St. John's Episcopal Church
Established 1830
146 1st Street, at the corner of Liberty Street
Troy, New York
From the
Interim
Rector's Desk
Perú
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. (Ephesians 6:21 ESV)
June 2010
Dear Family, Friends and Intercessors,
Peace and Grace to you in the Name of God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ the Lord!
Linda and I pray that all is well with you. Your prayers and financial support are the wind beneath our wings in the Mission to Perú.
These last few months have been a very busy time for the Chapman’s. May the 29th our oldest daughter Sarah McInnes and her husband David gave birth to their first baby, Luke Donald. Linda drove down to help with the blessed event and helped the new family to get a good start. Five days after birth, Luke Donald came down with a serious fever and was taken to the emergency room. We sent out an emergency prayer alert and so many of you were quick to respond. Luke Donald was healed almost immediately, and we rejoice with all in the graciousness of our God towards Luke Donald. Unbelievably, Luke Donald’s symptoms returned again earlier this week and we sent out another emergency prayer alert; within 24 hrs. Luke Donald was back to normal. Praise God and thank you again!
I believe that God is trying to teach all of us that he answers prayers, and that we can trust him with everything.
Meanwhile in Troy, NY the Mission to Perú has been involved in several events; the St. John’s Outreach Fair, the Episcopal Diocese of Albany Mission Gathering and The Episcopal Diocese of Albany Diocesan Convention. At the closing Eucharist of the Convention Linda and I were sent out to Perú in a blessing by the Diocesan Bishop Bill Love, Bishop Dan Hertzog, and retired Archbishop of the West Indies, The Most Rev. Drexel Gomez.
Our last Sunday here in Troy, NY will be June 27th. We have made many friends here and although leaving will be sad we are excited about finally moving to Perú. By the 29th we plan to sort through our remaining possessions and leave for Long Island where we will store what we don’t take with us at Linda’s sisters house, visit family and then leave for Perú on the fourteenth of July.
In Perú we will be staying in Lima for a few months while Linda studies Spanish. I will travel back and forth to Ica-Ayacucho, and prepare for the consecration. At this time the consecration is tentatively scheduled for August 30th in Lima.
We ask your prayers for:
- Jesus’ leading every step of the way, and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in Perú
- Continued health and safety
- A smooth transition to Perú
- The Consecration
- Financial growth in the area of monthly pledges for Linda and me and the new diocese.
- The Bond of Peace and the Spirit of Unity with the Ica-Ayacucho team
God bless you!
The Rev. Michael+ and Linda Chapman
When the Lord speaks to you in prayer concerning us and/or the mission, please write us or call us. Our contact info is: (cell) 336-262-0140; e-mail: thwmac@juno.com
Please also check out the Diocese of Peru web site at: www.ANGLICANCHURCHPERU.serifweb.com or www.peru.anglican.org.
If you would like to know more about SAMS, our future ministry or how you can contribute to our mission to Peru, please contact SAMS: www.samsusa.org and follow the link for ‘missionaries’ find our name and picture, and there you will find information for contributions and support.
May 18, 2010
Dear Family, Friends, and Intercessors,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!
Linda and I are doing well and are very excited about our upcoming move to Perú. Linda has just arrived back in North Carolina to assist our daughter Sarah and her husband David in the birth of their first baby, our grandchild, Luke Donald.For the first four months of our stay in Troy we have been blessed by fellow missionaries to Perú, Shaw, Julie, and Lydia Mudge who have allowed us to stay in their condominium in Wynantskill, NY. The Mudge family is doing a very wonderful work in Perú at the Saints Augustine Seminary as Pastors and Teachers, among other things. They have been such wonderful and kind friends to us during this first stage of transition.
With the Mudge’s imminent return to Troy for numerous engagements, we have had to move into another apartment that St. John’s Episcopal Church has provided for us. We will stay there until July when we move to Perú and begin our work there.
Meantime many doors seem to be opening for us. This weekend I will be representing SAMS (the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders), our missionary group, at an outreach fair in St. John’s and next weekend I will be speaking about and seeking support for the Diocese of Perú and the new diocese of Ica-Ayacucho at a Diocese of Albany Commission on Mission fair.
It is our hope that you will continue to pray for the following:
Linda and I are very grateful for all of your prayers and support. It has been amazing to us to see the Lord move through your intercession. The way He moved in the election and ratification process was amazing. We pray that your faith and confidence in the Lord was increased because of it.
- Our final transition to Peru, our temporary residence in Lima for Linda’s language classes, and our adjustment to the culture there.
- Safe travel for Linda in North Carolina and back to New York
- A safe delivery for Sarah, David, and Luke Donald, and quick recovery for all.
- The growing list of speaking/preaching and teaching opportunities that have opened up for us that they may bear fruit for the mission and the Diocese of Perú.
clergy photo after the election of 3/26/10
The Rev. Misael Varillas and Deacon Pastor On a pastoral call in Huancavelica, Perú
Linda with young ladies from San Juan Bautista Ica, Perú
May 7, 2010
Dear Family Friends and Intercessors,
The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16-KJV)
Grace and Peace to you in the mighty and matchless name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Last night at 11:26 pm, Linda and I received a much awaited phone call from Montevideo, Uruguay. The voice of Bishop Godfrey said; “good evening Monsignor Mike.” And then he said, “Congratulations!”
As it turns out once again the “arm of the Lord was revealed” and the Lord had heard our prayers. Bishop Godfrey said that by unanimous vote in both the Provincial Executive Council and the House of Bishops of the Southern Cone, my election as Suffragan (assistant, missionary) Bishop had been approved.
Although a date for the consecration has not yet been chosen, I have been told that it will be scheduled sometime around the end of July and the beginning of August. Linda and I will be moving to Peru at the end of June.
Of first importance we bless the Lord for His faithfulness in our lives, and then we bless all of you for all of your faithful support.
In Christ Jesus we remain,
Mike+ and Linda Chapman
