Praying Friends,
Joel has asked that I forward this letter to all who receive our newsletter and e-mail updates. As you know, we are reluctant to talk too much about support in these updates, but we are seeking the Lord in ways to increase our current support base.
Since some of you also get our written newsletter, you may get hit with this twice! Thanks for your understanding and your continued prayers as we seek God!
Gary & Kris
April 3, 2003
Dear Friends of Gary and Kris Harris,
I need to tell you what an integral part the Harris’ have become in the big picture of missions in Alaska statewide. Their giftedness in many areas of ministry is helping to encourage missionaries and pastors in their work and resource some of them with tools to do more than they ever could have before. God has uniquely equipped the Harris family and is greatly using them to build His Church in the villages of the North.
Gary is trained as a Pastor to Missionaries, but he also serves as Director of Administrative Services for Arctic Barnabas Ministries. In-between his traveling, training, and managing the office here Gary has built deep personal relationships with key Christian leaders in the villages of rural Alaska and has earned the trust to help them carry their own burdens as they minister to the people they are responsible for. Gary has also used his technical skills in not only designing and maintaining our website but also working on sites for two other ministries that we serve. He is currently setting up an accounting program for one of the remote Bible Camps in the bush. Gary Harris is a key element not only to the successful operation of Arctic Barnabas Ministries but also an increasing number of other ministries throughout Rural Alaska.
Kris Harris leads one of the most important areas of Arctic Barnabas Ministries. She is Director of Women’s Ministries. Many pastor and missionary families have left the field due to the burnout and lack of pastoral care for minister’s wives. Those of you that know her well have most likely been recipient of her giftedness in this area. Kris has a passion for the care of ministry wives and needs to be freed up to give as much as she can to this vital aspect of our work. She is currently spending much of her time working at Alaska Christian College to make ends meet in their personal support. No other member of our team can do what she does so well.
Cassie keeps up with cards and notes of encouragement for missionary kids throughout the bush. She has been very involved this last year with Child Evangelism Fellowship and is also traveling in the villages. Her call to ministry is as strong as that of her parents. I am so proud to see her say "yes" to God’s call in the same way that her parents have.
How can they go unless they are sent?
Most of you know that the Harris’ as staff of Arctic Barnabas Ministries raise their salary by partnering financially with churches and individuals called to send workers for the growing of God’s Kingdom. They work more than full-time in a vital ministry that cannot exist without the commitment of those called to give. Some of you are already giving as part of their team and know the joy of being yoked with such worthy servants.
Harris’ joined Arctic Barnabas Ministries before raising any of their necessary financial support and have been working on building that team along the way. They are now so valuable to the cause of Christ in Alaska that we cannot imagine having them available any less than full time in ministry. However, they are currently receiving less than 40% of what they need to meet their personal living needs. Will you please help us meet this urgent need?
Our prayer is that some of you might commit to regularly supporting Harris’ or consider increasing what you are already giving. It is important to build a good base of churches and individuals for a support team of prayers and givers. Would you please help us in connecting Harris’ with other churches and individuals that may be interested in hearing about the work of Arctic Barnabas Ministries? We would like to put together an itinerary for the Harris’ to present their ministry both in Alaska and the Lower 48 in the next months and you may know just the right place to send them.
Please pray with us that 100% of Harris’ support might be raised soon. The longevity of Ministers in our villages is a matter of life and death. Harris’ play a key role in the spiritual and emotional health of many families serving in Rural Alaska. Let us know what you can do to help through giving and connecting us with other potential support team members. Thank you for your commitment to the care of the Body of Christ in Alaska.
Sincerely,
Joel Caldwell
Director
Arctic Barnabas Ministries
joel@arcticbarnabas.org
