Pine

Dear Partner in the Gospel Ministry,

It is a joy for our family to know that we have dear friends who support us in word and deed in the work the Lord has called us to here in North Idaho. PMU, naturally, keeps us busy in the daily work of keeping our missionaries on the field and connected with the folks back home. And the work at the mission church is increasingly taking on an added dimension of community interaction and involvement along with the pastoral and preaching ministry among God’s people. Then there is our family life which provides stability, joy, and encouragement to keep going in the Lord’s work.

The Lord has blessed us here in our labors with PMU. Karen bears a great deal of daily work as our full-time Office Manager, and together we are striving to facilitate fundraising, communication, and encouragement for our missionaries overseas, as well as seeking ways to expand the testimony of the BPC here in North America. It’s a short walk across our parking area at home to the office in the barn, but when we open the door we step into a larger world of reaching people and places who need the hope of the gospel desperately. It’s a privilege to be part of this work.

The mission church continues to progress along well, with visitors coming regularly, and more exposure for the church taking place all the time as I get more involved in community events. We’ll be having new member interviews this month, as well as officer candidate examinations. Men from the body have been nominated to serve in both the offices of deacon and elder, and we are excited to have reached this milestone. I’m meeting more people in the area due to being involved in the arts as well as the political realm. Recently I had the privilege of moderating a candidates’ forum here, and we’ve been able to use the building to host some good community groups in their regular meetings. I participated in the opening ceremonies for a Smithsonian exhibit here in town this month and will do so again in the closing ceremonies in June. These and a number of other opportunities are giving me the chance to live and speak the gospel in a number of different venues, and I’m grateful.

Our family is a great source of joy. Karen’s foot is making good progress in her healing after surgery back in December, for which we are very thankful. Karen and I are thrilled to have Chelsea home for awhile on an interlude in her college studies, and the Lord has provided Chels a great job with a Christian doctor here. She’s hoping to pursue a career in nursing, so this is a terrific fit. Eli is doing very well in school, still eagerly looking forward to a career as a chef and restaurateur. Our mothers are doing well and provide much needed support in the household, as well as the blessing of having two godly moms who pray for and encourage us in the work. We’ve been working on a remodeling project this month that will improve Karen’s mom’s living quarters, and we’ll see that wrapped up in the next few days. Recently, we acquired two lambs from a Christian friend’s farm  for use here on our property as breeding stock and four-legged lawnmowers!

In all of these things we are grateful to our Lord and King for His provision and protection. And we are grateful to you for your faithful and loving support of this work. Grace and peace to you for Jesus’ sake.

Your Servant and Christ’s,

Len Pine

Missionary to North Idaho

A search online for information about the geographic center of the nation or continent will yield some pretty interesting results. Did you know that the geographic center of the US was first determined in 1918 when the US Coast and Geodetic Survey ingeniously cut out a piece of cardboard the shape of the United States at the time (without Alaska and Hawaii, of course), and  balanced it on a point? That led them to Lebanon, Kansas, where you can see the monument to the geographic center to this day…though the real center is some miles away in the middle of a farmer’s field. Add Alaska and Hawaii, and you travel northwest to Belle Fourche, South Dakota, in the Black Hills region of the state. There, too, a monument stands, though the actual center is again on private land some miles to the north. If you want the center of all of North America, then you’re back in the car to head to Rugby, North Dakota, where, you guessed it, the same scenario will present itself. Another even more important center is to be found in Osbourne, Kansas, where you will find a little plaque in the middle of a field marking the geodetic center of the lower 48, the US equivalent of Greenwich, from which every survey in the country takes its ultimate reference.

So, why would I mention all of this in relation to church planting? I’m glad you asked. None of these markers are even inside the city limits of any town. All take some effort to find; yet all of these centers are significant because the continent is significant. I believe the BPC is significant, that it has a great role to play in the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ on this continent. Years ago, the BPC had many churches in the great Midwest, but now, for various reasons, those churches are no more, or at least, are no longer in the BPC. So we have churches on both coasts, with a vast expanse between. Over the past several years, we’ve been seeking and defining our center, in a manner of speaking. That center may not seem all that important at times, and it may seem out of the way, but without it our lives have only a fuzzy point of reference that impacts everything we do and say.

