Keeping
In Touch…. Paul and Bertha Swarr
|
Dear
Powhatan Mennonite Church Family,
Pat has requested that we write an update on what we’ve been involved
with in recent years since we were among you there at Powhatan Mennonite.
As some of you know, we moved into Richmond and have been relating with
Youth With A Mission. And now in our 70’s we are “retired”. Just
why would anyone want to “retire” and yet be active with YOUTH With A
Mission? Aren’t we too old for this? Yes, we try to keep in the background and let the young leaders be up front. However, we are grateful that there are still things for us to do. And what is so exciting to us about this? It’s because we love to see lives being changed and molded for missions.
After having lived in Israel for those 30 years, we love relating with
international students. And this term again, students are here
from 12 different nations: Australia, Singapore, South Korea, India,
Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Belarus, Ecuador, Brazil, Paraguay, Haiti, USA. These
12 nations represent all six continents (except Antarctica!).
And these young people are growing and being changed! |
Paul & Bertha celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary May 8, 2005 |
There are currently three schools in session: There is the DTS
(Discipleship Training School) where churched and unchurched alike come for
twelve weeks. The basic course of study is intended to help each one
learn the Biblical view of who God IS, how to hear His voice, the blessings of
obedience and the folly of disobedience, how to understand His Word, and then
how to share this invaluable news with this hurting world. Yes, these are things
which every Christian parent wishes their children had learned either at home or
at church -- but alas, this just isn’t always true. So when they
are presented with these truths in a condensed manner, this makes a fresh impact
and lives are changed! Then they go on an “Outreach”, usually
overseas, to share what they’ve learned. A team has recently
returned from India, and next week another comes back from Israel.
They are forever spoiled for “the ordinary”. Praise the Lord!
Then there is the English Language & Culture course. The purpose
of this is to help overseas students learn English, understood in most nations,
in order to use English to use as a tool in witnessing worldwide.
Thirdly, there is the School of Jewish Studies -- to enable students to
understand from whence we have come as a Gentile church, and to know how to
sensitively witness among the people who gave us the
Messiah and the written Scriptures. Several new Schools of Jewish Studies are
being established in various parts of the world to enlarge this ministry
--Ukraine, Brazil, Hawaii, India and Spain.
We are also happy in being part of First Mennonite Church here in Richmond,
serving as part of the Worship Committee, the Outreach Committee, teaching in
the Sunday School, and serving in various other ways. We are so grateful for all
of these opportunities for mentoring, writing, teaching and behind the scenes
ministries.
Our family of children and grandchildren are also a joy to us. David, Sharon and
daughters are in their seventh year of making Galilee, Israel their home and
sphere of ministry. Carl & Carolyn (Stauffer) and two teenagers
have served under MCC in mediation training work in South Africa already 12
years. Many of you know that Jay & Evelyn (Hostetter) have moved
with their family, nearer to you there in Powhatan County. We
thoroughly revel in what God is doing in the lives of our eight grandchildren,
most of whom are already young adults.
Thank you for who you are in the Lord, and for your love and service
where the Lord has planted you! We have many fond memories of our several years
being among you at PMC.
In His love, Bertha & Paul Swarr
Paul
served as pastor at PMC
October
1987-December 1989