January 2023

January, 2023

Dear Supporter,

Six months of service at ETM have passed. Every month and day has been a time of equipping, training, counseling, helping, involving and serving the churches, church leaders and implicitly the families that request ETM's help.

At the beginning of December, I was visited by 2 Moldovan families who requested my help for their work in Knoxville, TN.  On December 4th, I attended the ordination of the 3 elders of the RCC church. On December 17, we received the help of a team of volunteers from RCC to cut wood for the winter. We had guests for 2 weeks until after the new year. During all this time we had participation and discussions with a view of counseling and equipping for the Great Commission. At one point we had 4 families with us for the holidays. As a blessing during Christmas to the community of Robbinsville, NC, we caroled to the people from the nursing home and in front of the Ingles store, to remind people that Jesus is the reason for our celebration. I preached the Gospel to those who came to listen to carols. I pray God will touch the hearts of those present.

Colin is in good health and has been trying to cope with a failure of his water system when we experienced two consecutive nights at zero or below. He has been driving down the hill to take showers in the office building in the mornings. Fortunately, the rest of the campus has suffered no interruptions. He continues his work with pastors and leaders we have trained to restore equilibrium in families and churches following efforts at restoration. His determination for 2023 is to schedule more time for research and writing in the new year.

Ethan and Sarah finished their assignment at the Rock Community Church at the end of December. The regular preaching duties were handed to an elder at the Rock who will serve as an interim pastor while their search team looks for a pastor. Ethan will continue preaching at the Rock periodically, and ETM continues our efforts of discipling the leadership at the Rock so they can disciple those in their community.

With God's will, starting January 19, I will start a biblical equipping program for elders within The Rock Community Church.Regarding the balance sheet and evaluation of the work, I first thank God for the help and guidance I received all this time. Thank you to the families of both the board and the ETM team, and last but not least, we thank you who are involved and shoulder the work of God by supporting the ETM organization. This work could not have been done without God's help and yours. We pray 2023 will be a blessed year in which we will be a blessing both nationally and internationally for the churches of Christ.