2005 Prayer Letters
August 23, 2005 - August 2, 2005 - July 14, 2005 - June 9, 2005 - May 19, 2005 - May 2, 2005 - March 14, 2005 - March 8,2005 - January 11, 2005

2004 Prayer Letters
November 19,2004 - October 6, 2004 - September 13, 2004 - August 5, 2004 - July 13, 2004 - June 4, 2004 - May 10, 2004 - April 5, 2004 - March 15, 2004 - March 4, 2004

August 23, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow - life is moving! Literally and figuratively, we are moving. This Saturday we move out of the house we have called home the past 18 months. It's been a good home for us; in fact, the kids yesterday said that this is the only home they can really remember us living in. We'll "camp out" at my parent's house (hopefully they are moving out on Friday to their new home around the corner) and stay there until we move to London.

We have been very encouraged since our last email update regarding our support raising. We have had several individuals join with us and now only need $316 per month in order to reach our minimum budget to move to London!

Follow-up from our last note:

1. Our trips to Chicago went well. I preached on mercy ministry the first two Sundays on this month and we were able to take two cousins with us on the first trip to explore downtown Chicago with our kids one Saturday.
2. Although we have not had any new churches join us, we are "in process" with several.
3. Our yard sale was a big success last Saturday and our kitchen was packed yesterday by a friend. Boxes are scattered around the house as Josephine has been working hard sorting and packing things we've collected during 12 years of marriage.

Please pray for us in the following ways:

1. Pray that our financial pledges could be finished before we leave September 8 for our 6 week trip of vacation, missionary training, etc.
2. Ask the Lord to soften our hearts to one another during these stressful times of moving and travel.
3. Pray for our housing in London - we have one possibility of a rental house in the neighborhood we'd like to live in that we are pursuing.
4. Pray for our kids. The Freedom School starts today, where they will attend when we are in St. Louis until we move to London.
5. We would like to move to London in early November. Pray that God would help us work out the details of this move since we'll be on the road from early September until late October. There are still questions regarding visas, packing, etc. that need to be answered.

Check out the picture of my ladies before our family taught "Kid's Time" at New City this past Sunday.

Thanks so much for your prayers, friendship and financial support.

For the Kingdom,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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August 2, 2005

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands." Psalm 138:8

Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday, as Josephine and I talked about our schedule for the month of August, we both started feeling overwhelmed. We feel like the train is moving out of the station and we're not sure that we're ready! In response to our emotional state, we decided that we needed to regularly roll our burdens off onto you, who can support us in prayer.

Could you pray for us regarding the following:

1. We leave for Chicago on Friday. I'll be preaching at Bethel Community Church, a multi-racial congregation in the city. Please pray for safety and for God's Spirit to be upon me and this congregation as I preach.
2. Please pray that churches will be able to make a decision to support us - even during the month of August. We have one mission committee meeting about us this week and several other churches which are in process.
3. We have three weeks until we need to move out of our house. Pray for Josephine as she leads the decision making process about what goes to the yard sale and what gets packed for London.
4. This morning I figured that we need $777 in monthly commitments before we can move. Please pray these pledges could come in by the end of August.
5. We currently have 14 folks who are praying about supporting us. As I follow them up, please pray that they would feel led to join our team.
6. Continue to lift up our children during this transition time.

Grace and peace,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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July 14, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

What a week for London - our, God willing, soon to be hometown! Josephine and I were so excited for London (and for ourselves!) that the Olympics are coming to town in 2012. What a jolt to wake up the next morning and hear the reports about the 4 bombs. No one we know was injured in the attacks, but there is no doubt that London needs our prayers.

The New York Times had an interesting editorial yesterday in which the author stated one of the greatest threats to the US are British born Muslims. He said, "Many British Muslims are young and poorly integrated into society … Muslims have the youngest age profile of any religious group in Britain; around a third are under the age of 16. The unemployment rate among British Muslims runs almost 10% above the national average … in the case of 16 to 24-year-old Muslim men, the unemployment rate is 22%. Not surprisingly, polls of British Muslims show a considerable sense of anger." The author writes in fear, but I see great opportunities for the Kingdom of Jesus, a Kingdom of love and compassion, to advance.

We continue to pray that we could play a small part of God's work in the Southall community of London. We are encouraged that we now are in need of about $1000 of monthly support! It's hard for us to believe we are coming down to the end of this long process. We are praying that our support commitments could be finalized by the end of August. We then will take a week of vacation with my parents and sisters' families (God's provision), 3 weeks of training in Colorado and, Lord willing, move to London in mid-to-late October.

Would you please pray daily that our support raising could be finished by the end of the summer? I'll send occasional emails as things develop.

