Heart Glimpse of A Career Missionary
Naomi & I began our missions career in June of 1993 when we answered God’s call and were sent by our home church, Faith Mennonite Fellowship, Denver PA, to Grenada, West Indies with OBMM. Our mission assignment was to serve as the missionary pastor at the Limes Mennonite Church. From the very beginning our commitment was to stay with the Limes church until it was established in native Grenadian leadership.
The Burkholder Family, June 1993 In Front Of The Limes Mennonite Church.
After 9 years of service the Lord granted that gift and He raised up a native Grenadian brother as the pastor of the Limes church. In the progression of the Limes church being established in native leadership we adamantly observed the great evangelistic advantage and a new level of growth and maturity within the Limes church. My personal vision for indigenous church leadership and evangelistic propagation was deeply established at that time. In the 12 ½ years total that we served in Grenada we also had the privilege and joy of seeming the second church established at Laura as well as the third church planted at Laborie.
One of the deepest sorrows took place when we lost our native pastor at sea, June 2003, and for some time thereafter the Limes church struggled and its stability and growth floundered. But in all of this we choose not to question the Lord’s sovereign design and wisdom.
It was at about the same time (early 2003) that the Lord granted unto us an expanded vision to commence a new discipleship teaching ministry, focusing on equipping and discipling of native Brother’s wherever the Lord opens doors by invitation. This new ministry would be focused on teaching indigenous principles in equipping native leaders to reach their own unreached lost souls in an evangelistic effort as well as church planting among the least reached peoples of the world. In the process of time (5 years) this expanded vision evolved into what is presently Macedonian Teaching Ministry (MTM) based in SE Asia where 97% of the world’s unreached people groups are located.
OBMM Grenada Bible Conference, Grenada, West Indies
What a great privilege and opportunity was the Burkholder’s to return to Grenada, West Indies, December 11-18, 2016 and teach at the Grenada Mennonite Churches bi-annual Grenada Bible Conference (GBC), after being gone for a sum of 11 years. I had the joy and privilege of teaching the MTM Biblical indigenous principles to the same three churches where we afore time had served as missionaries. This truly was monumental and a great joy for a career missionary to make a full circle in mission’s vision. Blessed Be God!
May the Lord richly bless and prosper OBMM and the present missionaries as they diligently labor and strive to raise up leaders in building God’s Kingdom in Grenada.
Raymond & Naomi Burkholder
MTM Director
CLICK HERE FOR A PHOTO ALBUM OF GBC, GRENADA
Moving forward Into 2017
Raymond Burkholder & Steve Nolt from Lititz, PA will be teaching at a MTM youth conference in Singtham (Sikkim State) of north India January 5-13, 2017. This region of India is strategically situated right between Nepal and Bhutan. Our native MTM coordinator is projecting 150 youth from the countries of India, Nepal & Bhutan. Please pray for the MTM team traveling safety as well as an anointing as they teach the emerging church leaders of tomorrow.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFUL PRAYER SUPPORT
