior. {----------} they are growing in the lord now. Keep praying for this family as they have started house fellowship in their home.

Within this in NCM Child Development Centre, we are preparing for Christmas celebration which will take place on 25th December, in Christmas program our CDC  children will be participating in gospel songs and action Songs. On this day we have set our target to share gospel to 100 people. Pray for this program, as we share gospel to these 100 people around us.

May God help us, there are political situation are not so good as we have ward members elections on 24th December. But i believe that your prayer support  can do great miracle in each and everyone's life.

I am going through very tough time, as i was supposed to be happy and excited as advent season is going on. But i am little down, as in my earlier email i informed you that my sister's wedding date has been announced. We all were excited, but my father met with an accident and he got fractured his left leg and he had to go for surgery. Now there is an iron rod is fixed in his leg. Our all excitement for wedding is gone down now.
 
Now i am in little hard time as i have to manage my sister's wedding and at the same time look after my father's health. I am on little stressed. As i have to manage all this.

1. Pray for our family, as i bear the expenses for my father's treatment.
2. Pray for my sister's wedding that everything goes well and nothing should lack, May God do miracle as Jesus did at cana wedding.  
3. Pray for the church family as all are new believers, they all are excited to celebrate Christmas 2021, some of them are very new as they will celebrating Christmas very first time.
4. Pray for the children as they present gospel through songs and action.
5. Pray for us as we share gospel to 100 people on the day of Christmas.

I believe and trust that your prayers can do great miracle in our life and ministry, and God can fulfill all the needs required in life and ministry.

In His service