Please also pray for the following:

1. We need wisdom in making decisions regarding school for the kids in the midst of all the moving and travel. Rahel continues to voice concerns about the move. Pray for her and for us to be sensitive to her concerns.
2. We'll be moving out of our house in mid-August. Pray for peace as we sort things over the next 6 weeks and then live out of suitcases until we move. It has been good for the kids to do "normal" summer activities like playing outside with friends, Rahel taking tennis lessons and swimming in our neighborhood pool regularly.
3. We had good travels over the last month, but are glad to be home for the month of July. I'll be preaching at Crossroads Presbyterian in St. Louis on July 24th. Pray that God would use me to communicate His grace effectively.
4. Pray for Josephine's parents who have health problems recently. Pray especially for her Dad who will be having surgery in the coming weeks.
5. We thank God for friends who will be hosting a support dinner for us at the end of this month. Pray that it would be a fruitful event and that God would use the time to encourage folks to catch a vision for what God is doing in London.

Blessings,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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June 9, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Thanks so much for you faithful prayers for us during our trip to London - what a city! Josephine and I are still processing our time in that wild and wonderful city of over 8 million people. We reconnected with friends, made new friends, clarified our vision, and developed a plan to facilitate our move. I spent the first week by myself walking the neighborhood, spending time with fellow missionaries and tagging along with ministry activities such as supporting an outreach at a nearby community university, playing football (soccer) in a local park and working in the ASHA charity shop. I was able to spend time with Bunti, a young man from Bombay who recently accepted Christ, Amjad, a former Muslim who is leading the outreach to Muslims and Harish, a Kenya Asian elder at the church who is a former Hindu. We attended church twice where saw God working in people who have met Jesus from Sikh and Muslim backgrounds.

When Josephine arrived the second week, I was able to share with her all that I had learned - how to ride the bus around Southall and eat chicken shwarma. We met a neighborhood alive with activity and in desperate need of the gospel. We looked at homes in the specific neighborhood we would like to live in and toured the school our kids might attend. The Southall area is a mix of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims with very little Christian presence and is dominated by Punjabis - the people group along the boarder of India and Pakistan. Within these religious groups, we found a mix of very committed folks (Muslim women in full black covering or Sikhs with long beard and turbans) to very nominal (Hindus who eat beef or Muslims who rarely visit a mosque).

Now that we have a rearranged budget with a developing partnership with World Harvest, World Harvest's British foundation and New City Fellowship - St.Louis, plus two new supporting churches (Trinity Pres in Montgomery, AL and Bethel Christian in Chicago, IL) we are now much closer to what we need to move! Josephine and I have been very encouraged. We still have a ways to go, but a move in the fall now looks like where God is leading.

Please keep us in prayer in the following ways:

1. Praise God for encouraging Jos and I. Pray that the Lord would continue to keep us "on track" as we return to our life of work, travel, kids, etc.
2. Pray for our children, who have now finished the school year and are full of mixed emotions about leaving St. Louis.
3. This Sunday we will be at the Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta where, I will be preaching twice and teaching an adult Sunday School on mercy ministry. Please pray that the gospel would be proclaimed clearly and the saints encouraged to engage the felt needs of the poor.
4. We will be in Chattanooga next week for the PCA's general assembly. Pray that we could connect with pastors and others who might be able to help finish our support needs. On Sunday, June 19th, we'll be sharing about London during adult Sunday School at Resurrected Baptist, an African-American church in Chattanooga. Pray that God would use the time to help his people gain a vision for His worldwide Kingdom work.
5. The last weekend in June, I'll be flying to Pittsburg to speak at New Hope Presbyterian Church. Please pray that God would be glorified during the training of deacons, teaching adults during Sunday School on the motives for mercy ministry and sharing our vision for London Sunday evening.

I've attached a picture of Josephine with friends at the meal after church.

Blessings in Jesus,

Chris for Jos, Rahel and Kaleb
World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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May 19, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Just a quick note to let you know that we returned safe and sound to St. Louis from London on Tuesday. Thanks so much for your prayers over the last two weeks. Josephine and I had an encouraging trip in many ways.

Please keep us in prayer as we follow-up several ideas which could make our move this fall possible.

Grace and peace,

Chris Hatch
World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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May 2, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Tomorrow I leave for a two week trip to London. Josephine will fly over next Monday and we will return on the 17th. I have lots of mixed emotions as I prepare for this trip - excitement, anticipation, and sadness. I'm excited about spending two weeks in London, exploring new neighborhoods, reconnecting with the World Harvest team, and meeting new folks. I'm full of anticipation as I pray and wonder what doors God is going to open up for us. I'm also saddened that I'll be leaving Rahel and Kaleb here in St. Louis for two weeks - Rahel is already questioning why I have to leave so soon, even though we have talked about this trip all spring.

I need increased faith as I vacillate between faith filled hope as I trust God and presumption filled with "Chris Hatch" plans on how we are going to get to London. I am praying that God does open up doors for us over the next two weeks to in order for us to move in August or soon thereafter. What I don't want to do is trust is a particular strategy to make that happen. There are various potential partnerships which could facilitate our move, but nothing is clear at this point.

