New Years 2011 Letter

New Year’s 2011

   Faithful supporters and friends,                                                        

As we stand at the threshold of another new year, we look back at the year of difficulty and change that the Lord saw fit for us to experience. Through last summer’s decision that dissolution may be necessary and through the times of fervent prayer seeking God’s provision to keep CMI thriving; as well as in the efforts invested to develop new partnerships, the goal of reaching out with the gospel remains the central desire and focus. As the new General Manager, I am very pleased to be working together with the rejuvenated Board to renew the vision and mandate of this cherished mission. We will be looking for your help these next few months as we go through in this re-visioning time.

            Many of you are aware that this year has seen several staffing changes. Bill & Anna Penner have relocated to Steinbach where they continue to serve as CMI missionaries. Zack and Lilly Beardy have retired after many years of faithful service. These staff changes have meant that the soup kitchen needs to be closed for now. Besides those significant changes, Bert and Liz Genaille have resigned from CMI in order to serve full-time as a pastor with Healing Hearts Ministries in Nipawin Sask. In all of these changes, there has been mutual good-will and a strong desire to see the blessing of God in each other’s lives. We are also happy to see Andrew Harder taking an education leave to study at Steinbach Bible College this semester. 

            While we will miss ‘the way things were’, we are very excited about what the Lord has for us in the next chapter of life. At this New Year and at this new ‘fresh start’ for CMI, we look forward optimistically to the surprises and miracles God has in store for us. It is so evident that God himself has put together the partners and events that bring us to today, and we are sure that he has ‘more in store’ for 2011. Thank you to each of you who pray for and give toward the work of CMI. Without you, there would be no front lines work to report on. Without you the doors of CMI would indeed be closed and boarded up.

            Your gifts are very much appreciated and will be used carefully as we seek to be faithful before God to this task He has called us to. We are counting on your continued support as we move through the re-visioning process and seek out new partners, supporters and staff to help carry forth the gospel message though a re-focused CMI.                

                                                                                            With a grateful heart for all that God is doing,

                                                                                             Ferlin Abrahamson, Interim General Manager

                                                                                            Email- fabraham@mts.net  Cell- 204-281-2879

Dec 15 Letter

                                December 15, 2010

Dear friends of CMI,

            As the new general manager, I have great anticipation (and a little apprehension) about what God has in store for me and this mission with all of its rich history and tradition. God has done some amazing things in the history of our mission, and each of you who pray for and support us in other ways are a very significant part of that. God does not limit himself to the past, and we are excited about what he is doing in our midst right now. On Monday of this week, the CMI board planned a Christmas feast to celebrate Christmas, honour our staff and volunteers, and install our general manager. What a beautiful time we had together as we ate, sang, shared and celebrated God’s goodness to us. Today, Morgan, Andrew and I were out to Midway Bible Camp to make plans for camp upkeep and to consider bold dreams for future ministry there. Tonight as I write this letter, I listen to young people downstairs in the Hideout singing camp songs and asking questions about camp, God, and life. It is exciting to be a part of what God is doing here, and I hope we can count on your continued prayer and financial support as try to refine our vision for what we believe God wants us to do as we look expectantly for what he will do in our midst in the future. Past, present and future are all a part of God’s great work around the world and also here in Continental Mission. Thank you again for your support, and I wish you a blessed Christmas.                                        

                                                                                    Sincerely,

                                                                                    Ferlin Abrahamson

                                                                                    Interim General Manager  

Dec 1 2010 Letter

Dec 1 2010

Dear Friends of Continental Mission:

                Over the past 45 days, Continental Mission has taken a number of significant and exciting steps to strengthen and focus our work in the North.  As a kid who grew up in the shadow of the pioneers who initiated the work of Continental Mission in the North, it gives me “goose bumps” to now be asked to chair our Board of Directors and play an active role in shaping and supporting the future work of the Mission they founded.

After only one month in this role, I can point to some early steps which have given me growing confidence about the work to which God has called us. 

1.           As of December 1,  Ferlin Abrahamson , a former Board member and active member of Continental Mission, will take the role of Interim General Manager.  This will provide leadership at Head Office in Thompson, and free the mission staff to focus on the roles to which they were originally called. 

2.           At our transitional meetings in Thompson in late October, the missionaries and board members of Continental Mission were overwhelmed with the messages of support from four different church groups that met with us during those two days

·         The senior leaders of three Mennonite conferences traveled North for these two days of meetings and “fell in love” with the work of the North, the people, and history of Continental Mission.  It was an opportunity for them to see this ministry through the eyes of our Aboriginal friends as well as the missionaries.

·         Bert Brown, and the Thompson Bible Chapel leadership team, were very gracious in hosting us and opening our eyes to the “Native way” of thinking and learning and teaching.  Their demonstration of support for God’s work in the North helped us to remember that, “Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ” I Corinthians 12:12

3.           The Board of directors is already looking forward with anticipation to the “Re-Visioning Project”, where we will talk with all of the stakeholders of Continental Mission to refine the Mission’s focus.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to thank you for your role in supporting Continental Mission.  Your prayers and your gifts are used by God to bring His message of redemption and renewal to the people of the North.  Our prayer is that many of them will join us this Christmas season in saying:  “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  Matthew 2:2

Sincerely

Bruce Penner, Chairman of the Continental Mission Board