Michael and Dawna Jaffarian are missionaries with WorldVenture, an Evangelical mission organization with about 500 missionaries in fifty-seven countries. The Jaffarians served in India, for six years in Singapore, and for seventeen years on special assignments in Richmond, Virginia, where they worked in global mission research and teaching missionary kids. They are now living and serving God in England.
The Jaffarians’ ministry has to do with helping Christians of all nations know about and pray about the needs of the world. They serve with Operation World, which is a book - a thoroughly-researched, information-packed guide on how to pray for every country in the world. Operation World has been used by God to have a great impact for world mission. More than two million copies have been distributed, in more than ten languages. Dawna’s ministry emphasizes mission resources for children and young people.
“Let everyone in the world fear the Lord,
and let everyone stand in awe of him.
For when he spoke, the world began!
It appeared at his command.” Psalm 33:8, NLT
The Wired Warriors are a group of praying Christians with whom the Jaffarians communicate on a regular basis by e-mail. It has nothing to do with drinking too much coffee.
Michael’s father died on February 2nd, at the age of 80, in New Zealand where he had been living for many years. His wife, Natalie, was by his side at the end. Though he had other health issues, he died of a heart attack. It was unexpected, but, in God’s mercy, without suffering.
So this is a time of sorrow and of remembering. Michael’s dad lived an unusual life. A bit about him is below, as well as details about the memorial service. If you would like a copy of the longer eulogy, email and ask.
We (Michael and Dawna) will be flying to Southern California for the memorial service on March 5th. Our son, Calvin, will fly in from Chicago; our daughter, Jasmine, and her husband, Jim, will fly in from Texas; so this will be one of those rare occasions when our family of five is together. All of dad’s six surviving children will also be there, along with many other relatives and friends. It will be an emotional time. We will share the joy of being together, and the sorrow of saying good-bye (for now).
Thank you for praying for us in this time of grief. There will be many at the service who don’t know Christ. Pray this will be a witness to them of the goodness of Jesus and the grace of God.
On other matters you have been praying for:
1. Dawna’s ankle is healing well, thank the Lord. Her cast is off! She’s walking on two feet again! She is back to work at the Operation World office and back into normal life. At the end of the day her ankle is often swollen and painful. Pray for continued healing.
2. The mission event Michael spoke at in Derby, England, went very well. Pray for all who attended, and for God’s continued work in their hearts and lives, for world mission. Pray also that the Lord will raise up many more of these kind of inter-church, multi-mission events to stimulate prayer, understanding, and action for the gospel around the world.
3. Pray for the on-going work on the Children’s Prayer Atlas. The big book of Operation World guides intercessors to pray for every country in the world. The children’s edition is more selective. Pray with us as we are right now discussing which specific countries and people groups to include. Pray the Lord will lead us to include those countries and groups He would be most pleased for children to be praying for.
4. A certain family has been faithful supporters of our ministry for many years. We thank the Lord for them. A recent job change means they can’t continue. Please pray the Lord will raise up someone else to fill this new gap in our support - of $40 per month. If the Lord leads you to be the answer to this prayer, please contact us or WorldVenture.
Edwin Paul "Jeff" Jaffarian lived a full and fascinating life.
He made his home in Bangor, Maine; Seattle, Washington; Aurora, Illinois; Eugene, Oregon; Pacific Palisades and Escondido, California; Lake Ozette, Washington; Waitaanga and Opotiki, New Zealand; and, in the last two years, the Pacific Island of Niue. He was an adventuresome traveler, building friendships and taking photographs in famous and obscure places all over the globe. Jeff was a pastor's son, a paratrooper in World War II, an athlete, a corporation man, a businessman, an entrepreneur, an artist, and, in his own words, "successfully unemployed for 18 years" in the middle of his life.
He married four times and fathered nine children, seven of whom lived to adulthood. In his life he made and lost fortunes, took many pictures, smoked many cigars and gazed in contemplation on the truth and beauty of nature.
He read the Bible all his life; he strayed from God, but then returned for good. In the end he found lasting love in his beloved wife Natalie, and in his many children and grandchildren, and eternal faith in Jesus Christ. In his final years he set an example for us in his heroic battle against cancer, and in the triumph of a live lived well while old. We all feel blessed to have known him; we all smile when we think of him; and we all have our own favorite, bodacious 'Jeff' stories to share. He will be missed.
All family and friends are invited to
A Memorial Service for E.P. “Jeff” Jaffarian
Saturday, March 5th, 2:00 pm
at Camp Maranatha (Mount Eagle Building) - 54162 Maranatha Dr., Idyllwild, CA 92549.
Directions are available at www.campmaranatharetreat.com.
This will be a time to honor and remember our dad, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend – a time to reflect on his remarkable life, encourage and comfort each other, and pray.
An informal reception will follow, to which all are invited.
We are compiling a notebook of tributes to our dad. There will be a book you can sign if you come. But we also encourage you to prepare beforehand and bring your personal tribute to Dad on a sheet of paper, 8.5 x 11 inches, one or both sides. On it, please say a bit about who you are, your relationship with Dad, maybe something of what he has meant to you, or maybe a favorite story. We encourage art – photos, drawings, poems, quotes, verses, whatever. Be creative.
If you cannot attend the service but would like to add your tribute, please mail it to Paula Shirley (P.O. Box 813, Idyllwild, CA, 92549, USA) or scan it and email it to Michael Jaffarian (michael@operationworld.org).
Listen to Last Week's Sermon -
A Runaway's Story: The Book of Jonah 5-13-2012 - Part 4 - How God Changes Hearts - Jonah 4 - Pastor Phil Carlson
VBS IS COMING!!!
When: Monday, June 25 - Friday, June 29
9 am - noon
Where: Bethany Church
Cost: FREE!!
Open to all Kindergarten grads through 5th Grade grads.
Pre-Elementary open to Bethany School & Bethany Church children. Limited additional spaces for Pre-Elementary children available for kids with an Elementary sibling attending VBS.
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Michael and Dawna Jaffarian are missionaries with WorldVenture, an Evangelical mission organization with about 500 missionaries in fifty-seven countries. The Jaffarians served in India, for six years in Singapore, and for seventeen years on special assignments in Richmond, Virginia, where they worked in global mission research and teaching missionary kids. They are now living and serving God in England. 
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