Kathie Jenkins

My first job in Europe was typing for Bob Johnson. When we went to Belgium in 1982 where Jim taught at the Bible Institute, I worked as a secretary at the school. But every Friday I went to the Johnsons and attempted to keep ahead of Bob, then Northern Europe Director for Greater Europe Mission, typing up the reams of correspondence he cranked out by hand on legal pads. It was fascinating as through those letters I learned about ministry all over Europe, both in our mission and other missions, as well as in national movements. Only much later would I begin to understand the weightiness of Bob’s interactions and influence on all these fronts.  Through that I got a glimpse of the vision and leadership of this dedicated, charismatic, innovative, and a little bit ADHD missionary. That’s why, when Greater Europe Mission polled the troops as they were looking for a new mission director, I responded that it would be their loss if they considered anyone other than Bob Johnson. Of course, as God would have it, they did consider others and in retrospect I realized that God in His wisdom had a more creative agenda.

As it was, God had planned for Bob and Alyce to be put in intensely challenging life experiences that grew and purified them and proved their faith. And in His great sovereignty, he prepared them and led them to Proclaim where Bob’s insight is indelibly etched in the forming of who we are as a mission. In these years I have come full circle editing reams of Bob’s writings – everything from foundational documents to, most recently, the tour manual he was passionately writing right up till God took him home. And Bob, with his gift of storytelling, has gone way beyond the documenting of guidelines for a successful tour – he has penned a history and journey of Proclaim! International.  Through his keyboard he has both impacted the course of Proclaim as a mission and powerfully recounted and recorded God’s faithfulness through it all.

Bob is so desperately missed – but he gave more for the sake of God, for his co-workers, and for a spiritually needy world, than most people will in a much longer lifetime.

Well done, good and faithful servant.

Sunday, September 30, 6:30 pm, Proclaim musicians along with guest musicians at Christian Family Chapel led in an evening of praising the Lord.  Music from Kim Peterson’s brand new CD was featured and we shared victories and challenges from God as he is growing the ministry of Proclaim!  Check out Kim’s CD: Like Stars in the Night

So, you didn’t make it to the Proclaim Gala this year?
Here’s a chance to see what all the excitement was about.
If you missed it the first time around please join us for a
quick glimpse through this virtual Gala experience.

Photos: Jeff Westcott Photography

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We hope you will consider helping to fuel the fire and fan the flame. We are over half way to our fund raising goal of $80,000. Please click on the link below if you would like to make a donation.

Make a Donation Now

If you would like get regular messages with Proclaim news and prayer needs, or if you have other questions or comments, contact [email protected]

From this . . . 

To this . . . 

Thanks to all the generous donors who made this possible. In less than one week $5000 came in and we were able replace the 1000 lbs of equipment you see above with individual units —  a total of 36 lbs that fits in a suitcase!  Now the system is on its way to be used for the first time by the band Soul Tattoo going on tour to Croatia and Bosnia. Click on this link to meet the band and hear some of the music: http://www.reverbnation.com/soultattooeu

Carey Holmquist and Proclaim ministry partners with Spasenie, from Belarus, recently returned from a rewarding 10-day tour in Greece with 16 events including 2 TV interviews.

The tour took them to these locations, in most of which multiple events were scheduled:
• Northern region: Thessalonika, Alexandroupoli, Katerini
• Southern region: Corinth, Athens, Greek Bible Institute

Their ministry to a variety of nationalities — including Greek, Russian, Ukrainian, Moldavian, American, and even some from closed countries — was met with a warm response from all ages and every cultural group. It is encouraging that every sponsor asked them to return.

Following the tour the team was able to speak with some church leaders on a deeper level, resulting in an invitation to return next year to do leadership and ministry development training in addition to the concerts. Their vision is to include leaders from several other countries to benefit from the training.

In the meantime, some of the leaders in the Greek churches have been invited to visit Spasenie in Belarus to participate in some of their activities early next year.

We love to see cross-cultural relationships like this flourish! Please pray with us for God’s direction in future ministry opportunities in Greece.

Song number 2 is fresh out of the mixing studio: I Am Yours Jesus. LISTEN TO IT NOW   Ten to go!

Just $1428 more in donations and the CD project budget will be met. The exciting conclusion draws near!

CLICK HERE and scroll down to PETERSON CD PROJECT to donate online and help us get to the goal!

One of last year's X-star bands

In the city of Brest Los Vecinos band has been involved in the X-star music festival with some of the band members judging the festival contest. This competition of local youth bands, with the winner being featured in a final concert, is a major bridge building event put on by our partner ministry.

See a local news report on this year’s festival with photos of winning musicians and Los Vecinos performing in the final concert:  X-star Festival 2012.

Los Vecinos goes on to Minsk March 1 for final outreach events there. Please pray for good ministry opportunities and for endurance and good health for the tour members these last few days of the tour:

Rino Beretta and mime team from Proclaim! Peru will be in Jacksonville in April for our Gala fundraiser and ministry in the area — but they’ll never make it this way.

You can help us get the mime team here by donating miles to Proclaim’s Delta account or making a cash donation to help with airfare. Contact the Proclaim office for information on donating mileage: [email protected]

904.739.0065

There is an inexhaustible supply of wonder at the coming of God-in-the-flesh to redeem fallen humanity. There is an understated majesty of humility in that the Lord of hosts should make, by human measure, a shabby and threadbare entrance onto the world stage. The people of the earth are desperate for the trappings of grandeur and the comfort of riches.  Human leaders want to surround themselves with props which bolster their  desire to appear powerful and significant: the decorations of vanity.

God needs no such empty posturing. The son of man came as a human baby born to a poor family in an insignificant village to be the savior of all mankind, not just for those of society blessed. He came in the most commonly plain way imaginable. Torn cloth strips for clothing, a borrowed feeding trough for his bed, lowly shepherds as witnesses. The plan of God, the heart of the Father of lights was for the redeemer to arrive quietly unadorned by the trappings of wealth and power.  When human kings arrive on the scene they demand esteem, acquiescence and subservience . . . but the King of glory did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Gratefully and humbly we serve this King, and desire that all would come to worship Him.

John Bowers