LINKS Missionaries 2008 - 2010

The LINKS program of the Church of the Nazarene is a network of personal connections between missionaries and Nazarenes around the world. Missionaries are assigned to districts and, then on the district level, connected to local churches. This gives each church an opportunity to become personally acquainted with the missionary family and their field of service. Typically, churches send packages, cash gifts, cards, and other remembrances to their LINKS missionaries.

In return, the churches feel a sense of involvement with the world mission enterprise of the church through regular correspondence from the missionaries, updates from their field, and even through deputation services while the missionaries are on furlough. The missionaries are encouraged, knowing people care and pray for them. The relationships built over time personalize names and faces that both the missionaries and their LINKS churches value highly.

Our new LINKS Missionaries for 2008-2009 are listen below and you can read more about them as you scroll down.

            Mark and Linda Louw and family                                                 

            Rev. Ronald and Shelva Calhoun                                                                          

            Rev. Steve and Brenda Heap

You can show love and support to these missionaries by remembering their birthdays and anniversaries with cards, and sending letters and emails of encouragement (no email forwards, please) and we encourage you do to so.   Postage for a card or letter to Brazil or Senegal costs 90¢.

Kathryn, Alexandra, Johanna and Kirstin

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Get to know the Louw Family

Mark - Blue and green are his favorite colors.  He loves root beer, pizza, Mexican food and all candies, especially licorice.  He was born in Cape Town, South Africa but has been a naturalized US citizen for 13 years.  He loves rugby, cricket, American football and baseball.  He enjoys reading, especially John Grisham, Robert Ludlum and others in that genre.  He loves getting worship CDs, sports magazines, Sudoku, candy and new release novels and Christian books.

Linda - Rose, burgundy and blue are her favorite colors for home décor and black, blue and green to wear.  She loves to cook, read and cross stitch and is passionate about Mexican food and anything chocolate (especially dark chocolate).  She enjoys decorating seasonally, especially in the fall and Christmas.  She loves Beth Moore Bible studies and other ladies series.  She collects nativity sets from different countries and cultures and is addicted to historical romances.  Food items is always anxious to receive are:  taco seasoning, Kool-aid, popcorn seasoning, pickling spices, chili powder, Italian and Ranch salad dressing mixes, chocolate and butterscotch chips (and cookie decorations like sprinkles).

Kathryn - Her favorite colors are green, pink and black and her room is decorated in brown and pink.  She is a junior at Point Loma majoring in accounting.  She was born in Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa.  She loves home-baked goodies, modern country music and reading murder mysteries.  She introduced the girls in the family to cross-stitching.  She likes jewelry and has pierced ears.

Kirstin - Her room is decorated in purple and black, but her favorite color is orange and she likes to wear fall colors.  She is a senior in high school.  She loves gummy bears, sour candies and chewing gum.  She enjoys drawing and painting, reading classics like Vanity Fair and Jane Eyre, plays the piano and clarinet and loves show tunes and classical music.  She especially likes George Gershwin, Louis Armstrong and crooners like Crosby and Sinatra.  She has pierced ears and likes classy-looking dangle earrings.

Johanna - Her room is purple and black and she wears ALL colors.  She is a freshman in high school and LOVES all junk food.  She plays soccer and softball and runs track.  She plays the flute and piano.  She likes to write and journals constantly, and loves fantasy books - she read Lord of the Rings when she was nine!  Her current favorite is Ted Dekker. She loves funky jewelry, especially pierced earrings.

Alexandra - Alex is the family princess.  She loves pink and girly stuff.  She likes to play with Barbies and dolls, drawing, play dough, paint and other crafts.  She likes all candy and cookies.  She has long hair and likes fun jewelry (but her ears are NOT pierced).

Rev. Stephen and Brenda Heap

The Heaps are one of the LINKS couples assigned to the Upstate District for 2008-2010.

Rev. and Mrs. Heap have served as missionaries in Brazil since 1974, Steve as Field Director of Brazil and Brenda and coordinator of the NMI program in Portuguese for the field.  They have also served as teachers in the Bible College and helped to pioneer the work in Northeast Brazil.  Currently they coordinate Work and Witness teams to Brazil and teach at the Brazil Seminary.

E-Mail Address:   stephen.m.heap@gmail.com

Anniverary:                     August 17

Birthdays:                       Stephen - May 28,  Brenda   -  November 9

Prayer Requests

• Their older son is Steve Wesley. He and Michelle (daughter of former missionaries John and Sheila Hall) live in the US with their two daughters Grace (6) and Maria (5)
• Their son Brian and Agatha live in Atibaia, Brazil with their son Luca (3) and daughter Victoria (1)
• Their daughter Jennifer and her husband Tom live in San Diego, CA
• Pray also for the leaders of the Church of the Nazarene in Brazil

Rev. Ronald and Shelva Calhoun

The Calhouns are one of the LINKS couples assigned to the Upstate District for 2008-2010.

Rev. and Mrs. Calhoun are retired missionaries.  They served from 1965 to 2001 in South Africa where they both were professors at the Nazarene Bible College.  Ron was principal and Dean of Theology.  Shelva was Academic Dean.  They both worked with extension education.

They have three children:  Randy, Rondalyn (Merki), and Russell and six grandchildren.

Address:                      2201 East Main Street,  Millville, NJ  08332

E-Mail Address:         ronshelva@aol.com

Anniverary:                 July 11

Birthdays:                   Ronald - December 5,  Shelva -  December 23

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for the building project at their current location in Millville, New Jersey
• Pray for Nazarene Theological College near Johannesburg, South Africa