Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Moving Forward In The Ministry

Summer/Fall, 2017


As Summer begins to fade, the leaves on the trees in northwest Pennsylvania are already beginning to make their transition from green to the yellows, reds, and oranges of Fall. There's something special about this time of year. It always seems that God provides us with a glimpse of His color palette just before He wipes the canvas clean with the starkness of Winter. Just today, someone asked me why we have an Autumn leaf design on our prayer card. My answer? Because we are ministering to those in the “autumn years of life”!
Last week I had the privilege of sharing our ministry with the new chaplain of a large nursing/retirement home facility in the area. For years people have asked us if we conduct our ministry at this particular place. Because it is a denominationally operated nursing home, with a very full calendar of events, we have never bothered to inquire about getting on their schedule. But, I decided, “Why not?” The chaplain and I spoke for quite some time and he was both amazed and excited at the prospect of us ministering at his facility. We are now waiting, with the chaplain's recommendation, for the official “go ahead” from the administration. This is a very large complex with many elderly who do not necessarily even need nursing care, but live on the campus in more of an assisted-living mode. I believe ministering here will open up a whole new audience for the gospel.
With October quickly approaching, we will be busy traveling to present and provide an update of our ministry in several missions conferences in Pennsylvania and Ohio. In addition, we will be heading back to Connecticut for the 30th anniversary celebration of River Valley Baptist Church, in Ansonia, the church we planted in 1987. It will be exciting to preach there again, and to report what the Lord has done through the nursing home ministry here since 2006. In addition, one of the nursing homes that we minister in locally will be hosting a public luncheon the middle of September. They have asked me to be the key speaker. Although it is not a “spiritual” event, the facility's activity director, who is a Christian, told me I was free to work in the gospel. Any opportunity to share our ministry and bring the message of Christ to an audience is something I look forward to. We will be praying that the message is well received and fruit will be born for the Kingdom of God.
Priscilla had foot surgery in the Spring that has not turned out well. We have been back and forth to the surgeon and the physical therapist for months and yet she still feels pain and cannot wear shoes. That's not a problem in warm weather, but with Winter coming on, she'll need to be able to get some sort of shoe on. We are comtemplating seeing a podiatrist (the doctor who did the operation was a highly recommended orthopaedic surgeon) to see if he can find out why there is still pain. We would appreciate your prayers on this matter. As for me, recently I took a very bad fall in the parking lot of Walmart while trying to catch a runaway shopping cart heading towards a car. I fell face forward and came down hard on both knees and my left shoulder. Everything seemed to heal up, but I'm having some problems with my left knee and cannot put much pressure on it going up stairs. I probably should have had some x-rays but you know how guys are! I would appreciate your prayers that God would strengthen and heal my knee.
Our ministry continues to affect others in addition to nursing home residents. Several weeks ago, a lady who regularly attends our services, shared with me that her grown son had been standing outside the open door of the room where I was preaching. She told me that her son didn't really believe anything. That day I had been talking about the Old Testament Tabernacle and the High Priest's work on behalf of the people, relating it to Christ's effective work on our behalf. She said that he had been listening and told her afterward that it was the first time what he heard made sense to him. He didn't personally talk to me about this, but it reveals that you never know who is listening when the Gospel goes forth. God may be planting a seed, or watering what they have previously heard, or ready to bring them to salvation. The call of the Gospel is not limited to those listening in the immediate vicinity, but often catches the ear of those who are unsuspecting!
We do not take it lightly that you have partnered with us in prayer and financially to reach those “living on the brink of eternity”. May God continue to bless you as you labor for Him in your field!


In His service together,
The Aabyes
Norm & Priscilla Aabye



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