LOCAL IN HAWAII, GLOBAL WITH IDEAS
Greetings from Portland,
Oregon, March 2022
Now we are enjoying some days with our family here. Our youngest grandson, KaMakanaOKeAkua (‘the gift of God’ in Hawaiian) Kapono Blair - - turns 5 on Tuesday! And we get to celebrate with him! Then we fly home to Hawaii.
Last week we attended “IDEAS Orientation –
Preparing you for Success as an IDEAS Professional” in
Denver. After a couple months of completing questionnaires, submitting
references, psychological profiles and evaluating our marital compatibility, they found we are still crazy enough to work in God’s global harvest field for another season. We are thankful and excited for new opportunities.
We have 2 big opportunities with IDEAS. One is to help
our new colleagues thrive as they leverage their skills to restore hope in
marginalized communities around the globe. The other is to help local churches
better understand and engage with IDEAS.
We will start on the campus of Kalihi
Union church in Honolulu. They have kindly invited us into their mission house
for April and May. KUC has been faithful supporter for many years. Their campus
is a busy place with over a dozen congregations meeting there weekly. We look forward
to seeing family, friends, and other churches on ‘the gathering place’ of Oahu.
Here are some invitations we have received so far…
March 20 – Kauai Christian Fellowship – North Campus, Kilauea,
Kauai
April 24 – Japanese Fellowship, Kalihi Union Church,
Honolulu
May 20-22 Waipuna Chapel, Kula, Maui
Several have kindly asked
how to continue supporting our work, now through IDEAS. Thanks for asking!
IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates) is a 501 © (3)
public charity. Contributions are tax deductible. IDEAS also receives
Donor-Advised Funds, Employer Matching Gifts, Stock, Mutual Funds, and IRA
contributions. Not sure if we understand all that! But there is a great Finance
Team at IDEAS who does, and they are willing to answer any questions at give@ideasworld.org
or 720.283.9100.
The easiest way to
contribute to our work with IDEAS is online.
This secured site protects donors and is the most efficient way to give and keep track of your giving. Check it out.
If you would still prefer
to mail a check, no problem. Checks (no cash, please) should be made to IDEAS
(our name should not appear on the check but attach a sticky note with ‘Mark
and Dayna Blair’) and mailed to:
IDEAS, 7852 South Elati
Street, Suite 202, Littleton, Colorado 80120
Mahalo Nui! Many thanks,
for contributing to our work through IDEAS!
We continue to hear from some
of the hundreds of international students we served during our 12 years in
Beijing. Nearly all of them are back in their homelands – they came from almost
100 nations! Advanced degrees they earned have opened good opportunities and
gospel opportunities for many of them. Pray for God’s global church.
A Kenyan brother who
served with us a decade ago wrote last week. He thanked us for our ‘example’ in
marriage and ministry as he is now married and raising children for the glory
of God in Nairobi. A Costa Rican who studied Law in Beijing is now qualified
and employed as a lawyer. Now he has started an on-line seminary course to
better know the King whose perfect Justice will endure forever. Some of them
are in especially hard places, like Ukraine! And those trying to live and serve
in Russia are struggling too. COVID ‘protection’ has fueled Gospel-hostility in
many lands. We are humbled by the example of our Chinese brothers and sisters.
Church closures have not kept them in pajamas watching television, but boldly
and creatively finding new places to worship and witness. Hell’s gates will
fall, Jesus is building His Church.
May God enable each of us
to find our place of Kingdom service, Mark and
Dayna Blair
Our Phone Numbers Mark
808-218-4872 / Dayna 808-218-3698
Emails blairstan2@gmail.com / mark.blair@ideasworld.org / dayna.blair@ideasworld.org
IDEAS -
7852 S Elati St., Ste 202 Littleton, Colorado 80120, www.ideasworld.org
Blog www.blairstan.blogspot.com Web Site www.pastormarkblair.org
