Thanksgiving

WE THANK GOD FOR YOU!

This morning Lily thanked God for friends, a safe place to live, and snow because we get to play in it. Caleb thanked God that we always have enough food, for our kittens and toys to play with. Lena and I thank God for our family, our baby boy that will be born at end of January, and the believers in Calvary Chapel Riga, Latvia. Most of all, I give thanks to God for the salvation we share through faith in Jesus Christ (2Thes 3:13).

And we thank God for your prayers and contributions have helped us to spread the gospel in Latvia for 3 and 1/2 years now. You have sent us to preach and already tens of thousands of Latvians and Russians have heard of who Jesus is, and how He died and rose again to save them. In the last 6 months, more than 25 people have believed and called upon the Lord for salvation. Let us rejoice that Christ is being preached in Latvia (Philippians 1:18) and that more than one sinner has repented (Luke 15:7), knowing that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his from death and will cover a multitude of sins (James 5:20) and as their faith is proven it will result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1Peter 1:7).

Your continued support is also helping us to plant a church in Riga, Latvia. At Calvary Latvia, we are making disciples of young men and women, children and adults, Latvians, Russians, Estonians, Americans and a German. On Sundays and Thursdays, believers are fed the word of God and are becoming healthy sheep. They getting equipped for ministry and are inviting more people. I thank Jesus Christ who has put me into ministry (1Tim 1:12) being confident that He who began a good work in us, is continuing to work through us, and He will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6) By being generous and ready to share, you are storing up treasure in heaven, laying of a good foundation for the future (1Tim 6:19). You are making friends and disciples that will greet you and welcome you into everlasting habitations (Luke 16:9) in the presence of God's glory with great joy (Jude 1:24)! For what is our hope, or joy, or crown or rejoicing? Is it not even you [fellow believers], in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? (1Thes 2:19)

So, in this season of thanksgiving, I hope you are as thankful as we are to be sustained and used by the Lord. And even though it's a sacrifice to be away from family for the holidays, we look forward to visiting next spring or summer (Lord willing). We endure all things for the sake of the elect that they too may obtain salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2Tim 2:10)!
May God bless you.

Brenten Powers
CalvaryLatvia.com

November

Thank you for your love and prayers for our family, for the believers and for the lost in Latvia. I'd like to give you a quick update before writing a few new needs for prayer.

Our family is serving God in afflictions, hardships, distresses, but we are enduring! Lena is 6 months pregnant and does a lot to take care of our family, to homeschool our kids and to lead the children's ministry. Brenten has a lot of responsibilities as a husband, father, pastor, worship leader and evangelist that sometimes are overwhelming. Please pray that God gives the Powers family His power to walk worthy of his calling and fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith. (2Thes 1:11)

In this Fall/Winter season, I am spending less time preaching the gospel outdoors and focusing more on teaching the Bible with the believers at Calvary Latvia. The Lord has blessed us with a few more people in the church who are hungry for the word of God. We are growing in many practical ways through these challenging studies through James and Matthew. Please pray that Calvary Latvia may abound still more and more in real love, knowledge and discernment. (Phil 1:9)

Evangelism is an important part of our minsitry since our church is small. I praise God for Andris, one of the believers in our fellowship, who has been accompanying me in street evangelism every week. It's much better to have another brother so we can encourage eachother when we're rejected and keep eachother humble when God uses us to open peoples eyes to the truth. Please pray that no matter how people respond we will be faithful to present the truth in love, to gently correct those who are in opposition if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth (Ephesians 6:19)

October

Thank you for your diligence in praying for us missionaries in Latvia. We do need it!
1. Praise God for the 25 kids that responded when I preached the gospel at camp, pray for them as the camp director and I plan follow up through the winter time.
2. Praise God for blessing Calvary Riga and the new people coming to Bible studies 2-3 times a week. It's exciting that they all have a hunger for the word of God and He is strengthening our faith.
3. For Lena to stay healthy, physically, emotionally, spiritually. For a name for a boy to be born in January.
4. For Brenten to overflow with love for God and God's love for family, church, neighbors, enemies.
5. For Caleb and Lily, language skills with weekly lessons; for them to see Christ in their parents.
Thank you for praying for us. If we can pray for you, leave us a comment. (:
Brenten

End of Summer 2010 Prayer Update

Powers Prayer points september 2010
1. Praise God for blessing the Petrik family's mission trip, they
helped us launch Calvary Chapel Riga.
2. Pray for the thousands of people who received tracts, the hundreds
who heard the gospel preached.
3. Praise God for the dozens who prayed for forgiveness at camp and
the 3 new believers that started coming to church and home fellowship.
4. Pray for Brenten to feed and equip the church well every Sunday and
Thursday.
5. Pray for our family's health as the weather gets cold and Lena is
pregnant.

