Monavale Homestead - Annual  Report 

NEW ZEALAND
Monavale Homestead (Cambridge)
Peter Thomas, Director

We have been privileged to have a very responsive group of students in both semesters at Monavale and on the three ABS courses this year. We have also seen the Lord give us increasing opportunities to proclaim in our local communities, one highlight being a combined mission to our local town of Cambridge working with five churches and the informal support of all the others. We have also been encouraged with the successful completion of our new building which provides offices, a seminar room and a coffee and bookshop.

We have been facing severe financial pressure with lower than expected numbers in the second semester but we have seen a wonderful answer to prayer with some significant donations and with full enrollments for next year.

Our biggest challenge has been having two families having to deal with personal grief. One family experienced the loss of a baby just days before birth with a terminal condition and another family is facing the prospect of a severely deformed child physically. Both have been honest in dealing with their grief but both have been inspiring in their commitment to the Lord and acceptance of His comfort in the midst of the pain and sorrow.

We are excited about a new course we will be offering in the coming year covering Business, Ministry and Leadership (BML). Please pray for Dave Firth particularly as he puts this together. Please also pray for the development of the ministry at The Crossing in the South Island and for Dale and Patti Epp as they lead the work there.