Spring 2015 Prayer Letter

“Well, dear, it’s time to send out a prayer letter,” I say, while sipping my morning coffee.  “Have you got any ideas about what to write this time?”

“Hmmm, maybe we can write about the Cross-Cultural Ministry class I taught at Millar College of the Bible,” Walter replies.  “Those students were really keen and caught the vision about recognizing our own coloured glasses as we seek to understand ministry in reaching other cultures.”

“Or we could let everyone know about the Missions Weekend at the Gladstone Community Church and the opportunity we had to share about Healing Hearts Ministry with folks there…and reconnecting with old friends who made the extra effort to visit with us,” I mention.

“And then we facilitated that role meal at Millar’s Missions Conference, where the students experienced what it would be like to be a First Nations child in a residential school dining hall,” Walter interjects.  “The impact on staff, students and the folks from Healing Hearts who participated gave us all a new perspective on how history has affected ministry today.”

“What about teaching the short version of the Cross-Cultural class for the Nipawin Bible College freshmen?  The Lord used those three teams in Big River, Kinistin and Regina,” I say.

“Or we could focus on the seminar in Window Rock, Arizona,” Walter refills his coffee mug as we brain-stormed. 

“Yes, numbers were small but the topic of dependency issues in ministry stirred interest.  The missionary leaders want to have us come down again and plan a bigger conference on that and other related issues!”  I opened my laptop and powered up to begin typing our ideas.

“I’ll upload the pictures from the camera from that trip to Phoenix, Gallup, Window Rock and Albuquerque…”

“What should we call this issue of ‘Regina and Beyond?’”  My fingers were poised above the keyboard.  ‘Adventures with Walter’?”

“’Journeys in a Jetta TDI,’” Walter suggested.

We both agreed that ‘THE FAITHFULNESS OF GOD’ has truly summarized the past few months as we traveled many kilometers across western Canada and into the southwest United States!  Our ministry involves encouraging fellow-missionaries, sharing about ministry in First Nations and inner city communities, providing leadership to our growing organization and keeping up with paperwork and government forms.  God has been teaching us how to pace ourselves on the road and when we are at home.  He blessed us with ten days of sunshine and relaxation in Phoenix before we ministered in Window Rock.  We are thankful to God and YOU for standing behind us in faithfulness.

A few Pics of our time away!

Family Update

Mark & Amy continue to enjoy Steinbach as they work in construction/teach piano and get involved in their church.  They are helping coordinate a youth team to come to Regina during spring break and check out inner city ministry. 

Daniel has left the nest!  He found a house to rent with a couple buddies.  Later this spring, he will be taking his first course in sheet metal work (offered in Saskatoon). 

Caylea is working hard at her final classes and her practicum with the Nipawin Bible College youth retreat (Three60Five) held in March.  Her plans for after graduation in April are still pending. 

  

CONNECT WITH US

We have set up a FaceBook page for our ministry called “Regina and Beyond”.  Just “LIKE” this page and you will receive updates and find the link to our newsletters.  Walter often posts short vignettes of our staff and various co-labourers in Christ. 

Also, Cindy has a “blog” where she writes about everyday happenings and travelogues.  Check out 

Cindy's Blog

Healing Hearts Ministry has updated their website so check out all about the ministries and find out how to pray for us and our staff in more detail.

Healing Hearts Ministry 20 year anniversary

Celebrating God's Goodness

Milestones are important! They help us evaluate and mark our journey so far. Healing Hearts Ministry celebrated 20 years in September of this year. It seems like just yesterday that we started with a vision to make a significant impact in the First Nations community of North Central Regina. We had been in ministry for 5 years and God  gave me eyes to see that the problem of the area wasn’t  violence, drug abuse, poverty or any of the visible problems of the area. The problem was the deep wounds of so many of the people. The people needed a “spiritual hospital”. I believed God wanted to walk into the deep areas of pain and bring healing that only he can bring.

So with a vision and some faithful servants at our side we walked into our new adventure. 2 of the 3 kids were still in diapers and I was still recovering from a life threatening illness. God doesn't always choose the strong or able but the willing. We started with great hopes and no knowledge  of how to start a ministry to “bring the healing touch of Jesus to wounded hearts!” Life was not always easy, with in the first year almost all who had started with us left to minister elsewhere and we continued on. I had deep conviction and knew we weren't doing this ministry to look successful but because of obedience. So often the journey was marked with what looked to us as failure and not success. But if we are following God the journey is His and so is the progress.

