Many of you in the “Class of 69” were in those early Bible Studies I led for students in the various high schools around the city and county.  Some of you also were an active part of The New Directions during your high school years and traveled with us to countries like Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Haiti and the Grand Caymans.  We never imagined that God would grow that ministry from “Alamance County to around the world,” as I often describe it.  And like you, we have been celebrating 4 decades of God’s faithfulness.  For Patt and me it has been an ever-expanding ministry to the poor and needy in the Two-Thirds World in the love and compassion of Christ.

Little did I realize that one of your own, Lewis Lucke, would be on a parallel track helping to empower the poor through the USA Government.  As you can see from his attached picture and resume, Lew held prestigious and powerful positions with USAID in a number of underdeveloped countries.  He also held Ambassadorships along the way as America’s highest representative where he served.  Unfortunately, Lew and I were largely unaware of each other’s work to uplift and empower the poor – often in the same countries at the same time!  I am thankful and honored that he was also a musician for the NDs his senior year at WHS.  So he is also one of “our own” also.

Our loss of touch with each other all changed recently when Lew and I met in Haiti for a long weekend – the very days immediately following your Class Reunion!  We had a great time re-visiting a country that both of us passionately love – even though it continues to hold the sad title of: “The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.”  To this day Haiti continues to be the country that NDI has had the most involvement in – leading groups there multiple times a year.  Some of you receiving this email went there on the very first trip in 1969.  Lew and I plan to meet there again sometime in 2010 – and would love to see some of you go with us.  Your classmate, Dan Apple has already signed on!

I have attached a few pictures of “Ambassador Lewis Lucke” in Haiti with me right after your Class Reunion.  Hope you enjoy them.  Lew is also a very gifted author and wrote a great book I highly recommend: Waiting For Rain; Life & development in Mali, West Africa.  Patt and I especially loved the book since we have traveled and ministered in the fabled city of Timbuktu, Mali, that Lew also writes about.  Order it through Amazon if you can find it.  It is a timely read by one of your classmates who has really “made a difference” – and continues to do so for the disenfranchised and marginalized peoples in Underdeveloped Countries.  His book will make you “proud to be an American!”

I also included some photos of Dan Apple and his family.

If you would like to be on my general email list, you can sign up on our Contact page.  I would love to keep you updated on my on-going travels and ministry around the world in behalf of the spiritually and physically poor.

Again, congratulations on your historic “Class of ’69 Reunion.  Hope I will be in town for your “45th Reunion” in 2014…

In His Faithful Love,
JL & Patt

PS: When you many of you receive this email blast, I will be traveling and ministering in India, Nepal and Bhutan from Jan. 6 – 23.  I would covet your prayers for this first trip of 2010 which will be very intense, diverse and fast moving.

JL & Scotty Smith, pastor, author and speaker in Franklin Tenn—one of the “Original NDs”

JL & Larry warren in Juba, Sudan with some of the VanWingerden Brothers.  He heads African Leadership based in Franklin, TN.

Don & Mollie Lloyd, two more early ND Members.  Don currently pastors the Centenary UMC in Greensboro where he often invites JL’s international partners to speak.  This time with Bishop Ezra Sargunam from India.

JL preached a revival this Fall for Don and Mollie at Centenary UMC.  Marie and Joel and Sonia came over to sing—which was just like old times!

Rhonda, Dick & Sheila and Patt join Sarah Lea for her ordination service as Deaconness in her church

Gene James stops by JL’s office.  He is another of the “Original NDs”

Fuji and some street children

Fuji in front of one of the 11 churches that NDI has helped rebuild that was destroyed during the fighting.

New roof with recent bullet holes from recent fighting

A traditional drum that is used in the services

As one of our original musicians, Fuji tries his hand
with the traditional ‘Congo harp’

Fuji stands with our Congo partner, James Byensi, on the site of a pastor’s home that was burned down in the fighting

Fuji, Dr. Jim Seymour and Dr. Mike in the destroyed Surgery Theatre of the Nyankunde Hospital

Me in front of the Nursing School that NDI has helped rebuild for $5,000

Fuji inside of the Nursing School being rebuilt

Fuji standing beside a skeleton – fortunately not mine!  He was right at home with this since he taught Gross Anatomy in college for years

The destroyed ‘Nyankunde Hospital Chapel’ that NDI hopes to rebuild for $35,000

Fuji in front of the small MAF plane before our flight from Nyankunde to Aru

Fuji takes time for a little magic with the children before take off

Fuji in front of our ‘African Cottage’ in Aru

Fuji in front of one of the ‘World War 1’ trucks that brought people to the Conference.
It is far worse than the old ND bus!

