Pine

The past several weeks here at Providence BPC Mission have been filled with a great deal of work on the new building. We are deeply grateful for the group of teens and adults who came from our sister churches in Olympia and Tacoma and helped us with their hard, diligent labor.  They accomplished a large amount of work in the two days they were here and lifted our hearts to push towards the finish. Much of the work has been aimed at satisfying code requirements, as well as some of the more cosmetic issues that will make the church attractive and comfortable. We are very close!  We have now received temporary approval for meeting in the building and will hold our first services there on September 4.  Just a few items remain before our final inspection on September 7.  Then we will focus on final cosmetic work and cleaning for our dedication service on September 18, when we will officially invite the public to attend.

Our visibility is already increasing as people in town stop by to admire the transformation of this former eyesore. Some get out and chat with us about memories they had as children in the building when it was a church in years past. We’re thankful for God’s provision for us, and look forward to beginning earnest efforts at outreach once we have a place that has room to grow. One of our core families has had to move away for the school year to obtain work, but thankfully they are not far away, and we will be able to enjoy their fellowship from time to time. Others are looking to move into the area and become a part of our mission here.

The Sandpoint Bible study is off to a good start, and more will be done in the months to come to get it organized into a proper mission of the Presbytery. Thank you for your prayers! — Rev. Len Pine

Nestled in the mountains of North Idaho, a church is being birthed.  Reformed believers have gathered to raise a testimony to Christ in a small community called Bonners Ferry, Idaho.  Many of these believers have been praying for years that a reformed church would be established here; their prayers are being answered.  God has also provided a building for the church to rent which is under current renovation.  Interestingly, this building was originally a Lutheran church, built in the 1940’s, but has been used in the last several years as a stove store, an art gallery and a home.  Now, we are reclaiming it for Christ.  If this church is to survive, it must be God’s work; it must be founded upon the Holy Scriptures and sound doctrine, and expanded by the work of the Holy Spirit.  We ask that you pray with us that God will establish this congregation here for His glory, enabling us to be a light of His glorious grace.

Work continues in the PMU office to support and guide the labors of our missionaries around the world and at home, all under the direction of our PMU Council, consisting of BP elders and ministers.  Dr. Kevin Backus, International Field Director, was blessed to visit all of our Asian fields and Australia this year, evaluating the fields and providing encouragement to each missionary.  Dr. Len Pine, North American Field Director, continues to work with those interested in planting BP churches in the USA, as well as leading the Team Timothy to Cambodia this summer.  Karen Pine, Office Manager, keeps busy sharing the work of our missionaries through publications, as well as her other office duties and helping with the Team Timothy ministry.  Please keep each of these personnel in prayer as they work on the supply line of our mission.

Dr. Willis of PBPC has purchased a church building for the new mission to rent.  The closing was May 24th, and now work has begun on needed repairs.  Please pray for this young congregation during this building preparation phase.

The Kootenai River (pronounced koot’-nee) powers its way through a pristine valley in western Montana towards Idaho before being checked in its progress by a hydro-electric dam close to the Idaho border. Thereafter, it meanders along westward through that ever-broadening valley until it reaches the picturesque town of Bonners Ferry. From there, it really starts to wind a sinewy path as it turns northward, eventually draining into Kootenay Lake in British Columbia. It is filled with fish, and prior to the dam’s construction, annually flooded its banks and deposited enormous amounts of sediment in the valley bottom, creating thousands of acres of rich farmland surrounded by rugged mountain ranges that retain their caps of snow long into the summer months. It is a gloriously beautiful place.

In the midst of this wonder of God’s creation there are souls whom God has gathered to worship His name. It is here that the Lord has led the Northwest Presbytery and PMU to labor together to plant a mission church among those people. And it is here that the banner of Jesus Christ has been raised that is now calling to others in neighboring communities to worship our Lord “in the beauty of holiness.”

With services beginning in September of 2010, the ensuing months have seen the initial core group solidify in its common vision, purpose, and identity. In a small community like Bonners Ferry, not much can be done that isn’t noticed by somebody, and the mission’s testimony is growing. Visitors have come and stayed; Pastor Pine, along with many in the group, has taken part in several community activities in sports, music, and education; fellowship opportunities that go beyond the limits of the group abound; and the word is out that there is a Reformed work in Boundary County.

