Pastors to Missionaries in Full Swing

During the month of January and February we have traveled 1,000's of miles to visit and work with WGM Missionaries. God has graciously blessed us with wonderful opportunities to pray with counsel these wonderful missionaries as they continue to lift high the name of Jesus. Our team of missionaries in Paraguay were a wonderful blessing to us and we thoroughly enjoyed our time there. We spent four days in  a Sabbath Retreat together as we studied God's word, prayed and shared our hearts with one another. The field directors Larry and Sharon Carr lead this tremendous team of servants and they are seeing the message of hope in Christ changing lives in Paraguay. There are currently 9 churches in that country and Andy and Lizeth Bowen offer language school training for missionaries desiring to learn the heart language of Paraguay which is Guarani'. Guarani' is a mixture of Spanish and the indigenous language of the Paraguayan people. Andy is a gifted linguist and an excellent language teacher. We also spent time with Mark and Bev Donahue who serve in the Asuncion Christian Academy and church ministry. We enjoyed a tour of the city with them and hanging out with them and renewing our friendships from Circleville Bible College (OCU) days. Our time there allowed us to connect with Weadette Burge and Beverly Lewis learning about their important ministries in the church and training of pastors for ministry. Great times of fellowship and connecting together was an encouragement to our souls.

A highlight for Ned was preaching at the WGM's Nueva Jeruselen Church. It had been nearly three years since he had preached in Spanish and many of you on our prayer team were praying for him. The Lord was faithful to bless and help him preach in Spanish and we thank the Lord that His Word goes forth never to return void. Continue to pray for this church as they need a pastor to lead this church forward. The seminary there has been preparing pastors as they have celebrated there 25th year of ministry. Ask God to provide for this struggling congregation.

After 10 days was up in Paraguay we boarded the plane and headed for Santa Cruz, Bolivia. We arrived there to begin our week of ministry. It was our second visit there and we find relationships deepening and growing with each visit. It becomes evident to us that the greatest gift that one can give to someone is the gift of listening. We enjoyed many visits with the team there and had great times of fellowship as we shared together. The highlight of our time there included an evening with the MK's,(Missionary Kids). We enjoyed a pizza party, ice cream and had great time of devotions and prayer. The highlight of the night was when we were able to Skype in with Jordan. Jordan went with us to the retreat last summer in July when we visited Bolivia. The kids were so excited about talking to him and he was able to share some of his experiences of transitioning back to the USA from living in Ecuador.

The next day we had an all day retreat with the missionaries there. We focused on teachings of encouragement and celebration of the victories that God has been doing on the field. Our theme included some teaching on transition and vision casting. At WGM we talk a lot about a "cause" and the team concluded that they are understanding God's "cause" for them in new and greater ways. It was so exciting to share that day together as we committed our ministries to His service. Hearts were encouraged and lives we challenged as we met together.

 

No visit is complete with out a time of enjoying a meal together and that is what we did as 29 of us gathered at a favorite restaurant in Santa Cruz. Rick and Lori Lampen provide leadership to this great group of missionaries. They are involved in many ministries including education, medical, a baby center, church ministries and much more. It was particularly special to visit with fellow alumni from Circleville Bible College (OCU) Mike and Donna Brown. It is so amazing to now be pastors to several of our classmates from college days. God has blessed us abundantly. He is good! All the time!

On a more solemn note, one of our classmates serving on the WGM Honduras field suddenly was called out of active duty and promoted to his heavenly reward. Kent and Rhonda Harmless served with us on the Texas Mexican Border during the 1980's when we were missionaries there. Kent and Ned were very close as Ned directed the field and Kent was his chief maintenance man. Kent went home to be with Jesus during our time in Bolivia. We returned to the USA and was able to attend a wonderful memorial service in Circleville, OH to honor his life of service to Jesus. He was a tremendous missionary and impact so many lives for Christ. WGM lost a wonderful missionary and heaven has made a gain. We ask an interest in your prayers for Rhonda as she survives and continues in ministry. Their daughter Theresa and granddaughter Sydney need our prayers as well.

