From Mary Ann's Desk May 2011

Last month, we put out “A Call to Prayer,” asking you to please keep Nigeria in your prayers as they began to maneuver through 4 long weeks of elections, with the most critical of all the elections being that of their President.

Praise God, I am happy to report that by and large, these were the most peaceful and secure elections that Nigeria has experienced since they returned to democratic rule in 1999. But, they were by no means “violence proof.” Several major riots broke out in some of the Northern States, including Bauchi and Kaduna which border Plateau. Maidugari, located in Borno State (and where our Associate Missionary, Rev. Larry Koontz, has worked among the Kanuri tribe doing medical missions for the last 15 years), has also had its share of outbreaks. Nevertheless, all is relatively calm, especially in Jos. Thank you all so much for your prayers.

23rd ANNUAL LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
I had wanted to wait until the elections were over to be sure that the situation there could return to normal before I made any final plans to attend this year’s Conference. Well, I’m going, and Jennifer is going with me as my armor bearer and photographer. We will be meeting our Associate Missionary, Rev. David Smoot, in Amsterdam on May 18th, and then we will all fly into Nigeria together. Mark will be arriving just a few days later, on the 23rd. We are busy making all of our final preparations – tickets are purchased, visas are applied for, and teaching materials are being prepared. This will be my first overseas trip since 2007, and I am excited to be returning.

In addition to teaching in this year’s Conference, who’s theme is “Secretes of Multiplication,” I will also be teaching in the ICOM Bible College and in the Springfield Bible Training Center.

TRIP EXPENSES
The expenses for this trip are: $6,000.00, none of which has been raised thus far. This amount covers 2 airfares and 2 visa fees (all of which has been charged on credit cards), hotels, meals, and Conference expenses. I waited until now to advise of the trip costs so I could be confident that this trip would be forthcoming. Please prayerfully consider whether God would have you participate with us financially in making this trip a success. Thank you. 

As always, we cannot begin to express our gratitude to each of you for your faithfulness in your prayers for us as well as your giving. Without you, it would truly be impossible for us to do that which He has called us to do. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, as we anxiously wait for our visas, as we travel abroad, and for His will to be accomplished in all that we do. We, likewise, continually hold you up in our prayers, asking that the Lord will continue to richly bless you as you labor with us in His Kingdom.

Because there are over 4.4 billion people in the world who still need Jesus, I remain

Yours in missions,


Rev. Mary Ann Cassidy
President