Going to the Birds

Recently we visited Rockland's Bird Sanctuary near Montego Bay. We successfully found this private abode after maneuvering past Sasquatch-size potholes and four-wheeling up a steep mountain road. The trip was well worth it though, as we were greeted by care-taker Fritz who supplied us each with a mini hummingbird feeder to hold and sprinkled bird seed on our knees and by our feet. It didn't take long for our flying friends to warm up to us and start feeding. We enjoyed the company of Jamaica's national bird, the Doctor Bird; a hummingbird with a long double tail that resembles a doctor's coat. Also, a Mango Hummingbird, a large Jamaica Oriole and a variety of others. We were then given a tour of the surrounding area and an education about the various plants and herbs.

Apply Your Heart To Instruction

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach." Romans 12:6-7
I am just finishing up my first year of teaching at the Assemblies of God Bible College in Christiana, Jamaica. My class of first year students is the largest class the Bible College has seen. They have been exceptional, vibrant and exciting students to teach. Thanks to the encouragement of the General Superintendent of Jamaica, Reverend Conrad Pitkin, education is getting the positive push it needs. Students from all over the island, including graduates of Teen Challenge and members of other denominations, are coming and receiving not only a great education but also ministerial experience in the Pentecostal tradition. In December, fellow missionaries Reverend Steve and Pam Livingston and Academic Dean Reverend Margaret Mills are hosting a missions team to Curacao and taking as many students that are able to go with them. Plans are also in the works to expand the Bible College to allow more students the opportunity to recieve a quality education. This is an exciting time for the Assemblies of God Bible College in Jamaica.

Of Chickens and Pigs

Someone once said that the difference between involvement and commitment is like an eggs and ham breakfast; the chicken is involved but the pig was committed.

The month of May turns our attention towards a different type of commitment celebrated every year in honor of mothers. Each child, in every family, is encouraged to show in their own creative way their appreciation for mom. Pictures are drawn, cards are created and breakfast is presented in bed for mom on her special day.
Although the act of giving birth technically makes someone a mother that is not what is actually being celebrated on Mother’s Day. The celebration is in honor of the wonderful privilege and awesome responsibility each mom accepts in her commitment to raising a child created in the image of God.
This same privilege and responsibility has also been entrusted to us at New Vision City of Refuge Children’s Home. Although other women may have given birth to our children, we are committed to raising them in a way that honors God. Motherhood is a noble endeavor and we give thanks to our friends and sponsors who by their prayers and financial support help us to honor our commitment.

Happy Mother’s Day.

He Knows My Name

A Sunday school teacher relates how a class of youngsters she once taught had some problems repeating the Lord's Prayer. What they lacked in memory skills they made up for in imagination. One child sincerely prayed, "Our Father, who art in heaven, how'd you know my name?"
A few years ago, Tommy Walker, a well known worship leader penned the words to a simple but profound song:

I have a Father, he calls me his own. He’ll never leave me, no matter where I go. He knows my name, he knows my every thought. He sees each tear that falls and hears me when I call.

If you were as fortunate as I to have an earthly father who exemplified the qualities of our heavenly father, then you know the above verse is true. But if you were not so fortunate, as so many of our children here at New Vision City of Refuge, you can rest in the truth that God is everything you have always hoped for in a dad.
When a child doesn’t have a family to call his own; then God calls on his family to fill in the gap. That is the heart and soul of our ministry at New Vision City of Refuge. This is the ministry you are a part of as well as you invest in the lives of these children through your prayers and financial support. Thank you so much for all you do.

As they say in the Church of the Holy Cabbage

Lettuce pray

This is our new dining hall and kitchen. Also included in the same building are accomodations for the boys and their house parents. Although a lot of progress has been made this year we still have a long way to go. We would love to be able to complete this first phase by the end of this summer.

