In July Proclaim! celebrated the 20th year of Mercy Street Rhythm and Blues band, with a ministry tour Croatia and Serbia. Mercy Street Rhythm and Blues was originally created to minister in open air concerts all across former Yugoslavia. This ministry team, including the reuniting of some original members, performed and proclaimed in city squares and public venues in a record-breaking Europe heat wave!

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On July 25 our dear friend and colleague Ed Stephenson experienced what it is to be “absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” — whose salvation Ed has faithfully spent his life proclaiming. Ed holds a record for short term participation in Proclaim evangelism tours, having been on at least one tour nearly every year since 1995, except during a period when he was recovering from having half a lung removed! But he came back from that temporary setback more motivated than ever, and after another 15 years of dedicated ministry he completed 2016 with two evangelism tours – a sax quartet in Greece and, a week later, on to China with a jazz band.

Four years ago Ed became a Proclaim Associate in recognition of the ongoing commitment that he and his wife Gail have had in personal sacrifice for the ministry of the gospel through Proclaim. He is part of us. How we will miss the exceptional musical ability and creativity, the humor, and the humble, gentle, generous spirit of this multi-faceted half musical genius, half brilliant engineer. He lived out Colossians 3:23-24: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

The church in Mackovec, Croatia, home of Ima Nade-Proclaim ministry, was already filled to capacity when we first were introduced and began what has become a ministry partnership of over 30 years. During these years the church has adapted the facilities, started other churches, and just enjoyed close fellowship, as they faithfully continued to build the true church, the body of believers, and tirelessly reached out to the lost in their local community and far beyond. They never let the limited resources hold them back, but never lost the vision of one day having a building that could facilitate even more growth and capacity for ministry to those outside.

After years of planning, praying, and patiently waiting for God’s timing, property and administrative issues were resolved and the church broke ground for their new building in February 2016.

Since then, God has blessed with provision and significant progress through the work and sacrifice of believers in the body. The construction goal for the first year was met ahead of schedule with the building completely enclosed!

Needed to meet the goal for this year: Givers and Workers!

• $70,000 will be needed to meet the payment schedule for the roof contractor.

• Projects inside the building (dry wall, tile, carpeting …) are planned for local volunteers or work teams: Specifically – teams from the US who can finance their trip to do the work on various projects.

Branko Kovačević, Ima Nade Director, and Proclaim! International CoDirector says:

The church is ready for a big step forward. God has provided what we needed to begin, and we know that He will fulfill our needs according to the riches of His glory. We ask you to join with us in this project. Please pray for us, and help financially if you can.

For more information see church website   or email Branko:   [email protected]

Link to Donate at Proclaim! US  https://secure-q.net/donations/ProclaimInt/1467
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Kim Peterson, Latin America Ministry Coordinator

Recently I played in the orchestra at a local church for their Royal Wedding musical. I got a text late the night before asking if I could substitute for their sax player in this production. I said “yes” and am very glad I did. It was a powerful play that creatively and emotively told the gospel story. I cried during it, even though I was sight reading and needed to keep a clear head, focused on playing the music. There were over 20 in the orchestra, a choir of about a hundred, and about 20 actors.

All the effort and expense to reach the community with the gospel reminded me of the effort and expense God invested and continues to invest in us. Serving God well can’t be done “economically.” We serve him lavishly and sacrificially. When we do that, the power of God’s love is displayed. Audiences sense it and feel it, and many come to understand and live it.

Our Proclaim team is going to Chile next month, sacrificially and lavishly, because we are going to love Chileans like God loves us. As we continue to work hard to prepare, we are going to see more and more God’s awesome love and truth displayed in and through us.

We do this for our Lavish Lord.

The Sunrise Church four who are part of the team