BLF Prayer & Praise Newsletter

Bibles & Literature in French - Prayer & Praise

BLF Prayer & Praise - January 18^th, 2012

Dear Friends,

Thank you for joining BLF in our weekly Prayer & Praise.

We appreciate your fellowship and partnership in this ministry.
Thank you for praying for these items of interest and concern to BLF. Your prayer is important. May God richly bless you!

Walter and Nancy Zurfluh
Retiring West Coast Reps for BLF USA

To view the Zurfluh's last BLF Annual Report in PDF form, click HERE

From the U.S. Staff and the U.S. Board of BLF USA, we will most sincerely miss the Zurfluhs but look forward to keeping in close touch with them. We love them dearly as family and dear friends.

Please pray for Walt & Nancy as they move ever forward for Jesus Christ and for the current challenges in their health.

From Walter and Nancy Zurfluh, Retiring West Coast Reps for BLF USA ...
The goal of Bibles and Literature in French is to share the good news of a risen Savior, especially to French speakers around the world through the printed page and even over the internet. As people in France, Francophone Africa, Canada, Haiti and other parts of the world come to know Jesus Christ in a personal way, He will be glorified. Thank you for sharing in this ministry with your prayers and support gifts.

Because of health issues we were unable to make lengthy ministry trips this year. But opportunities came to us locally. We participated in three missionary conferences where we were well received and even invited back to give updates on this vital literature ministry. In addition good contacts were made which should prove beneficial to BLF. Several students at BIOLA University expressed a keen interest in going on an Impressions Team in the future. During a visit to Fuller Theological Seminary here in Pasadena, CA, we met a professor who teaches in the School of Intercultural Studies who is putting together a book of African hymns to be translated into French and used in churches on that continent. She desires that these hymns have a distinct African flavor.

In our church we met a Nigerian pastor who is establishing French-speaking churches in nearby Togo. He expressed a keen interest in our French Christian books, literature and Scriptures because he finds it very difficult to find these materials in Africa. As churches are established in Togo, he hopes to use BLF as an excellent source of this literature. Praise God that in spite of Nancy’s illness and Walt’s cataract surgery the Lord opened doors of ministry here at home during 2011.

One of the greatest encouragements to us was to see a new missionary, Annie Baziuk, whom we had recruited, move to BLF Europe this year with full support and is ministering in France. Having gone to France with an Impressions Team in 2010, the Lord called her back to that land for at least one year of service, hopefully more.

In November Philip Kapitaniuk, Director of Publishing, BLF Europe, wrote: “2011 has been an excellent year in terms of book distribution—87,000 books so far this year. Book distribution has reached an all time high in November—the best month in our whole publishing history!” BLF is now concentrating on publishing and distribution in the future and the actual printing will be farmed out. Early in the year BLF Canada sent 200 Leadership Packs to pastors in Africa and Haiti. Recently they shipped 50,000 mini-Bibles and 200 solar powered Gospel message recorders to Haiti. What a blessing to place God’s Word into the hands of suffering people in that nation. God is good!

In addition we sent BLF catalogs to the French language departments in a number of Christian colleges and seminaries and French-speaking churches. Praise the Lord that we could spread the word here in the western part of the U.S. about BLF’s ministry and offer a source of such Christian books and Scriptures.

Because of health issues and advanced age, we feel that we can no longer serve BLF on a full time basis and perform all the duties and responsibilities expected of us. We and the BLF board believe that the Lord is leading us to retire as of December 31, 2011. We will still be associated with BLF and hope to continue to assist in this ministry as health and strength allow. There are opportunities to reach out via E-Mail, correspondence, phoning and on some occasions to represent BLF in local missionary conferences, Christian colleges and seminaries as well as local churches. Again we express our deep gratitude for your investment in this ministry over many years. Pray also for the many decisions and adjustments that our new status will require.

- Walter and Nancy Zurfluh

From Zachariah Kenney, Assistant to the Director, and the staff of BLF Canada...

Praise the Lord: BLF Canada has supplied 4200 mini-Bibles to a couple named Wayne and Edith Clark in conjunction with the Fellowship of Christian Farmers in Canada. The Clarks are planning a mission trip to Berkina Faso, Africa (where French is the official language). They will depart on Wednesday, January 11^th.
Pray for a safe journey, and that the literature they bring will be useful to the work of the Kingdom.

Wayne Clark, FCFC

From Tom Rice, BLF US President, Acting US Executive Director and the staff of BLF USA...

This week, please pray with us for the following items to bring before His throne of grace, forgiveness and mercy...

Praise and Thanksgiving for the 40+ years of ministry that Walt and Nancy Zurfluh have given to BLF, our donors and our missionaries. It will be fascinating to see how many have come to Christ as a result of their service to the King of Kings - the Lord of Lords.

Pray that Nancy & Walt would enjoy improving health and many years of retirement.

Pray that God would provide a suitable replacement for the Zurflues as BLF West Coast Representatives early in 2012. This is a key and important function to BLF.

Continue to pray for God’s leading in the search for the Executive Director position at BLF USA.

Continue to pray for our missionaries: Nate Philips, John Looney, Annie Baziuk and Mary Cayot

Pray for Strength and perseverance for our Wheaton Office staff (Sue and John) as we begin another year while still seeking God's person for the Executive Director's position.

Please Pray that God would quicken the hearts of those who love BLF to consider the possibility of serving - with future Impressions Teams, Host & Hostess positions, U.S. Representatives and director opportunities.

Praise to God for the increased literature distribution through BLF/Europe and that He would guide them in decisions as to what literature to publish in 2012.

Pray that BLF/Canada would finalize their IT program quickly so we could be getting the word out to our donors and friends.

Pray that God would open doors to begin to develop deeper relationships with ministries in Haiti and Africa.

Please Pray for the work of France for Christ and Alain Stamp as God uses him in Africa missions.

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