The Lord has blessed us by providing a place to meet that is welcoming, comfortable, and accessible. We are grateful to Him, as well as to the City Council here, for allowing us the use of the Bonners Ferry Visitors’ Center right on the highway downtown free of charge. But it has become apparent that the space (only one large room) cannot accommodate us for much longer. With a top capacity of only forty-nine, we often come close to filling it. So, some time ago we began searching for a new place to meet on a permanent basis. A property that has been vacant for some time, a former church turned into a residence, was recently put up for auction, and we began the process of seeing if that property might be the place for us. One of our families expressed a desire to purchase the building for the mission to rent at present, and, Lord willing, eventually purchase at a future date.  A Special Use Permit has been obtained, and an offer was made and accepted.  The closing date is set for May 23rd.  There are a few renovations that are needed, so hopefully, the mission will be able to meet there sometime in June.  It’s a great gift. The property is on the main road through town, with a lovely sanctuary and lots of room for ministry activities. Please pray with us for the Lord’s will to be done in the closing and all the upcoming details.

The first weekend in April, our charter membership role was officially opened, and twelve members and four covenant children were added to the role. More will follow in the weeks to come. By-laws were adopted as well, all under the supervision of elders appointed by the Presbytery to assist in the work until our own elders can be set apart to that wonderful service. It was a precious and memorable weekend, to say the least.

At the same time, Pastor Pine has been meeting with folks in other communities in the region, and plans are underway to begin new preaching points in the city of Sandpoint, Idaho, and possibly Newport, Washington, as well. Folks in Newport have expressed a desire to come over to Sandpoint initially for Bible studies as they seek what the Lord would have them to do in their area. It is truly an exciting time. The Sandpoint Bible studies began on April 17, finishing up the Lord’s Day with an evening of fellowship and study. Please pray that the Lord will guide the group’s development, grant travel safety to Pastor Pine as he drives the 40 miles or so each way on Sunday evenings, and further establish and disseminate the testimony of the Reformed faith throughout North Idaho, Northeast Washington, and Northwest Montana.

— Rev. Len Pine

Providence BPC  formed its charter roll this April under the direction of Elders Glen Luebke and Darin Hughey. Please pray for God to be glorified in this new church plant.

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ from the northern panhandle of the State of Idaho. Our God has been faithful to us here in so many ways that it is difficult to know where to begin. Your ongoing partnership with the Pine family in not only the ministry of PMU administration, but also in our new roles as home missionaries to North Idaho, continues to bless us immeasurably.

The transition and move from New York to Idaho has been harder than we imagined it might be, especially from the standpoint of “keeping all the balls in the air.”  My wife, Karen, who has now been placed into the position of Office Manager full-time, has done an amazing job in ensuring that our records, mailing information, publications, and banking have all been taken care of in good order, as well as assisting our treasurer, Eric Lasch, with appropriate notifications to various government agencies as required. I’ve given my attention to the physical aspects of the move in great measure — setting up the offices by remodeling the space (with a lot of help from our folks here at the mission!) and getting all of our books, files, furnishings, etc., where they need to be, updating computers, making sure all equipment is functioning properly, and overseeing Karen’s work. The two of us are also happy to be sharing some of the load with Dr. Kevin Backus, our new International Field Director, and much correspondence goes back and forth between New York and Idaho. The work of writing and editing our publications is ongoing, of course, as is a significant amount of correspondence with missionaries, potential church planters, and ministry partners like you. Right now Karen and I are both heavily involved in assisting in the planning for our upcoming summer Team Timothy ministries to Edmonton and Cambodia. Those plans are coming along well. I’m also looking ahead to a visit in late April to Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California, where I’ll preach in chapel and represent PMU and the Bible Presbyterian Church, and then take a side trip over to Arizona to meet with a church planting contact there.

Interwoven with the ministry of PMU is the joyous work of serving as a home missionary here in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Working in cooperation with the Northwest Presbytery, we’ve been able to establish a mission here that is off to a good start by the grace of God. Our Lord has drawn together a wonderful group of committed believers with a vision for living and declaring the gospel in the region. We’ve had many opportunities to get involved in the life of the community, and we’re expanding our testimony through the use of the internet as well. I just recently received an inquiry about the church from a family across the country who may be moving to the area and found us on the web, which is very exciting to think about.

There are additional opportunities to expand the work of the Kingdom in neighboring 
communities, too, and it remains to be seen what the Lord has in store for us there. Right now, the regular work of preaching, counseling, hospitality, and pastoral care is keeping my life full and immensely satisfying. We are looking ahead to establishing our charter membership role in April, and taking other necessary steps in the process of becoming a particular church in the Presbytery. God has given us good unity, especially in a mutual desire for His Word. We have much for which to praise Him!

