farnell

“In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never
left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he
sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.”
Acts 14:16-17 (NLT)

SIM International’s Marcia Strauss asked recently, “What if God had created us but left us with no
revelation of who is he is? What would life be like, if we had a vague sense that God existed, but there
was no way to know him?” I couldn’t help thinking that there are many people in our world who believe
that is what happened. Either they have no access to the Bible in their language, or they have rejected
the truth that it is His revelation of Himself in written form.

Read more of my May 2022 Prayer Letter

I am always aware of the LORD’s presence;
he is near, and nothing can shake me…
your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever.
Psalm 16:8,11

Is this the testimony of God’s people in Ukraine? In Afghanistan, in North Korea, in China? I pray that it
is. I pray that it will be my testimony whatever I may face on this earth. I am reminded again that the
darkest hour in history, when our Lord Jesus Christ hung dead on a Roman cross, was the hour of
greatest victory – our sin atoned for, our redemption gained…read more.

Read more of my March 2022 Prayer Letter

Twenty churches in Highlands County where I live are participating in twenty-one days of prayer and
fasting. Most of us are not fasting completely for the whole twenty-one days, but we were encouraged
to “exchange” something we usually do – like eating lunch or playing games or watching a television
show – for something that will help us draw nearer to the LORD – like praying with other believers or
studying His Word or reading a spiritually edifying book…read more.

SIM’s Tom Fifield took this photo of “The Bible in Kafa Hands”. That has been our goal for many years,
and it happened on May 22nd! Tom Fifield drove several of us to the Dedication of the Kafa Bible. We
enjoyed the view of forest-covered mountains and green valleys along the way…read more.

• February 2021 Prayer Letter
• April 2021 Prayer Letter
• May 2021 Prayer Letter
• June 2021 Prayer Letter

David … danced before the LORD with all his heart. 2 Samuel 6:14

Praise God that the needed information for shipping the Kafa Bibles was obtained. They left Hamburg, Germany on November 20th. They will change ships in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and are scheduled to arrive in the Port of Djibouti December 21st. A clearing agent is to receive them there and clear customs inside Ethiopia. We are trying to arrange for him to transport them to the Kafa area, where church leaders have prepared a place to store them. They hope to open a book shop from which people can purchase the Bibles (at a subsidized price) and other Christian literature. We are waiting for the shipping company to send the bill of lading, which the agent needs in order to take the Bibles from Djibouti…

Read more of my December 2020 Prayer Letter.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy set before him endured the cross … Consider him …
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3

The Kafa Bibles should come off the press on October 14th praise God! Please continue to pray for God’s hand on the whole process. We still need information required by the printer for shipping (VAT and Import Declaration Form and a contact person in the Port of Djibouti).

Read more of my October 2020 Prayer Letter

God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God… Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scripture says,
“If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:28-29, 30c-31

We thought we would send the Kafa Bible to the publisher by May, by July, by August. It didn’t happen. Finally, on August 13th, our publisher said, “Send me the files as they are.” This was quite unnerving as we had no idea what he would do with them, but we sent them. Since then we are still struggling to get them ready to actually go to the printer. I don’t remember ever experiencing spiritual battle so constantly and intensely as in the past several weeks…read more.

Read more of my August 2020 Prayer Letter.

“… the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” John 5:36b

I am convinced that a major purpose of God in the COVID-19 pandemic is to jar us out of our complacence and turn our thoughts to Himself. Others must agree, as daily I receive communications urging me to listen to a certain message or song, pray for a certain person or people group, study a
certain Bible lesson…read more.

Read the rest of my May 2020 Prayer Letter.

“Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness,
and by the worries of this life… Keep alert at all times. And pray
that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and
stand before the Son of Man. Luke 21:34-36

It is too easy for us to focus on the worries of this life: terrorism, the coronavirus, elections, the economy…These matters are important – for this life. But if we believe that God is working out His purposes, we must be alert and sensitive to the leading of His Spirit so that we are not distracted from things that matter for all eternity.

Click here to read more of my March 2020 Prayer Letter.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of
many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so
that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4 (NIV)

We were not able to finish all the revisions to the Kafa Bible (Luke through Revelation) by the end of the year. We may not even finish by the end of January, though we are very close. I have reviewed all of the books and sent Matt my notes on the verses that I think need revision. He has completed revisions on all the books except Hebrews and Revelation…read more.

Read the rest of my January 2020 Prayer Letter.