Our deputation travels slowed down this month as we adjusted to life with a newborn! After assisting at our campground for several teen camps, our travels resumed on July 18th. With only four meetings this month I anticipated a less than average amount of support to compile, but was surprised to see a gain of five percent bringing our total to 55%. This gives us a great start to achieve our year-end goal of 75%. Please pray that God would continue to bring us across the path of churches that God would have to partner with us!

I want to take a moment to list a few prayer requests regarding our ministry. First, we are praying for the proper visa application to open by January 1st. Due to recent headlines this seems plausible, but of course with God it is entirely possible. Also, we have begun researching the most effective path to getting John & Romans and also whole Bibles into New Zealand as the current costs to ship these materials are prohibitive. God has already opened several doors and I believe it’s due to the prayers of several who have already started praying for this project. Our ministry verse, 2 Corinthians 4:6, as well as Romans 10 describes the great need for the Word of God if we are to ever see revival. The more prayer warriors that we have behind us, the larger the doors that God seems to open. 

In our four July meetings, it was encouraging to see so many young people serving in their local church. At several of the churches, it was young adults who attended the same conferences and camps as we did throughout our teen years, who are now part of the core workforce in their local church. My pastor always reminds us to keep the success stories of Christian young people in front of us, rather than the alternative, and there are plenty of successes to keep us encouraged and motivated to serve!

July closed with an opportunity to knock doors with Bro. Todd Oprzedek, Camp Director at Kyte River Revival Campgrounds. God led him to an elderly gentleman who had spent decades on our campgrounds prior to our purchase. This opened up a great opportunity for Bro. Todd to witness. We also met a man, Onassis, who was more than ready to accept Christ after I shared the gospel with him and his father. Thank you for your prayers, we see miracles weekly because of them!

God Bless,
Josh, Alyse, and Bentlee Szwarga

Next UpdateJanuary 2023