Ministry Update
Wayne and Shanna Dale
Grace Baptist Church, Scottsdale, AZ
November 2024
Pictures: Top Left: Totaled vehicle, Top Right: College and school schedule, Bottom Left: Colonial part of Santo Domingo, Bottom Right: Parque de Christopher Columbus
November is always a welcome time to the Valley as it is supposed to bring cooler weather. While we have still been in the 90’s, the temps have lowered in the evening. First, thank you for praying for us as we are sustained and encouraged by your prayers and support. Our oldest son was recently in a car accident while heading to a college class on a busy highway. He was travelling too fast and crossed 5 lanes of traffic, and crashed into 3 other vehicles, but was not physically injured. We believe the prayers of others intervene in times when we are unaware. We have a totaled vehicle and a long insurance claim, but we are grateful for the preservation of his life. Please pray that we can get a safe and inexpensive vehicle to replace the other reliable car. Since we have so many people going different directions, at different times, it is a complex schedule.
On a calmer note, we were able to spend time in the Dominican Republic for our 25th anniversary. It has only been 15 years since we got away together for a vacation together when we celebrated our 10th. This time we were able to visit a country with lots of history and a rich baseball background. We met some of Shanna’s colleagues from teaching English to baseball players, and we were able to visit a church plant in Santo Domingo. The pastor’s grandparents were saved as a result of a Baptist Mid-Missions ministry from the 60’s. They also showed us the Brewers’ complex in DR and the oldest church in the Americas.
Pictures: Top Left: Brewers Complex in DR, Top Right: English teacher & Pastor, Bottom Left: Church plant, Bottom Right: Oldest church in Americas.
During the week we started a trial run for our Good News Bible Club and we hope to have children signed up soon. The school has given us a room, but the kids can only sign up through the school approved site. They have delayed in posting our advertisement, so a couple from a partner church has taken to advertising during driveline to the parents and kids. A few from church also hope to advertise during the school’s Trunk or treat. Please pray that we can make some good connections with parents and children from the surrounding area.
This fall we have been emphasizing missions and we had missionaries from Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, and the US Air Force. It was encouraging to learn of the diverse ministries and needs around the globe. We hope to plan a missions visit in the next year. We have a few young men who would be available to serve on a missions trip to Mexico or to Asia.
We have been delayed in starting a ministry to some Asian college students but hope to begin in November. Please pray as we plan and coordinate to spiritually invest in their lives. Many students and young people will not have a biblical background, so we will address some specific issues and questions regarding salvation, the Bible and relevant issues to their general lives.
We also have our state fellowship conference and a leadership retreat this month. Please pray for those attending and for balance as the schedule continues to be occupied as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please pray as we continue to face challenges with gaining families and pray that God would bring 3-4 more young couples to help provide fellowship for some of our younger couples. We want to have more families attend. Please also pray for our senior attendees as they are declining in health, and we ask that God will continue to help them have strength and to provide others who are mature in the faith and faithful to the local church.
Prayer Requests and Praises
Prayer Requests
- 3-4 more young couples
- Finances for new vehicle
- International College ministry
- Good News Bible Outreach
- Increase in families attending
- Ministering to older Seniors
- Safety in travelling on highways
- Colors for paining building
- Finishing end of year well
Praises
- Faithfulness to Bible studies
- Healthy delivery for baby Olivia
- Seeing friends at a conference
- Faithfulness of yough couples
- Our children serving in ministry
- Answered prayer for safety
- Future outreach ministries
- 25 year anniversary trip
Pictures: Top: Our family with visiting missionaries, Bottom Left: oldest & youngest, Bottom Right: growing kids.
Thank you again for praying for us. It is a blessing to serve God and have our kids here. They are vital members and contributors to our church. May God direct their future and we pray that God would provide them with godly husbands and wives. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers and may God be glorified!
Wayne, Shanna, Rylee, Gloria, Claire, and Simon Dale
