Terry and Francine Clarke began serving as MTW Missionaries in Australia at the start of 2007. Prior to answering a call to ministry, Terry Clarke worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst. In 1995, he received his Master of Divinity degree from Knox Theological Seminary and served as a pastor in South Dakota. Terry received his Ph.D. from The University of Wales in 2002 in Old Testament after which he served as a visiting instructor at Covenant Theological Seminary. Francine worked at Missouri Baptist Medical Center in St. Louis as a performance improvement coordinator. They have been married for sixteen years and their first grandchild (Sarah Elizabeth) was born on Nov. 1^st to Terry’s son & daughter-in-law. They are members of the Kirk of the Hills PCA.

While working on his doctoral degree, Terry made two trips to Romania, where he taught Old Testament courses at Maranatha Bible college. He became aware that countries like England and Australia have a shortage of professors who believe the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. Therefore, when Terry and Francine received a call from Westminster Theological College in Brisbane, Australia they readily accepted the call. Terry teaches Old Testament and serves as dean of faculty. Francine uses her administrative skills at the college and also mentor the wives of the students and works with young people in the local church.

11.2007
November ‘07 Prayer Letter from the Clarkes

10.2007
October ‘07 Prayer Letter from the Clarkes

08.2007
Dear Friends and Family,

In our last prayer letter we mentioned that we would have our neighbors over for coffee and a bickee (biscuit == cookie). Well we did that, and the Lord brought two families to our home. One family was here for a previous coffee night. Francine continues to build a relationship with this women. I, on the other hand, spoke to the husband of the other family. They are Muslims who moved from India to the Fiji Islands many years ago. Just last year they moved to Australia to escape the political instability. He attended Catholic schools all his life, but he rejected Christian beliefs and became Muslim. He said he would like me to meet the cleric at the local Mosque. I hope that works out at some point. I also had the chance to share some of the gospel message with him. Please pray for this man. As for the other neighbors, we will continue to see them and build relationships. We did not get to ask the families who came about the “Introducing God” video course. So continue to pray that we would get the opportunity to share this with our neighbors.

I (Francine) am still waiting to receive permanent residency. As of last Thursday (8/30), Immigration had all of the info needed to process my application. I e-mailed the case officer on Tuesday (9/4) inquiring about the status, but she has not gotten back to me.

Please pray that this will be resolved before Tuesday (9/11) as Terry and I are going out of the country to the MTW area retreat in Malaysia. If they grant my permanent residency while I am gone, it will change my temporary visa and I will have problems getting back into Australia…I won’t have proof of my changed status with me. However, in the e-mail I sent to the case officer I did remind her of the dates I will be out of the country, so hopefully no changes will be made while I am away.

The ministry at the college continues to go very well. We are 2/3 of the way through this semester, and students and faculty are beginning to show signs of fatigue. Still, our students are involved in ministry as well as preparing for future ministry. The college is also making preparations to implement a few new degree programs. This is all exciting, but there are details yet to be worked out. For instance, we want to implement a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) program and the equivalent of the Master of Theology (Graduate Diploma of Divinity). These two programs will make us more appealing to those who already have a first degree. The M.Div. is suitable for those who have a degree in something other than theology. The Graduate Diploma of Divinity is suitable for those with a theological degree who now want to prepare for further studies such as the PhD. We are hoping for approval from the Australian College of Theology (our accrediting agency) in October so we can begin these new programs next year.

Praise and Prayer Requests:
1. More opportunities to minister to our neighbors
2. Francine’s permanent residency visa before Tuesday (9/11)
3. Safety as we travel to Kula Lumpur
4. Protection for our home and belongings while we are out of the country
5. Strength to finish the semester well (for us and for the students)
6. God’s blessings as we prepare to implement the new degree programs, and approval from the accrediting agency.
7. Additional funding for one of our team members who has lost some of their support.

In His Service,
Terry & Francine Clarke

07.2007
Dear Friends and Family,

Second semester started July 9 with six new students enrolled, which gives us a total of 58 full and part-time students this semester. We praise God for this answer to prayer, and we appreciate your faithfulness in praying with us.

Terry is teaching two courses, the first is on The Psalter and the other Old Testament Survey. He is also scheduled to preach at chapel three times and is the co-leader for the pastoral group, which meets every Tuesday during lunch. In addition, Terry will preach at three local churches during the next few months.

In our last prayer letter, we mentioned one student who was in danger of losing her eye sight but that her condition had improved. However, the inflammation has returned. The doctors do not know what is causing this problem but she is again undergoing treatment. Please continue to pray for Miranda.

We had a great visit with Francine’s mom, who was with us for a month. It was such a blessing to have her here. Francine took a break from her volunteer work at the college so she could spend as much time as possible with her mother. We did lots of tourist things, but the highlight was our visit to the koala sanctuary where we held one of the koala bears.

