Dear Friends,

I'm not one to label every challenge that comes along in life or ministry as some type of spiritual attack.  But, over the last few months we've had...

• Both of our cars in the shop for repairs.  A minor collision with another car (my fault).
• Our furnace, dishwasher, vacuum sweeper, etc. have all stopped working out of the blue.
• My laptop died--has been in and out of the repair shop 3 times.
• Our webserver for TheNewCulture.org stopped working right after I sent our last newsletter.
• A variety of unusual health issues (nothing too major).
• Found out that funds in our Health Savings Account were "misappropriated" (ie. stolen) by an executive with the administrating financial institution (Canopy).  Therefore we have been unable to use those funds to pay Milena's remaining hospital bills and our on-going medical expenses.  We do not know how much (if any) of the $4700 we had in the account we will be able to recover.
• Last night I went downstairs and found that our fairly new sump pump system is no longer working.

I could go on... Its kind of funny when the opposition starts to feel so strong it makes you think, "Hey, maybe we're doing something our adversary doesn't want us to be doing. Wahoo!!!"   I doubt it is just coincidence that these things are all happening just as we are pushing hard to launch our New Culture E-learning Program this summer.  Despite the many challenges, the program is coming together well (albeit a little slower than we hoped).  I am in the middle of co-creating our first e-learning session with Dr. David Anderson -- one of the nation's top multi-ethnic speakers and authors.  It has been a great joy and privilege to work with him.  We are also laying the foundations to begin designing 3-4 more sessions soon.

Wanted to pass this on to you to let you know how important your continuing prayers are for our ministry.  We would really appreciate it if you would make a special point of praying for our ministry over the next few months.  If you're willing to do that please hit reply and let us know -- it will be encouraging to know who is doing battle for us in the "heavenly realms".

We will continue to lift you up in prayer as well.  I know that we are not the only ones facing challenges and spiritual opposition.  If there is some way that we can specifically be praying for you please let us know.

We really appreciate you all!
Chad (for Laurie, Aliya, Anya, and Milena)

PS. Milena just turned five months old a few days ago and is doing very well.  She is one super-smiley baby.  It is hard for me to think of a time when I have caught eyes with her where she has not burst into a big grin.  What a joy and blessing!   Laurie, Aliya, and Anya are really enjoying her as well.