Continue to pray that the details for my Japan trip would be finalized. My exact location has not yet been determined. There are several churches that are interested in having an intern, but their is some concern about me being able to get the 72 hours of teaching that I need. Pray that this would be finalized very soon!

Japan Update!

Thank you to all who continue to faithfully pray for the ministry inJapan this summer. I'm finishing up my last few weeks of classes andhave many, many assignments and tests upcoming!Pray that I would be able to complete them all well.

The next few days are very important! I will be finalizing my summer"contract" with a church in Japan and will then be able to share mylocation for the summer! Pray that all of those details would fallinto place.

PRAISE - That I have 100% of my daily prayer partners and 67% of myfinancial support.

PRAY - for my future students, my hosting church, the pastor andleaders of the church.

Pray for the church's preparations for classes - the churches will beputting out flyers and advertisements in their communities very soon.

Pray for my own preparation, I will not only be teaching English but also will be serving with the churches, so I need to be readyspiritually as well as physically.

Pray for wisdom as I select a ESL curriculum to use for the summer.

Pray that I will be able to handle this differences and will be ableto learn to enjoy the Japanese Culture.

Pray for a love of the people and culture of Japan.

Pray for Leon and Janet, field coordinators, as they are making the needed contacts and preparations for us, as they work with thechurches.

JSB 2009

Fabulous!

Moody's 9th President

In chapel this morning, the Board of Trustees announced after an extensive nine-month presidential search, Dr. Paul Nyquist, current President and CEO of Avant Ministries, has been unanimously appointed as the next president of the Moody Bible Institute. “Dr. Paul Nyquist’s skill set and character uniquely match our search committee’s profile,” said Jerry Jenkins, Moody Board Chairman. “He’s a proven leader, team builder and visionary who also happens to be a theologian. We look forward to many years of inspired leadership.”

Nyquist, 55, brings to Moody 18 years of successful ministry experience as a senior pastor of two vibrant churches in Iowa and Nebraska, and eight years of organizational leadership as the President and CEO of Avant Ministries, an international missions agency based in Kansas City. “Being appointed as Moody’s ninth president is both a high honor and a solemn responsibility,” said Nyquist. “To pick up the presidential mantle from the gifted men who have preceded me is the greatest honor I have ever received.”

He and his wife, Cheryl, have been married for more than 27 years and have four grown children. They have a special appreciation for Moody’s educational ministry as three of their children chose Moody Bible Institute as the place to receive their undergraduate education.

Dr. Nyquist will officially begin his tenure as Moody Bible Institute’s ninth president on June 1, 2009.

Please pray for Paul and Cheryl in the coming months as they make the transition from Kansas City to Chicago.

To learn more about our new president, visit www.moody.edu or www.moodyministries.net

I pray that you all had a restful weekend as you remembered the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a special time for me here in Chicago as I was able to attend services at two different churches and enjoy the evening with the family of a friend here at Moody.

Updates on Japan: God graciously provided the $1000 that I needed for my last deadline. Thank you to all that prayed, and for the many generous gifts!
I now have almost 60% of my financial support! Praise the Lord! Continue to pray that God would provide the money by my May 10th deadline.
I am still awaiting word from World Venture concerning my exact location for the summer.

Pray for the pastors that are making the placement decisions for Park, Melissa, and I.

Pray that God would begin to soften the hearts of the students we will be interacting with.

Pray that God would continue to prepare Park, Melissa and I to share the gospel clearly this summer and that He would equip us with the skills we will need to serve Him effectively.

Thank you so much for all your prayers!
Anna Martin

Who Am I?

What is my identity in Christ?

Is my acceptance, security and signficance truly in Christ?

Who am I?

I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation.

"For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. This is the wonderful message He has given us to tell others. We are Christ's ambassadors, and God is using us to speak to you. We urge you, as though Christ himself were here with you, 'Be reconciled to God?' For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ" (2 Cor. 5:19-21).

I have been wrestling with sin, guilt, repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation over the last few weeks. What a blessing at the end of this Passion week to be reminded of why Christ came, and what our place in the midst of it all is. To be reconcilers. To help bring others into a right relationship with God.

Park, Melissa and I, Excited to Go to Japan!!

It is amazing to see God's hand throughout the entire process of going to Japan this summer. When World Venture let me know I needed $1000 in just one week, I didn't think it was possible. But, in just three days I had the entire amount! Currently I'm at 43% for my financial support and 100% for my daily prayer partners (however, I'm always happy to add more prayers!).

Pray that we would be aple to find good deals on our plane tickets this week.

Pray that Melissa, Park and I would be diligent to complete our studies well this semester.

Pray for continued financial support for all three of us.

Pray that God would be softening the hearts of the students in Japan that we will be interacting with.