Twenty years later we can see God’s hand on so much of what has happened along the way. God brought faithful servants who embraced our vision and made it a part of their journey. The church has grown and many have been touched along the way. Others have come, learned and went to other locations to continue on the work there. Many people have found freedom from addiction and even greater freedom in Christ.  They have become leaders in the First Nations community and continue to minister with the principles of healing, forgiveness and reconciliation.

Today we have over 30 missionaries in the 3 prairie provinces. We have church planters, youth leaders, mentors and counselors all “bringing the healing touch of Jesus to wounded hearts!” Healing Hearts Ministry celebrated 20 years of existence. We worshiped, fellow shipped and gave God glory for His goodness to us and as the service ended Cindy and I were called forward and recognized for 20 years of service in HHM.  Our God is an awesome God and uses willing servants.

Healing Hearts Ministry Team at our staff conference.

FAMILY UPDATE 

Our summer began with a couple weeks at our cabin at Katepwa Lake. We had some construction projects and a little “squirrel issue” to contend with but there was plenty of time for relaxing, reading, sitting by the campfire and picking saskatoons!  Walter and I had only booked one week of speaking/cooking at Bible camp in August to try and pace ourselves for ministry trips in the fall.  But a last-minute cancellation led us to Fisher Bay Bible Camp in July and we felt God used us there by HIS appointment.  Walter spoke in chapel and felt it was one of the best camp experiences he’s had.  Cindy got the opportunity to help with the skills of riflery and Airsoft.  Wow, that was a stretch!  It was fun to interact with the campers more directly. We traveled to visit our Alberta staff and take in the “Metis Nation of Alberta’s Rendezvous” in Big Valley.  This is an exciting branch of Healing Hearts opening up.  The second week of Bible camp at Strasbourg was full and very tiring but again, we know God touched many kids’ hearts-from the inner city-with the Gospel.  Cindy had 3 capable kitchen helpers and enjoyed daily devotions and prayer time with the ladies.  Alas, Walter wasn’t quite able to get the 1928 Dodge Bros. car on the road…next summer!
Mark & Amy are doing well in Steinbach, MB.  They are involved on the Missions Committee of their church where Amy wrote and directed a play for the fall missions conference.  Mark is working hard and keeping busy in construction and Amy has several new and returning piano students for this year.
Daniel is enjoying his apprenticeship as a sheet metal worker (installing duct work for furnace/AC units).  He will take his schooling in Saskatoon sometime in the new year.  He traveled to Australia to be best man for a buddy’s wedding in August-yeah, he enjoyed bodyboarding & the beach & “Movie World”!
Caylea worked all summer at Strasbourg Bible Camp and only took time off for the weddings of her friends!  She is back at Nipawin Bible College taking a few classes and interning through the college to plan their large youth event in March.

Our Regina Team praying for us at 20 year anniversary celebration of the church 

Our Family!!!!!!

PRAISE & PRAYER
*Praise God for the 20th Anniversary of Healing Hearts Ministry(Sept.  14)-Pastor Don Wratney was the guest speaker and about 90+ celebrated in worship and a BBQ
*Praise for our 4th annual H.H. Staff Conference- TV Thomas was our keynote speaker for 35-40 of our staff-prayer groups, “Minute to Win It” and visiting were some highlights.
*Prayer for our upcoming trips to Gladstone, MB; Nipawin; Weyburn and Canmore, AB
*Prayer for Walter as he teaches “Cross-Culture Ministry” module class at Millar College of the Bible
*Prayer for Caylea’s health (undergoing tests but no results known yet)
*Wisdom for administrative role/unity of vision & purpose in our growing organization

Spring 2014 25 Years and still going strong!!

