Translation and Transition

Over the last month some questions have come up as I live in this state of translation from English to Chinese (Learning language) and try to “do full time ministry” at the same time.

Life for the past 3 years in Taiwan has been full of teaching, discipleship and helping others grow in their relationship with Jesus as I grow in mine as well. It was very busy with ministry type things; however, recently I have found that my life is now very busy with language learning and studying but discipleship and teaching are now quite less in frequency. Sometimes I question if I am still doing enough in those areas or not and then find myself trying hard to add more into the schedule.

I was encouraged by my base leader in this regard as he reminded me of the fact that even though Amber and I may not be teaching and discipling full time right now, the season I am in of language learning is for the very purpose of doing those things more effectively and building stronger relationships in Taiwan so that more people will come to know Jesus. This was helpful and encouraged me to press in harder with learning so that this will be really helpful.

I am still in an infantile stage of conversation in Chinese but I have little wins here and there. I want to learn how to pray in Chinese and preach the Gospel but I have to take things one step at a time otherwise it gets all confused in my head haha.

Relationships forming

I met a really cool guy this week who is a busker on the waterfront and has a great voice recently. He wants to learn English and so I offered to help and as we talked, we started to talk about life and purpose and faith. He shared that he believes in music and doesn’t think that people have souls or anything but that people just disappear after they die. I asked him more questions about his life and he shared that he feels unsatisfied and unhappy with life in general and can’t feel filled with anything. So I shared what God has done in my life and that the Bible says that we will live eternally either in light or darkness and continued to preach the gospel to him. He doubted, but asked me more questions and said he just doesn’t agree. I just expressed to him that I really care about him and that if he comes to the point in his life where he is continually unsatisfied and cannot find fulfillment; that he can ask God to reveal Himself to him and to open his heart to what God wants to do in his life.

He began crying and confirmed that that is where his life is at now. So I encouraged him to keep his heart open to Jesus and that I would be here to walk with him in throughout life as he gets to know Jesus if that is what he decides. I prayed for him and we hugged and he left afterward. Please pray for him (let’s just call him bucky for his own privacy) that he would know God and that God would move in his life powerfully. Also that he would come back to talk more and our relationship would grow.

Perspectives group and English class

Another missionary here named Marissa and I have been facilitating a “life perspectives” discussion group with another organization in Taiwan each Wednesday night for the past 6 weeks and it has been going well thus far. We discuss topics like “Life purpose”, “Morality”, “Core values”, “Dating”, “Cross-culture” etc. and try to share what the Bible has to say about these things also. The group was originally intended to be a Bible study for people who are curious but not necessarily who are believers and then it changed because we hoped to be able to reach more lost people with the gospel and also have some discipleship for the believers who come. I think that most people come for the English side of it but please pray that more unbelievers would come, and that God would be changing lives of those that are coming.

Fundraising for Chinese update

Praise the Lord! Thank you so much to all those who have been helping Amber and I, and are continuing to do so! God has provided so much as we are stepping out in faith by sending a few people to offer to support us monthly and a few others that have given financial gifts!

We are so close to having enough to pay for classes this year!

We have been taking classes together to make it cheaper (one-on-one is usual) and we are close!
We only need US$250/month more to be completely covered for the rest of the year! God is so big and this is so so easy for Him! I have zero doubts that He will provide every dollar needed!

In light of this, I have decided to employ my God-given gifts of creativity and start creating projects to sell for support during my free time. You may have seen this one on Facebook but it is my first one. I also am able to make cool things using Photoshop as I am pretty good with computers. If you want one of these Photoshop creations to be done for you, please let me know and I would love to make one for you completely by donation. Ex. below:

Please continue to pray for Amber and I that we would understand Chinese and be able to speak it well so that we can glorify God! Prayer is SO important and truly without God’s will, we could do nothing. So please if nothing else, please pray for us. However, we also love to hear encouraging words.

God bless you my friends and family!
Love is the answer – Humility is the key – Jesus is the way!

Jacob and Amber President

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Jacob and Amber President
5F, No 4, Lane 2, Ying Juan Rd
Danshui District, New Taipei City
Taiwan R.O.C. 251