Brant and Mary Lane Newsletter (Winter 2023)
Madagascar Boot Camp Testimony
Ericah is a first year BMW (Bible, Missionary & Work training) student in Madagascar. She is 18 years old. This year was her first Boot Camp with Teen Missions. She felt really convicted in her heart that she needed to change and accept Christ as her Savior, so during Boot Camp she gave her life to Jesus and committed to change her life. She began her study at BMW after returning from her team, and we can see her growing. It is so encouraging to see someone so committed to change. She is really enjoying the program here, because she wants to learn how to change her ways and bad habits. Before, she would have a bad attitude all the time and would quickly tear down those people around her with her words. Now she’s learned to control her tongue and to tolerate them. God has been teaching her to forgive even when the people are undeserving. She’s really enjoying BMW training and is loving to expand her knowledge of God’s Word. Thank you for your support and for the life changed through your prayers!
We are here!
Our family has officially made the move to Merritt Island, Florida, to begin serving with Teen Missions! After a great holiday season, spending time with family during Christmas and New Year’s, we left South Carolina on January 1, to start this next chapter in our lives. The goodbyes were hard, the hardest being to our daughter, Annabelle. She is staying in SC as she’s in college at Charleston Southern University.
We are still getting settled in our home as we have also begun working at Teen Missions. Brant serves with the Land Crew, which involves doing a lot of maintenance work and various other jobs. I (Mary) am teaching a class (Missions II) for the Sojourner School of Ministry at Teen Missions. I am also a part of the publications team and hope to be involved in other areas of the ministry. Allison, Jonathan and Jesse are back to home schooling after having an extended break between moving and the holidays.
As we continue getting further in the new year, we will be staying quite busy. There are a number of groups coming to TMI for retreats, conferences and to volunteer. While they are here, the staff takes turns preparing the meals, which is a fun way to get to meet everyone. For the groups that come to volunteer, Brant will be helping lead them with different projects around the property.
Something new that TMI is doing this year is hosting Spring Break mission trips for teens. They have planned a trip to Michigan at the end of March and a couple weeks in Florida. Allison and Jonathan have signed up to go on the Spring Break trip to Michigan (March 26-April 1). They are very excited about this opportunity! While there, they will be working with refugee students from Syria, encouraging their English-speaking skills and academic performance, as well as building relationships and sharing the Gospel. There may also be opportunities to help clean up the city, as well as evangelistic outreaches. Please pray for them as they serve during this time and that everything comes together regarding their travel to and from Michigan.
Where are we going this summer?
This coming summer, we are planning to lead a group of preteens to South Africa! We are very excited about this opportunity as we have never led this age group before. Please pray with us that the Lord will lead more preteens to this team and also to the other preteen/teen teams that will be going out this summer. Jesse will be going with us to South Africa, and Allison has been accepted to be a part of the Leadership Development Team, going to the Philippines, and Jonathan has signed up for the Iceland Team. We are looking forward to what the Lord will be doing through TMI and our own family this summer!
If you feel led to help with the summer cost of the teams for Jesse, Allison, and Jonathan, please let us know, as they have to raise the funds they need. We also ask that you partner with us in prayer. We can’t do any of this without your faithful prayers!
We are very excited to be serving with Teen Missions. Many of you know that this ministry has had a special place in our hearts for about 20 years, which is almost as long as we’ve been married! Being here now is all in the Lord’s will and in His perfect timing. Please pray for our family as we continue to get settled, and pray for Annabelle as she is in South Carolina. We are very thankful that our parents are a little over an hour away from her school, and other family are even closer if she needs anything. Pray for good health and that we will find the right doctors for our family, especially for Brant, as he continues to deal with his health concerns. Also pray for stamina for Brant as he has had a few days of exhaustion and as he gets acclimated to the warmer weather here and more physical work than he has been used to.
We love you, pray for you, and thank you for your faithful partnership through prayers and giving. Please keep in touch and let us know how we can also be praying for you! If you are ever near Merritt Island, let us know! We love for you to visit!
Also, Teen Missions has much work needing to be done and is always looking for volunteers, both short and long term. If you are interested in volunteering please let us know and we will get you in touch with the correct person or call 321-453-0350 and ask for the volunteer coordinator.
Love,
Brant & Mary Lane
Contact info: Brant: 843-356-9019
Mary: 843-372-1962
If you would like to give towards Allison, Jonathan or Jesse’s summer mission trip, mail a check made out to Teen Missions International and have a note saying it’s for their summer trip. Mail it to our home address at: 260 Heavenly Street Merritt Island, FL 32953
You can also give online by going to https://teenmissions.org/involvement, then search for Allison Lane, Jonathan Lane or Brantley Lane. (You give under Brant’s name for Jesse’s expenses.)