The vision statement that our Synod approved last year after much deliberation was an excellent step forward in identifying our center. In some ways, it’s a little like that 1918 survey: a bit imprecise and subject to interpretation perhaps, and yet, it has landed us in the neighborhood. It’s something to keep working on. The clearer our perspective is of our ultimate point of reference in our relationship with Christ and our duties to Him, the easier it will be to establish new local testimonies that exalt Him. My vision is to see us steadily expand toward our geographic center armed with our firm commitment to our spiritual (“geodetic,” if you will) center. In Canada, the US, and Central America, I long to see more churches, more presbyteries, more souls reached by the grace of God. It’s going to take time and sacrifice and people to do it, and the goal stretches beyond my lifetime. Nevertheless, my prayer is that you and I will lay the groundwork for the next generation to faithfully and wisely continue the journey.

Like any road trip, it takes planning, for sure. It also takes just getting out of the house, jumping in the car, and driving that first mile down the road. There may not be anything awfully exciting at first, and there may be delays along the road. But, eventually, you get there, and the whole journey has been worth it. Finding our center is much the same. I’m glad that you and I are on this journey together.  —Dr. Len Pine

The Lord is growing the mission in North Idaho! We are thankful for our members and adherents, and for the fairly steady flow of visitors through our doors. We are thankful for the opportunities we have to minister privately and corporately in the community. We’re thankful for the marvelous place the Lord has given us from which to launch our efforts and present a public face in the county. God has been very good to us.

We are also rejoicing for those who are seeking membership in our body, now attending membership classes on Sunday afternoons. Also, a group of men are prayerfully considering standing for office in the body, and they are now taking leadership classes with me on Sunday afternoons as well. These are reasons for praise!

Planning for the summer Team Timothy ministry which will follow Synod has now begun in a big way, and team members will soon be getting their assignments which they will carry out alongside the church body. Our principle aim is to evangelize our community in that ministry, and to “introduce” the mission church to our neighbors. Please pray with us, as there will be many obstacles along the way. But, there will also be many chances to grow together as a church body as we put ourselves in the mindset of sacrifice for the cause of Christ. I, for one, am looking forward to the journey. Thanks for your prayers and support for home missions. —Dr. Len Pine

February, 2012

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a bit of a snowy day here in North Idaho, but our thoughts are already beginning to turn to the warmth of summer. Karen and I spent the morning laying out plans for the Team Timothy ministry scheduled to come our way in August. It’s going to be a big effort: thirteen team members, two county fairs in two cities, canvassing, work on the church property, and fellowship with the local church all have to fit into one week. But it’s exciting to think of the opportunities for testifying to the gospel that will present themselves to us. Please join with us in praying for the team members and their fund raising efforts and preparations, and for those who will hear the gospel through their labors.

Between now and then, of course, a lot of work will have to be done by our people here. The Lord has brought a number of visitors our way over the past few months, which is encouraging. I’m currently holding weekly membership classes for a number of folks who are interested in joining the church, and it’s been a terrific time. I’m also teaching classes in church government and leadership for men who are considering holding office, and a fine group of guys is taking part. These steps in the development of the mission are vital, and a great blessing to me personally. The Lord’s hand is evident among us as He shapes and grows this body.

I’ve also been encouraged by the ways the Lord has used us as salt and light in the community. Sometimes those ways are not even directly related to our particular ministry. For example, I’m a member of a small vocal group in town which was preparing for a concert this month. In fact, the group has been working on this concert for about ten months as the program has developed and changed for various reasons. A crisis arose a month or so ago when the director introduced a selection of readings into the program that was a real problem morally and theologically. Two members of the group complained and then dropped out because of their evangelical convictions, and I nearly did as well. But I had a series of conversations with the director (who professes to follow Jesus) which helped her realize at least some of the problems, and in the end she readily scrapped the entire script she had proposed in favor of better, acceptable material. She even asked me to help screen the new selections. Praise God for His work in her heart! These opportunities to be an influence for righteousness in the broader community are common among all of us, and we are thankful that we have them. Sadly, not everyone will darken the door of our churches and mission stations, so being salt and light in the community is vital. Your support helps to make this possible here, and all over the world.