In Christ,
Brenten Powers
CalvaryLatvia.com

August 2010 Prayer

Greetings!
I just wanted to ask you to pray for us this week regarding some big things going on with our mission in Latvia.
1. The Petrik family is visiting and are a great encouragement and help - Praise God and thanks to those who helped sent them! They are here until September 9th.
2. This week (Aug 16-20) we are serving at a English/Christian camp for kids age 9-13, please pray for true conversions as I have been given the responsibility to preach the gospel to the kids over 5 evening services (Topics: Creation, Sin, Jesus, Salvation, Discipleship). AND August 24 I was invited to a "History makers" camp for 120 young adults to teach a workshop about Verse by verse Bible study and Sound Doctrine! Exciting opportunity to meet more christians from various churches. Pray God stirs up a hunger for His Word in them.
3. This Sunday (August 22) as our fellowship returns from the countryside and we will meet at a new location and pray for the relaunching of Sunday morning services. We found a new location is cheaper, closer to us and meets our practical needs for childrens ministry and adults bible study.
4. We will be evangelizing daily (August 24-28) and inviting people to church Sunday (August 29). There happens to be an international business school across the street from our meeting place with students moving into dorms that week too. and with the Petriks and a handful of new translators to help us, we are excited to reach out and see what God will do. Pray for salvation and as we seek the lost and Christians who need a Bible teaching church.
Thank you, for your prayers, support and for your concern for the lost and the church in Latvia.
Brenten
CalvaryLatvia.com

Calvary Latvia - June 2010 update

May prayer requests

Hi,
I know that many of you have been praying for us, and I am very thankful. Sorry I have not posted our usual monthly bullet points for prayer, but it has been difficult for me to know how to sum up the challenges we have been facing since we have been back in Latvia. Well, I've written out some requests with explanations so you can pray with understanding. Thanks again!

1. For our church in the summer time. Many locals scatter from the cities to the country side, beaches and forests in the summer, where they work in the fields and/or rest in little summer homes. Many churches seem "empty" in the summer and it's even harder for small churches like ours to maintain services while they are away. It feels like Acts 8:1 when "they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles." So we will be changing our Sunday services at the hotel to a home fellowship for June and July. Our last worship service before the break will be May 30 and we hope to resume Sunday services again starting August 15th. PRAY: that our last service together would be a blessing and that the believers would follow the example of the early church "those who were scattered went about preaching the word." (Acts 8:4).

2. For evangelism. Now that the weather is warm and sometimes hot, it's prime time to preach the gospel on the streets and parks in Riga. We've been going out a few times a week to share in different ways: Open air preaching, word on the street interviews, a survey using an ipod app with a gospel presentation in 11 languages (especially helpful for Spanish, French, German, English tourists that come to Riga). I might be doing some itinerant preaching around Latvia in June and July. And I also have been invited to Estonia (to the North) and the Lithuanian border (to the south). Pray the door stays open to continue preaching freely, unhindered, and effectively. Pray that many may hear and that faith may come to them by hearing the word of God!

3. Pray for our family to be encouraged. Sometimes it's discouraging getting rejected when we share the gospel, and having few attending the church. When I evangelize many promise to think about it and some say they might come to church. We know it takes time to plant a church and people need to count the cost before committing to Christ, so pray we would have patience and not grow weary in doing good. It's hard not having a team of missionaries like we did in Ukraine. We are looking forward to the encouraging fellowship at the next Calvary Scandinavia conference (the first week of August). Also we are looking forward to a short term missions team coming from Calvary Chapel Santa Cruz to Latvia the 2nd week of August!! That leads to the next prayer point...

4. Pray for CCSC members who are called to serve in Latvia in August. Pray for Ryan Petrik who hopes to lead his family here for a month and for pastor Bill Bjorkman who hopes to lead a team for a couple weeks. May God make their calling sure, provide for the expenses (about 2500 each), and give us good communication and preparation between now and then. If you would like to donate toward their mission, I believe you can make donations at their site www.CalvaryChapelSantaCruz.com, But please pray for the provision as they will need to buy airplain tickets soon.

God bless you and reward your faith as you seek His will and labor in prayer for the great commission! Thank you!

Brenten Powers

P.S. Have you checked out our videos at www.youtube.com/calvarylatvia ?

New videos and other micro-updates are posted also at www.facebook.com/CalvaryLatvia .

More will be uploaded soon.

April prayer points

1. For the Spirit to annoint the teaching and preaching of the Word to equip the church.

2. For the Father to draw Latvians and Russians to Jesus during our outreaches.

3. For the believers in the church to know Gods will during Latvias financial crisis.

4. For all the married couples in the church, some spouses need salvation.

5. For new believers to keep moving forward as disciples of Christ.

March prayer requests

The Powers family are visting California for the next month. Therefore please pray...
1. For believers in Calvary Riga, to keep focused on Jesus while services are on hold.
2. For the Powers family while in California, to be prepared for our next year.
3. For support, that more churches and individuals would give financially.
4. For missionaries, that God would call more laborers to help Calvary Latvia.
5. For Latvia, that hardened hearts would be broken over sin and prepared to recieve the gospel.

Visiting California

We're on furlough California from February 9 thru March 23. I will be sharing about missions and Latvia at a few Calvary Chapels around the Monterey Bay area. If you are in this area, I hope we can meet. Please check my schedule at brenten2010.blogspot.com

My phone number while in California is (831) 210-8891 - Call me!
Thanks,
Brenten

New Year's Prayer List

For those who pray for us monthly... Please keep it up, Thank you!
Here's how you can pray for the Powers family and Calvary Latvia in January 2010.
1. Thanksgiving for answered prayer: the move from Ogre to Riga is complete AND our Bible study will continue in Ogre too.
2. For the editing and publishing of our teaching series through the Old Testament to the internet and MP3 CDs.
3. For Sergey and Martin to continue to grow as disciples of Jesus, Praise God for much time spent with them, may they bear much fruit.
4. For the preparation for our furlough (we're coming to California February 9-March 23)
5. For the Lord's vision, grace and wisdom for 2010 that the church may grow in health and reach out more effectively with the gospel.