Last night we had visitors to youth group! As you know, this summer we are focusing our youth group around missions. At youth group we had Mike and Tracy Burr come and share about their vision for ministry and future plans in the mission field. We want to thank them for an awesome presentation and to lift them up in prayer. Please continue to pray for Mike and Tracy.
Below is more information about their endeavors:
Mike and Tracy’s Story
Tracy was born and raised in Wisconsin. Mike was born and raised in Connecticut. They met in Denver, Colorado and became good friends and then started dating a few months later. They relocated to Tracy’s hometown of Superior, WI where they were married on October 18, 1986. They moved to Mike’s hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut in 1988 and that is where their son, Glenn, was born in May, 1989. Another long distance move in 1994, brought them back to Superior, WI, on the shores of Lake Superior, where they currently reside. Their son lives a short distance across the border in Minnesota.
They are actively involved in their local church as youth group leaders for Club 56 (youth group for 5th and 6th graders), as well as an outreach ministry at a local senior housing complex where Mike alternates in giving the weekly message.
In 2013, Tracy had an opportunity to go on a business trip for her job to Manila, Philippines to train a class of new hires. Mike was able to go with her and didn’t want to go as a typical tourist, but wanted to serve the Lord while he was there. He connected with ACTION missionary Jeff Anderson, who he spent his days with during the 3 weeks they were there traveling, learning, and serving with other ACTION missionaries and staff members. This trip was the tool that God used to confirm their calling to long term cross-cultural missions.
In September 2013, they attended candidate orientation in Seattle, Washington and were accepted to join in ministry with Action International Ministries. They made plans to go back to Manila on what they called their “vision trip” in February 2014. While they were there, they traveled throughout the Metro Manila area learning all they could about the various ministries and missionaries serving with ACTION in the Philippines. As a result of that trip, their hearts were telling them to work with and minister to the street kids in Metro Manila alongside the Street Impact Team (SI Team).
Mike and Tracy are now in their time of deputation as they raise support to move to the Philippines for their 4 year (minimum) commitment to serve the Lord as ACTION missionaries. Tracy is currently employed with a national health care company in Minnesota and Mike is self-employed as a sports official. Mike is also currently enrolled in his final two classes with Moody Bible Institute as part of their Bible certificate program and will be part of the May 2015 graduating class. Their desire is to be on the field in August 2015 but realize that they have to be patient and wait for God’s perfect timing in leaving their jobs and moving to Manila.
They are excited about language acquisition. Many of the street children in Metro Manila do not know English, so learning the native tongue will be a priority. Tagalog is the Filipino national language and is a must with working on the Street Impact Team (SI Team) and serving children and families in crisis. They are excited to see how God will use them in the future.
If you would like to receive their quarterly newsletter and monthly email updates please email them at mike.tracy.burr@actionintl.org.
Please pray and see how God might use you to be a part of their team to minister and share the Gospel message to street kids in Metro Manila by joining their prayer team, providing financial support, or both. They would be encouraged to share their hearts with you for serving the poor and how God is working in their lives.