We are asking people to pray daily for the next two weeks for our family. Will you commit to lifting us before the Lord on a daily basis, especially regarding the following:

1. Please pray for our faith. Josephine and I need significant faith to continue to trust the Lord through this process. Pray that we would daily confess our sins, lay down our agenda and humbly come to the throne of grace. That is hard for me to do!
2. Pray that God would open up doors to facilitate our move - pray that He would close others. We are praying for partnerships that could provide housing to help our budget or significant increase in our support over the next few months.
3. Pray for wisdom as we investigate various possibilities and for unity between Josephine and I in evaluation of how God is leading.
4. Pray Jos and the kids during the time of separation. When Josephine leaves for London, Rahel and Kaleb will stay with my parents and my sister's family, we are hoping all involved will survive and have fun. Please pray for health and safety for us all during this time.
5. Thank the Lord for continued speaking opportunities. After I return, I will be on the road again for the one engagement in May and three weekends in June. Pray that the Lord would continue to teach and use me to challenge and encourage churches in the area of mercy ministry.
   

We are so grateful for all of you who support us through this process. Thank You for your faithfulness and prayers. I look forward to writing in a few weeks about our time in London.

Grace and peace,

Chris Hatch
World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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March 14, 2005

GG's with Jesus

Dear Friends,

Rahel let the tears flow yesterday as we drove home from Indianapolis after I told her that "GG" died on Saturday night. Please be in pray for our family this week as we grieve and spend time with family this week. Below is Dad's email to friends about Grandma's life and passing.

Grandma was very special to our family. One of our joys about being in St. Louis the past 2 years has been to see our kids fall in love with their great-grandmother. "GG" made milkshakes, taught Rahel how to make apple tarts, had a special basket of trucks and animals for Kaleb and prayed for us and our kids daily. Grandma Schrock was the first extended family member to hear about my relationship with Josephine and she welcomed her with open arms. I broke down Wednesday evening, sitting by her bedside, as I thought about the gift of her wedding and engagement rings to me to give to Jos when we got engaged 13 years ago. She has been an incredible testimony of perseverance and joy even after a very difficult life losing two husbands and struggling through cancer over the last year.

Thanks for your prayers.

Grace,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

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Dear friends,

Some of you may have heard that Saturday night Jan's mom slipped into the presence of the Lord after a year's struggle with cancer and about a week of coma-like nonresponsiveness. Eileen Schrock lived with us for 9 years upstairs in our duplex and had become an active member of New City Fellowship here in St. Louis. She was an amazing lady who put to lie the sad but often truly indicative jokes about mothers-in-law.

A hard worker all her life, a delightful Christian, she found even new horizons spiritually over these last years. Not perfect, to be sure, she discovered new understandings of what it meant to be daughter of the Heavenly Father, discovered that life in a 'big city' could actually be safe and fun, learned to have friends from other cultures....and more.

In the end, she was ready and eager to see her Savior. Many of you have been praying for her and us over this year. Thanks so much. Rejoice with us that Mom is with the Lord she loved. Continue to pray for us, especially Jan, as we continue to make our way forward without Mom.

For those of you who are local, able and interested, visitation will be at Lupton Chapel on Delmar near the Loop, Tuesday, 7-9 p.m. and Wednesday from 1-2 p.m. The Memorial Service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Lupton Chapel, with interment Thursday in Illinois.

With love in Christ,

Jim Hatch

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Chris Hatch
World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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Dear Family and Friends,

This past week I've been reading through Psalm 80-85 in my devotions and have been struck by several things. The Psalmist is not bashful about asking or even "begging" God to act on his behalf. But these cries are not just for a good, peaceful life - he longs for God to restore his faith, drawing him into the Lord's presence while at the same time he is crying out for God to defend the needy, poor and oppressed around him. The Psalmist needs God to increase his faith as he is acting as an advocate for others.

I need the same prayers. May God draw me into His presence to increase my faith while He is using me to be an advocate for the poor and oppressed. This winter has been a time of questions for us as we wonder why it is taking so long to raise support to get to London. Jos and I are currently praying that we could move in August, but we know that it is going to take a special work of the Lord to make that happen.

Specific requests:

1. We are currently at about 60% of the support we need to move. We still have several churches which are making decisions about us for 2005 - pray that several partner with us.
2. There is a potential for housing to be provided for us in London. Please pray for this as housing is a huge expense for us.
3. We leave Friday for Indianapolis to speak at a mission conference at Redeemer Presbyterian. Pray for safety, new friendships and new support.
4. Jos and I are planning a trip to London at the end of April. We need to reconnect with the team and explore housing options.
5. We'll be in Chattanooga, Atlanta and Oxford, MS in April. Pray for additional engagements in May.
6. Pray for our health. All four of us are recovering from the flu. Three weeks ago, I slipped on our wooden stairs and hurt my back - pain like I've never had! I was out of construction for a week and still have soreness at times.
7. Josephine and I attended a gathering on hospitality last week at Covenant Seminary. It was helpful to get more practical insight from an experienced couple and to broaden our understanding of how our home can be a place of service for those God brings our way. Pray for us as we continue to interact with folks into our home. In the last week we have hosted our "House Church" with about 20 adults, a young couple we are mentoring through the dating process, neighborhood friends of the kids, college students working with New City on a mission trip as well as friends who dropped in. With a Kenyan wife, people actually do drop in!
8. The kids are doing well. Spring is coming to St. Louis so we broke out the bikes this weekend!

