Dear praying friends,

Greetings from the campus of Judson University (formerly Judson College) where I’m serving as missionary in residence during my home assignment this year! I’m enjoying a mild fall season as I get to know people around here, and visit churches in the Midwest. I’ll be teaching a course in cultural anthropology during the spring semester.

I hope you will take the time in your church to watch the International Ministries DVD, Surprised by the Word in Mission, part of the packet of materials for the World Mission Offering (WMO). The first part, MISSION: Mexico, presents testimonies from Mexico, the focus of International Ministries’ studies this year.

The second part of the DVD, the GOD AT WORK VIDEO SERIES, shows glimpses of your favorite missionaries in their places of service around the world. Since my name begins with “B”, the clip about me is first in the alphabetical list! I hope you’ll watch it!

On the video clip, I talk about a young leader of our Responsible Living Skills team, Michel Kuzy Mwinda, whose name means “light” in the Kikongo and Lingala languages. A popular piece of cloth in the Congo contains the words “Muklisto adjali Mwinda,” (A Christian is a light) and those words inspired Michel to wonder if he, “Light” was in fact a Christian. He gave his life to the Lord, and was transformed.

Michel (center) makes a point during a True Love Waits presentation

Michel and his fiancee, Hortense, both signed True Love Waits cards, pledging to wait until they were married to have sexual relations. The good news is that Michel and Hortense were married in September. They testify to the joy they felt when they exchanged vows, and presented their True Love Waits cards to each other. The pastor then tore up the cards and said, “You don’t need these any more; now you need to pledge to be faithful to each other,” which they did.

This year, as your church takes up the World Mission Offering, I invite you to become part of my Missionary Partnership Network, by designating a portion of the offering to my ongoing support. You can continue contributing to my support all year round by sending your “Targeted Gift for Wendy Bernhard” to ABC/BIM, Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851. Thanks for your prayers and your support!

My mailing address until May 2008:

Wendy Bernhard
Judson University
1151 North State Street
Elgin, IL 60123

e-mail: wendydrcongo@msn.com