Stepping Forward Into 2024
Stepping Forward Into 2024
As we end 2023 and step forward into 2024, we can’t help but look behind and remember, yet then turn to look ahead. This is true both in day to day life and in the ministry.
This past year of 2023 has been a year of waiting…waiting for God’s leading in the next steps of ministry. For the past few years we have been involved in ministries at our home church in Arizona (Tri-City Baptist Church) as well as Mark working with the military chaplains. We knew God was calling us as a family into full-time ministry and thought we knew where. But God sometimes leads us one step at a time, only showing us the next step in His perfect timing. And He did the same with us.
Over this past summer, our Lord began burdening our hearts for missions. As an MK (missionary kid), Katie’s heart was ready and willing to go. Several years before she had surrendered her life to missions during her church’s missions conference, if that was God’s will. Mark began to feel the Holy Spirit working in him this year, focusing his thoughts more on missions and filling him with the burden of the missionary calling. After much prayer and then seeking guidance from godly mentors, God revealed the next step He would have us take…going to the mission field.
Since that time we have started preparing for deputation.
We are currently meeting with International Baptist Missions and our pastor, Ken Endean, to go through the missionary approval process. Our hope is to begin visiting churches in the next few months.
We have done initial research on the field and met with a few of the missionaries there. The plan is to go on a survey trip to Spain in the summer of 2024. Our hope is to go help a missionary currently on the field as Mark takes language courses to better learn Spanish. As we serve there, we will be looking for opportunities to reach the immigrants and develop relationships.
Mark’s Trip to Puerto Rico
June 2023
Visiting Katie’s Family in Utah
September 2023
Growing Nathan
Summer 2023
Family Christmas Photo
December 2023
As we end 2023 and step forward into 2024, we can’t help but look behind and remember, yet then turn to look ahead. This is true both in day to day life and in the ministry.
This past year of 2023 has been a year of waiting…waiting for God’s leading in the next steps of ministry. For the past few years we have been involved in ministries at our home church in Arizona (Tri-City Baptist Church) as well as Mark working with the military chaplains. We knew God was calling us as a family into full-time ministry and thought we knew where. But God sometimes leads us one step at a time, only showing us the next step in His perfect timing. And He did the same with us.
Over this past summer, our Lord began burdening our hearts for missions. As an MK (missionary kid), Katie’s heart was ready and willing to go. Several years before she had surrendered her life to missions during her church’s missions conference, if that was God’s will. Mark began to feel the Holy Spirit working in him this year, focusing his thoughts more on missions and filling him with the burden of the missionary calling. After much prayer and then seeking guidance from godly mentors, God revealed the next step He would have us take…going to the mission field.
Since that time we have started preparing for deputation.
We are currently meeting with International Baptist Missions and our pastor, Ken Endean, to go through the missionary approval process. Our hope is to begin visiting churches in the next few months.
We have done initial research on the field and met with a few of the missionaries there. The plan is to go on a survey trip to Spain in the summer of 2024. Our hope is to go help a missionary currently on the field as Mark takes language courses to better learn Spanish. As we serve there, we will be looking for opportunities to reach the immigrants and develop relationships.
Mark’s Trip to Puerto Rico
June 2023
Visiting Katie’s Family in Utah
September 2023
Family Christmas Photo
December 2023
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path.
These verses above from Proverbs 3:5-6 have been our family theme verses and ones we seek to live out in our lives. There is a lot we don’t know and steps in the future that aren’t crystal clear at this time. But we know that as long as we trust God, keep our eyes focused on Him amidst all of the distractions of life, and follow the steps He reveals, He will direct us and use us to
Serving together for Christ,
Mark, Katie, & Nathan Sarhan
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May the Lord Jesus bless you and your ministry. Will be praying for you.
Thank you, pastor Charbel!
Thank you both, and God who enables you, for being at our church, Royal View Baptist, this past Sunday.
It was a great blessing to realize the need to have a heart for lost people.
I was happy to hear your story and what you two will be doing in Spain to further God’s word and his love for all people.
Your family will be in my prayers.
Thank you so much. We have been blessed by visiting the church.