Blessings in Jesus,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

P.S. The attached picture is the kids with "GG" - my grandmother who continues to struggle with cancer.

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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January 11, 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from cold and grey St. Louis! Our kids were overjoyed last Friday that we had our first snow of the season. We didn't have a white Christmas, but we did have a relaxing time at home with family. Having traveled so much this past year (22 states with meetings and/or overnight in most), we decided that vacation was staying at home with the family over the holidays.

Josephine and I were very grateful to many of you who sent Christmas cards and update letters the past few weeks. It was a vivid reminder for us of the many friends we have partnering with us in this process of seeing God use our family to advance His Kingdom. I have been tempted this year to focus upon myself so much this year - telling my "story" over and over, wondering how God is leading, questioning my decisions regarding our family, etc. God used the reading of Christmas letters and seeing pictures of our family and friends to convict me a little more regarding my selfish tendencies.

Jos and I want to continue to partner with you on a deeper and deeper basis over the years. We're stilling thinking about what this would look like (visits in London, prayer for you, etc.) We would like to make a photo album of our support team in the coming weeks to help us keep connected with everyone. Could you mail or email a picture of your family (if you didn't send one at Christmas)?

Prayer requests and updates:

1. Please continue to pray for our faith during this marathon we are running. We have been praying that we could move this summer, but it is going to take a special work of God to make this happen. It has been discouraging how long it has taken to raise the necessary funds and the last few holiday weeks have been a time for questions regarding our future.
2. I'm currently setting up speaking engagements for this spring - please pray for at least two per month.
3. Rahel has been somewhat emotional recently regarding problems at school, our leaving for the evening, etc. Please pray that God would work on her heart and that Jos and I would know how to encourage her.
4. Josephine has been busy with her home-based flower business the past few weeks with Christmas wreaths and a big wedding last Saturday. God has given her a special talent in this area - please pray that we would be wise in pursuing this in the future - both here and in London.
5. This was a "pirate" Christmas for Kaleb this year. We're thankful for his imagination and good spirit - pray that he would continue to grow physically, emotionally and spiritually.
6. Cancer has returned to my Grandmother, Eileen Schrock, recently. Please pray for our family during the upcoming time of home hospice care.

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

P.S. Check out our new website at www.chrishatch.org

If you would like to contribute to our ministry please make checks payable to:

World Harvest Mission
100 West Ave W960
Jenkintown, PA 19046-2697.

Include our name and account number (1378) in the memo line of the check.

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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Friday, November 19, 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

Just wanted to send you a quick note that we are still alive and well, by God's grace. We leave today for Wichita, KS to speak at a missions conference over the weekend. Last week I was in Indianapolis and Cincinnati and the weekend before, Josephine and I traveled to Phoenix to speak at a conference.

Great encouragement recently has come from meeting folks across the country who have been praying for us. In Arizona, I met someone who told me, "It's great to meet you in person - I've been praying for you the last two weeks after I heard you were coming." In Cincinnati, I was startled to meet a lady who mentioned that she has prayed for our family everyday since we were in Cincinnati last spring!

The kids are doing fine - I met their teachers yesterday for the first parent/teacher conference of the year. Both are making new friends and have been thriving in the multi-cultural environment of New City's school.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we travel. Pray that I could challenge the folks I meet with to gain a deeper understanding of God's kingdom and our role in it. In addition to sharing our vision for London, I often share on issues related to the local church's mercy ministry. Thank you for your continual prayers that sustain us during this time.

Blessings in Jesus,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

www.chrishatch.org
hatch@covenantmail.com
H - 314-725-0233
C - 314-852-1503

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October 6, 2004

Dear Partners in advancing God's Kingdom,

Support raising is such spiritual/emotional a roller coaster ride! Last week, I was rejoicing that we finally hit the 50% mark. A few days later I found out that World Harvest had made a mistake, taking us back to 48% - back in the dumps I go. Josephine rebuked me in love and asked me to "listen to my own words" regarding God's timing. Yesterday, I received a call from Evangel Presbyterian in Birmingham stating they were going to take us on which pushed us over the 50% mark again!

I keep thinking of Joan Nabors of New City - Chattanooga singing "You can't hurry my God - He may not come when you want Him, but He's always right on time". I've known for years that God is sovereign over my life, but I'm slowly getting it in my heart as God's sovereign purpose works out in my daily life. Pray for my faith!

Updates:

1. We had very safe and enjoyable trips to South Dakota and Chattanooga last month. I believe that the Lord used me during the times of teaching and preaching both Sunday morning services to encourage folks to look at the calling of Christ's Kingdom. We enjoyed wonderful hospitality and met many new friends as well as reconnecting with old ones.
2. I had a surprise opportunity to speak in Columbia, MO last Sunday at Grace Covenant Church. I'm thankful for the opportunity as it seemed like a divine time to encourage a small church work through the practical issues related to mercy.
3. The kids are doing well at Freedom School. Jos and I were able to chaperon Kaleb's class on their field trip to an apple orchard. What fun to see Kaleb interacting with his classmates! He's growing up!

