Announcement and Update for prayer!
11 February, 2019 (Announcement and update!)
From Barry Potter- Director of Personnel,
"As some of you may know, Dick Durston plans to retire in the Fall of 2020 and Gloria in the summer of 2021. With that in view, Dick and Gloria have been working with Barry to identify potential replacements for them in the Candidate Department. Through prayer and seeking the advice of others, we approached Michael and Naomi Woo in the fall of 2018. Since then the Woos have been praying and seeking counsel from family and friends, and have now agreed to accept the position of Candidate Director effective November 2020. They will begin an official time of transition/training this fall, including beginning to assist with Candidate Courses. Â In the meantime, the Woos will continue with their Ministry Coaching responsibilities as part of the Equipping Team.
The Woos plan to move to the Littleton area this summer, and are praying that they will receive financial clearance by that time. We are delighted that Michael and Naomi will be moving into this position and look forward to working together with them. We would appreciate your prayers for the Durstons and the Woos as they plan together with Barry the details of transitioning to the Candidate Department."
We have had about 14 years now with the candidate department and it has been our privilege to see over 450 missionaries appointed and move to E. Asia over that time! Sure, if we had not been in this role, someone else would have been, but the long-term friendships we have made, and the utter satisfaction we have enjoyed, knowing that each of these people are contribuitng to the growth of the church in E. Asia has been very fulfilling. Prior to retirement, we want to pursue the next year and a half to two years with all our strength and the primary prayer request we would have at this time is to see our candidate intake increase due to the excellent mobilization efforts of our mobilization team as they connect with inquirers all throughout the USA. We have averaged about 25 candidates per year but wouldn't it be great to see 50 a year by the time we turn the department over to the Woos?!
Some have asked what we will do in retirement? Besides the obvious of being with our kids and grandchildren we will continue serving the Lord through our local church, Zion Congregational, pursue some hobbies and camping and volunteer when we can with OMF. Since we live close to the airport our home is sometimes used as a stop off of overnight housing for missionaries coming and going. We are an unoffical 'Mission Home North', and happy to help in that way. At our ages this year and next, 65, we have some health challenges and those need to be addressed as we move into retirement.
We hope you can glean some ways to pray from the foregoing and so have appreciated the prayer and financial support of so many over our 34 years with OMF at this point.
With very grateful hearts,
Dick & Gloria