Sitting in the outer office of the mission headquarters, I nervously waited for Walter’s interview to be done.  I was staring at the map of Canada with pins stuck into the various communities where missionaries were currently serving in First Nations ministry.  On another wall was a display of the prayer cards of the missionary families and I stood to get a closer look.  I glanced at the clock.  What was taking Walter so long in his interview? I had been called in first to a boardroom full of mission leaders, supervisors and the candidate secretary who had been coaching us in the application process.  Now I would be grilled on questions of education, ministry experience, Bible and theology in addition to my testimony and call to ministry.  I thought I was prepared but with all the serious-faced, grey-haired elders greeting me, I wasn’t so sure.  I sat at the end of the long table.  It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated. Being only 22 with little job interview experience, I think they had mercy on me!  I was shaking and stammering a bit so they smiled at me occasionally and   asked me to start with my testimony.  Whew!  I couldn’t get that wrong!  From there, they eased me into the other heavier questions and within half an hour, I was dismissed.  Then they called Walter in… As an engaged couple, Walter and I were applying to be full time missionaries.  It was February of 1989 and our wedding was to be May 21 of this same year.  My mind raced to the list of things yet to be done in preparation for our big day plus my nerves were on edge because Walter’s interview was taking much long that mine had been! I paced awhile, then sat down again. I fidgeted with the envelope in my hand.  We had brought a photograph of us taken a few months before.  If all went well, we hoped to have a prayer card printed at the mission so we could begin our fundraising.  I hoped our picture would join the many up on that wall.  The boardroom door opened. The candidate secretary emerged first and winked at me.  “We thought of telling Walter that we have accepted you as a missionary, but weren’t sure about him!”  The look of shock and terror on my innocent face must have changed her mind! “No, no!  It’s fine!”  She stepped forward to let Walter through the doorway.  “We want to welcome you both on board!”   ~~~  (By the way, the guy in the print shop gave Walter some good-natured ribbing about printing a prayer card with “Walter & Cindy Selke” on it before we were officially married!  “You must be pretty sure she’s going through with it!” And I did!) Twenty-five years ago, we began our career as missionaries to reach First Nations living in the city of Regina.  So much has happened since then… May 1989-married and began ministry March, 1990-bought our first house on Elphinstone St. April-August, 1990-cross-cultural mission training (AB) and practicum in northern SK September, 1990- first child, Mark was born April 21, 1992-Daniel was born September 24, 1993-Caylea was born September 4, 1994-started Healing Hearts Ministry in a community centre September 1999- our family moved to east end of Regina June, 2007-HHM acquired own building 2010-Walter’s role transitioned from Pastor to Director of HHM, Inc. This year marks not only our 25th year of ministry and marriage, but the 20th anniversary of Healing Hearts Ministry.  We may not be the nervous young couple we once were, but through God’s faithfulness and grace, we are still awaiting new adventures that God has for us. As the ministry grows in Regina and beyond to points in Alberta, northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba, we are being stretched and challenged to give encouragement and direction to our staff members.  Our little car travels many miles to visit and participate in whatever our missionaries are doing.  Our phone, e-mail and Facebook communications are constant as we try to stay connected over the distance.  THANK YOU for standing behind us over these years.  Our family has grown, our ministry has expanded and our hair has greyed (or gone!) since that first prayer card we printed!  But the Lord has been good.  Your prayers and financial support and friendship have kept us on the mission field and we do not take that lightly.  God bless you for your faithfulness, as well. FAMILY UPDATE With sadness, we announce the passing of Cindy’s Dad, Ron Sanders, on January 30, 2014.  Our whole family got to spend time with him at Christmas.  The memorial was held on April 14,at the Tartan Curling Club.  We’ve been blessed with loving support and prayers throughout Dad’s illness and after his passing.  Cindy has taken some time for grieving and healing, with opportunity to write as an outlet.   She’s thankful for curling & Curves to keep active, as well as getting involved with travel and ministry as God gives ability. Walter is plugging away on his 1928 Dodge Bros. car, scavenging parts from another car and fabricating some parts with his ingenuity.  He hopes to get it started and running very soon…and the in-floor heating in the garage is almost ready to go. Daniel has started a new job with a plumbing and heating company, with opportunity for apprenticeship.  His curling team (Team Mike Armstrong) made it to the Men’s Curling Provincial Tankard but were not able to advance to the Brier!  Caylea is finishing her 3rd year at Nipawin Bible College.  She has summer employment plans which include Strasbourg Bible Camp.  Next year?  Stay tuned… Mark continues to work in construction in Steinbach, while Amy is teaching piano to young students and providing nanny care to a preschool boy part-time.  We don’t get to see them often enough but are blessed to see them establish their home in the Lord.