New items for prayer:

1. I'm preaching at Crossroads Presbyterian Fellowship this Sunday evening. Pray that I would faithfully challenge the folks to lay down their lives for the Kingdom. I'm using I John 3:16-18 as my text - one of my favorite passages of scripture.
2. We're going to Phoenix, AZ, Cincinnati, OH; and Wichita, KS the first three weekends of November. Pray for me as I prepare my messages on mercy and seek to make additional appointments before we leave St. Louis.
3. We just received an update from Bob Heppe our team leader in London. Please pray for the new church plant in Harrow/Wembley which we'll be joining. Two South Asians have joined this church planting effort, but we are still praying for a larger core group to minister to the 100,000 + Hindus in this area.

Thanks for your prayers,

Chris for the London - bound gang

P.S. The pic is from the Chattanooga Valley Presbyterian Church retreat.

If you would like to contribute to our ministry please make checks payable to:

World Harvest Mission
100 West Ave W960
Jenkintown, PA 19046-2697.

Include our name and account number (1378) in the memo line of the check.

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September 13, 2004

Dear Partners in advancing the Kingdom in London,

We continue to marvel at the goodness and faithfulness of God. We are grateful for your prayer support – realizing more each month the need to be supported by a strong team of prayers.

Updates from last month:

1. We had a good trip to Chattanooga, Montgomery and Prattville, AL in early August. I was able to take a class of “Business Development” from the Chalmers Center for Economic Development, speak at my old high school in Montgomery and at First Presbyterian in Prattville. We reconnected with old friends and met new ones as the Lord opened doors for new support.
2. We received good news from Crossroads Presbyterian Fellowship in St. Louis and North Cincinnati Community Church and from several other individuals bringing our total support to 47%. Jos and I have been praying that we could reach 50% by the end of the summer. Dad then reminded us that the technical end of the summer is the 21 st of September – giving us a few more days!

Items for Prayer:

1. We’ll be traveling to South Dakota and Chattanooga toward the end of this month. Pray for us, as I’ll be preaching twice, plus teaching about mercy and sharing about London.
2. We were able to teach/share at Cornerstone Presbyterian in St. Louis recently. We are very thankful for the opportunity – please continue to pray as we follow-up with folks. Please also pray for the Lord to open more doors to churches in the St. Louis area.
3. Our kids started school last week. It has been a joy to see Kaleb growing up-he turned 4 years old last week! Now he is attending Freedom School from 8:30-11:30 each day and is greatly enjoying being in the same class with his best buddy and cousin, Matthias Henning – pray that God would continue to mature our kids and us through the schooling experience.
4. The Lord continues to bring searching individuals our way – a young mother who has recently separated from her husband; an former kid in the New City- Chattanooga’s youth group, who now 13 years later, is struggling through life about 10 minutes from us; and a young couple seeking advice about the future of their relationship. Ask the Lord to give us wisdom as we love folks here in St. Louis, but seek to continue our focus upon London.
5. We are praying that we could move to London next summer. In order for this to happen, we need God to move in the hearts of larger donors and churches over the coming months. Pray that we would be shown favor in the eyes of those making decisions regarding our support.

For the King,

Chris for the Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

If you would like to contribute to our ministry please make checks payable to:

World Harvest Mission
100 West Ave W960
Jenkintown, PA 19046-2697.

Include our name and account number (1378) in the memo line of the check.

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August 5, 2004

Dear Family and Friends,

This summer we joined the swimming pool in our neighborhood. Rahel and Kaleb love it and would be in the water every day if we let them. At first, Kaleb was pretty scared but slowly as I pushed and prodded him, he became much more comfortable in the water and now continually wants me to watch him as he puts his “whole” head under water.

I find myself much like Kaleb – I don’t really want to go where God is prodding, but as I submit, I find myself getting comfortable. It’s about that time that the prodding begins again and out to deeper water we go. Last week, Josephine mentioned that she though we were naïve when we started this support raising process. I think she’s correct – through the process we continue to learn about ourselves, our relationship with the Father and the deep waters He wants us to swim in. Pray that we’d be willing.

Updates from last month:

1. As you may remember, our car situation has been a mess, we were not sure what to do. God provided through an anonymous gift and decided to borrow additional money in order to buy a reliable car. We are very thankful to God for a car we can travel with.
2. We have been home in St. Louis since July 5 th. It’s been good for our family to be in a little routine the past few weeks. We’ve been able to have people in our home, enjoy regular meals and attend the same church for several weeks in a row!

New items for prayer

1. We leave Saturday for Chattanooga and then on to Montgomery. In addition to visiting friends along the way, I’ll be attending a class on Christian economic development at Covenant College and speaking at First Pres – Prattville. Pray for safety and family harmony as we travel. Pray that I would learn a great deal with will be useful in London. Pray that the folks in Prattville would be receptive to us and join our support team.
2. While in Montgomery, I’ll have a chance to speak at my old high school, Trinity Presbyterian School. Pray that I can encourage and challenge the students to think about their future in light of God’s love for them and His Kingdom agenda.
3. Please pray our overall support raising efforts. As we look at the cost of living in London and our current rate of new support, we have been humbled by the daunting task before us. I have come to realize that we need the Lord to intervene this year in a dramatic way. We currently have 62 individuals and 4 churches that have committed to supporting us on a regular basis getting us to 38% of what we need to move. Please pray that larger supporters, both church and individual, would join us at $200-$400 per month.
4. There are about 25 churches making decisions in the next few months for 2005 – please pray that a good number would take us on.
5. Our travel schedule is fairly booked through September, pray that God would open additional opportunities for us to preach/teach/share in October and November.

