 | By Ron and Louise Maynard (Mankato Church of Christ) Ron and Louise Maynard’s Fishers of Men Newsletter December 12, 2016 58117 238th Street, Mankato MN 56001 fomrlm@aol.com 612-963-2808 WEBSITE / FACEBOOK |
Home in Mankato
We have been living at home in Mankato, Minnesota, since leaving Tennessee in June. We’ve loved getting to be in our home and working with our beloved congregation here. We had planned FOM classes in South Dakota and Iowa, but they did not have enough students who could commit then, and they have asked to schedule those classes later. We had a total of 15 students in our class in Mankato, most of them young people (twenty and thirty somethings), some who are part of our Vocational Ministry program. Three were alumni, and I appreciate their support. There were 66 Developing Interest contacts and 22 Bible studies. Some Bible studies are continuing, and I am encouraged by the ongoing teaching and the comments I hear about the value of Discovery Learning, use of open questions, etc. One of the ladies in the class, along with her granddaughter, was contacted during our Vacation Bible School conducted by our friends from the Midway church in Trinity, AL, in the summer of 2014.
Mankato, Minnesota, Fishers of Men Class (Not pictured: Linda Hagen, Kara Scharrer, Jenna Marcy, Jan Nill)
Plans for Winter 2017
We’ve been asked if we plan to head to the Caribbean anytime soon, as if we were in the habit of taking a winter vacation there! We admit that we loved the warmth of the climate as well as the people there, but we are trusting that the local teachers will be able to carry on with Fishers of Men training, and we have no plans to go back anytime soon though we love so many in St. Vincent and are excited about the good work they are doing there. That does not mean that we won’t go to a warmer climate in January, however! Since it’s predicted to be 20 degrees below zero on Saturday night, we aren’t getting away soon enough! We are planning to be in Alabama in January and February teaching a refresher course for Fishers of Men alumni. We’ve conducted many classes in north Alabama, and we are looking forward to reviewing and improving skills and reviving evangelistic activity among these seasoned teachers. Two classes are planned, one in Decatur and one in Jasper/Curry. David Barker of the Midway church is promoting this initiative and plans to assist me in teaching the classes.
2017: Forty (40) Years of Fishers of Men Ministry. Twenty (20) Years of Fishers of Men Ministry for the Maynards.
The Vocational Ministry Work
As I reported last June, the Cordova elders have approved a change in emphasis for our work, concentrating my efforts in the mid-North. Part of that is the Vocational Ministry program that we have begun in which we encourage Christians to move to this mission area, find jobs in their chosen field, and work with existing congregations here to build them up and encourage them. This has been very successful in Mankato, as you can see in the photo of our FOM class on the next page. Alan Cantrell, our evangelist in Mankato, and his wife Liz are pictured, along with Dustin and Sara Gonzales and Angel Alcantar, all of whom are recent graduates of Freed Hardeman University. They are very active in our labors together for the Lord, and we anticipate fruitful ministry together, including a campaign this Spring with the Bethel Springs church in Tennessee.
My Health
The Parkinson’s disease, diagnosed almost four years ago, is progressing, and I am considering an invasive surgical treatment (Deep Brain Stimulation), but I have not yet made that decision. The earliest date that it would be done is next spring. Please pray as I do further research.
Can you help us financially?
Please prayerfully consider our needs, either as a one-time gift or a monthly amount for the coming year. We need $1,507 more per month to bring our level of support for salary and travel expenses up to the amount set by the elders of the Cordova church. Funds may be sent to Cordova church of Christ, 7801 Macon Road, Cordova, TN 38018.
