_{(Taken from our December 16th Letter, sent via email and mail)}

Dear friends and family,

The Millican’s are eager to update you on some very exciting things. We’ve had prayers answered, surprises, goals fulfilled, and guidance given these last few years. We trust this update will be a source of encouragement to you.

As you read, you will also notice that this letter is serving as our first official communication regarding plans for the Czech Republic. As such, we are asking that you respond to this letter via email if you wish. The end of the letter provides more information on how you could respond.

The past 3 ½ years at a glance…

In May of 2019 Jared was hired by our home church (Faith Bible Church) in Spokane, Washington. Jared took the position as Resident College Pastor. 

We were purposeful in taking this position over other options available at the time: 

(1) we wanted to re-establish relationship with Faith Bible Church (our desired ‘sending’ church)…

(2) we wanted to get further experience and training for ministry…

(3) we wanted Jared to get ordained through this church…

(4) we wanted to grow our own family while among our friends and family in Spokane…

(5) we wanted the chance to make plans, confirm convictions, and clarify goals for the Czech Republic…

Well, every one of these goals were met.

Where we are now…

• Upon arriving in Spokane in February of 2020, it didn’t take long to know we were exactly where we should be. In countless ways, this transition has proven to be just what we’ve needed for getting re-invested into the family of Faith Bible Church. Our desire was to be known as well as possible by those in our lives and church, and to grow in our ability to love others. We’ve had the chance to make that happen.
• Jared would say he’s been blessed to learn from the best team of pastors and elders anyone could ask for. From weekly pastors meeting to sermon critique, to counseling issues, to logistics and planning, to planting another church, to regular conversations in the offices, to the joy of shepherding the college ministry – Jared gratefully reflects on all the ways he has grown by God’s grace here at Faith.
• In August of 2022, Jared passed his ordination exam. Nathan Thiry (pastor over missions), Dan Jarms (team lead pastor), Brian Sayers (counseling pastor) and Marcus Denny (missionary in Czech Republic) were on Jared’s ordination panel. And in October of 2022 Jared’s ordination was recognized publicly at Faith Bible Church.
• Our family has grown… and is still growing. When we started planning to come to Spokane in 2019, we thought it might take 5 years to grow our family through adoption. But, when Bennett was about 10 months old, we discovered Claire was pregnant (April of 2020). Now we have Amelia Jo (Millie Jo, MJ, MJ Mills, Mileficent on naughty days, Baby Jo). But God wasn’t done surprising. Claire is now in the second trimester with our third child. This is a gift we do not take for granted. What’s more, God has done this within the amount of time we originally planned to remain in Spokane. We’ve been with Faith Bible Church about 3.5 years, and it looks like the Czech Republic is about 1.5 years away. That makes 5 years…
• In January of 2021 our family of four visited the Denny’s and BSKK in the Czech Republic. We were there for a month. Having done an ‘exploratory trip’ in 2017, we saw this second time as a ‘confirmatory trip.’ Key questions we wanted confirmed were: Is there still a need? Is there still a desire in our hearts? Are we wanted there? Could we love the Czech people and the people we would work with? Do our gifts and abilities match the needs? We came back with every question answered in the affirmative. Additionally, elders here at Faith Bible Church approve that we be sent, we’ve been accepted by Missionary Financial Services as our agency, and the Denny’s are eager to have us in Czech.

What’s ahead…

Our prayer is to be in the Czech Republic sometime between January – June of 2024. Right now, we are in the early stages of preparations. The letter you are reading now is among some of our first steps: Namely, letting as many people as possible know what we are doing. You can expect another letter in January with some more specifics.

The next stage of things will begin in the Spring – applying for our visas. This can take anywhere from 6 months to a year. We also expect that during this stage we will begin visiting various churches in the United States for teaching opportunities, and opportunities to share our plans. We are praying for God to supply all the necessary connections, relationships, and friendships with whichever churches he sees fit.

Meanwhile, life and ministry continue here at Faith Bible Church. Jared will continue pastoring the College Ministry, but will also need to slowly phase out in the next 1 ½ years. This is so we can focus on support raising, establishing partnerships, and planning for our transition. All the while, we desire to maximize the time spent with friends and family while we are still here.

How you can partner with us…

• Pray
  • Please pray we would find a good rhythm and balance as new steps and stages become a regular part of our lives. The frequency and intensity of these steps will inevitably begin to increase. This will be very demanding when added to full-time ministry, a growing family, and other responsibilities.
  • Pray we would continually grow in conviction and eagerness for the Czech Republic. This is one way we’ll keep encouraged and propelled forward in our plans and desires.
  • Pray for a strong transition out of our current role, as we want to hand off this current ministry in as thoughtful, healthy, and helpful a way as possible.
  • Pray for the Denny’s and BSKK (their church). They are doing well, but much help is needed, and the needs are increasing. Pray for the young families there who are seeking discipleship and counseling. Pray for the salvation of newcomers which regularly come and go from their church.
• Give
  • Please prayerfully consider if your family could partner with us financially. There will be many ‘initial costs’ as well as ‘annual long-term costs.’ We are in the middle of determining what these will be in the next month or so.
  • Lord-willing, by the time you receive another letter from us, there should be an avenue through Faith Bible Church’s website to give directly. This is going to be connected to our agency, Missionary Financial Services.
• Encourage
  • Please consider how to build us up with words and truth. It goes without saying, but we want to be transparent: Our decision for the Czech Republic requires much trust and dependence on the Lord, and many sacrifices. That said, the eternal need and eternal fruit are worth it. And we believe the partnership begins now, even before we’re sent off. Through mutual encouragement, would love to be as strongly partnered with you as possible before our departure comes.
  • On the other side of that coin: Let us know how we may pray for you, for your walk and life, and anything else. We want to partner with you just as much as we desire your partnership with us. Your friendship and fellowship are both essential and valuable to us.

We rejoice as we reflect on these past few years. They’ve been covered in God’s kindness and his gracious care. We are also exceedingly thankful for your friendship and love. Only the grace of God can explain how blessed we are by the many incredible relationships we have.

Thank you for reading. We look forward to partnering with you, and we would love a Christmas card from your family as well, if we may be so bold to ask. Not just this year… but like, forever 🙂

Response

Please email us at millicansinczech@gmail.com to let us know a couple things:

• Would you like to be on our list for regular email updates? 
• Are you considering supporting financially? If so, may we follow up with you to discuss this and/or to answer any questions you might have?
• Please let us know if you have any questions we can answer about our plans, about Czech, about needs – anything. Help us help you be an informed partner! 🙂

In any case: please provide name, household family names, best phone number(s) and email(s), home address.