Blessings,

Chris for the Hatch Family
World Harvest Mission (London) (www.whm.org)
6030 Westminster Place
St. Louis, MO 63112

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Dear friends and family,

“I was praying that life would get easier for you guys and now this!” – that was the response of my manager from World Harvest Mission when he found out that our borrowed car was stolen Monday night. During my low times, I too want my life to be easier. I can almost hear myself saying, “Lord, I signed up to be a missionary! Shouldn’t the blessings, start to flow! Why does it seem so difficult? ‘ I want something easier than support raising!!”

But the reality is that the Lord has blessed and encouraged us in tremendous ways since we began this journey toward foreign missions. My selfish heart doesn’t always admit it, but we have been the recipients of many gifts from the Lord through his people. In addition to the people who have joined our support team, we have received help in various forms from many of you and we feel very blessed .God has been so kind to us – I continue to be humbled by His goodness despite my sometimes “whiney” spirit.

Updates from our last letter:

1. We’ve been on the road for almost a month – Rahel figured that we traveled through 16 states! Though we feel exhausted, we had wonderful times of fellowship with old and new friends and thank God for safety on the road and for the good connections with friends and churches and some time of vacation.
2. We’ve received several invitations to speak recently. I’ll be traveling to Montgomery in mid-August, South Dakota in mid-September and Chattanooga in late-September.

New items for prayer:

1. Pray for our marriage and parenting. We really felt the stress recently towards the end of the trip and with our car situation. During these times it is easy for Jos and I let frustration lead to sin against each other.
2. Pray that God would provide a reliable vehicle for our continued support raising trips.
3. We were disappointed recently when we received a letter informing us that one of the churches we had hoped would join our team could not do it this year. In the next letter we found a check from a church which I briefly met with, whose children at VBS raised money for us and invited us to speak! We need prayer that we would rest on God’s promises that He is in control.

Thanks for your prayers and financial support.

For the Kingdom,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

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Dear Family and Friends,

Yesterday was an interesting day on our block. Late in the day, I sat on the front porch reading while the kids rode bikes and played with the several other neighborhood kids, several of whom I’ve just met. At some point one of the kids grabbed the sidewalk chalk and everyone sat down to draw and sign their names on the concrete. When it was time for dinner, I rounded up our kids and toys and noticed that one 7 year-old boy had written, “This is my $?*^!# block!” in front of our house. Later that night, I was awoken by Josephine who said there were three police cars out in front of our house. Apparently, the graduation party across the street had gotten out of control. God has us here at this time for a reason and therefore it has become our block too.
As I reflected upon our current block, several thoughts stuck in my head. If I compare our current block to a typical London block we may live in, I am reminded that my St. Louis block has several Christian families living on it whereas in Wembly it would be very unlikely to have any localized Christian witness. Second, I am reminded that some of our work in London will be centered upon our house. Meeting neighbors while picking kids up from school, walking to the corner market, having folks in our home for dinner or just intentionally engaging folks through the normal coming and goings of life have been key for the London team to build relationships which then provide an avenue for God’s love to travel. I look forward to seeing what God will do with our family in London. Finally, even though we are anxious to move to London, I know that God’s plans or timetable are not always mine. God has brought people across our path right now for a reason and it would be a shame for Josephine and I to completely isolate ourselves from the current needs around us because we think “real” ministry will begin when we move to the mission field. During this “in between” time of our lives, pray that we would be open to God’s call to love our neighbors right now.

Several updates:

1. Josephine had a good trip to Denver for her sister’s graduation from Denver Seminary and we all enjoyed having Rosemary here for 10 days. She returned to Colorado with plans for a one-year ministry internship before returning to Nairobi.
2. 2. Rahel finishes 1st grade today. She’s had a wonderful year at Freedom School (New City – St. Louis’s school) despite missing many weeks during our travels. We thank God for a school willing to work with our situation.
3. 3. We thank God so much for His continued provision through New City – Chattanooga for our living expenses this spring and summer. Pray that we would continue to depend upon His faithfulness.
   

