Seth & Emily Phippen Newsletter (Fall 2020)

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Joshua 1:8-9

Hello!

We hope you are doing well and that you continue to grow in the knowledge of God and even in this time of different difficulties and hardships, you will remain strong and courageous as you remember that God is with us wherever we go.

God is Not Bound

Ministry here is pressing forward full steam! Our Bible schools have opened their doors and students are back on campus. At the end of December we will be graduating about 50 students and commissioning them into the world to take the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them into the darkness and expose it to the light of God’s mercy and grace. Not only are we moving along with each ministry area that we were before COVID-19 slowed some things down, but we are also expanding into new villages across Malawi. Pray for our team as we go out into new communities and villages and begin weekly ministry outreach and discipleship programs to teach about Christ. 

Water for Malawi

In September we received a generous donation so that we could drill seven wells throughout Malawi. Each well dug is right now providing water to men and women who were struggling to have access to water on a day-to-day basis. Teen Missions has been trying to provide wells for some of these locations for over two years. We are so thankful that God has provided the finances needed to drill these wells, and we are so thankful for everyone who has been praying for our ministry here and those who are financially giving so that we can continue to make a difference in Malawi. Bringing water to a village is not the end, but just another step in the journey. It is our desire that every man, woman and child in each village in Malawi will have the opportunity to hear and understand what Christ has done on the cross and that they would respond in faith to this message. Please pray with us that the drilling of these wells would be one of the ways that God would use to tell people about the “Living Water” that is Jesus Christ.  

Rescue Units

Two of these wells were at Rescue Units where Teen Missions has been working for years. Not only have these Units been helping in the community through agriculture programs and medical treatment, distributing clothes, teaching Sunday schools and Bible studies, but now they will also be centers for the community to come and get water. Before, community members were walking miles to get their water. 

Matron Units

Two wells were drilled at our two Matron units. These Units are centers where we allow girls to come and live while they are enrolled in school. There is no bus system in the rural areas of Malawi and lots of students walk very far to get to school. Because of the distance, many girls are taken advantage of. This is why Teen Missions has built dormitories on or near the public school for girls to have easy access during the time they live with Teen Missions. Now these girls will have access to clean water on the property of Teen Missions, further enhancing the safety that they have while staying with us and freeing their time to study or learn other skills. 

Sunday School Ministry

Three wells were drilled at locations where Teen Missions is teaching a weekly community Sunday school program. These locations are in villages where the only source of water around was by an open, hand dug hole in the ground about a yard wide and two yards deep. Community members would use a plastic cup to scoop out a cup of water at a time. When the wells were drilled and water was shooting out of the ground, the sounds of cheers, laughter, clapping and crying were together louder than the ten-ton well drilling machine. 

John 4:13-14 

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 

 

Our Family 

The kids continue to grow and love life in Malawi. James turned 6 on September 19th. His favorite gift was a bike. He has never ridden a bike before, but some of his friends have bikes so he has been really excited to learn how to ride it. His friends enjoy helping him to learn to ride also. Lauren still enjoys school and reading books. She is happy that the students are back on property as she sees them as her friends and she likes talking to them and showing off her skills on the swing. Emma is changing just about every day—new words, new facial expressions, new skills! She loves playing with her friends and following her brother and sister on all their adventures. Emily started school with the kids and they are off to a good start. She continues to oversee our Financial Department and she is now leading a Bible study for the staff ladies on the property every Wednesday afternoon. I have been busy managing the ministry operations throughout the country. We are starting new Sunday school classes in six new villages this month and are in the process of establishing more in the months to come. 

If you would like to keep up with us on a monthly basis, please send us an email or message and let us know you would like to receive our monthly update.           

We are so thankful to partner with you to be a part of the mission here in Malawi. If you have partnered with us in prayer and or financial giving, thank you! What has been shared in this letter has been accomplished because of your partnership in the ministry. 

 

If you would like to contact us please use one of the methods below. 

Email: [email protected]

Text message: 321-413-6394

WhatsApp: +265-997-00-48-55

We would love to hear from you! 

God bless,

Seth, Emily, James, Lauren & Emma