It is estimated that it will cost $20,000 to finish the first floor. If 20 churches/individuals are willing to give $1000 each or 40 churches/individuals are willing to give $500 each we would be able to accomplish this task. Please pray and consider what you or your church is willing to give, keeping in mind, "Food is an important part of a balanced diet." (Fran Lebowitz)

All offerings can be made out and sent to:

AGWM

1445 N Boonville Ave

Springfield, MO 65802

In the memo put our account number 251128 and the project number 8768.

A parting thought from Miss Piggy, "Never eat more than you can lift."

Support Your Local Missionary

There is a new online commitment form for those who like the ease of doing everything on the web. Follow this link http://worldmissions.ag.org/agwm_commit_form.cfm or click on Online Commitment Form in the links section and you will be forwarded to Our World Ministries commitment form, on the AG website, to make a monthly commitment to our ministry. Our account number is 251128-5. This form is not to make payments but to signify your commitment to support our ministry on a monthly basis. To make an online payment click on Support the Brown Family in the links section. To support and make online payments for New Vision City of Refuge simply click on Support New Vision City of Refuge in the links section.

The Kingdom of God is Near

When you enter a town and you are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, "The Kingdom of God is near." Luke 10:8, 9

New Vision City of Refuge hosted a medical team this week to minister to the people of the surrounding community as well as to our children and staff.

Dr Charlie Sykes with the help of his wife Dottie, daughter Meredith, volunteer pharmacist Rebecca and our friend and fellow missionary, Nurse Peggy Pyatt (pictured) treated and dispensed medications to over 60 people per day.

Our daughter Olivia also helped out in the clinic, filling out forms and finding files for the patients. Each morning began with a worship song, prayer and a short devotion. Every patient remaining until lunch also received a Juicy Patti (Jamaican fast food). Young children were given a small toy to play with while they waited, prayer requests were taken, spiritual counsel was offered and free spiritiual literature was also handed out.

Brown & Bubbly

Samantha and her brother Bryan
The second annual Brown & Bubbly Awards were held recently at New Vision City of Refuge. High school students were awarded prizes according to how well they did in their respective subjects and grades. Samantha, grade 8, was awarded best overall average for all the grades represented. Bryan, grade 10, received honors for best grade in Math. Almost every high school student received some kind of recognition and all received encouragement to acheive their best in school.
Jamaica is a highly competive country when it comes to education. High school students must pass extensive tests in order to be even considered for college. Please pray for each of our students that they will take their education seriously and try their hardest to acheive the best grades possible.

The Love Connection

Olivia and Brittany participate in a team led devotion.
Carrie and Matt Love are fellow Assemblies of God missionaries currently on the itineration trail. They are raising their first term funds to go to the Dominican Republic to work with Latin America ChildCare. Please follow the link below to their website and view the video, "What is a Missionary?" I'm sure you'll get a kick out of it. http://thewaytheyshouldgo.org/media.htm

Aslan Is On The Move

Dermot looks forward to Spring.

As I’m sure many of you have now already seen Narnia, the epic movie adaptation of CS Lewis’ much loved book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe you are no doubt familiar with the quotation in the title above. Mr. Beaver, in his conversation with the Pevensie children, imparts to them a measure of hope and wonder with these few words, “Aslan is on the move.”

The presence of Aslan, the Christ figure in the Chronicles of Narnia series, in the frozen world of Narnia threatens the domination of the self proclaimed ice-matriarch and the world begins to thaw.
As many of us can testify, there once was a time in our lives when we lived in a frozen world similar to Narnia. A world where there was always winter but never Christmas. But then someone came to us with a message of hope, “Aslan is on the move.”

This week we will be celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; the one who came into our wintery world and brought to us the hope and wonder of spring. Our children at New Vision City of Refuge hear that message of hope constantly; through the encouraging letters of their sponsors, weekly in church, nightly at devotions and daily by us and our staff. Some are still choosing to live in winter but others are learning to experience the thaw. We are hopeful for the soon coming spring, keep praying; “Aslan is on the move.”