Some of the hundreds of bicycles that most people rode to the Conference site.

A group shot of the more than 2,000 people who attended the Conference.

As many of you know, David was the founding pastor of Providence Baptist Church where he has been the Senior Pastor since the beginning.  They just recently celebrated their “30th Anniversary” as a Church.  Patt was there to join in the celebration – but I was out of the country.  ND Alumni, Joel and Sonia Leath, have now been on staff there for a number of years.  So it has been a joy to see these two ND Alumni couples ministering together.  We are also thankful for the fact that Providence has been one of our most faithful and generous Partner Churches across the years.

David, Kathy, Patt and I have made a number of Mission trips together across the years.  As you look at these few pictures of the recent “All India Conference” we did in Chennai, India, I hope some of you will prayerfully consider partnering with us on a “Kingdom Adventure Mission Safari” sometime in 2009!

Finally, when you receive this ND Alumni update, I will be traveling and ministering in Africa for 3 weeks.  This trip I will be in Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Kenya – an in that order.  I do covet your prayers for this intense and diverse time of travel and ministry…

PS:  Also, be watching for another ND Alumni report coming out with pictures from my time in Kenya and the Congo with Alumni Steve ‘Fuji’ Allen.  You will be blessed!

Bishop Ezra Sargunam opens the Conference with his usual joy and passion

David teaching from his book on the basic problems pastors and leaders face in ministry– whether in America or India

It was a great privilege and joy for David and me to teach surrounded by paintings of all of the great missionary patriarchs and statesmen of missions

Me preaching in “Traditional Indian clothing” – much more comfortable than shirt and tie

Teaching on the priority of evangelism

Me preaching away and “sweating for Jesus” as usual

Some of the several hundred Indian pastors and church planters we had the joy of teaching

Here is the current ECI brother who pastors the “Church of the New Directions” that we built for our “25th Anniversary” as a ministry.  I will be sending you another report soon on the great growth and mission outreach of this church.

Danny Burnette

Sonia Leath, Nambdi Torain

Tony Torain

Joel Leath, Dick Orcutt, Woody Lamm

David Fraser and his fiancé, Lisa Evans

Joseph Williams, John Fraser, Woody Lamm, Jane Fraser

Dick and Sheila Orcutt, Rhonda Truitt, Elaine Orcutt, Anna Lamm

Marcus and Micah Stewart, Joe Rickman

The next generation of Frasers, Rogers, Burnettes and Lamms (with Lisa and Siobhan)

Barry Fincher, Jane Fraser, Patt Williams, David Fraser

Sarah Lea and Patt Williams

Marcus and Micah Stewart, Frieda Rickman, Joel Leath

Rachele Leath, Anna Lamm, Elaine Orcutt, Stacia Leath

Natasha Smith and friend

Joe Rickman, Sam Burnette

Joel Leath, Dick Orcutt, Woody Lamm, Sam Burnette, Joseph Williams

The Military: David Fraser(Navy), Mike Rogers(Army), Jonathan Lamm(Marines)

Celestine Torain, Woody and Nancy Lamm, J, Tony and Nambdi Torain

Jane Fraser, Barry Fincher

Sonia Leath, Nambdi Torain, Joel Leath

Sam Burnette

John Fraser, Woody and Nancy Lamm

Rhonda Truitt, Alesia Burnette, Micah Stewart, Danny Burnette

Bill and Carolyn Daniel, Kim Daniel, Tammi Archbold and their families

Mark & Martha Denny and Family

John & Jane Fraser and Family

Sam, Alesia and Danny Burnette

Sandy Sandmeyer and Family

Woody and Nancy Lamm and Family

Annette Roger’s Jackson’s daughters