We would covet your prayers for several needs that face us in our two-pronged ministry:

• Support for PMU’s General Fund is under budgeted levels. This is the workhorse account that keeps the office running, including our Office Manager’s salary.
• My own support comes from two sources — giving toward my personal account and the Church Planting Fund. We have reduced my hours and budgeted salary to reflect my divided ministry attentions, but giving is still needed to keep my account current and the Church Planting Fund healthy. There are other potential church planting efforts down the road that may need those funds!
• Our mission here in Bonners Ferry, Providence BPC, needs a permanent location by the end of March. We’ve got a few options, and are looking to the Lord to guide where He would have us to set up a permanent public testimony.
• A couple of our mission families are in need of employment. Unemployment rates here are in the neighborhood of 13% or so, but we are trusting the Lord to provide.
• Please pray that the Lord would give wisdom in what to preach, what to teach, what activities to engage in, and in the general labors required from an organizing pastor.
• Pray for the onward progress of the mission, and especially for a vigorous gospel witness and souls saved and added to the kingdom by God’s grace.
• I am the Director for our Team Timothy Cambodia. Please pray for the financial needs of the team, and that God will prepare us all to be faithful servants.  I’d also ask you to join the team in praying for a fruitful harvest.

Thanks very much for your prayers and support of our ministry. I love being a missionary! And I love seeing the Lord do great things among us, both in PMU and in Providence BPC. May God richly bless you in the corner of the vineyard to which He has called you.

Yours for the testimony of Jesus,

Len Pine

Providence BPC is looking ahead to establishing its charter membership role in April, and taking other necessary steps in the process of becoming a particular church in the Presbytery.  Please pray for this new church plant.

With Dr. Pine’s call to work with a new church plant in Bonners Ferry came the move of the PMU headquarters, leaving the urban area of Buffalo to settle in a quiet, rural section of North Idaho.  God enabled the Pines (who are joined by both their mothers in this new venture) to purchase a home with a large barn, which was newly renovated to house two offices, saving expensive rent for PMU.  Dr. Pine is the North American Field Director, overseeing the PMU office and working with those interested in establishing BP churches in the US and Canada.  Karen Pine is now the full time Office Manager, taking on more of the daily work required to support our missionaries.

Recently Karen was asked exactly what she does, so following is an overview of the work she does to help missionaries fulfill their call:  publication of  the Missions Banner, prayer letters, prayer lists, and donor letters; receipting of donations; bookkeeping; financial reporting; insurance paperwork; furlough itineraries; creation of presentations; organization behind Team Timothy; correspondence with supporters; secretarial support for both Field Directors; and database and file maintenance.

This work not only keeps Karen busy during her new full time position, it also requires funds. Postage, office supplies, utilities, and printing costs are a necessary part of running this missions agency, and efforts are being made to cut costs and save money wherever possible.  Even with those efforts, the General Fund is currently in great need.  Please join us in praying that God will supply for these on-going expenses.  Also, if you are comfortable using  the internet, you could help save some office expenses by signing up to receive news items (the Banner, prayer letters, and prayer requests), as well as receipts for donations  via e-mail or our website.  To sign up for these options, please write to office@presbyterianmissions.org.

The year 2010 has been momentous, to say the least! Moving the office to Idaho, more travel in the past year than ever, a new missionary in Asia, a new US church plant, a wedding in Cambodia; the list just keeps going. And all of this while the economy has wreaked havoc around the country and the world. We are thankful for the funds the Lord has provided for us, for our faithful donors, and for the Lord’s goodness in all.

As we look forward to the year ahead, it’s going to be another busy one. The fields overseas are expanding, especially in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Bolivia. The new mission church in Idaho is already taking aim at becoming a particular church in the BPC. Team Timothy ministries will visit Cambodia and Canada for the first time in each country. In short, there are huge opportunities for spreading the gospel light of the Lord Jesus Christ through our various fields of mission. Will you help us? The General Fund, which is so necessary for the functioning of our administrative staff and office, is desperately in need of additional supporters because it is nearly depleted, and existing regular donations are insufficient to meet the 2011 budget.  Our new field partner, Miss Sarah Miller, needs $3,000 to cover her insurance and retirement account budget for 2011. Rev. and Mrs. Mark Baldwin need additional support to cover the costs of keeping a couple on the field. Revs. Kima and Quisbert are still not funded 100%. The Pines in Idaho are tapping into the church planting fund, and Mrs. Pine is now PMU’s full-time Office Manager, with a requisite increase in her compensation (out of the General Fund). We are trusting in our Lord to provide what is needed through His people.

On the back page of this month’s Banner you’ll find a form with all of our support opportunities laid out for you. Will you be a part of the ministry of PMU this coming year with your prayers and financial gifts? May God richly bless you as you do so. Have a very Merry Christmas, and a blessed New Year!