Kansas Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists (KNCSB)

Missionary says ‘Thanks’ for support

MK (Missionary Kid) Christine Hansen works in an inner-city ministry in Panama. She serves with her parents, John Mark and Cheryl Hansen, who are working with Chinese people in Latin America.

by John Mark Hansen
Nebraska missionary in Panama
We want to take a few moments to express our deeply felt gratitude for all of you who have walked with us through the last year and have prayed so faithfully for our family and for our work with the Chinese here. We see the results of your prayers in our own lives and ministries as well as in our kids’ lives and we thank you for your part in that.

As much as we love Christmas, nothing is sadder than seeing people celebrate Christmas without having any knowledge of its meaning. We were brought face to face again with this reality when we asked a group of our Chinese friends what we celebrate at Christmas. It was new information to them that Christmas is the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Let us add, though, that it’s a great privilege to be the first to explain the significance of Christmas to someone!

Your prayers and financial gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering make that possible. It is your financial sacrifice and faithful praying that empowers God’s work among people groups all over the world. Please make it a matter of prayer during this holiday season to see what God would have you do to further His Kingdom work.

We have been invited by Comunidad Cristiana de Nuevo Tocumen to do Chinese ministry in the area of their new church. This invitation follows some speaking we did at their church last spring when we encouraged them to reach out to the Chinese around them.

We have now begun to prayer walk in Nuevo Tocumen and are systematically visiting the [stores]. Pray that God will help us to be favorably received by the store owners and workers, that He will guide our conversations and help us develop relationships with them, that He will give them spiritual thirst and understanding/receptivity to the gospel, and that He would indicate a “person of peace” in whose home a Bible study/class/church might meet.

Christine’s school semester is quickly winding down. A group of 10 seniors, including Christine, made a trip to one of the inner city areas where there is an outreach ministry and spent the morning leading some Mother’s Day activities and crafts with the kids there.

Strange as it may seem, Mother’s Day is celebrated here on Dec. 8. It is a well-celebrated holiday here, so it makes for very congested stores and streets.

Thanks again for your prayers and encouraging words—they make all the difference in the world! Merry Christmas!