John & Wendy reaume - Nigeria

John and Wendy are missionaries in Nigeria. If you would like to stay connected to the Reaumes, please email them at johnreaume@gmail.com with ‘green-light’ in the subject line to be added to their mailing list for Friday updates, which includes their current prayer requests.

November 18, 2025 Newsletter by Wendy Reaume:

As I arrive home, John leaves for Nigeria. He will be there until the end of the first week of December. It is hard, and weird to let him leave without packing up Christmas gifts for our Nigerian friends, but to be honest, money for food is probably what the people need most this year. Please be praying for John’s safety as he flies and as he spends time in this country in crisis.

Seasons change and every month looks different for us. This coming month of course is advent, and advent is probably my favourite time of the year. All we do in life and ministry is because of a baby born in a manger in Bethlehem: A baby who was prophesied to be born of a woman; the tribe of Judah, the line of David and the family of Jesse. All these prophecies came true (along with between 300-400 more) in the person of Jesus Christ.

The challenge is looking at the truth of the same old story with fresh and new eyes. The challenge is not letting my heart get overly familiar with the telling of the greatest gift ever given. But how do I do that? Just as I get to know Emmaline and Emerson by intentionally spending time with them and through that, recognizing their personalities, so it is with the Christmas story. It is as we spend time in the Word and with the characters in the Christmas story that I don’t just ‘draw assumptions’ but really ‘get to know.’

Mary, the mother of Jesus is definitely a key player in this true drama. According to Jewish law and tradition, girls were usually engaged between 12 and 15 and married at around 15 or 16 years old. Joseph would have been a few years older. How scary for someone so young to find herself in such a situation; to be told that she will be with child and more so, will be the mother of the long-awaited Messiah. When we consider Mary’s spiritual maturity, we see a young teenager whose heart is focused on God and not herself. We see her heart to follow God as Luke 1:26-38 tells us about the angel appearing to Mary: 

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_pae1ZfxWw  Mary Did You Know? By Carrie Underwood

I think she had no idea of what lay ahead.  Mary would quickly run to Elizabeth’s house where it was confirmed that the rest of this proclamation was true.  But upon returning home she would face many who did not believe in this ‘miraculous conception.’  She would be surrounded by friends, neighbours and family who I am sure thought ‘Mary?  She’s the chosen one for the Messiah?  But there is nothing noteworthy about her!’  She would experience for a short time the heart ache of a broken engagement between her and Joseph.  (Matthew 1:18-25) When the time would come for her baby to be born, she would not be surrounded by her mom and aunties, but alone in a foreign city giving birth in, of all things, a stable.

When God calls us favoured, or blesses us, it isn’t always by our definition of favour or blessed.  And yet, knowing the rest of the story, no one would deny that Mary is highly honoured simply because of her role not as a redeemer but as the mother of our Redeemer.  Her role is by no means what some have made it, but she is special.  She is the chosen one of God to carry and birth the Christ child and the angel himself declares her highly honoured. She desired to do whatever God had for her. When I get to know Mary’s obedience despite the questions she had, I am challenged to humbly submit to His will for me. It might be going across the globe into a country in crisis to disciple, teach, lead, love or share the Gospel. It might be staying back to keep the rest of the family running, it may or may not be glamorous at all. But one thing is sure. This advent season I have a fresh opportunity to think about Mary, the mother of Jesus, and how I can follow her example of obedience to God’s call on her life. And I have a fresh opportunity to do so by humbly submitting to His will.

Prayer Requests

Submitted on November 18, 2025 by Wendy Reaume

Prayer and Praise

1.     Praise God for the wonderful week spent with Josh, OG, E and E in NC.

2.     Pray for safety for John as he travels into Nigeria and for good health, safety and blessings on his ministry during the time spent in country.

We waved from plane windows as he took off and I landed!

3.     Pray for our friends, co-workers and students who are really suffering in Nigeria.

4.     Pray for those who are involved in kidnappings and burning of churches; that they might find salvation and trust in Yahweh for a better way.

5.     Pray for a church family facing a cancer diagnosis—that early medical intervention will get all the cells and for wisdom in making decisions.

6.     Unspoken

7.     For ongoing Bible study and discipleship.

8.     For wisdom in some ministry opportunity decisions for the new year with respect to Wendy’s schedule.