This past week we participated in Orientation Camp back at WGM headquarters in Marion, IN. We provided training for missionaries headed to Spain, the American Indian Field and Kenya. It is a wonderful opportunity to invest in the training and preparation of our newest missionary disciples being sent out to serve Christ in the harvest field. At this writing Ned asks an interest in your prayers as he will be ministering on the American Indian Field in AZ. Marlene will be continuing her work and ministry here in Marion, IN.

Please pray for strength to minister. Wisdom to counsel, ears to listen and a heart to understand. Your faithfulness in giving and your prayers enable us to do this. You are our champions and with thank you for all you do.

May the Lord Bless you greatly.
Ned and Marlene McGrady

Reaching out to American Indian Field

The American Indian Field is a unique and diverse ministry that is engaged in transforming lives and helping people to know God's Love in real ways. Over the years an educa-
tional ministry invested in the lives of Native Americans in wonderful and caring ways that gave way to churches being planted and lives being changed for eternity. The Southwest Indian Ministries Center is located in Peoria, Arizona and has been in existance for over 60 years.We had the wonderful opportunity to meet our WGM Missionaries working and living there. For three days we met with over 25 missionaries to invest in their lives and bring them some rest and retreat and reminded them of the need to take care of themselves and follow the Lord's directive to "come away and rest." We thoroughly enjoyed our time of ministry and building relationships with our missionaries. Our hearts are filled with love and genuine interest in serving our missionaries and being an encouragement to them.

We had the opportunity to learn about many of the ministries that our missionaries are involved in on the reservation. We traveled on Sunday down to the Tahono O'odham Reservation in Sells, Arizona. We visited the school where Fran Pierce teaches the Native American young people on the reservation. We worshiped in the church on the reservation only 7 miles away from the Mexico Border. As the service began the pastor said that his daughter who plays the piano had to work at the at the local nursing home so missionaries Leroy and Sandy Anderson mentioned to him that Ned could play and sure enough he did. What a wonderful opportunity to share in worship with this congregation of believers and to know that our Lord is at work in this remote area of our country. We were privileged to visit the nursing home and counseling center where Dorothy Low works as a nurse practitioner in the area of hospice care throughout the reservation and Sherrie Dodson works as a social worker to assist mentally handicaped and challenged native americans. One of the highlights of that visit was at the nursing home there on the reservation. Several of the residents were gathered in the Great Room and Dorothy had purchased a piano for the residents to enjoy. Music seemed to be the the method of ministry that God used on this trip.

We all gathered around the piano and residents gathered in as we sang hymns and songs for nearly an hour. One of the residents named William was in his room but heard the songs and came wheeling out to join in singing. Tears ran down his face as he remembered that he had sung in a group at the Southwest Indian School in Peoria. He said he loved to sing and the songs brought back sweet memories to his heart. We asked William if we could post his picture and mention his story in our blog. He was grateful for this time of worship. Everyone experience a blessed and spontaneous time of worship and praise. Hearts were moved and lives were encouraged as we interacted and ministered to those in attendance. 

We finished our time of ministry in Arizona with a trip to the Grand Canyon. Two of our missionaries and our long time college friend and former missionary Terri Buchanan joined us for a visit to the Grand Canyon. Leroy Anderson was our host and driver and Billie Sue Dunn was our co-host. We throughly enjoyed the blessings of seeing one of the most beautiful sights and wonders of our world the Grand Canyon. The canyon is so big and made us think of just how big and awesome our Creator God is! We ask an interest in your prayers as we head to South America Jan. 21 - Feb. 6 for retreats and ministries in Paraguay and Bolivia. As always we are so very thankful for each and every one of you. It is your support and prayers that make our ministry possible. We thank you from our hearts.

