⛈️ Joy in the Rainy Season – How God Moves in the Storm ⛈️

BNews 615/741 – God Moves in the Storm

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Joy in the Rainy Season – How God Moves in the Storm

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish…
so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it”
(Isaiah 55:10-11).

A village near where Zara’s story begins.

When the Word Meets Adversity

The river sang low this morning as I crossed the dirt path through town. The air smelled of wet earth and cooking fires. Voices floated from open windows—life humming softly, even when the world feels heavy.

My name is Zara. I grew up here, where the jungle presses in on every side and hope doesn’t always come easy. It wasn’t a preacher or revival that changed my heart. It was something smaller. Slower. It was when our friend’s adversity met the Word of God.

It started with a Discovery Bible Study—just a few of us asking questions, listening, and letting the Scriptures speak for themselves.

I wasn’t sure it would work. My nephew didn’t come. But his wife did. And a friend. We didn’t preach. We prayed. And little by little, like rain soaking into dry ground, the Spirit moved.

Now, each week I walk with a few women to nearby villages. Under mango trees and in creaky homes, we host four small Discovery Groups. Two more meet by the Xingu River. And—miraculously—my husband started one too.

One woman wept:

“Since you started coming to my house, everything is changing. My husband found work. My children eat. We have peace.”

We cried together. But it wasn’t us. It was Jesus—walking into homes the same way He once walked on water: quiet, steady, unstoppable.

Adversity can harden hearts or make them tender.
When we show up with nothing but open hands and the Word, the Spirit does what no hardship can stop.

A group of leaders learns how to facilitate Discovery Bible Studies.

The hardest part of learning to facilitate a Discovery Bible Study is resisting the urge to fill the silence—while the Holy Spirit is quietly revealing truth to new learners.

Deanna’s Journey to Health

 

This week, Deanna met with a doctor at the Abbotsford Hospital—clear proof we’re now in the system. She’ll meet with the oncologist next and undergo key tests to determine the treatment path.

We feel God’s guidance and your prayers carrying us through this storm.

👉 Want detailed prayer updates for Deanna?
Email: rick.bergen@xtrememercy.com

All twelve of the Bergen family met to do a

Family check-in: All twelve of us met this week to pray and support each other.

🙏 Prayer Points

  • Deanna – Continued healing and peace.

  • Our Family – Unity and strength in transition.

  • You – Let us know how we can pray for you.

Faith Takes Courage

Some years ago, we were preparing for a baptism in a village near the one you see in the photo. One of the young girls—about 17 years old—wanted to be baptized, but she was hesitant. Embarrassed. Unsure what others might think.

I remember the thought that crossed my mind so clearly: Why be embarrassed? No one even knows you’re out here. These were remote Amazon villages, after all.

But then it struck me. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a tiny riverside village, a townhouse in Abbotsford, or a highway camp in the Yukon—following Jesus is always a walk of faith. It takes courage. It takes trust. It takes believing that God is holding your hand through whatever trial you’re facing.


With love and gratitude,
Rick and Deanna

To Support our Ministry

XMC Canada – Note: Designate Discovery Ministries

Donate in the United States

Donate Through City Life Church – Note: Designate Bergens

🙏 Forward this to someone who needs hope. Remind them: God is already making a way. 🙏 Forward this to someone who needs hope. Remind them: God is already making a way.

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🧭 About Us

Rick Bergen (Ph.D., Organizational Leadership) and Deanna Bergen (M.A.) serve in church planting, leadership mentoring, and cross-cultural mission.

Parents of four daughters, three sons-in-law, and three grandchildren, they believe healthy leaders are lighthouses in the storm.

🌐 Learn more: rickbergen.net

Copyright © 2025 Rick and Deanna, All rights reserved.

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