Items for prayer:

1. My Aunt Sandy Schrock passed away last Sunday after a short battle with cancer this spring. Sandy and her husband, Harley, were missionaries for almost 40 years in Papua-New Guinea. My parents flew to Florida for the funeral so we moved over to my parent’s house to be with Grandma Schrock who is still taking chemotherapy. Pray for the Lord to comfort my Mom’s family as she’s had two siblings pass away and Grandma’s cancer during the last 6 months.
2. 2. Last Friday we sold our van to an auto salvage yard. When the engine blew, we decided that it was time to cut our loses and part ways with it. We have been able to get along recently with borrowed vehicles, but will need something in July. Pray that we can acquire a vehicle without going into debt.
3. 3. Please pray with us as we continue to set appointments for this fall to share about God’s work in London as well as times to speak and work with churches as they think through their local mercy ministry.
4. 4. We leave Saturday for 6 days – Nashville, Birmingham, Oxford, and Memphis. After teaching and preaching at New Community Church here in St. Louis, I’ll leave the next week for the PCA’s General Assembly in Pittsburgh. I’ll return just in time to pick up the family and head out to the DC area for two weeks. We’ll split our time between relaxing with my sister’s family and connecting with area churches. It is easy to lose sight of God’s goodness and mercy when we are so out of routine. Pray for safety, but more importantly that Josephine and I would bask in the Savior’s love during these times.

For the King,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

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Dear Family and Friends,

I’ve just returned from a trip down memory lane. Last week I travel through Nashville, Atlanta, Montgomery and Birmingham – all interesting cities but Montgomery brought back many memories. I moved to the “Cradle of the Confederacy” and the “Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement” (the only city I know that has two very contrasting slogans) when I was in 3rd grade and lived there through high school.
I was able to visit our two houses, the two churches Dad pastored, my three schools and caught up with some high school friends. Seeing the Christmas tree we planted long ago and the small downtown park where we often had picnics brought back wonderful memories. The time also forced me to look at all that has happened in the 19 years since I moved from Alabama. Through the twists and turns of life, God has been faithful.
As I seek to become a “missionary”, I am confident that God has been preparing me for this work. One of my daily struggles is that I don’t recognize God’s hand in my daily events. Pray for me that I would keep a “big picture” perspective as I live my daily life. I can easily see God’s working in the past, but pray for my wondering heart that needs reminders of God’s faithfulness over the years – day in and day out.

Prayer updates:

1. Grandma Schrock is doing well. She is at home with my parents and although still weak, seems to be making progress as the days go by.
2. We’ve had a busy spring of travel – I’ve been gone 28 of 50 days including 5 of 7 weekends. We had safety along the way and the kids did well. During my last trip, which I took alone, Jos was sick in bed for several days. Thankfully she is fully recovered, but we had several anxious days wondering what was happening.
3. I conducted a “Mercy Workshop” in Murfreesboro, TN that was well received. Pray for Trinity Presbyterian as they seek to deepen relationships with folks in need.

New items:

1. We are in process with about 35 churches right now. We had several “divine appointments” on our trips – pray that mission committees would look upon us with favor.
2. I am sketching out our plans for the rest of the year. Pray that the Lord would open doors for speaking engagements both on London and mercy in general. In June, I’ll be doing both at New Community Church here in St. Louis – speaking about London during adult Sunday school and preaching on mercy during the morning service.
3. Josephine flies to Denver for her sister’s graduation from Denver Seminary this week. Pray for safety and for the single father who will be left behind (I wonder how much pizza and mac n’ cheese can one family eat?)
4. We are currently at about 35% of what we need in order to move to London. Please pray with us that we will be at 50% or more by mid-summer.
5. After Rahel finishes 1st grade June 4th, we travel to Birmingham, Mississippi and Memphis. I’ll travel to the PCA’s General Assembly in Pittsburgh the second week of June and then our family will travel to the Washington D.C. area to spend time with my sister’s family and connect with churches in the D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia area.

For the Kingdom,

Chris for Josephine, Rahel and Kaleb

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Dear Family and Friends,

Our humble King wants humble servants for His Kingdom work. This was the Palm Sunday sermon for today and the lesson this hard headed, prideful guy is struggling to learn. My normal tendency is to look for solutions to problems based upon my natural skills and hard work. But this support raising business doesn’t work that way!! No matter how hard I may try, I can’t force churches or individuals to join our support team. Of course, I need to be diligent at the tasks at hand, but ultimately the decisions made by church or individuals are out of my control. I don’t like that, but God is using this time to confront my desire to control other areas of my life as well. Not always fun, but our humble King is kind to His servants – even if they are hard headed!

Update from two weeks ago:

1. Grandma Schrock is still in the hospital and after a very emotional week at death’s door; we are now planning for her to come home this week. Jos and I, along with other family, have been spending the night with her each evening. There is still a lot of uncertainty about her future, but it now looks like she will be coming home with lots of family support around her.
2. We had a great trip through the Southeast. It was fun for our family to see old friends, meet new folks and spend time with Grandma Hatch in Columbia, SC. We connected with 12 churches along the way and will be following them up in the coming months.

Please keep in prayer the following items:

1. As I mentioned above, I greatly desire to be a humble man of God who doesn’t operate out of my flesh to get my agenda accomplished. This is a huge struggle for me, pray that I will continue to humble myself and my agenda before the Lord.
2. Jos and I have found a surprising new conflict this spring. This is the first time I have worked at home on a consistent basis and we have found new ways to get on each other’s nerves. Pray that I would be gentle to Josephine and we could continue to work together toward our goal of moving to London.
3. This week I’ll be working on putting together the details for a Mercy Workshop that I hope to conduct in various churches. Pray for wisdom as I study and write.
4. I have made very few connections with churches here in St. Louis. Pray that doors would open up as I seek to meet with pastors and mission folks during our time here.
5. We will be in Murfeesboro, TN and Chattanooga from April 16th to 25th. Pray for our additional travel and for additional support from these areas. We have trips coming up, either by myself or with family, to Birmingham, Montgomery, Atlanta, Denver, Oxford, Ms; Washington D.C and Pittsburgh (for General Assembly) as well as a few other possibilities in the works. Pray that I would be diligent setting these up, that churches would give us opportunities to share and sanity through it all. The kids travel well but sometimes Kaleb wonders if we are in London, Atlanta or St. Louis.

