a new Guyana beckons

that is the title of the Guyanese government's promotional campaign for tourism -- but for me, there's another meaning. my mother is Guyanese, my dad and his parents served as missionaries to Guyana. now, the Lord is leading me to lead our congregation to be involved in advancing the Kingdom in ministry partnership with the existing churches there. this will begin with an upcoming opportunity to travel there...soon

let me tell you about the trip to Guyana

two days before my grandmother passed from this life (the last day of June 2005), i was meeting with the new national church leaders in Guyana at Anderson. our church had made a commitment a year ago to make Guyana our first country to be involved in missions and partnership. as i met with them and shared our heart, our vision, and my own heritage, they enthusiastically invited me to join an upcoming trip to Guyana at the end of August and into September, as leaders begin setting up a Bible Training school. In addition, if i can come then, or at a future date, they want to begin looking for a place to plant a new church in memory of my grandparents Ed & Meriam. It was a joy to share that news with her before her passing--i'm excited to see their heart for this little country living beyond their time of service here.

Rev. Milton Grannum is leading the trip and working toward the Bible training program. our involvement will be some teaching, but mainly discovery and aiding ourselves with the knowledge and exposure to see our church get really behind these projects in their own participation physically, prayerfully, financially, etc.

i'm in the beginning stages of raising support in prayer and finances. right now, the tentative dates of the trip are August 31 - September 9, and i would ask for your congregation's prayers leading up to that time (that all the details of passports, reservations, and preparation) come together, and for the time there (that a new missional heart will be birthed not only in our church, but also in the Guyanese churches as we seek to see the 11 churches grow to fill the country with the good news of Jesus Christ) .

if you or anyone in your church(es) would like to help this effort financially, they can send their gift written to "Sixth Avenue Church of God" with the memo line as "Guyana trip/Pastor". we're hoping to raise enough for Keli to go too -- so if you would like to support her, let your memo line read, "Guyana trip/Keli". this way all of the funds will be received and disbursed with integrity, while allowing every giver to receive a gift letter for their individual tax purposes. mail any gift or letters of support to: Sixth Avenue Church of God, ATTN: Pastor Ken, 716 - 6th Ave. S.E., Decatur, AL 35601