We are planning a second outreach event for our neighbors. The plan is to invite them here again for a cuppa and a bickie (aka. a cup of coffee and cookies). We will also ask if they would be interested in attending a course called “Introducing God.”

Praise/Prayer requests:
1. For the six new students enrolled
2. For Francine’s mom safe travel to and from Australia
3. Healing for Miranda’s eye condition
4. Quick approval citizenship/permanent residency
5. Pray that our neighbors will come for coffee and agree to return for Bible studies

In His Service,
Terry & Francine Clarke

06.2007
Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Down Under! It is hard to believe that we have been in beautiful Brisbane for 4 ½ months and that the semester is coming to an end.

The students will be taking final exams June 11–22. They are worn to a frazzle and are in much need of the two-week break before the second semester begins on July 9. Some have had serious health issues. One student was hospitalized for a week and another was in danger of losing sight in both eyes. Thankfully, both students are improving. We cannot help but think that Satan is at work trying to discourage and undermine the good things that are happening at the college.

Graduation was held in March. As the faculty and students marched in procession down the aisle of the chapel, I thought about how privileged we are to be a part of this ministry. What a joyful celebration! Many friends and family had gathered to witness this wonderful event. Six students received the bachelor of theology or advanced diploma of ministry. In addition, four men completed the PCA (Presbyterian Church of Australia) ministry candidates course, which is required by that denomination for those who received their divinity degree elsewhere.

Besides the normal classes, three seminars were held at the college during the semester. They were open to the public and well attended. These events have helped to improve the visibility of our school, and we pray were a blessing to those who attended.

In May, we invited our neighbors (eight families) over for a ‘cuppa’ (Aussie for coffee/tea) and three families came. It was an enjoyable time getting to know one another. Our hope was to develop friendships with them and eventually invite them to a Bible study. However, we feel a since of urgency to move forward with the Bible study because a cult group has moved into our neighborhood and has started knocking on people’s doors. 

One final note, we are looking forward to a visit from Francine’s mom. She will spend a month with us starting the middle of June.

Praise/Prayer requests:
1.  Students, as they prepare for and take final exams
2.  Safe travel for Francine’s mom
3.  Increased student enrollment next semester
4.  For wisdom about offering a neighborhood Bible study at this time
5.  Thank God for the rains we received recently. However, we need a lot more rain to break the drought

In His Service,
Terry & Francine Clarke

04.2007
Dear Friends & Family, 

How you goin’?  (Aussie for ‘how are you?) We trust all is well with you and your family.

In our last letter, we mentioned a planned trip up to the Sunshine Coast for the weekend. We had a very restful time; the best part of which was sleeping on a real bed. The resort was not on the beach as we had thought, though they did have a shuttle to take you there. However, we opted just to lounge by the pool.

And, we are happy to report that the removalist (Aussie for moving company) delivered our household goods two weeks ago. Our house is pretty much in order, though there are a few boxes left to unpack. A few things were damaged in the move, but thank God that most arrived without problems. Now we have to deal with the insurance company…and you know how that can be.

‘Open Day’ at the college went very well. This was a real answer to pray. It seemed that we were not going to have a good turnout since two days prior to the event only seven people had RSVP. But God is gracious, twenty-six potential students attended. Evidently, it is unusual for Aussies to register in advance for anything.

D.A. Carson will be lecturing at the college on May 11 & 12 and Rev. David Jackman will present a two-day intensive course on May 21 & 22.  Both are big events for the college and are open to the public. Francine is helping to coordinate these events.,/p>

We live in a predominately-Muslim community, and we prayed for an opportunity to meet our neighbors. It is surprising how God answers prayers. A few weeks back, a few of the homes on our block were broken into (ours was not) while people were at work. That evening people were gathering in the street to talk about it, and we went out and introduced ourselves. Since then, we have spoken with some of them while out in the yard and are planning to invite four families over for a BBQ. We are praying that we will get to know our neighbors better and eventually get to share the gospel with them.

We may have mentioned before that Australia is going through one of the worst droughts in its history. The reservoirs are very low. In same locations, the water will be completely gone by the end of the year unless the Lord sends rain to fill the reservoirs. If not, our state government plans to add recycled water back into the drinking water. Think about it. This is not a pleasant thought. Recently, the Prime Minister called for prayer for rain, but one senator dismissed the idea – which shows the spiritual climate of Australia.

