JeriAnn Banks

A little about Me and my ministry.

I am part of the Birmingham City Team serving with ReachGlobal and our vision is to glorify God by reaching least impacted groups with the Gospel, discipling and incorporating them into healthy existing churches or new, culturally-appropriate kingdom communities, consistent with the ReachGlobal Sandbox. And currently that is being accomplished by one-on-one relationships and friendship building through VBS's, stay and play groups and other various ministries. We also partner with local churches to help build their vision for reaching and loving their neighbor.

JeriAnn

for the latest news click

Change

battle

Feb 13, '09 8:08 AM
for everyone

It has been a fight to remain joyful, positive and trusting lately.I feel like i am in a battle. sometimes advancing and making progress. and other times defeated with no strength to stand. last weekend was wonderful. there was so much pleasure in being with all of my family. when your family is as small as mine and more than half of them are in one room for a whole weekend you can't be anything but joyful. the battle didn't feel so rough then- in fact it was easy to forget and just celebrate. however reality soon set in and my cousins wedding now seems like a distant memory. and i am deep in the frontlines this week, with the horizon just beyond my reach. yet I take comfort that i am not alone, God is with me, He has given me comrades and He has assured me of the final outcome irrespective of what happens in this particular battle. so while it might be a fight and i grow weary and lose strength, Jesus promises that he has overcome the world. victory is certain. battling but thankful:

* that God is our strength and strong tower- our great defender!

* for an amazing time at my cousins wedding with my family :)

* the provision of some space at the church office so i can get all this work done!

Email jeriann.banks(at)efca.org

Check out my http://jabintheuk.multiply.com/

March 4 2009

Hi All Just want to update you on some things to be praying for this month and again express my thanks for all your prayers. Your prayers are like ministering angels to me right now. VISAThe latest news is that my church, Monyhull ,has an appointment on 19 March at 10am. If all goes well on their side they could have the sponsorship in 5 days. Please pray for my pastor and the people that they will be meeting with. Pray that God will be present, that everything will be in order and the church will be granted sponsorship. There is another family and a co-worker that are also dependent on this news. Please pray for all us as we wait and trust in God. Departure?My team and I are taking a step of faith and trusting that all the paperwork will be in order by Easter time. We have moved my flight date to 14 April in faith that I will have my visa by then. Please pray that once the sponsorship goes through that I will get the appointment that I need with the UK embassy to receive the visa. Please pray that they find no reason to deny me a visa and entrance into the UK. Please pray that I am able to return on 14 April. In the mean time . . .I have been working in the church office putting together a good portion of the teens mission trip this summer. I have been thankful there is so much to do because its helped keep my mind off of everything. Please pray for the team that is coming this summer. We’ve got a great group of teens and leaders and I am looking forward to having them in Birmingham. Please pray for their fundraising efforts- they need to raise $1,500 each. I have also been working on some projects for our ReachGlobal Europe office. It’s been great to be more connected to the ministry of my co-workers and be part of planning things that will benefit their ministry. There is a large web project that I will be helping out with now and in the future. Please pray for all involved that everything we plan and do will directly help our missionaries serving in Europe. We desire to see good and effective communication between missionaries, their supporters and those just curious. and one more thing-As some of you know from reading my blog you know that I have been struggling with panic attacks this last month. Unfortunately they have not improved or gone away and I was forced to go to the doctors this week. I am now on some medicine to help and have been advised to take it easy. It has been challenging for me to deal with this and I appreciate your prayers. Please pray that the medicine starts to help and that I make wise decisions about how hard I am working and what I need to cut back on.

March 20

Hi All-

Just wanted to give you all a brief update on how things are looking and specific prayer requests along the way.

* Praise God that my church, Monyhull had a good meeting with the government and everything looks to be in order! * Pray for the final paperwork that is being sent in on their side and that the UK government would swiftly process the paperwork and issue a sponsorship number.

* Pray that once I receive the number, my online application goes through and I can get an appointment in New York City to have my biometrics done before I mail in my passport. (Biometrics is a full face and 10 digit scan for recognition)

* Once the biometrics are complete I can mail in my passport and supporting documents to get the visa- pray that they are able to process it as quickly as possible – the average time right now is 5-10 working days.

* Pray that all of this might be completed by April 14^th. I have already changed my ticket once at great cost and would hate to have to change it again but without a passport I will be unable to travel.

* Please continue to pray for my ministry in the UK the longer I am in the US certain ministries are becoming more challenging to maintain and oversee.

* And please continue to pray for my health. I am doing much better but still need to take it easy and not push myself :)

and you can now keep up with me at http://moregratefulness.blogspot.com – this website allows you to comment without creating a user name :)

or you can still check out my other site a http://jabintheuk.multiply.com

Thank you so much for standing in the gap with me. Your prayers are everything!

Love,

JeriAnn

April 2 2009

HI all

Just wanted to let you know where things stand regarding my visa. I will not be leaving on 14 April for Birmingham. We do not have the sponsorship number so we are unable to continue with any of the following steps like submitting my application, getting my biometrics done and mailing in my passport to the UK consulate in NYC. This has been a very hard week for me with the realization that I will not be back in Birmingham and as of right now it looks like the next best time to plan for is 1 June.