It is our privilege to be "Stationed Locally and Serving Christ Globally,

Ned and Marlene McGrady
World Gospel Mission
Box 948
Marion, IN 46952
ned@straightpaths.org
727-459-2966

For information on supporting our ministry go to https://www.wgm.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=6277
or email donations@wgm.org

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from The McGrady Family

Dear Friends and Family,We can hardly believe that it is time for our Christmas letter. What an amazing year it has been. We recognize how very much we have needed God's help and the support of you our friends and family to make all that we do a reality. It's humbling and yet a feeling of great blessing to know we are part of an amazing team. Thank you so very much.

On a personal note, as of October 31, we have lived in Marion, IN for a year. Jordan is living at home and attending school at Indiana Wesleyan University just two miles away. He is majoring in Business and Spanish and doing very well. Jessica started working in April for Spherion Staffing in Mansfield, Ohio as their Marketing Manager and Social Media Analyst. Josh is working at a men's clothing store in Columbus, Ohio as an assistant manager.

Marlene has continued to travel to Michigan on Mondays and Tuesdays to work as a counselor at Arborhills Psychological Services, as well as teaching a practicum in pastoral counseling and doing counseling for ministerial students at Indiana Wesleyan this semester. As of this blog posting she has finished her work in Michigan and now will proceed to complete the licensing requirements for counseling in Indiana over the next few months.

We still have the blessing of working with World Gospel Mission as Pastors to Missionaries and leading the Member Health/Care department there. What a joy this has been as we have helped to lead 3 re-entries ( a time of debriefing, renewal and transition for our missionaries who are returning from their field of service for Home Ministries.) as well as presented seminars in some of the training sessions for new missionaries going out.

In addition, we had the privilege of traveling to Bolivia in July to share in a retreat with our missionaries. What a great time we had of getting to know them a little better and seeing some of the great work that they do there. There are no words to describe the admiration we have for them as they serve together on the front lines. They face challenges that those living in the States can't imagine, but still they faithfully serve.
We also were able to travel in September to Cusco, Peru, a beautiful city high up in the Andes Mountains. Things did not go quite as planned there as Ned ended up in the hospital for 2 days with a parasite, but we were still able to spend valuable time with the missionaries as we shared together and got to know them a little better. Listening to the heartbeats of these amazing people gave us insight into how we might better come along side and partner with them! (And, yes, further tests reveal that Ned has a no longer has a little friend living with him)

We feel so blessed as we think of all of you and what you individually and collectively mean to us in our lives and to our ministry. We are deeply grateful for your care, prayers, love and support. We truly believe that all of what we accomplish is a reflection of God's help and you!

We want to take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Please pray for our ministry as we prepare to travel to the American Indian Field in Arizona, Paraguay and Bolivia during the start of the New Year.

Sincerely, The McGrady’s Ned, Marlene, Jessica, Joshua and Jordan

Luke 2:10 -11 "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

www.wgm.org/mcgrady to find out more about our ministry with World Gospel Mission and or to make a secure on-line donation.

Reaching to Cusco, Peru! October 2012

 During the month of September we traveled to Cusco, Peru to work with WGM's Team of missionaries partnering with the church and various ministries to help reach that city for Christ. No we were not under a Tsunami warning but from the view of Ned's hospital bed the trip seemed a little like one.
We arrived safely in Cusco after an all night flight and was preparing for various ministry opportunities including preaching, teaching, a special ladies meeting at the Agape Church and a retreat with the missionary team. The next day I (Ned) became very ill and it lasted in to the next day when on the advise of a missionary doctor we headed for the hospital.

I worked many years as a hospital chaplain but never was a patient until arriving in Cusco. The hospital was a step back in time but a nice new building that offered attentive care. The ER doc admitted me for hydration and antibiotics to treat a parasite that had taken up residence in my body. Two days later the bugs had been bombarded with enough antibiotics and other medications that the symptoms subsided and I was discharged late that second day. Thankfully Marlene is an LPN and was able to stay at the hospital and between the two of us and the help of the missionaries and your prayers we made it through that trial.

