An Update and a Need

Hello everyone,

In almost exactly two weeks, I will be helping lead a team to East Asia! I am so excited! God has put together a great and diverse team. Last week, we had our first official training session. During that time, we learned about East Asian culture and the differences between it and Western culture. This week, we will be having another training during which we will put into practice some of what we learned last week. 

Overall, this process, with all its ups and downs, has been a great spiritual encouragement! God has affirmed his steadfastness in multiple ways and has been teaching me how to trust Him more fully and remain at peace despite the crazy world around me. These lessons have been especially important since school has been very busy and will be especially so right up until I step on the plane to go to East Asia!

So many of you have been so gracious in supporting me for this trip. Currently, I have raised a total of $2850! While initially this amount along with some other assets I had been promised would have been enough to pay for the $3500, several things in the past two weeks have changed. Unexpectedly expensive flights and a jump in the trip's overall price  to $3600 as well as my inability to use some of my previously anticipated funds have left me with a bit of a money gap. Therefore, I still have $750 left to raise. 

If you would, please prayerfully consider supporting my trip. If you are unable to give financially, please pray that others would be able to support me.

Remember, there are two ways that you can give:

1. Check: Please make it payable to Clearview Church, and write on the memo line  Eric Ketcham/East Asia. Donating in this way makes your gift tax-deductible. Please send it to the following address: 

Clearview Church

PO Box 3049

Chesapeake, VA  23327-3049

2.   Online: Please make your donation by clicking on the following button:

       

      The donations are automatically deposited into my PayPal account through which I can then finance this trip. While this is a very convenient method, there is a 2.9%+.30 cents processing fee on each transaction.

God has already showed up in several ways during this whole process. I know that I can trust Him with this financial issue. 

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support!

Blessings,
Eric

Sharing Christ in East Asia...

Hello,

As many of you know, last summer I was able to help lead the Center for Global Missions’ first trip to East Asia. It was an absolutely amazing experience! While I never got around to sharing the experience on my blog, to get a little taste of what it was like, I invite you to read the following article and watch the following clip:

Center for Global Missions Team Experiences East Asia

 

So, once again, from July 2-16, I have been asked to help lead the mission trip to East Asia. I am so excited to be part of God's mission to reach the East Asian people for Christ! The Center for Global Missions (of which I am the coordinator) at Regent University is partnering with an organization that works specifically with college students. During the first half of the trip, my team and I will build relationships and share the gospel with these students. During the second half of the trip, we will go northwest to a region where we will work among a culturally rich minority group. The primary purpose of this half of the trip is to gain knowledge and cultural understanding and to come in the same humble attitude of Jesus as described in Philippians 2. We will also spend time praying for this people group while we are there.

However, despite my helping lead the trip, I am unable to go without your prayers and financial support. I would like to invite you to be a part of my support team.

There are two primary ways that you can be a part of my team:

First of all, you can pray. Pray for unity for the team that I will help lead. There are currently 9 of us. Pray for safety for all the team members. Pray that we might be open vessels through which God can work. Pray for the people we meet.

Secondly, you can give financially. The East Asia trip will cost about $3500. If you are able to give, there are two ways to do so:

1. Check: Please make it payable to Clearview Church, and write on the memo line  Eric Ketcham/East Asia, depending on the trip you want to support. Donating in this way makes your gift tax-deductible. Please send it to the following address: 

Clearview Church

PO Box 3049

Chesapeake, VA  23327-3049

2.   Online: Please make your donation by clicking on the following button:

      

The donations are automatically deposited into my PayPal account through which I can then finance these trips. While this is a very convenient method, there is a 2.9%+.30 cents processing fee on each transaction.

If you are able to give financially, I would ask that you do so as soon as you are able.

I hope that by supporting me in whatever way you choose, you can work alongside me despite not being physically present. We are all called, in one way or another, to spread God’s kingdom, whether it be through giving, going, serving, etc.

If you have any questions about these trips or about how you can be on my team, please feel free to comment.

Thank you!

Blessings,

Eric