Heavenly Father,
We praise you that we can be at peace with all of the uncertainty and unexpected events we experienced in 2020, knowing that this year of 2021 is in your loving hands.
We pray for the Rwandan Baptist churches, which have been closed to all activities since mid-March because of COVID-19. With many strict protocols to follow, this has meant that only about 20 of the 200 churches have been able to open again. As a result, there has been little opportunity to give spiritual encouragement to the congregations during a challenging time. It has meant no income for pastors or the denomination. We pray that you would continue to provide for them.
Even beyond the issues surrounding COVID-19, we continue to pray for all of CBM’s partners in Africa – in Kenya, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda – as they deal with many challenges and heartaches we seldom experience in Canada. Thank you for their example of deep faith and trust in you in the midst of those struggles.
We also pray for those who manage the different projects that CBM supports worldwide as they try their best to put together plans for this new year. We pray for wisdom and flexibility as they adjust to ever-changing realities.
We praise God for all the people who gave through CBM’s Hopeful Gifts for Change Catalogue. May they experience the blessing of God, which comes through the generosity of heart, as people they don’t even know are being impacted in wonderful ways because of their gifts.
Having served with CBM for 18.5 years, Lord, we know that it never gets easier being separated from family, even as we move from one life stage to another. We continue to pray for strength and wisdom as we navigate our current stage.
Looking back on 2020, we are grateful for a good home assignment, which allowed us to connect with many churches and supporters and have extended time with family during a critical period. At the same time, we are also thankful that we can be back here in Kigali, serving alongside our Rwandan brothers and sisters. It is a wonderful thing to be a part of your worldwide family!
We pray all this in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Darrell and Laura Lee Bustin
The Bustins joined CBM in 2002 to teach at the Kalimantan Theological Seminary in Pontianak, Indonesia, where they helped to train and mentor future leaders for the local church. They moved to Rwanda in August 2012 to work with CBM’s church partner, the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda.
Darrell’s primary focus is involved in pastoral training and church leadership development. He works both with pastors, as well as those studying to be pastors and church leaders. Laura Lee is responsible for overseeing the administrative details for the short-term mission (SENT) teams that come to Rwanda.
Darrell is from Moncton, New Brunswick. Laura Lee is from Pugwash, Nova Scotia. After attending CBM’s Conference on Overseas Ministries in January 2002, Darrell and Laura Lee felt that God was saying “now is the time” to move toward fulfilling the call to overseas ministry that both have felt since childhood. The Bustins have two children, Bronwyn and Caleb, who are both studying in Canada.
No comments:
Post a Comment