Newsletter Archive

Merry Christmas
from Christie & Paul Borthwick

Welcome to our “A to Z” highlights for 2002 & plans for 2003.

AUSTRALIA: 2002 started with a ministry trip to Melbourne, Australia where Paul spoke to Missions Executives at the “MissionLink” annual meetings.

BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER: we thank God for a good year for Christie as she continues at the microbiology lab.

CAMBODIA & COLOMBIA: a February trip to Cambodia through World Relief and an early December trip with Pastor Bryan Wilkerson of Grace Chapel to Colombia reminds us that many Christians live in situations far more difficult and dangerous than ours

DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATES INTERNATIONAL (DAI): we thank God for our partners in this ministry, especially our international affiliates and their Ministry Centers.

ENTHUSIASM: the word literally means, “in God,” and this year we’ve seen our relationship with Jesus as the truly reliable source of enthusiasm about life.

FAITHFULNESS OF GOD: we want to testify this year, after going through many challenges and transitions in the past 24 months, that God indeed is faithful to bring us through. Weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

GORDON-CONWELL THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY FOR TWO: in 2002, Christie was accepted as a “Special Student” in pursuit of further graduate work; in June, Paul started towards a Doctor of Ministry in “Missions & Cross-Cultural Studies”

HOME SWEET HOME: we thank God for a wonderful home in a great town. We’ve lived in Lexington now almost 24 years!

INTEGRA VENTURES: a November trip with David Johnson took Paul on a great visit to Slovakia, Hungary and Romania learning about and encouraging local Christian leaders devoted to Christian integrity in business development.

JOY: ongoing relationships – with the Lord, long-time friends, and each other – give us great joy.

KENYA: we anticipate travel in September 2003 to Nairobi so that both of us can teach a DAI-related leadership course at Daystar University.

LANKA BIBLE COLLEGE: we also hope to return to teach a similar course at Lanka Bible College in Sri Lanka in November.

MISSIONS AT GORDON COLLEGE: we delight in the privilege of influencing over 100 students in classes like “Survey of World Religions” & “Preparing for Cross-Cultural Missions.”

NIGERIA: in August, Paul returned to DAI Associates Reuben & Bosede Ezemadu at the 20th Anniversary of Christian Mission Foundation; he also represented DAI at the mission conference of “Full Stature Missions International.”

ONE-YEAR RECORD: 2002 holds the distinction of being the first time that one or both of us has ministered on every inhabited continent in a calendar year. We’ve yet to make it to Antarctica because there’s not much training going on there with the penguins.

PEACE: Christmas brings us again to celebrate the coming of the Prince of Peace. We pray that 2003 will keep you in the peace of Christ that surpasses comprehension.

QATAR: we’ve worked diligently this year to foster prayer for the Muslim world, and since we needed a “Q”, we chose Qatar for this list!

RETURN TO THE PHILIPPINES: we thank God for a return visit to teach a DAI-related course on leadership at the Alliance Biblical Seminary in Manila.

SZIGETSZENTMIKLOS: a city we’ve never visited in Hungary; we just wanted to keep your attention. Thanks for reading thus far. You’re almost finished!

THAILAND: in February 2002, Paul spoke at a conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand to 70 English teachers serving across China (and in five other Asian countries).

URBANA 2003: Paul has resumed his role as an Urbana Associate, assisting in the planning and strategizing for Urbana 2003.

VISION: influencing and encouraging leaders continues as our compelling motivation for ministry in general and through DAI in specific.

WRITING: we thank God for opportunities we have to influence leaders through the printed word. JOSEPH: A STUDY IN CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY and STOP WITNESSING; START LOVING are both set for release in mid-2003.

XTRA SPECIAL THANKS to our faithful prayer and financial supporters through our ministry with Development Associates International. Monthly support has dropped off this year, but special gifts have helped us make our budget. THANK YOU!

YUGOSLAVIA: looking ahead to 2003 includes the former Yugoslavia. The second two-week residency of Paul’s Doctor of Ministry program will be held in Bosnia and Croatia.

ZIMBABWE: in April 2003, we hope to go to Zimbabwe to participate in a DAI-sponsored training/mentoring for leaders from across Africa affiliated with IFES (International Fellowship of Evangelical Students): see donor note.

Thanks for encouraging us by your friendship, interest, prayers, and financial support. We pray that this is a peaceful, joy-filled Christmas season for you.

DO YOU GET OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS? If you're not already receiving our newsletters/mission trip reports by email and you'd like to, please write & ask to be added to the Borthwick e-letter list. Our address: 73314.3240@compuserve.com (Check out our web site: www.borthwicks.org)

DONOR NOTE: WOULD YOU CONSIDER A SPECIAL YEAR-END GIFT TO OUR MINISTRY THROUGH DAI? Regarding the IFES-Africa training coming in April 2003: we're committed to assist in the funding of the air expenses to this conference. Internal travel in Africa air travel is very expensive so we're hoping to raise $12,000 to help the 20-25 leaders who hope to come from across Africa.

All gifts can be made payable to Development Associates International, P.O. Box 49278, Colorado Springs, CO 80949. Gifts to our personal support should be designated "Borthwick Support." Gifts to support the April IFES-Africa leaders conference should be designated "Borthwick/IFES Africa Leaders." Thank you.

UPCOMING BORTHWICK TRAVELS
January through April 2003

Your partnership in prayer is greatly appreciated

JANUARY:

4-5: speaking at the missions conference of the First Presbyterian Church, Glen Ellyn, Illinois
6-8: Urbana 2003 planning meetings in Madison, WI
11-12: Representing DAI by speaking at one of our largest India partner churches, Cornerstone Baptist in Grand Rapids, Michigan
15: Gordon Classes start – “Survey of World Religions” and “Current Issues in World Missions”
19: Speaking locally at a missions Sunday at Grace Community Church in Chelmsford, Massachusetts
23-25: Workshop leadership and general participation at the Vision New England Congress in Boston
27-31: speaking at the missions week meetings at Asbury College & Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky

FEBRUARY:
15-16: speaking at the missions conference of Adams Farm Community Church in Greensboro, North Carolina
22: speaking at a regional conference for ACMC (Advancing Churches in Missions Commitment, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
22-23: speaking at the missions conference of The Church at Sandhurst in Florence, South Carolina

MARCH:
1-2: ACMC Conference and missions conference speaking at the Xenos Christian Fellowship in Columbus, Ohio
8-9: speaking at the missions conference of Highland Park Baptist Church, Southfield, Michigan
12-13: training young leaders through Arrow Ministries – Vancouver, BC
15-16: speaking at the missions conference of College Church in Wheaton, Illinois
20: Thursday night course – “Training for Cross-Cultural Service” – starts at Gordon College
22-23: speaking at the missions conference of the First Baptist Church, Manchester, New Hampshire
28-31: speaking at the missions conference of the Tabernacle Church, Norfolk, Virginia

APRIL:
4-12: IFES Africa Leadership Training in Harare, Zimbabwe
16-17: DAI planning meetings in Colorado Springs
27-May 4: speaking at the mission conference of Swanson Street Church of Christ, Melbourne, Australia