Excerpts from the Martins' Memos Prayer Alert -  October 1998

Dear Prayer Partners,

...For the past several years we have had a definite need to expand our partnership base. Our high priority during this furlough is to focus on building and expanding that partnership base. Our first need is for more prayer partners. When my Mother died last year, we felt we had lost one of our main prayer partners. Others have also gone to be with the Lord, or are no longer able to pray as they used to do. In addition, as we approach the completion of the Lindrou New Testament, we are becoming increasingly aware of the need of a greater prayer covering! More about this in another letter. Secondly, we have a need for more financial partners. As you may be aware, our leaders calculate a quota for each member family, which is customized for their particular situation. Our quota includes such things as basic living needs, ministry needs, children’s education, retirement planning, taxes, social security, etc., and it is up to each individual family to trust God to provide for their needs through faithful partners like you. Here is our financial situation. For the past 12 months we have averaged 58% of the minimum quota that our organization has established for us. Before we can return to Papua New Guinea next year we definitely need to be at 100% of the established quota. It is a big challenge, as you can well imagine, but we are not discouraged by it. We believe the Lord will help us reach 100% during this furlough. We need more partners!		100%
		90%
		80%
		70%
		60%	< 58%
		50%
		40%
		30%
		20%
		10%

Our vision for the work of Bible Translation is undiminished. Indeed, we believe the Lord desires to continue using us in this vital ministry and to help complete the Lindrou translation project. Moreover, we are also confident that those who labor in the Lord’s work are worthy of their hire (1 Timothy 5:18). Therefore, we are now putting together a partnership strategy and plan for the next 11 months. We are sharing it with you because we believe you want to be part of that plan too. Here are our basic partnership development goals:

1. Gain 6 additional Churches praying for us and contributing to our financial support.
2. Gain 14 additional individuals/families praying for us and contributing to our financial support.
3. Reach 100% of our support quota by September next year (1999).

Although we are in the initial stages of working out our strategy for reaching these goals, we plan to keep you informed by monthly update letters. Here is what we would like to ask you to consider doing:

• Please pray specifically that the Lord would help us to reach our three basic partnership development goals: 6 additional Churches praying & contributing; 14 additional individuals/families praying & contributing; and 100% of support quota by September ’99.
• Help us to expand our partnership base by networking with us. You know us and our ministry and have been our partners for many years. You also have a network of relationships. If you know of a Church, a family, or an individual that might like to partner with us, please discuss it with them first, then let us know. Ways you might help us share among your network of friends:
• Plan or host a home meeting
• Plan a picnic with a purpose
• Arrange a time in a Sunday School Class or at Church
• Give us your creative ideas
• Keep us informed of your needs and prayer requests. We are confident that the Lord can use us in a greater way to bless you!

...we would gladly work time into our 11-month plan another time to share our vision with you or with others in So. Calif. With the "birds out of the nest" (Joel & Jason) we can more easily plan trips for the purpose of building new partnerships as well as representing the work of Bible Translation and the Lindrou Translation Program!

Family News:

Jason has made a good transition into life in the USA. He had a great time at his reentry seminar in California in July. He started at LeTourneau University on August 21st and has been adjusting well. He has already found several opportunities to play drums in ministry groups at school and at Church. He told us he appreciates all the prayers for him during this time of transition.

Joel started his senior year at Taylor University. He expects to finish at Taylor in December 1999. He and his roommate are already developing a part-time computer consulting business, helping the University get residence hall students hooked up to the school’s computer network.
...

In His service,

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