Parmenters Change of Plans

Dear Friends:

We want to let you know the sad news that we are resigning from ministry with ABWE.

It has been agonizing and heart wrenching to make this decision, but God has been close and faithful. After three years of Prefield and 83 meetings, we had only attained 30%. During 2009, our support fluctuated between 25% and 28%, and then finally up to 30% in May of this year. Our personal finances began to run perilously low.

Over the last several months we did not have peace that we were still where God wanted us to be. So we had been praying that God would reaffirm His direction for us. Adam started calling the churches we had visited so far hoping that the answer to our prayers would be several churches wanting to support us or at least expressing a strong interest in supporting us. We could not find any new support and it seemed our phone and e-mail went silent. Instead, the answer to that prayer was a phone call from a job recruiter. Our direction, though not what we were hoping for, seems clear: Adam accepted a contract position at a local corporation. As a result, the new job does not allow for us to continue in pre-field, and we must resign from ABWE.

While we did not raise our needed support, our prefield ministry has resulted in changed lives for Jesus Christ in churches all over the Midwest. When people shared with us how our ministry had made them think, convicted them, or encouraged them, it made the thousands of miles traveled worthwhile.

We know God is sovereign and His plans are perfect. I don’t think we will ever truly understand why we couldn’t go to the Czech Republic, but we do not doubt God on this. We can be certain that He is faithful. My son Michael always says, "Start by assuming God knows what He is doing." With that in mind we are submitting to this new direction and trusting Him for the outcome.

For HIS Sake….

Adam & Marge Parmenter

Pray With Us

Hello Friends:

Last week we completed a week of travel which included a concert in Iowa, then a concert in Illinois, followed by a day of ministry and presentations in Iowa again. It was a wonderful time of effective ministry. Also, I was able to spend time with a new friend in the Czech Village, Cedar Rapids, IA. It was also the week that our support level finally made it to a full 30%.

Back in Kalamazoo, MI, the satisfying glow of ministry began to fade and the problem of our support level weighed on our hearts once again. It has taken us three years to get to 30% support, and for 18 months of that time our support has been moving up and down between about 26% and 29%. Two churches have joined as supporters, and several individuals have joined, which offset some other support that was lost.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

We've begun to wonder if we are "laboring in vain". We had about 83 meetings in three years and have a full schedule into the fall. The response to our ministry and our mission to the Czech republic has been exceptional. Here are some quotes from the evaluation forms we give for each church we visit.

"They blessed and challenged me"
"The Parmenters were a blessing to our church"
"The day was a blessing, challenge and very positive"

We are worried that after such a full schedule of great meetings that we are not seeing more support come in. ABWE guidelines show that we should be at about 60% support by now.

In the coming week, we are working to discern if we are supposed to continue with prefield. Please, pray with us that we will have clear direction from the Lord. We need a clear indication that God will provide the supporters we need to continue. Also, this week, I'm going to call churches we've been to in an attempt to find out if there are any that are planning to support us. We are also praying that we will be able to discover any individuals that have been considering supporting us.

If there are no churches planning on adding us then that could be an indication that we aren't where God wants us to be.

Over and over I think about the Czech. In such a strongly atheist country like the Czech, there are college students that are curious and interested in Christianity. They would be willing to study the Bible with some one. Our age and background make us suitable for a number of ministries to help the little church in Southern Bohemia grow and Christians there mature in their faith. It's heart breaking to consider that we might not have the funds to go help the Czechs.

We have been praying about our support for some months, some times with tears. We know that God is good, and that He is able to do anything in His will, regardless of the economy or political system. Pray with us that we will have wise discernment and clear direction over what to do next.

We appreciate your prayers, and will keep you posted on our next steps.

Adam Parmenter on behalf of Marge, Michael & Maryellen

www.sharethecrown.com

Our Heart for the Czech Republic

www.Heart4Czech.com

“Now I'm not alone...” (Czech believer speaking to an ABWEmissionary)

It’s heart breaking to realize the vast majority of Czechs believe God is a myth for the weak minded. Believers (only 0.5%) are isolated, facing intense opposition from friends and family.

Working with a team of missionaries alongside isolated Czech believers, we’ll help them reach their country for Christ and mature as a church family.

“We need to get you here...” (Ron Barnes, missionary/team leader, Czech Republic)

Pastor Ron Barnes and his family have been in the Czech four years. What he has discovered is that while many Czechs are hardened to matters of faith, there is a younger generation hungry for a life changing relationship that will sustain them regardless of their circumstances. The opportunities to share Christ with the Czechs are growing. The need is now.

"Two are better than one...” (Ecclesiastes 4:9)

We can accomplish more together than we can alone. We are looking for hundreds of supporters who each donate a a small amount, $5, $10, or $25 per month. If each of us does what we can, together we can quickly raise the monthly income required to live and serve in the Czech for many years to come.

"We can't do this alone.” (Adam & Marge Parmenter)

In today’s economy giving is a sacrifice. Pray about it. With many of us working together we can field a team of missionaries to serve those living in deep spiritual poverty. Share our heart and vision for the Czech Republic.

*Click this link for a printable financial support form.