This winter has been a challenging one in the health department for our family, and it has kept us from being as active in the lives of our church family as we would like. But light is beginning to gleam at the end of the health tunnel, and we are seeing how faithful the Lord has been to all of us, all along the way, in spite of our weakness. I’d appreciate your prayers for Karen as she continues to heal after her foot surgery: progress has been steady but slow (which is what it’s supposed to be), and sometimes frustrating for her. If you know her at all, you know that she’s not a person who likes to sit around unable to do much! I’ve been amazed at how much she has been able to accomplish by the grace of God, even with the limitations the recovery process demands. Truly, the Lord’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Our daughter, Chelsea, is now home for a sabbatical from college, which is a blessing to all of us. She’s been struggling with illness most of the fall and winter, and is trying to get back on her feet so that she can find a job to begin saving for the next step in her education. Eli, as a junior in high school, is beginning earnestly to consider and make plans for his future after he graduates, with his sights set on a career as a chef. We’re thankful for our children, and thank you for your prayers for them.

It’s been quiet on the home missions front here at PMU over the winter, which is not surprising, but I expect inquiries to begin again once the weather starts getting nicer around the country. The respite has been welcome with all the other things going on, but I’m eager to see some new contacts come across my desk. Other administrative tasks have maintained their pace, and the Lord has provided for every aspect of the agency’s ministry at home and abroad. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support. Your notes of encouragement from time to time bless us. May the Lord richly bless you in turn in the labors to which He has called you.

For the Kingdom,

Len Pine

The new mission is holding membership and leadership classes in January and February.  The church praises the Lord for growth and progress.

Providence BP Mission celebrated its first baptism in December, 2011. They praise the Lord for this milestone in their ministry.

Friends, this has been an absolutely amazing year.  As our family moved across the country to Idaho late last year, we had no idea how full the Lord would make our life and ministry in 2011. The new church plant in North Idaho is steadily being established, and early on this year became a double effort  in two communities that has been a huge blessing here. To see the Lord expand the witness of His name as He has is a humbling privilege. Our PMU work in the home office has been incredibly busy for Karen, and I’ve had a multitude of inquiries regarding the BPC and church planting throughout the year. Team Timothy Cambodia was a great success, as was our Edmonton team, and we rejoice in the addition of a new missionary candidate to our PMU ranks. Your support has made this possible, and we thank you deeply for your love for the Lord’s work and your care for us. God bless you!

— Rev. Len Pine, PMU North American Field Director and Idaho Church Planter

With much praise and rejoicing, the year-old congregation in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, is gratefully establishing its testimony in the community with the help of its new building. The renovation work continues little by little, but the building is fully functional and a beautiful place in which to worship. Visitors are making their way to the services on a regular basis, and the body is encouraged by the repeat visits that it sees from folks in the community. A truly blessed dedication service in September, and a special mid-week presentation in October by Mrs. Ruth Moran of Bright Hope Ministries on the grace of God to endure through cancer, continue to bear fruit, along with the regular preaching of the Word.

I intend to begin keeping office hours at the church soon to be more of a presence in the heart of the community, and a suitable area is being prepared and appropriate furnishings secured for that purpose. At the same time, the weekly Bible study in Sandpoint, Idaho, continues to progress toward seeking formal mission status with the Great Western Presbytery with a faithful group of Reformed believers intent upon being salt and light in Bonner County. Thank you for your prayers for the works in Idaho. — Dr. Pine

Friends, greetings in the Lord’s name. He has been so good and faithful to us this year that it is hard to know where to begin. A good place to start would be to say “Thank you!” for your prayers and support of the work here in North Idaho.

