introducing our missionaries...
The Andersons serve in church planting and development at The Pas, Manitoba. Not long ago they told about themselves and their ministry on our Northern Lights magazine “CloseUP” page:
Name one of your favorite books:
Amanda: “The Hidden Hand” by J. Sidlow Baxter is a wonderful account of God’s sovereign hand at work in ordinary lives. I thoroughly enjoyed this true story. I also like reading “Christianity Today” online to keep abreast as to current events in the Christian scene, as well as “Just Between Us,” a magazine focused on helping women in ministry.
Dennis: I spend a lot of time reading the Bible (my favorite book). I have read it through several times, and this year I am reading through it alphabetically, which makes for an interesting approach.
What is your favorite sport/game to play?
Amanda: I enjoy Scrabble, either with friends, or online. Sunday night, after a day of ministry, I love going online to play a game or two before the next week begins.
Dennis: I love photography, and have a big collection. Although I’m not one to enter them in contests, I think of some of them as “winners.” An interesting way of connecting with former students and friends of years gone by is to print photos of them to share with them. That has brought a fun way of re-connecting again. Those friendships of children in Sunday School are quickly encouraged by a picture of them in days past.
I also enjoy keeping up with the local MJHL hockey team. When the team is playing at home, I often go to watch the game … a fun way of connecting with the community and keeping up with the team.
What is one of the hardest things you’ve done?
Dennis & Amanda: Having been raised with a strong work ethic, and because of pride and a spirit of independence, it has been a difficult task to ask for and depend on others for financial missionary support for ourselves. Having said that, it has also been extremely rewarding to see God’s faithfulness. It has humbled us, and cut through our self-sufficiency as we have trusted God and His people to supply our financial needs.
What does an “ideal day” in your present ministry look like?
Dennis & Amanda: Because of one detail in an old “job description,” we have kept up the habit of breakfast together by 8 am. That is followed by devotions together using the “Daily Bread” devotional book, then praying together for our fellow missionaries using the NCEM prayer guides, as well as bringing personal, family, and ministry concerns before the throne of grace.
We each have our own personal quiet times in the morning, as well as preparation time for future events, desk work, etc. One morning a week is scheduled for prayer with others at the church.
Afternoons usually consist of more outreach – personal, visiting over an informal coffee or tea, or it involves the mundane responsibilities of housework, laundry, shopping, snow removal, gardening, ongoing maintenance, and so on.
After supper there are usually church activities such as visitation, Bible study at the church, helping with ministry at the local Care Home, Youth Night, etc. Two evenings a week we do respite work with our nephew – driving him and entertaining him. He has been part of our ministry for 20 years.
Everyday there are unscheduled events such as a call to come for a visit, a chat on the telephone, someone who calls with a burden, needing encouragement and prayer, unscheduled visitors, or neighborhood children coming for some attention or asking for a drink of water, a treat, or requesting to get their bicycle tires pumped up.
These plans are scheduled by our Heavenly Father, and are not to be looked upon as interruptions, but as divine appointments. These are common in a missionary’s life.
What are one or two of your biggest challenges as a missionary?
Dennis & Amanda: Because of a relaxed schedule in some sense, we wonder, “Are we doing ‘it’ (missionary work) right? What more should we be doing? What does God want us to do, and what should we leave for someone else?”
(Are these signs of insecurity? These questions certainly make us realize our total dependence on the One who promised that He would build His Church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it!)
How long do we stay? Could someone else fill this position more effectively? When is it time to leave? Again, a great need to depend on the Lord of the Harvest who called us, and has placed us here for “such a time as this.”
Can we trust His timing with these concerns?
When is our job finished? … when He calls us home? And where is “home”? Our temporary home is right here where we have lived our lives these decades and, of course, have not yet seen our permanent home. We are “strangers and we’re pilgrims here. We’re seeking a city to come.”
What would you love to see accomplished through your life and ministry?
Dennis & Amanda: To leave behind a strong, growing, Bible-believing, vibrant church – one that proclaims a clear Gospel message; a church that loves the Lord Jesus Christ, and is an attractive light in drawing people of all ages and all ethnic groups to Himself, eagerly anticipating His imminent return.
