Dear Friends and Family,

The summer season has arrived even though it doesn’t always feel like it; I’m still hoping for more sunshine and warmer weather! My schedule has been full with all kinds of ministry related efforts, travel, family, friends, weddings and a host of other things. I would have liked to communicate with you earlier, but I am happy to finally have the opportunity! I hope you are doing well and that you will be able to relax this summer and to enjoy those hopefully sunny days!

Family News:
From January to March, Jake and I were in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to do mission work. We came home in February for a couple of weeks to attend the child dedications of our two grandsons; Jason and Shaun. We were so grateful to have been able to do that and to also celebrate Jake’s birthday with our son Mike, his wife Danielle and the grandkids!

Mexico Mission:
While in Mexico we were busy on a day-to-day basis. Some of the highlights were:
· a concert at the opening celebration of the new Paradise Community Centre (previously Worship in Paradise Church) during the BBQ after the Sunday service.
· weekly visits and English classes at the Casa Hogar Orphanage. These are very encouraging, especially when you see how the kids are learning and changing. It is fun to work, sing and be with them. We have been working with these kids for 7 years already and have grown to love them and miss them every time we leave. I actually think it goes the other way as well!
· participating at the Agape Home (for abused girls) Neighborhood Outreach on Saturdays. It's so exciting to see so many kids attend and their enthusiasm as they learn about Jesus and work towards going to the waterslides. I had the opportunity to encourage one of the talented girls who lives there and had her join me to lead and sing.
· Being part of the community of women from the Paradise Community Center on Wednesday mornings. I had the pleasure of being on a committee to get their first “Tapestry” event off the ground. I spoke about “Friendship” and was also asked to do the special music. We had a great turn out for the event. I also lead worship at one of the Bible Study wrap up sessions. I saw how the women engaged in the spirit of worship; it was wonderful!
· leading worship on Sundays at Paradise Community Centre with a couple of local musicians and the pastor’s wife. The last Sunday of our mission trip I was asked to sing again which was such a pleasure and blessing. I sang a couple of songs from my Beyond Reason CD.

Often in the week when I was busily preparing, Jake would take a drive to the dump to help New Beginnings Ministry build houses for the less fortunate. On other days we would go together to help to prepare lunch, get bags of food ready to give to the poor families and show love and care to the people that live close to the dump. To serve in all these ways has been such a blessing once again!

Challenged and Stretched:
In the last year God has been challenging me in many different ways. I am leading worship a lot more, which I am so excited about. As well, God is stretching me in the area of speaking. I am humbled by how He is using me, even when I feel like I don’t have it all together. My dependence and trust on Him is growing and I know He just wants me to take steps of faith and to move with Him. The best part is that I sense God’s spirit working in people’s lives, as He is drawing them closer to Himself.

One of my biggest struggles is finding time to do both the creative and administrative tasks of the ministry. God has gifted me in both but it sure can be frustrating at times. I find I am often at a crossroad and I need God’s direction. God knows what is best so I look to Him and trust that He will work things out.

On my Birthday, May 13, I was reading one of the devotionals that stands on our kitchen counter it said:
“God, we give ourselves to You. Mold us into what You would have us be.
We are merely vessels shaped by the master. Make us willing to be transformed.
Use us where You need us. In all that we do, let us reflect the mastery of Your hands. Amen.”
The verse quoted was from Isaiah 64:8 (NIV):
“Yet, O Lord, You are our Father, We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of your hand”.
This spoke to me and encouraged me. This is truly what I want for my life. To be all that God wants me to be and to be molded by Him. This is also my longing for you as you reach out and take a hold of God’s promises for you.

Ministry Opportunities:
After returning from Mexico, Jake and I traveled to San Diego where I had the opportunity to minister at a couple of churches, at a Women’s Event and at a Sunday Morning Worship Service. There have also been three other significant ministry opportunities since then that I will highlight for you:
· May 1st - What a great time it was to be apart of the Women’s HeartReach Retreat at the Willingdon Church in Burnaby. This year they moved into a larger area to host all the women who attended. God is doing great things and there’s a hunger. I had the opportunity to minister in music and many women were encouraged.
· May 9th Mother’s Day - I had the opportunity to minister at a church in Vancouver. It was a wonderful morning and I sang a song that was written by a good friend’s brother called “Thank you Mom.” After the service the mom’s and other’s let me know they really enjoyed the song. The reception by those in attendance was wonderful as they shared how they had been blessed. I knew that God was blessing this ministry.
· May 16th - Jake and I travelled to Peachland where I led worship for a Baptism and Celebration service that took place in the park. I had a couple of concert sets for the BBQ afterwards. Prior to the service the pastor and I prayed that people would come and feel welcome; that the Holy Spirit would draw them to that place. It was interesting to hear afterward from several who had come that they had had no plans to attend, but felt they had been drawn there and now had a sense of warmth and had been touched. This was very encouraging to hear and I praise God.

Future Schedule:
Our ministry travels will take us to Manitoba this summer and possibly this fall. In October, I have a Women’s Retreat where I will be doing a concert and speaking. Lord willing, our plans are to travel to Alberta and attend the Gospel Music Conference. I have a number of different ministry opportunities locally as well. Please check my Concert Schedule on my website for more information.

Communication:
A reminder if you haven’t been to my official website recently you may want to check out and bookmark my new Blog http://www.jeannettepetkau.com/blog where I will keep you up to date about ministry and concert happenings. The Blog is also connected to Facebook and Twitter if you have an account with them. You may also want to join and bookmark my new Fan Page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jeannette-Petkau/163363494273?ref=mf, where you will receive concert updates etc. for your area. As well, I have a Guestbook on my website; please take the time to post your thoughts, encouragements and comments. I would love to hear from you!

Artists In Christian Testimony:
I am officially on staff with Arts in Christian Testimony International (A.C.T. Intl.) and Break-Thru Productions is a department of A.C.T. Intl. Because of this opportunity I am now able to start raising support and issue tax receipts for my ministry and our mission trips to Mexico or wherever else God leads me. I have attached my Support Letter and ask you to consider making a donation that will help in several different areas:
· Working with Churches and Women's Ministries;
· Doing Outreach/Concert Events;
· Missions internationally;
· Ministering to the Poor & Disfranchised;
· Leading Worship;
· Speaking etc.

Prayer Requests:
· For God’s guidance and direction;
· For ministry opportunities in 2010-2011;
· For ministry preparation (concerts, speaking, leading worship, songwriting etc.);
· For God to touch lives through this ministry;
· For safety and health in our travels;
· For finances, so that God can continue His work through this ministry.

Your prayers are so important to this ministry; they are like a lifeline to the work that God wants to do.
Thank you for your prayers, support and encouragement.

In His Service,

Jeannette Petkau
singer/songwriter/worship leader/speaker/recording artist


A Staff Minister of Artists in Christian Testimony Intl www.ACTinternational.org
Break-Thru Productions
#220-20391 96th Avenue,Langley, B.C. Canada, V2Y 1L1
Ph# 604-881-1316, E-Mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ,
Website: http://jeannettepetkau.com