Ferch

DONNA FERCH ~  

FBA Faith Promise Missionary serving with 

Friends in Action International, USA/Bolivia

 

The purpose of Friends in Action is to enable national pastors and missionaries to plant new churches in the most remote areas of the Amazon. Donna helps oversee all projects and church-planting efforts, working closely with national team members and volunteers. The ministry uses three methods to reach the unreached people: an FM radio station in the Amazon jungle broadcasting in three languages, a missionary riverboat which takes doctors, nurses and evangelists to remote villages, and a training center to teach Christian indigenous men and women how to reach the remaining people groups in the Amazon. Gary, Donna's husband, was very active in the ministry until he passed July 1, 2022. Donna shares a personal family experience below:

It’s hard to believe it’s been 34 years since my family moved to Greenland.  Most people weren’t sure exactly where that was, but most knew the old legend that Greenland and Iceland were both misnamed, Iceland was green (with growing things) and Greenland was ice (as with, well, ice.)  That’s pretty much true, but I always tried to express that Greenland was amazing with its own stark beauty of the fjord-cut land, the iceberg filled sea, and the warm-hearted people. 

Greenland's stark beauty

 

It's been that way pretty much everywhere I’ve lived, from southwest Oklahoma to the Appalachians, Greenland, Mexico, Saint Louis, with visits to Vanuatu and many trips to Bolivia.  God keeps His promise that, “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” 

 

Now, it’s hard to believe it’s been a year (on July 1) that Gary has been with Jesus. God has met every need so far, and though there have been some added trials, God is good, all the time. Things may seem bleak and challenging at times, but, like Greenland, this season of life has a stark beauty all its own!  Thank you for your many prayers and support.  I appreciate both.

 

Iver, Tamara and Japhet  /  Pastor Saul

I also appreciate your prayers for our Bolivian co-workers.  They are hard at work in the church plants, Bible training center, and radio ministry. Please pray for missionary Iver and his wife Tamara.  She is due to have her baby, after a high-risk pregnancy.  Please pray for a safe and healthy delivery, and for God’s provision for all hospital bills.  Pray also for Pastor Saul, who is having testing and treatment in Santa Cruz for his medical needs.

 

 A new puppy can definitely bring change and perspective to one's life!  :)

Thanks so much for your prayers for my health over the past months.Yesterday, my doctors gave me the “all clear” until the fall, when I have my next scheduled scans!  Thank you also for your prayers for my family.  We still need your prayers!
With you in the harvest,
Donna

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PRAYER & PRAISE ~ July 12-18, 2023

7/12 DONNA FERCH
Friends in Action International, USA/Bolivia
Please keep Donna in your prayers. It’s been one year (July 1) that her husband Gary has been with Jesus. Though there have been trials, God has remained faithful, as He always is. Continue to pray for Donna, her family, and the Bolivian co-workers. They are hard at work in the church plants, Bible training center, and radio ministry.

7/13 BEVERLY MINOR
Central Missionary Clearinghouse, Austria
Praise God for Beverly’s successful ministry trip to Spain with her friend Nancy Alonzo. Beverly shared her music and was invited to return for at least a month. Praise God that her Atlanta townhouse also sold, and she is now searching for a home in Louisiana near her family.

7/14 BENNETT & IDONG EKANDEM
North American Mission Board, USA
In the 2022-2023 school year, the Ekandems served 48 children in Pre-Kindergarten through 10th grade. Many who were reading and performing below grade level showed significant improvements within five months of instruction. About 80 percent of the children who took the Georgia Milestones Test passed with flying colors.

7/15 T & A
Central Asia
Praise God for the time T and A had in the States to see most of their children and so many others who care for them and have walked with them through some period of their lives.

7/16 ADVENTURES IN MISSIONS
First Baptist Atlanta
Today is Adventures in Missions Sunday. Join us, as an FBA Faith Promise missionary couple serving in Asia, share about their experiences on the field. Go to fba.org and register for lunch by July 10 or just come and listen!

7/17 BRANDY BARD
Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA
Praise God for the opportunity Brandy had to speak at a Christian school in Wilmington, NC, and share with middle school Greek students about Bible translation. She also shared about Wycliffe with the entire school at their assembly.

7/18 KEITH & RITA HAYWOOD
Operation Mobilization (OM), USA/Worldwide
Pray for their Church Teams as they navigate the preparation process for the nine teams going on mission with OM from July through September. Pray for a possible long-term partnership with a church in Atlanta and their ministry in Egypt. Pray for God’s direction in the details.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” I Corinthians 15:58 (NASB)  

 

Our monthly Prayer & Praise Calendar is also available on fba.org/globalmissions