Due to this minor tsunami that hit me, all of our ministry at the church changed as we were only able to pray for the city of Cusco from our 6th floor window. Our plans to go to a retreat center for a few days were also curtailed as others of our team had some of the same symptoms as I had. So we decided it was best for everyone to stay near to home for the week.

But God was failthful to us, as we continued to lift up Christ in Cusco. For a few hours each day we met with our missionaries David and Cathlene Strong and Ann Seaney and we talked about ministry and missions. We spent time discussing ways that the local Agape Church may help discover its gifts and talents and use them to make a strong impact in to the lives of local Cuscanians.

The city of Cusco is a very large city and reaching 1/2 million people. It is set in the heart of the Andes Mountains and is at an elevation of 12,000 ft.  Up the mountainside, overlooking the city is a large white statue of Jesus and His arms are outstreached over the city. As we peared up at this huge statue of Jesus the verse of scripture came to my mind, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." John 12:32 NKJV and I prayed Lord may our WGM missionaries be blessed as they are "lifting up Christ in Cusco." Jesus said, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3: 14 -15 NKJV. Please join us in praying for all our missionaries sharing Christ in foreign lands. Marlene and I with the stength of the Lord, spent time investing in the lives of some great missionaries and we had the opporunity to encourage them in their work on the front lines as they are daily lifting up Christ in Cusco.

The people of Cusco are wonderful, warm and friendly and they have some religious influence in their lives, but as with so many people in our world, the clarity of who Christ is and what He came to do gets clouded by busyness, other priorities as well as false religions. Even though Jesus stands watch over the city of Cusco with arms outstreached most Cuscanians would rather tell you about "mother earth" and caution you to treat her with respect by giving her a drink of water by pouring some on the ground. Our missionaries have sensed God's call to Cusco to proclaim Christ and to introduce folks to the Creator God himself! The one that invites us to drink of the Living Water, so as to thirst no more! Pray for our team serving there as God works in them and through them to accomplish His purposes. God has Cusco on His heart! Will you pray?

By the end of our stay in Cusco it seemed like it was a little bit like a Tsunami, as we had a lot of unexpected things happen to us. But in spite of all that happened we saw God work in some amazing ways resulting in some real God inspired ideas to use the teachings we did with our missionaries to impact and share with the Agape Church. Perhaps had our plans not changed, we may not have had the focus on how God may want to use the missionaries in new ways to impact the church. Good things do come out of Tsunami's ya know. Well it was time for us to start our journey back to the USA. We had a flight to Lima the capital where we had visited with missionaries back in 2009 and we enjoyed the city overlooking the ocean. And for those of you that know me well, I love Dunkin Donuts coffee, and amazingly enough that evening we enjoyed a visit to the local DD's. The coffee reminded us of home and as a souvenir we bought the coffee mug that said, "I love DD Peru!" We took a night tour of the city and returned to our guest house for a short night stay before heading to the airport for our return to Miami and eventually Indianapolis. We thank you so much for your prayers and support that makes it possible to fulfill our part in the great commission work of seeing our world reached with the "Good News". You are truly our "Champions" and because of your faithfulness in prayer and giving we can go! We are humbled to be your missionaries and we are committed to ministering the love of Jesus wherever we go.

Stationed locally, serving Christ Globally,

Ned and Marlene McGrady

World Gospel Mission

Box 948

Marion, IN 46953

 the month

Champions Corner August 2012

Welcome to our New Blogspot!

We are excited to share with you about our ministry with World Gospel Mission and our work as pastors to missionaries.

During the month of July we traveled to Santa Cruz, Bolivia to gather with 35 missionaries in a week long retreat. Our role as pastors to missionaries allows us the opportunity to invest in the lives of missionaries to encourage, inspire, counsel and pray with some of God's choice servants working on the front lines.