*Click this link for automatic withdrawal from checking or credit card

If you have any questions please visit www.Heart4Czech.com

Adam, Marge, Michael & Maryellen

The Parmenters: Prefield missionaries to the Czech Republic

Mission Board: Association of Baptists for World Evangelism

Home Church: Bethel Baptist, Kalamazoo, MI

Tax Time Supporters

Our individual financial supporters are very important to us.

They range in amounts from $10 per month to hundreds and range in age from a children's sunday school group to eighty year olds. One supporter supports us at the $10 per month level ($120 annually), and sends the support annually from her tax return.

We need your financial support, and being a Tax Time Supporter is an easy and fairly painless way to support us financially for $10 or $20 per month. If we had 300 supporters each donating the equivalent of $20 per month, we would have almost all the monthly financial support we need.

Getting a refund this year? Please consider becoming a Tax Time Supporter and sending an amount each year from your tax returns. Go to the "Help Us Get There" page at this link. It has information about how much support we need to raise, how much we have so far, and options (check, credit card) for you to take part in supporting us.

As always, send us a note via this link. We love to talk about the Czech.

Adam & Marge Parmenter
www.sharethecrown.com

Impossible?

Throughout Scripture, God calls upon people to do what is beyond their own ability to accomplish. Once, early in Jesus’ earthly ministry, he saw the disciples fishing. They had fished all night but caught nothing. These were experienced fishermen. Jesus said,

“Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So, signaling their partners in the other boat for help, they filled both boats so full they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees, exclaiming, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!”

Luke 5:5-8 (ESV).

No amount of human effort resulted in fish. Instead, it was the Lord who provided. Marge and I can identify with the disciples. God has provided for us a full schedule, encouraging churches, enough gifts of money to finance car repair and over thousands of miles of safe travel. But—our financial support level remains unchanged. It is currently not enough to meet our needs. I have not found part-time work. We are beyond our human ability to continue pre-field.

We can’t imagine how 2010 is going to turn out. Our belief is that God will provide our support needs according to His timing. I know that we aren’t the only ones dealing with difficult spiritual, emotional, health or financial challenges. Perhaps the struggle you face threatens to overwhelm you. Join us this year in trusting God, resisting the urge to “cut our losses and run.” Join us this year in prayer as we daily pour out our hearts to God. Join us this year as we saturate our lives with God’s Word. Challenges can drive us closer to God if we let them. Join us in trusting Him who alone can accomplish the impossible.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5&6 (ESV)

Adam, Marge, Michael & Maryellen

www.sharethecrown.com

www.facebook.com/ShareTheCrown

THE FINANCIAL END GAME

How Much Money Are The Parmenters Required To Raise?

In order to head to Czech the Parmenters must have $6,846.98 in monthly support. That’s a little over $82,000 per year. $45,173.76 annual salary before taxes, $16,242.00 Medical insurance and retirement, and $20,748 for ministry costs and the ABWE home office.

How Much More Do They Need To Raise?
They currently have $1,793.33. So they need $5,053.65 more in monthly support.

If they had 31 new supporting churches each giving $100/month and 200 individuals each giving $10 a month, they would have all of our support. Many individuals could handle $10 a month but would think, “Why bother with an amount so small?” The point is, these are difficult financial times for many people and churches, but if a lot of people each do a little, the Parmenters will quickly have the support they need. Want to join as a monthly financial supporter?

Print a copy of the financial support form from this link and send it in with your first months support. Join us in reaching the Czechs with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Parmenter Missions - The Treasure Has Arrived

Today the UPS truck arrived with the end product of months of prayer, labor, and the help of some great friends, a CD of inspirational music and contemporary worship titled, "The Treasure".

A collection of 11 songs, The Treasure started as the Parmenters began their pre-field ministry, sharing music when they visited churches to talk about their burden for the people of the Czech Republic.

As Adam sang and Michael played his trumpet, the idea arose to capture some of that music on CD. .

Earlier in the year, the Parmenters faced the death of Adam's parents. Christian parents, Allen & Grace Parmenter loved missions and loved music. When Adam & Marge received a gift of money from the estate, it provided needed funds for them to continue prefield. It also provided funds to record The Treasure.

The songs on The Treasure include:

There Is A Savior

The Lord Is My Light

How Beautiful

Crucified With Christ

In Christ Alone

Embrace The Cross

We Shall Behold Him

Wonderful Merciful Savior

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

The Gospel

To purchase your own copy of The Treasure send $12 check or money order per CD payable to Adam Parmenter c/o Bethel Baptist Church 402 S. Westnedge, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Be certain to include a shipping address for us to send the CDs.

You can also purchase a copy online using Paypal at http://www.hammsterwheel.com/Store.htm, Hammsterwheel is a Christian recording studio and music retailer in Grand Rapids, MI. The Owner, Tim Hamm, has been a helpful partner in completing this recording.

Proceeds from the sale of the CD will go to help the Parmenter's "Outfit and Passage" fund, and they pray that the music will be an encouragement to you. If you enjoy it, please let us know by leaving a message on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ShareTheCrown.

Adam, Marge, Michael & Maryellen.