The biggest focal point of the work since May especially has been the renovation of the building here in Bonners Ferry. Once a neglected and overgrown eyesore that made the neighbors wince every time they saw it, the church-turned-business-turned-residence-turned-church-again has risen like the mythical phoenix to be a place that is both delightful to look at and to be in. The entire community has marveled at the transformation, and even in mid-process, the change has made people glad that we moved into town. Since the first Sunday in September, we’ve been enjoying the use of it at last, though there is still much work to do before it is “finished.” Many, many hours of hard work by our small congregation and friends from our Presbytery and the community have resulted in a place that exalts our Lord, as He enabled us.

Church planting is seldom one long, smooth climb toward establishing a mature body. Along the way, there are always ups and downs and the challenges related to beginning something new. This fall, one of our core families was forced to move out of the area due to employment demands, but the Lord has been bringing others to encourage us. We hope the family will be able to return next year but are thankful for the blessing they are being to one of our sister BP churches.

I continue in my role as Field Director at PMU, a necessary and welcome obligation. I spent nearly three weeks away in Cambodia this summer and another at Synod. Then, I fell ill with pneumonia and threw my back out setting up the log posts for the church sign, which has made work very difficult for the past month. Still, the Lord continues to do and keep the work, and I am confident that His testimony in and through us here will be well established. Just this past Lord’s Day, we were encouraged by brand new visitors who assured us they would return. So, the Lord gives us the tokens of His blessings along the way to remind us exactly Who is “at large and in charge,” as a friend of mine likes to say.

The newer church planting work in the city of Sandpoint to the south of us here has also been going well. The group is slowly growing, gaining oneness of mind as we go along, and rejoicing in the study of God’s Word together. Though I’ve started churches before, I’ve never started two at once, and so it is fascinating to me to see the different ways in which the Lord takes His people and molds them into a visible communion. It’s exciting to be part of it, to say the least.

For your times of prayer, here are a few items that I hope you’ll remember as you think of us:

• Over the fall and winter, we hope to begin the process of seeking the Lord’s moving among us to raise up officers from the body here in Bonners Ferry, a momentous step forward in the life of the mission.
• Please keep the Sandpoint preaching point in your prayers as it develops and grows. Specifically, we would ask for avenues of testimony to open up in the community where the power of the whole counsel of God would be appropriately applied in the civic and spiritual lives of the populace.
• Karen, my dear wife, is facing foot surgery this winter, and we would ask for the Lord’s provision of what we need to cover the bills, and cover the work here in the office, a great concern to her. She’ll be off her feet for six to eight weeks, so we’ll definitely have some shuffling to do to get everything accomplished. She continues to do a terrific job in the PMU office, balancing those tasks with the duties of wife and mother.
• Our daughter, Chelsea, continues her college studies in California. She’s doing well, though keeping her health strong is proving to be a challenge this year. She was just diagnosed with mono, and so we are praying for her endurance and return to health.  Costs have also gone up, and so we pray for the Lord to provide a job for her there that will enable her to stay in school, and still do school.
• Our son, Eli, is pressing on full steam ahead with his desire to graduate from the charter high school a year early, and he is doing well. He’s learning a little of the cost of being righteous, as those he counted as friends last year have snubbed him this year due to his lack of enthusiasm for their fallen life-styles and choices. Pray for him to stand strong and be discerning. He desires to be a restaurateur and is eagerly pouring himself into preparing for that profession.
• As for me, your prayers for my physical and spiritual stamina would be greatly appreciated; for growth “from grace to grace” so that I would be a fit vessel to serve the Lord in the three ministries (four, counting my family) that the Lord has entrusted to me; and for an abiding joy and love for the Lord’s people.

Once again, thank you for your love and support of our family as we labor here in Idaho. May God bless and keep you in the safety of His everlasting arms.

Yours for Christ’s service,

Len Pine

On September 18th,  Providence BPC Mission was blessed by many out of town visitors and written greetings from churches throughout the BPC at the dedication service of their newly rented building. Praise God!