Thanks for your continued prayer and support. We’d love to hear from you – please stay in touch!

Grace and peace,

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Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from St. Louis! This morning I reread the scripture text from yesterday’s sermon and I was reminded of the pastor’s point, “God uses disasters in our lives “so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.” (Is 45:3) The hard times have a purpose – we may not know it at this moment, but God’s Kingdom agenda is moving forward through his people. May God give you encouragement today even in the mist of whatever “disaster” you face this week.

Two quick prayer items for our family week:

1. My grandmother, Eileen Schrock, was admitted into the hospital last night with what we think may be cancer of the lymph nodes. They will be doing tests this week, but she has become very weak. At 83, she says she is ready to meet her maker as well as two husbands (she has been widowed twice) and her son, Al, who passed away last December. Even at this time, her faith has been a great encouragement to Jos and I. One of the great joys of this past year and a half in St. Louis, has been the bond created between GG (Great Grandma) and Rahel and Kaleb. She has babysat them often, made her famous milkshakes for them, played cars and dinosaurs with Kaleb, fed birds off the back porch and read to them both. Please pray for our emotional state, family relations, GG’s comfort during this time and that God would be glorified even during difficult times in our lives.
2. We are planning upon leaving Thursday for Knoxville, Charlotte, Columbia, Brunswick, GA; and Atlanta visiting friends and church contacts. Please be in prayer for safety, harmony in the car and positive reception by churches to our message. We’ll be back in St. Louis on March 28th after traveling over 2000 miles together.

Look forward to seeing some of you on this trip!

Grace and peace,

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Dear Family and Friends,

We’re home!!?? But I’m not too sure what home is anymore. After 6 weeks in Nairobi, I was getting pretty comfortable with the sunshine and relational way of life. After a week in London, I was ready to join in with the work at hand. Arriving back to St.Louis, we found a house full of boxes, which needed about a week of work in order for us to move in. Finally, we are settling down and moving into a regular routine.

Our time in London was very exciting as we met with team members, attended church on Sunday afternoon (Masi Gahr rents space in an older Methodist church), worked at the Asha thrift store (own and operated by World Harvest) and toured the city. Walking and driving the streets of Wembly (the neighborhood we plan to live in) and Southhall (the neighborhood the current ministry is focused upon), we had various impressions:

• The few traditional, British people we saw were either elderly or working (police, bus drivers, construction workers, etc.)
• The Christian presence is small and shrinking; in Wembly we visited a Hindu temple that was formally the Reformed church in the area. In front of the former church is now being built a massive, ornate temple. Down the street, another church has been turned into an Islamic mosque.
• Compared to what we are used to in the US, these communities were crowded with people. Houses often had a common wall with tiny yards, many with just concrete. Much of the shopping is done at the corner market or shops located on "main street".
• People seemed open to relationships. Because immigrants have had so much cultural change, many families are struggling to relate to each other, hungering for deeper relationships and questioning the world at large.
• We received a wonderful answer to prayer after returning to the States when we found out that New City in Chattanooga had budgeted a stipend for us in order for me to reduce my construction work for the next four months in order to focus on support raising. We are VERY thankful to God and grateful to New City for their generosity.
• During this window of opportunity, we are asking our friends and supporters to consider praying for us on a daily basis. I know that is a lot to ask but we feel this is a vital spring for us as we move forward toward our goal of moving to London. I will be sending out short weekly updates on our joys and struggles as well as how God is working to guide your prayers.

This week will you please pray for the following:

1. Thank God for the health and safety we have had during our travels. I was sick one day in Nairobi while everyone else remained healthy the entire time. The kids did well considering all the flying, driving, changes in food, changes in sleep patterns, etc.
2. Ask the Lord to give us wisdom concerning our travel schedule, especially in light of Rahel’s schooling. We are currently planning a southeastern trip through NC, SC and GA during her spring break. Pray for openness to our visits and additional opportunities to share our vision for London.
3. We just returned for a weekend with North Cincinnati Community Church. Pray for us as we continue to follow-up new relationships.
4. Pray for guidance and peace as Jos and I both adjust to my working at home out of my basement "office".
5. I am developing a mercy/deaconal workshop for churches. I have my first weekend schedule with Trinity Presbyterian in Murfeesboro, TN. Pray for additional opportunities to serve the church in this manner.

Thank you for your prayers and support. We look forward to seeing you all and sharing over 400 pictures from Nairobi and London with you!!

Grace and peace,

Chris for Jos, Rahel and Kaleb

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