· Please pray for wisdom for me and my entire team as we make decisions. It is hard to plan with limited details and often it feels like we are pulling dates out of the sky. My work is being significantly impacted right now.

· Pray my church in England will be granted their sponsorship without delay.

· And please pray for me- I desire with all my heart to be in England right now doing the work that God has called me to and right now I feel like that verse in Proverbs that says a hope deferred makes the heart sick. Pray I do not give up hope but also recognize that God might have a whole new plan for me and even our team. And pray I continue to do all that God wills for my life and that I joyfully surrender all my own plans and desires.

Thank you again for all your support and encouragement during these past few months. Your fellowship in the journey is priceless.

love,

jeriann

May 2009 (good news)

Hi Everyone!

Well I finally have some good news for all of you :)

My home church in England has been accepted as a sponsor and today we received my sponsorship number!!!!!!

. . . and so today I booked my appointment to get my biometrics done on May 13^th at 11am in Newark. Currently we are working on some final paperwork but hopefully we will have my passport and supporting paperwork sent in by the 15^th if not earlier!

Please continue to keep all of this in prayer and especially:

· Pray for no further complications – either in getting the supporting paperwork or in sending off my passport.

· Pray that the visa would be granted!

· Pray that I would receive my passport before 1 June so I can keep my current ticket.

· Pray for a good use of my time during my remaining weeks in the US.

As another concern for prayer, we’ve had to change my status regarding my visa which is incurring some additional cost and we’ve also had to change my ticket several times. Unfortunately the unexpected costs of all of this is affecting my personal ministry account. I would greatly appreciate any onetime gifts that would help offset these unplanned costs. See below on how to give towards this need.

Thank you so much for all your prayers!!! We do serve a God of answered prayer :) (in His time of course!)

Love,

JeriAnn

to give make checks payable to EFCA ReachGlobal with #M1001 in the memo line and mail to:

EFCA

Donor Services

901 East 98^th Street

Minneapolis, MN

55420

Hi All! Sept update and important news of ministry change.

A HUGE thank you to those that have sent encouraging notes and prayers.

This has been a difficult time and I value your prayers and encouragement so much right now. I’m including some more things to be praying for during the next month as we’ve now figured out some more of the details and I’ll soon be out of regular internet access until I am back in the US.

PRAY for:

· Please continue to pray for me as I pack, close up accounts,

try to sell my car and all the myriad of details that come with moving.

Things have been made a bit more stressful and complicated by the fact that it is an overseas move and that I am all on my own. There have been some very lonely days with packing and making phone calls so I really appreciate your prayers.

· Please pray for me this week as I make a decision on a mover

who will be shipping my flat back to America. There are loads of forms and many things to consider in choosing the right company so pray for wisdom and faith.

· Pray for my mom as she flies out on the 27th Sept to 3rd Oct

to help with final details like getting rid of what’s left, painting the flat back and moving me out of my flat. Pray that we also have time to take a break and enjoy the last time we’ll have in England together.

· Please also pray for my leaving party on the 3rd of October. I

have been trying to visit and see friends while packing but it has been hard to do both. Two friends are organizing it for me but pray for a good time and that it would not be too emotional for me :)

· And please pray for my finances. There is a lot of expense

with moving and relocating and I need about $ 5,000 extra in one-time gifts to cover these expenses. And surprisingly living in NJ will be almost just as expensive as being in the UK so I will need to retain most of my support. Please pray that God would continue to provide for my every need and that I would trust in him every step of the way.

PRAISE for:

· Praise God for all of my friends and co-workers that have been

helping me with packing, taking some of my furniture and being a wonderful support to me during this time. I am so thankful for each of them and they are a constant reminder of what I am leaving behind. Pray for good conversations and that I get to express how grateful I am for each of them.

· Praise God that there is about $ 4,000 in a car fund for me so

I will be able to purchase a used car once I return to the US and not have to raise additional funds for a car. This is a huge relief!

· And praise God for all the little and huge ways that He is

taking care of me- I know His mercy abounds in every situation!

As you can see there continues to be a lot to pray for and if I am honest, finances are my largest worry right now. It has been very difficult looking at the numbers and trying to make wise decisions especially when I know many of you are facing difficult times yourself.

I do ask that you would continue to keep me in prayer and possibly consider making a one-time gift to help with this transition- think of it as an early Christmas present :) If you could also pray this scripture for me that would be great.

‘My flesh and my heart may fail but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever’ Ps 73:26

Pray God is truly the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Pray I know this in all its fullness.

With love,

JeriAnn

jeriann banks

reachglobal

http://moregratefulness.blogspot.com

<http://moregratefulness.blogspot.com/>

If you would like to begin giving financially please

send it into ReachGlobal or click on the below

link to begin giving today.

Donations can be made out and mailed to :

EFCA- ReachGlobal

901 East 78th Street

Minneapolis, MN 55420

Please make sure to include ID # M1001 in the memoline.

https://my.efca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359&des=Banks-M1001

Hi All

In the last 7 years I have never had to write an urgent request regarding my finances. I have been so blessed in the past by all of your generous giving and support. So while there have been times that I have needed additional financial support God has always provided so that it never reached a critical moment. However that is not the case right now.

