STRETCHINGS & ENCOURAGEMENTS

September 15, 2026

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for your prayers for us in the past, your prayers today and your prayers in the days to come. As Julie and I follow God’s leading, He both encourages us and stretches us. What follows is a very concise listing of some of our and others’ encouragements and stretchings.

·        Stretched and encouraged in Holland and Norway: Our departure for Europe on August 31st never happened. Our airline cancelled our overnight flight after we had checked-in. Long lines to get to an airline representative to figure out our options. Though others somehow flew out on a later flight, they told us we had no options. So we had to retrieve our luggage, fly 24 hours later, Uber home and then back again, and with difficulty contact both our rental car company and accommodations in Holland to not cancel on us due to our no show. High stress and blood pressure levels. Then ironically and not surprisingly, the Alastair Begg Deeper Faith Norwegian Fjords cruise that we went on had God’s providence as its theme. God knew exactly what trials to give me so He could refine my soul. And then on the cruise, we met many wonderful couples. Just to name a few: our dinner partners Russ and Diane with whom we are making plans to see again, TEAM missionaries that were co-workers of my aunt and uncle in Rhodesia and houseparents to my cousins, the Defense Attache at the American Embassy in Prague right after the Velvet Revolution (1989) and who with three other couples began the International Church of Prague, where a decade later I was on the Board of Elders and our kids involved in their Youth Praha. We may even stop to see them for lunch in a couple days on our way back to Prague, as they are in ministry outside Marseilles, France, a stone’s throne from us.

For we are currently in St. Hippolyte du Fort, France (about an hour north of Montpelier), visiting our son John, who is on staff with YWAM. The photo is of me showing John a new technique for preparing steak, which he purchased to welcome us to YWAM’s chateau. It was the only photo Julie took of us before waking up this morning with a terribly sore throat. You can pray for her healing as we still have a month of ministry in front of us. Stretched and encourage.

·        Encouragement in Benatky nad Jizerou, Czechia: this coming Sunday we will join in celebrating the 100th anniversary of our church, where we were members and ministered for 30+ years. There is an exhibition in the town’s museum about our 100 years as a church, including a poster of all its pastors since 1927 (recognize anyone?). We thank the Lord that He has shepherded His people in this place over the last century and that they remain true to Him and to making Him known in this town.

·        Anticipated stretching that we pray God will turn into an encouragement in Prague (Czechia), Budapest (Hungary) and Cluj (Romania): Pastor Mike Moran and Monte Nuckols (our liaison) of Elmbrook Church (Waukesha, WI) will be traveling with Julie and me to three Tyrannus Halls, where we will be ministering and learning. The goal is that both Mike and Monte will gain a deep understanding of these discipleship communities and the equipping ministry that goes on there. Our prayer is that this understanding will enable them to help us identify a couple who can take over the reins of Tyrannus and Lydia Halls. Please pray that God will powerfully work on this trip among the students, Hall staff and us for His purposes.

·        Stretching and encouragement in Pune, India: today the Tyrannus Hall Educational Trust (THET) met at the Pune Tyrannus Hall (PTH) with the President of Union Biblical Seminary (UBS), the governing body of the PTH. A critical decision needs to be made. Should the PTH accept non-university students? As you can see in the photo of the THET Board with PTH staff and students, there are only 7 students in a Hall that can house 24 students. UBS and the PTH are looking for ways to increase their ministry. But our ministry has always focused only on Christian university students. Experience has shown that changing the composition of the Hall has significant effect on the discipleship community, some of which is not good. So, the THET Board (the overseers of 10 Indian Halls) brought encouragement to the PTH staff and students through various activities and meals they planned together. But this important decision is stretching UBS, THET and the PTH. Pray that God will unify them in the way He wants them to go forward.

Yielding to His stretching and grateful for His encouragements,

Steve