Prayer Letter from Scott & Sharon MacLean
Scott & Sharon MacLean
version of this letter in .PDF format, visit the prayer letters page of our
website (www.snsmaclean.net/prayerletters.htm).
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Renovations in Progress .
March 2012 update on the ministry of Scott & Sharon MacLean serving in Italy
with CrossWorld
"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will
He not also with Him freely give us all things?" - Romans 8:32
It was an unusually warm day for March so I took Karis to the park after
school. As I stood there enjoying being outside, I glanced at one of the
buildings across the street from the park and noticed something. The roof
was gone! I commented on it to one of the other parents standing nearby and
she told me that it had been like that for over a year (so much for my
observation skills). Evidently someone had started the project and then
abandoned the work. "That will be a really nice place, if they ever get it
fixed up." she said.
It brings to mind an illustration that I used in our youth group recently.
Our lives could be compared to old, ruined buildings, languishing in useless
disrepair. When we trust in Christ for salvation, He "purchases" us, and
starts the work of renovation. God works in us, slowly removing the
ugliness and contamination and replacing it with the likeness of Christ. It
is His work in us, and we can rest assured that when he begins a project,
unlike the owner of that building near the park, He will not abandon it.
Having paid such a vast sum to purchase us, won't He also do all that is
needed to finish the work? (Romans 8:32)
It is really exciting to see that work going on in the lives of folks in our
church - especially the new believers. Let me share a few examples .
Our youth group had a wonderful time at the Missions Net missions conference
over the New Year's weekend. They came back excited about prayer and
serving God. One man in particular, a new believer, felt called to serve in
some kind of a short term ministry trip. He had been having trouble finding
work, and thought that perhaps he would take the opportunity now to serve
while he had the freedom.
The details of how God worked things out won't fit in the prayer letter, but
he ended up finding a place to serve that fit a little too perfectly to be a
coincidence. :) As we have kept in touch with him, we have seen the hand of
God guiding into unexpected places and opportunities - and steady spiritual
growth as well.
Another guy that I meet with weekly for discipleship has an intense zeal for
the Lord and for seeing others come to Christ. As we talk over espresso
each week, I have seen the Lord working in his heart and mind - confirming
him in the faith. His enthusiasm opened up the door for an evangelistic
Bible study (currently ongoing). Please pray for the Lord to use this study
to open eyes to the vital truth of the Gospel.
And as my friend sits through this study with me, he desires that it will
help train him to use this same study with still others with in his circle
of influence.
Still another of our youth recently asked me to send him the notes for the
same evangelistic Bible study series - so he could get ready to use it with
his friends at university. Frequently when we get together to talk about a
Bible passage we have read, we will talk about some of the conversations he
has had with his friends about the Gospel, or about how he has set up with
another friend to read a passage from the Bible and talk about it, or about
being a witness with his family.
Yes, it is great to see that God is at work. Lives are being changed. And
unlike buildings - which just sort of sit there - when God works in
someone's life, it's contagious! It spreads and touches still other lives
with the wonder of the Gospel and God's gracious hand at work.
As we start to make plans for our upcoming home ministry, we have two
concerns that we would like you to be in prayer for. The adoption should be
finalized any day now. Once it is final, we will have to wait while the
paperwork winds its way through the system and arrives in Domodossola. Then
we will have to get a passport. Four months should be enough time, but
knowing how things work here, we ask you to pray that we will be able to
complete everything in plenty of time for our August 1 departure.
Also, we are substantially short in our financial support at the moment. In
the short term (over the next few months), this is not a problem. But
CrossWorld has urged us to try to raise at least another $1,500/month by the
end of our home ministry later this year. We would actually need almost
$2,300/month to get to full support. Normally we would have the possibility
of extending our home ministry if we did not reach these goals. Our
situation with the adoption does not leave us with that possibility. We
must return as scheduled on October 29. Please pray for the Lord's
provision of these needs.
Thank you so much for your prayers. You are an important part of God's work
here in Domodossola!
His Servants,
Scott & Sharon MacLean
*** Italian Info ***
You know what French toast is, but if I order a "toast" here in Italy what
will they bring me?
A) A toasted ham & cheese sandwich
B) A toasted slice of pizza
C) An oven warmed croissant
D) A glass of wine
** Answer to last letter's question:
Mario Monti (C) is the new Prime Minister of Italy. He was appointed to the
position by the President after Berlusconi resigned.
*** Quickly Noted . ***
* On our Website - New pictures, our home ministry schedule and - in the
Life in Italy section - more about Scott's volunteering with the ambulance.
* Home Ministry is coming - We have our tickets, and have scheduled many of
our visits with churches. We will be on home ministry from August 1 to
October 29, 2012! Details on the Home Ministry page of our website.
* Prayer Supporters Needed - If you pray for us regularly and have not let
us know, please do so, so we can update our total. And if not, would you
consider becoming a daily or weekly prayer partner?
*** Prayer & Praise ***
* Praise for signs of God's hand at work in the church.
* Thank the Lord that once He starts working in us, we can trust He will
never abandon the project! (Romans 8:32).
* Pray for our evangelistic Bible study with a family here (through April
10).
* Pray for wisdom in managing our time - knowing where to invest this
precious and limited resource.
* Praise for the Lord work in our youth at the "Missions Net" conference in
December.
* Praise for good conversations at the book table and elsewhere.
* Pray that all the details will work out for us to get our adopted
daughter's documents finished in time for our August 1 departure for home
ministry.
* Pray for the Lord's provision of our support needs - we are seriously
under supported.
* Pray that the Lord would give us the words to speak and the boldness to
proclaim them in a worthy manner as we share the Gospel. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
* Pray for a great working of God in the Ossola Valleys. May He draw many
people to Himself and build His church!
*** Contact Information: ***
* Field Address:
Scott & Sharon MacLean
Via Ravasenga, 2
28845 Domodossola (VB)
ITALY
Phone: 011-39-0324-482-259
* Mission address:
CrossWorld
10000 N Oak Trafficway
Kansas City, MO 64155
Phone: (816) 479-7300