What's up people,
I am really back this time. Some of you recently recieved our prayer letter. If not here is the text below. This is a brief update of our first year out here in Portland working with a church plant, Red Sea Church.
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Dear Friends and Family,
The last time some of you heard from us you knew that God was leading us to end our work in Baltimore and move to Portland, Or to intern at a 4 year old urban church plant called Red Sea for the coming year. A year is past and so far we have had a rich and challenging time.
God has used us in several ways to help establish and grow Red Sea. Currently, I oversee our Home Community ministry (small groups), do some preaching, one-on-one discipleship, teach a gospel class, and am an ‘Elder in Training’. While Beth has primarily been busy with our 4 children (Asher Michael Steinbach was born April 22, 2006) she has recently stepped up to lead a team of adults as Red Sea’s Children’s Ministry Director. This will be the first time she has had an opportunity like this since before we had kids so she is excited.
Our kids are doing well. Miriam is in the first grade and reading at a second grade level. Samuel is in Pre-K and loving his 3-day a week class. Elena is a spunky 2 year old with attitude and our ‘Oregon baby’ Asher is the most adorable baby boy you will ever see (seriously!!). I have been deeply blessed to see my children grow as followers of Jesus. Specifically Miriam and Samuel have both placed their faith in Jesus and regularly pray to him on their own.
Some of you may be wondering now that a year is up if we are planning to return to Baltimore. Our heart for that city has not left and we regularly pray and think about the work going on there. But, God has not yet given us his next assignment and so we continue to work at planting Red Sea here and waiting on his clear call and direction. We want to be faithful with what is right in front of us (see James 4.13-17) and will certainly continue to stay in touch with all of you. As a way to do this Rob will be keeping a blog (on-line journal) his blog can be viewed at http://www.robsteinbach.blogspot.com/ (which you are doing right now).
The last time some of you heard from us you knew that God was leading us to end our work in Baltimore and move to Portland, Or to intern at a 4 year old urban church plant called Red Sea for the coming year. A year is past and so far we have had a rich and challenging time.
God has used us in several ways to help establish and grow Red Sea. Currently, I oversee our Home Community ministry (small groups), do some preaching, one-on-one discipleship, teach a gospel class, and am an ‘Elder in Training’. While Beth has primarily been busy with our 4 children (Asher Michael Steinbach was born April 22, 2006) she has recently stepped up to lead a team of adults as Red Sea’s Children’s Ministry Director. This will be the first time she has had an opportunity like this since before we had kids so she is excited.
Our kids are doing well. Miriam is in the first grade and reading at a second grade level. Samuel is in Pre-K and loving his 3-day a week class. Elena is a spunky 2 year old with attitude and our ‘Oregon baby’ Asher is the most adorable baby boy you will ever see (seriously!!). I have been deeply blessed to see my children grow as followers of Jesus. Specifically Miriam and Samuel have both placed their faith in Jesus and regularly pray to him on their own.
Some of you may be wondering now that a year is up if we are planning to return to Baltimore. Our heart for that city has not left and we regularly pray and think about the work going on there. But, God has not yet given us his next assignment and so we continue to work at planting Red Sea here and waiting on his clear call and direction. We want to be faithful with what is right in front of us (see James 4.13-17) and will certainly continue to stay in touch with all of you. As a way to do this Rob will be keeping a blog (on-line journal) his blog can be viewed at http://www.robsteinbach.blogspot.com/ (which you are doing right now).
Love,
Steinbachs