Marlene, Jordan and I flew in to Santa Cruz to begin our ministry. We attended retreat activites, enjoyed great fellowship with missionaries, hearing their stories, listening to their hearts and speaking encouragement into their lives. The week was filled with wonderful opportunities for ministry. Jordan connected with the MK's on the field and enjoyed their programing under the leadership of VIA Missionary Liz Morriss. Many fun filled times took place as this group of MK's laughed and played together while growing deeper in their walk with God.

One of the highlights for our time there included the opportunities to have some hands on involvement in ministry with the missionaries. Ned went out on the streets with Rick Lampen, the field director who partners with YWAM in a ministry to the street kids. We boarded the city bus and traveled to an area busy with traffic hustling by. At the intersection of this busy crossroads lay a drainage canal underneath. Each day street kids ages 12 on up grab a blanket, cardboard, plastic whatever they can and sleep under the bridge in the canal. When they wake up in the morning they head out to the street corner with a spray bottle and squeegee to wash windows. Dressed in the same clothes day after day they wash windows at the red lights to get money for food, or in many cases drugs.

Rick's ministry as a nurse practicioner is to treat these kids wounds with first aid and try to share Christ with them. Let me tell you a story about Lucito.

Lucito is 22 years old. Over a year ago, he was struck by a car while washing windows.A car hit him, running over and crushing his left arm and left leg. He went to the social hospital and had surgery to repair broken bones, but it has left him on a crutch with pins in his knee and severly crippled arm and leg.

Rick attended to his wounds while another missionary prayed with him. I gave him a spanish New Testament and tract to help introduce him to Jesus. He was interested in what we had to say and appreciated the help he was receiving. YWAM has a home for steet kids to go to for safety and rehabilitation. They provide for their needs and give them an education and teach them a vocation. It is a chance for Christ's love to be shown in very practical and meaningful ways.

Lucito needs surgery to remove the pin in his leg. It has only been a miracle that infection has not set in. We are praying for that to become a reality, moreover we are praying for the seeds of God's Word sown that day to grow in his heart and for him to come to Christ. Rick continues weekly visits to this street to visit with these kids. Pray for this ministry as God love is poured out.

Marlene had a wonderful opportunity to go to an orphanage with WGM Missionary Donna Brown to love on some infants there. Many of these children come because no one can take care of them or their medical problems are complicated and there are little means to help them. This orphanage has the chance to be Jesus to the least of these.

Here at this place Christ love is poured out on these precious little ones and they are ministered to and cared for in loving ways as they are nursed back to health. Missionaries and Christian workers have a chance to teach these little ones that Jesus Loves them and He has not forsaken them.

"If you have done it unto the least of these, my brother, you have done it unto me."

Marlene and I believe that we have one of the greatest jobs a missionary could ever have. Pictured above are some of God's finest servants that are giving of themselves each and every day to serve Jesus in Bolivia. We had the joy of visiting with these wonderful people, eating together, playing together, laughing and crying together. What a joy to invest in the lives of these missionaries. They are responsible for helping Jesus' love to flourish in the nation of Bolivia;on the streets of Santa Cruz among the homeless;in the orphanages, universities, churches and the like. The name of Jesus is being lifted up by these great people.

What a humbling experience is ours to pastor this flock. In this picture is just one of our WGM Teams of missionaries serving Christ cross culturally. Equally humbling is for us to realize that YOU are praying for us and supporting us financially so that we can go to the mission field and serve Christ by serving our missionaries. We thank you from our hearts for we know that together we have this ministry.

Thankyou each one,

Ned, Marlene and Jordan McGrady

World Gospel Mission

Box 948

Marion, IN 46953

727-459-2966

ned@straightpaths.org

Special Prayer Requests:

* For Marlene's parents health

* For Ned's family at the death of his sister's husband

* For Jordan as he begins college this fall

* For our upcoming visit to Peru September 19 -29

* For God's blessings and faithfulness to all in this ministry