David Brainerd gave his life to take the gospel to Native Americans in the 18th Century. Biographies tell us he suffered from depression, loneliness and at times a lack of food. Dying from tuberculosis, aged just 29, he said “Now I am dying, I would not have spent my life otherwise for the whole world.”

God at work raising up new mission partners 

What a joy to see God raising up a new generation of workers today with this same heart of sacrifice, willing to lay down their lives daily so the gospel might go to the ends of the earth.

Over the last 12 months, in our small corner of God’s global purposes, we’ve had the joy of partnering with 30 new long-term workers and their churches. These new mission partners have joined UFM to serve in Spain, Cyprus, Zambia, Mexico, France, Central Asia, Iceland, South Sudan, the Middle East, Uganda, South East Asia, the UK and two countries in South Asia. There are now over 300 long and short-term workers in the UFM family, for which we praise God. 

We pray that many more might be sent to the least and the lost, knowing it’s only the Lord who can move people’s hearts and send people out, Matt 9:38. 

We’ve had the joy of partnering with 30 new long-term workers and their churches.

God at work to save and grow the seed

Just as it’s only the Lord who can raise up new workers, so of course it’s only the Lord who can save. Whilst much gospel work is slow and the fruit unseen, we can only praise God when we catch glimpses of his mighty power at work around the world. Over recent months, this has included:

  • A Filipino baptised, having come to faith through a new ministry reaching Filipino factory workers in Ballymena, Northern Ireland
  • 1,000 attending a Christmas event in a church plant in a challenging area of South East Asia
  • A Russian speaking church recently planted in Eurasia seeing their first convert and baptism
  • 600 attending a Christmas service for the community in Marseille 
  • A small but growing congregation in a church in Lille, planted last year
  • Two young women coming to faith in a church in Brazil, after 10-15 years of contact
  • A new church starting in Carrigtwohill, Ireland in Spring 2025, the first evangelical church in that town. Ever. 

God at work to provide 

As God continues to add people to the UFM family we look to the Lord to provide for all our needs. Would you please join us in praying for God’s provision in three specific ways?

1. Provision of wisdom 

The growth in the work is exciting and encouraging, but of course brings practical challenges. Will you join us in praying with faith for the staff team as they serve the mission family? Pray for wisdom to serve in the work of UFM, trusting God’s promise to give us this wisdom, without finding fault, James 1:5-8.

2. Provision of finances 

We thank God for his abundant provision over the years. We are praying about three factors that have impacted our running costs: a pattern of reducing legacy income, reduced giving to the general funds and increased employment costs (e.g. we will have £13,000 of additional costs each year due to the upcoming rise in employers’ national insurance contributions).

3. Provision of people 

We’ve been blessed to see the staff team grow in recent years to better reflect the responsibilities and opportunities before us. It’s also been a great joy to see people volunteering, to support the work of the staff team as they support mission partners, churches and supporters. We have lots of opportunities for others to serve in this way and would love to be in touch if you’d like to hear more. From finance, to comms, operations to grant applications, there are plenty of possibilities! 

I hope you are encouraged to see something of God’s work through his people. 

Thank you as ever for your steadfast prayers.

Michael Prest, Director, UFM Worldwide

 

Main photo: Tom Podmore / unsplash.com