Summer Update 2021 — Summer, Seminary, and Support
Q: 112. Is God’s grace only for your religious or spiritual life?
No. God wants to redeem every aspect of my life, and his grace in Christ is at work in all of it. (Psalm 40; Isaiah 1:13–20; Matthew 6:25–33; Titus 2:11–14)
Summer Travels
This summer was a mix of deputation travels and family time. We announced our pregnancy to our families on vacation and attended Sierah’s sister’s wedding in Florida. Overall, our travels took us through, Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Mississippi. In all of these places we’ve been blessed to meet faithful brothers and sisters in Christ who are leading or serving in healthy, gospel-preaching churches. As fall arrives and Sierah’s due date approaches, we will be keeping our travels more and more regional.
Progress on Our Schooling
Sierah just finished two more classes this semester at CCEF. She is trying to squeeze one more class in before baby arrives in December. Her goal is to try and accomplish as many certifications as possible before we leave for Japan next year. As I am writing this, I’ve just finished the final exams for two classes at seminary; my next two classes for this semester start in a week. My goal is to be done with all masters classes but one by summer of 2022.
Update on Support
Our support level has gone up 12% since our last update. That may not seem like all that much, but it has put us now at 34% (over the ⅓ mark)! With the connections God keeps giving us on our travels, we are still confidently praying that we will be fully supported by the end of next year. If you as an individual or your church would like to partner with us but don’t know how, please reach out to me. I’d happily show you the different ways people are able to partner with us at this stage in our ministry.
Vision and Preparations for Japan
I was asked in a recent Q&A how we plan to reach people with the Gospel in Japan. That is a very good question—answers to which we have been exploring a lot lately. Sierah and I do not doubt that the Lord has called us to plant a church in Tokyo. But we are well aware that there is much we must learn before that time comes. How are the Japanese people today hearing and coming to the gospel? What are current missionaries and churches doing to reach the Japanese people? I want to share with you some specific ideas we’ve been considering lately, but that will have to come in another update soon. Stay tuned. For now, we are still growing our connections to missionaries and Christians already in Japan. Tools like Zoom have allowed us to have conversations with these workers and ask them questions about their own experience in ministry over there.
Prayer
– Many missionaries are still being denied return to Japan.
– Wisdom on how to reach the Japanese, specifically the men.
– A safe pregnancy for Sierah, and a healthy baby.
– Support level: 34.41% committed!
Grace and peace,
Joe and Sierah Pliska