Praise/Prayer requests:
(1) Praise that our household goods arrived for the most part undamaged
(2) Praise for the good turnout on ‘Open Day’/pray many who attended will enroll next semester
(3) Planning and good turnout for D. A. Carson and David Jackman visits
(4) Development of friendship with our neighbors & opportunity to share gospel
(5) The spiritual condition of the country and churches and for substantial rains

In His Service,
Terry & Francine Clarke

02.2007
Greetings from Down Under:

It was a bittersweet goodbye with family at the Atlanta airport. Bitter because we were leaving behind those we love, but sweet because at long last we were going where we knew God wants us to serve. We choked back the tears and boarded the plane with thoughts of the adventure ahead.We landed in Australia on Jan. 19, at 07:30 (Aussie time) after a long and tiring flight, only to face a mass of people trying to get through customs. It took two hours, but eventually we saw two smiling familiar faces … our teammates! Needless to say, we were overjoyed (and relieved) to see people we knew. I’m sure we looked as if we had been through the wringer—at least that is how we felt. ☺

First on the agenda was to find a place to live—not as easy as it sounds. One house we looked at had an orange wall in the family room; another had deep purple walls with lavender trim (what were they thinking???). After two weeks of searching, we rented a lovely, brand new, but small four-bedroom, two-bath house with air conditioning (what we considered a must for a climate like south Florida). Amazingly, most of the houses here are not air-conditioned.

Our container is due to arrive in Brisbane on Mar. 1, but will probably take two to four weeks to clear customs. People have been kind enough to lend us a few pieces of furniture and other necessities to get by on until our shipment arrives. We are sleeping on an air mattress, so we sort of feel like we are camping out.

Driving on the opposite side of the road is a completely different story! There have been a few nerve-racking incidents, the details of which I won’t go into. But let’s just say that God has been watching over us. ☺ Numerous times we have turned on the windshield wipers instead of the turn signal. Old habits die hard. Oh well …we’ll get the hang of it.

On Feb. 10 and 11, we attended a mandatory student/faculty retreat for the college. The retreat was held at a camp in the mountains about an hour’s drive south of Brisbane. As we continued to travel higher and higher, we were sure we were going to reach heaven before we reached the campsite. We had a great time getting to know the students, faculty, and their wives. The weekend was also a very spiritually enriching time.

There are 52 students enrolled this semester. Let me introduce you to a few of them: Michael and Miranda, a married couple from Egypt both of whom are taking classes. They each have a quiet and gentle spirit and a deep love for our Lord. Michael’s parents immigrated to Australia when he was a young boy. He is currently working in a church- plant ministry in Brisbane among Egyptian immigrants. Chris, a part-time student working full-time, is an Australian about our age. He wants to pastor some small outlying church that cannot afford a pastor. He plans a ‘tent-maker’s’ ministry. Monique is in her early twenties and has a heart for missions. After she completes her theological degree (this is her second year at the college), she plans to get a nursing degree and use her skills on the mission field. Please pray for these and the other students as they prepare for the work God has planned for them.

Classes began Feb. 12. Terry is teaching three courses this semester, one of which is in Toowoomba, which is two hours west of Brisbane. Every Monday we drive two hours there, Terry teaches for two hours, and then we drive back. We get home a little after 10:00 p.m. The other two classes are at the main campus.The college is planning four seminars with well-known guest speakers during this semester. I was asked to help organize these events. In addition, there is a women’s ministry group for the student wives that meets once a month, which I hope to join.Of course, all this is interspersed between trips to the shopping centers to find the basic necessities of life. It seems nothing is quite like it is in North America. We spend hours just trying to figure out how to get basic telephone service or how to get a driver’s license. But by God’s grace we are moving forward.

Prayer requests:
(1) The arrival of our container with our household goods with no delays at customs
(2) Our adjustments to life in Australia (we are in OZ—aka Australia rather than Kansas)
(3) Safety as we continue to learn to drive on the other side of the road.
(4) The students of the college—their spiritual growth, an increase in enrollment each semester, and for more of them to go into church-planting ministry.In His Service,
Terry & Francine Clarke

12.26.2006
Dear Friends and Family, Many of you have already heard this good news, but I don’t suspect it will hurt to hear it again. We told you about the problems that we were having with our visa applications, and we asked that you pray for us. We now have our temporary resident visas in hand. In fact they were approved within 36 hours after we asked you to pray. Specifically, we asked that you follow the psalmist, when he says in Psalm 50:14: “ Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me I the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” After giving thanks to the Lord for all the good things He had done on our behalf and praying for deliverance, we wrote a letter, which was sent via overnight mail, to the head of the immigration section of the Australian embassy in Washington D.C. asking for help in resolving this matter. That was on Wednesday. On Thursday, we received a call from the Australian embassy saying that our visas had been approved, and they were already on the way back to us via overnight mail. Moreover, another person from the embassy called on Friday and said that they had just read the letter, and the person we addressed it to was no longer at the embassy. God had answered our prayers prior to our letter being read! Yes, He is worthy of praise.We thank you for your support for this ministry, and we ask\nthat you continue to give thanks with us for His blessings in our lives and in\nyour lives. Then continue to believe that he is ready to answer your prayers\nfor help in the day of trouble.