The End of Summer?

This time of year it always seems to me that the country gets serious once again.  When we pass Labor Day it is as if the national mentality switches from vacation mode to work mode.  Schools are back in session.  Family vacations are memories, and cooling temperatures remind us that there is a lot to get done between now and Thanksgiving!  

The news these days is certainly serious.  With all of the tension and fighting in Ukraine, North Africa and the Middle East, and with the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, my heart is heavy with the needs of the world.

Paraclete is not closely involved in the stories making the news these days, but we watch with special interest whenever Ukraine is covered because of a Paraclete couple living in Kiev.  Their primary ministry is coming alongside Iranian immigrants there.  

They write, “We find that many Persian-speaking ministry leaders with whom we work struggle with marriage and family problems.  Cross-cultural marriages (Iranian-Ukrainian in our context) provide their own set of issues, but on top of that are the normal spiritual battles that those of us in ministry confront.” 

I won’t identify these associates by name for security reasons.  Would you pray for them anyway, and for the precious Iranian servants of God they come alongside?  Tensions are high in Kiev, even though most of the fighting is along Ukraine’s eastern border with Russia.

Many Paraclete associates are traveling this month.  Keep them in your prayers too.