Stapleton Prayer Update

Since the last update from the Stapleton’s, Erik and Michele were denied a visa from Australia because they had not had a tuberculosis test. However, with the help of the New Zealand High Commission, they were able to get the papers needed to go to New Zealand. The children are in the capital city and being cared for by missionary friends. Please continue to pray for Erik, Michele, and their children as they seek the medical attention for Michele’s hand. 

It is Sunday here in New Zealand and the plastic surgeon just came by to check my hand and take me to surgery. He informed me that my case will be handled in stages. Stage 1 will consist of going in and cleaning out the infection. Samples will be sent to the lab to see if they can discover the root cause of all this! Stage 2 will be 24-48 hours later when they will close up the wound if possible (may require a skin graft) or else go back in and clean out even more ‘gunk’ and leave it open another 24-48 hours. The doctor does not think I will be back in Vanuatu by Christmas, though. Middlemoore Hospital is known for their hand surgery unit, so we are confident I am getting good care and the antibiotics are definitely helping. The sitting-around-waiting stage is by far the hardest thing for me at this point, not to mention having to wear those LOVELY hospital gowns!

Thank you for your prayers!
Michele Stapleton

Stapleton Medical Emergency

Erik and Michele Stapleton are Urbancrest mission partners serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators in the South Pacific island of Vanuatu. Wednesday of this week, we received a plea from Erik requesting prayer for Michele. She has an infection in her arm which they perceive to be very dangerous in the tropical climate. Today we received the following email updating us of her situation. Please pray for Michele, Erik, and their children.  

Hello! We had fully planned having David’s 11th birthday (Sunday) and Christmas in our village, but plans have changed suddenly. After having lived for several years in a tropical environment, we have seen how quickly infections can go septic. Last Friday, a small red sore developed on Michele’s right hand index finger. She ended up in the Tanna hospital and then went by plane yesterday to the capital city to the hospital there. The surgeon took one look and said, “You must go abroad if you want to save your hand.” Thus, today, we are working on acquiring a medical visa for Australia and if it comes through, we will fly there this afternoon. If not, on Saturday, we can fly to New Zealand. Already, the strong drugs they are giving Michele via IV are helping with the swelling, which is a relief. The surgeon is not sure how much tendon damage (if any) there is, but at this point she cannot move that finger. It appears that it is a case of cellulitis gone gangrenous. Please pray for our family at this time through all the unknowns. The children will remain in the capital city (right now they are still on Tanna but will fly in today alone) and live with various SIL families until we return.

Erik & Michele Stapleton

Combined Missions Offering 2011

Last month we kicked off our two month emphasis for our UBC Combined Missions Offering. At Urbancrest, we have two major missions offerings that we use to support missionaries. The first is the Faith Promise Offering. Urbancrest emphasizes this offering at our Global Impact Celebration each spring. With it we support over 50 missionaries directly, sending teams and supporting many projects. You will hear much more about the Faith Promise Offering as March approaches.

The Combined Missions Offering is the way Urbancrest supports the missions of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ten percent of this offering is designated for World Hunger, which is a huge need globally during these tough economic times. Much of this food aid is administered by Baptist Global Response. Another ten percent is designated to missions ministry in Ohio. This includes Disaster Relief and the ministries at the Seneca Lake Assembly.

Forty percent of the Combined Missions Offering is designated to the North American Mission Board, which is assigned the task of reaching North America, our home. There are over 5,500 missionaries serving throughout the 50 states, Canada, and the U.S. territories that benefit from this part of our offering. These funds support church planting efforts like those sponsored by Urbancrest: Living Word Bible Church, Grace Community in Hawaii, Urban Hills in Cincinnati, and even the Hispanic ministry we will begin in early 2012.

George & Geraldine Smith,
IMB Missionaries

The final forty percent is designated to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. This offering will go to support over 5,000 international missionaries serving all over the world. Right now there are over 130 missionaries who are waiting for the International Mission Board to have sufficient funds to send them where the Lord has called them to serve. The funds, with the downturn in the value of the dollar, have just not been available. People are ready to go into all the world, and it is our calling to be faithful to send them.

Our goal this year is $52,000. To reach this will require all of us to give sacrificially to this enterprise that the Lord Jesus has assigned us to. During this holiday season that leads up to the celebration of the birthday of our Savior, I hope you will join Linda and me as we give our best gift to Lord. After all, we are celebrating His birthday, and the salvation of souls was the reason He was born! Join me, as we pray and give to reach this $52,000.00 goal.