Dear Family and Friends,
Make no mistake about it: Jesus the Messiah calls every single one of His followers to go. The question is not if you will go, but when and where. After rising from the dead on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples,
“Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” (John 20:21)
Jesus later explained the essential framework of this divine sending mission, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20)
God’s mission may not send all of us out-of-country and overseas, but you and I are called to engage “all the nations” with the saving, transforming message of Christ. Your “going” might entail having intentional gospel conversations with your Muslim neighbor next-door, an agnostic co-worker, or the Hindu family across the street. Yet God also gifts and guides His people to pray deeply and give specifically for those living and working in foreign lands for the sake of the Gospel. In this way, we are all woven into the fabric of sending and being sent… for the joy of all nations and the glory of God.
Mission: India
God has opened up a unique and exciting opportunity for me to go to the other side of the globe – Northeast India – to share the Good News of Jesus Christ through three large-scale Vacation Bible School programs and by teaching and preaching at a pastors and Christian workers conference, aimed at encouraging, equipping, and uniting the many national Baptist pastors in Assam and Mizoram, India. (see further details about the trip in the Prospectus below)
Watch this short video to hear more about where we’ll be going, how we’ll be spreading the Good News of Jesus, and how you can partner with us:
As many of you know, this will not be my first journey to India. In 2005-2006 I spent five weeks in the state of Andhra Pradesh (near the city of Visakhapatnam) ministering alongside national Indian Christians through tribal village medical camps, teaching/assistance at an orphanage and school, evangelistic meetings, pastors’ conferences, a week-long VBS program, baptism services, and itinerant preaching.
“Tribal” mountain village ministry near Paderu, India. (2006 – I’m on the far left)
My wife and I are thrilled that God has brought along this opportunity for me to return to India to serve on God’s mission.
Would you like to join with me in sharing the message and mercy of Jesus Christ in India?
Here are two ways you can partner with us:
- PRAY. Please pray for our team as we prepare to share and declare the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please pray for great unity and joy within our team and that God will draw hundreds of spiritually lost people to the saving message of Christ. Pray that the many national pastors will be strengthened and encouraged through the conference will be hosting, and that God will develop unity among the region’s many Bible-believing churches. Thank you!
- GIVE. Consider financially partnering with me to share the grace and truth of God in Northeast India. I will need $1500 by June 6th and the total amount of $2500 by June 24th. Thank you! Note: Your financial gifts will be tax-deductible because all donations are being sent directly through North Park Baptist Church (a registered 501c3 non-profit corporation).
Click here to go to my YouCaring fundraising page to make a safe and secure e-donation: https://www.youcaring.com/MissionIndia2015
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I am grateful for your friendship and partnership in the exciting, life-changing mission of God.
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
In Christ Alone,
Michael Breznau
Lead Pastor
North Park Baptist Church
3365 Coit Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Prospectus :: Mission Team Objectives ::
Team Leaders: Bruce and Judi McJones (10+ trips to India)
The objective of the missions trip is two-fold:
The first objective is to encourage and meet the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ who are working in North East India. The people we will be helping are nationals who are reaching nationals. Many of the people are the children of men and women who came to know Christ through the ministry of Paul and Genella Versluis as well as other missionaries.
The second objective relates to our church members. Through mission trips, our church members are able to serve using the talents with which God has gifted them in short term missions service. Some of those who go on a missions trip will return to use those talents at home through our church and community. Others will develop long term relationships with nationals who they will pray for and encourage through e-mails and other forms of communication. All who go will be challenged spiritually.
Trip Dates: July 29 – August 18 2015.
Project Outline
The locations of service will be in the state of Assam India in the Allipur and Pailapool community as well as the state of Mizoram in the city of Aizawl.
Pastor Michael Breznau and Isaac Gajendran will be hosting a pastor’s retreat and conference for Christian workers, focusing on our unity in Jesus Christ and our mission together for the glory of Christ with messages from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians and the Gospel of John. Others in the group will be helping at Burrows Memorial Christian Hospital in various roles depending on individual talents/skills.
While in the state of Mizoram we want to continue to build our relationships with two schools where we previously ministered through VBS and evening counseling programs.
The estimated cost is based on the 2014 missions trip. Some of the costs will vary based on inflation and activities. Estimated Cost: $2,500.