Last month I wrote that I needed about $ 5,000 in one-time gifts to cover my relocation expenses. And praise God that almost 2,000 has been given in September to meet this need! A huge THANK YOU to those that have given. What an encouragement it was to see your gifts this month :)

That leaves about $3,000 needed in one-time gifts. However a complication has come up. Single ReachGlobal missionaries are required to have a minimum of $4,500 in reserve income. Without that reserve we can no longer receive ministry expenses and currently I am below my reserve. This means I cannot receive the money that I need to relocate until its above the minimum amount.

Be assured that my salary is still okay and that I am not in need of monthly support. What is needed right now are one time gifts. $3,000 is still needed for relocating and another $1,000 is needed to bring me above the minimum of $ 4,500. I urge you to please consider how you might help. If everyone gave a gift of just $ 50 my one-time giving would surely be met. Here is how you can give-

to give on-line click on the link below

https://my.efca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359&des=Banks-M1001

Hi Everyone!

Well its been a while since I’ve sent out an update but I’ve got some wonderful praise reports to share with you :) Also welcome to my friends that are new to my updates. In the future there will probably be some emails that cannot be posted or distributed due to security and my new role with ReachGlobal but there will be a banner at the top to let you know.

Praises

· Praise God for the chance to say goodbye to friends in Birmingham. I was so blessed and encouraged by my last few weeks, for all the support & love that I felt and the encouragement I received for this next big step. To say that I miss them is a large understatement.

· Praise God that I have a place to live and have started moving in this week. Check out my new address and phone number at the end of the email. I also finally might have a car here and my car in England has just sold!!

· Praise God for a great time out with ReachGlobal staff at the National Office. I was getting more training in communication for a week in October and it was well worth it!!!

· Praise God for all the donations people have made. There have been about $3,000 in one-time gifts and I feel so blessed and encouraged by this. Thank you cards will be coming once I find them in my boxes :) and a HUGE thank you to those anonymous gifts!

· And praise God for all the ways that He is taking care of me, directing my steps and pointing me to those that are willing to help.

Prayer

· Please keep in prayer all of the moving and transition details that are occurring this month. My boxes should arrive from England today and I’ll soon find out if there are extra charges at customs for X-Rays and random searches. Pray that everything goes smoothly and that there are no surprises.

· Please also pray for some of the details like receiving deposits back and the like. For example the letting agency hasn’t returned my security deposit and overpaid rent. Small matters but they are important and your prayers are appreciated.

· Please also pray for my finances- the $3,000 was a huge encouragement but I still need one-time gifts. Please pray that I would trust in God as my provider.

I know there seems to be a little confusion about how I am still with ReachGlobal and going to seminary so please look forward to my Christmas update. I hope to share more with you then by sharing the bigger picture about my ministry.

And for those of you wondering about the little details and the day to day please remember to check out my blog- http://moregratefulness.blogspot.com I would love your comments.

My New Address:

308 Scenic Drive

Ewing, NJ 08638

USA

My New Phone Number:

609.802.8133 (and for those of you dialing from outside the US just dial 001 then the number)

To Give Donations: https://my.efca.org/NetCommunity/SSLPage.aspx?pid=359&des=Banks-M1001

and to give you can just click on the link above- the link allows donations from any country and in any method.

With Love & Gratitude,

JeriAnn

PS. The first picture is from my leaving party with some of the teens and second one from the New Jersey canal- one of my favourite places to walk!

jeriann banksMM Consulant for Europereachglobal If you would like to begin giving financially pleasesend it into ReachGlobal or click on the belowlink to begin giving today.Donations can be made out and mailed to :EFCA- ReachGlobal901 East 78th StreetMinneapolis, MN 55420Please make sure to include ID # M1001 in the memoline.

Hi All-

As some of you already know my car was stolen this weekend. I had just purchased it two weeks ago so it had just passed inspection and received its tags. I have never had anything stolen in my life so this is definitely a new experience for me :) Ironically I had just written a post about the goodness of God the night before called gold and reading it again a few days later I still believe it to be true.

Please pray with me:
• Pray my car is recovered and with minimum damage!
• Pray that God might somehow receive glory and honour in this as I talk with police, insurance agents and others.
• Praise God for all the people, especially for those that have stepped forward with ways to help.
• Pray that I make the right decision about another car especially since I will still need to pay ReachGlobal back for the money used to purchase the car.
• Unfortunately I chose the wrong type of insurance so I will receive no compensation for the stolen car so please pray that God would protect me and my foolishness and supply exactly what I need!

Another tiny word of praise- I just got off the phone with the shipping company and there was a delivery cancellation for tomorrow so I will finally receive all of my things sometime tomorrow! This is a huge praise as I was getting nervous because I had not heard anything for so long and I am leaving on the 9th to spend the holidays with my brother and his family. God is so good :)

My Christmas letter is in the works so please look out for it in your mailbox and inbox :)

Living by Faith,
JeriAnn