the fletchers

home team missionaries with Gospel for Asia

April 2011

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East Coast Bound!

6 people, 3 weeks, 3,500 miles, 1 minivan

We’ll be driving to the East Coast in mid-June to visit friends,

family, supporters, and supporting churches.

This will be our first trip back as a family since the fall of 2008.

We’re working out the details and look forward to seeing

those in Bentley Creek, Elmira, Harrisburg, Nyack, North
Carolina and random points in between.

We would like to share the ministry of GFA and our role as

Home Team staff with some new people. Can you help us?
If you are part of a small group or attend a church where we
could potentially share, please let us know as soon as possible. We would love to meet
with your missions pastor, small group, Sunday school class, or someone you know who is passionate
about missions....you name it! We are putting together our schedule now, so please contact us today!

Family Update
Being a family of six suits us well. Everyone has adjusted to Jett’s arrival
and we’re back into the swing of things with our “new normal.” Since we
featured Jett’s arrival in our last newsletter, we thought we’d tell you what
the other kiddos have been up to.

Jenna and Asa celebrated their 5th birthday five days before Jett was born.
They’re already looking forward to starting kindergarten but just can’t
seem to understand why they need to wait until September. Right now
they’re both doing a great job being older siblings—Asa being ever playful
and Jenna being the nurturer.

Rylee is also a great big sister and seems to have grown up a few years in
just a few weeks! In honor of her upcoming birthday, she set a goal to
read 100 chapter books; she just finished number 34. She will turn 7
years old this month. And, though we might regret it, we’ve agreed to let
her have some friends sleep over to celebrate.

THE FLETCHERS Email: joel.megan@gmail.com

Web: http://gofletch.blogspot.com
Joel: 214/300.5700
Megan: 972/897.6064
Prayers of Church Bring Miracle Birth
Just after the birth of Jett, Megan came across this story from the field. She was encouraged as she read about the family who
prayed for a natural delivery for their baby—just as we had prayed for a natural delivery of Jett after a Caesarean birth with the
twins.
“There are times when I feel like I don't understand the people of Asia at all—their wants and needs,” said Megan. “Yet, in this
simple story, I found a woman whose heart cry I could completely understand. And our Lord was gracious to give us both the
desire of our heart.”

Instead of bringing joy, the news that his wife was expecting
brought despair to Akalwan. Of course it would be a blessing to
have another child. But that wasn't what Akalwan was worried
about. GFA Stoc
k Photo

His wife’s first pregnancy was complicated, and she had

undergone a Caesarean. Therefore, future pregnancies would be
delivered Caesarean as well.
Akalwan was poor and there was no way he could pay for the
surgery.
As the due date grew closer, his worry grew stronger. Seeing
no other option, Akalwan made the decision to move his
family halfway across the country to the capital city, where
he hoped to find a better job that would support their needs.
After the journey, Akalwan, found a good job. However,
with his increase in income came an increase in living
expenses. He didn't know what to do. His wife's delivery
was approaching, and he dreaded the struggles he faced
to provide for his family.
In their moment of need, not knowing where to turn, God
brought Pastor Giri, a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary, to their door. He was going door to
door, praying and sharing Christ's love. Meeting Akalwan and his wife, Pastor Giri listened to their story of
struggle and attempts to find a better life and invited the family to church.
Akalwan’s family began attending church, and soon the congregation became aware of their story. They began
praying, and God answered. When the due date came, she had a normal, healthy delivery!
Knowing this was a miracle and that God had answered prayer, Akalwan and his wife chose to follow Him. Today
the family is growing in their faith.
"Your support of missionaries like Giri is reaching so many families with hope," said Brother K.P. Yohannan. "You
are changing more lives than you know!"

At the Office
Overseeing the Web Marketing team continues to
keep Joel stretched and growing.
In late February he traveled to Nashville, TN for the
National Religious Broadcasters conference. While
there he met with organizations that help us share
about Gospel for Asia on the web. Joel attended
some training where he learned valuable insights
from other ministries and non-profits.
A week later Joel flew to Salt Lake City, UT to attend
training for the analytics software we use on the
web. It was a very insightful time and the things he
learned will prove to be extremely fruitful to GFA in
the weeks, months and years to come.
In just the last few weeks we’ve been blessed as a staff to
welcome three special guests to come speak with us. Pastor
Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love, recently challenged our
staff to keep our relationship with Christ first and foremost as
we serve Him.
Dr. David Platt, author of the book Radical and pastor from
Alabama, encouraged us to pursue the presence of God as
much as the promises of God.
Chuck Smith, the pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, stopped
by the office to encourage the staff and thank us for 30+ years
of partnering in ministry to reach Asia with the Gospel.
We were very blessed by each of these messages and thank
the Lord for the ways He continually challenges us to greater
intimacy with Him.

1800 Golden Trail Ct
Carrollton, TX 75010

(972) 300-7777
www.GFA.org

Donations to our staff account should be made payable to GFA with Fletchers
#6199 in the memo OR you can give online at www.gfa.org/ht/jome