O’Byrne, Sean & Vera

Sean and Vera are presently full-time workers at Hillside Bible Chapel in Orillia, Ontario where they are serving in preaching, pastoral care and outreach. They continue itinerant preaching, conference and camp engagements. Sean and Vera maintain close ties to former countries of mission work and visit periodically to minister the word and lead teams.
Sean was saved in Northern Ontario at 19 as a dropout and arriving from Vancouver where he was living on the streets. Vera was saved and then, while attending Bible college (1985 Kawartha Lakes Bible College, Peterborough, ON), was called to be a missionary. Sean went to the same Bible college the year after and then became a nurse briefly. Their mutual burden for missions helped bring them together and they were commended in 1995 by Matheson Gospel Chapel and Grace Bible Chapel, both in Northern Ontario. Sean and Vera have been missionaries in Central America and full-time workers in Ontario since then. In Guatemala (1995-2001) and Belize (2016 – 2019), they also visit the assemblies in Cuba annually and other countries like Ireland and most recently Spain.

Sean and Vera have two grown children who are married and love the Lord. The grandchildren count is at two, with another due in November! Sean loves reading, fishing, hockey, but mostly reading. Vera loves her grandchildren, gratitude journaling and riding her bike.

Commending Church

Matheson Gospel Chapel, and Grace Bible Chapel, Timmins, On

Country

Canada

Province From

Ontario

PRAYER ITEMS

25

Aug 2022

Young leaders

We relaunched the youth group recently. They have been enthusiastic about getting together again. It is encouraging to see some of the older ones get involved in helping. Please pray…

21

Jul 2022

A good number of children

VBS season is in full swing. A missionary couple from the States is visiting for a month of outreach and camp ministry. Over 100 have attended and a good number…

23

Jun 2022

Please pray for helpers

We are preparing for VBS next week. Sean is teaching and Vera will be helping with crafts and games. The children are very excited as there haven’t been any programs…

24

Mar 2022

Especially encouraging

Our Men of Grace Bible study, now country-wide on Zoom, has really grown. Recently they have been studying a course on Christian Living and digging into the Word for their discussions online…

3

Mar 2022

Rural evangelistic Kids’ Club

Vera requests prayer for a rural evangelistic Kids’ Club she started last Saturday with the help of a young lady from the church. Pray that we may be able to…

27

Jan 2022

Some spiritual priorities

It has been encouraging to share the ministry of the Word with two other gifted men who are getting more involved. Sean met with the Grace Chapel elders over Zoom…

16

Dec 2021

Hungry physically and spiritually

Vera was busy helping the saints at Grace Chapel with the annual Thanksgiving turkey dinner outreach. Over 500 meals were distributed throughout Belize City along with a piece of gospel…

18

Nov 2021

Small signs of post-pandemic life

The local churches are meeting in person again. This is encouraging, especially for those who have been unable to meet virtually. One uplifting note is that on Sunday one of…

7

Oct 2021

Into the waters of baptism

In September, we witnessed the special joy given to those who follow Jesus into the waters of baptism. Four believers from two assemblies were baptized, including two of our youth…

11

Jun 2020

Belize, El Salvador and Guatemala

Pray for Belize. Although coronavirus free, the country remains cut off from its economic lifeline, namely tourism. Let us pray for the region as well; on top of COVID-19, El…

27

Feb 2020

Small signs of growth

The young guys’ attendance on Sundays is sparse, but they do enjoy each Saturdays’ ‘Breakfast, Bible & Basketball’. We see small signs of growth in some, for which we praise…

20

Feb 2020

Counselors for Summer Camps in Belize

Counselors, especially male, are needed for summer Bible camp in Belize. Junior and senior camps are conducted under the leadership of the assemblies of Belize. The dates for 2020 are:…

5

Dec 2019

Unprecedented access

The latest eTeam group visited the prison. We praise the Lord for unprecedented access to some 1140 souls, including the female section for the first time. Pray for five who…

31

Oct 2019

Blueprint

We launched our third year of youth meetings in Belize City. This year our theme is BLUEPRINT from Jeremiah 29:11. There are new youth coming and some older ones helping.…

19

Sep 2019

Open door

There is an open door for the Gospel in the schools. Sean soon begins visiting two schools to give short talks at general student assembly. Please pray for salvation and…

22

Aug 2019

Follow-up work

Despite a few setbacks and extreme heat, we had full attendance at the VBS in Belize City. It was very encouraging to have a better than average attendance at Youth…

4

Jul 2019

Harsh lives

It’s hard to communicate how harsh it is here for some of the people we work with. Most of the young men have no fathers in their lives and little…

28

Mar 2019

Sideswiped by a truck

Vera was sideswiped by a dump truck that veered into her lane and damaged the whole side of the vehicle. Vera and two children aboard were not hurt. We thank…

31

Jan 2019

A kids’ club

I (Vera) have started a kids’ club. I was introduced to a lady and her nine children. They are very poor. It’s such a joy to minister the Gospel to…

8

Nov 2018

‘Against the Flow’

Year 2 of ‘Overflow’ youth ministry is off to a great start. There are over 30 kids attending on a consistent basis. The Lord gave me the theme ‘Against the…

18

Oct 2018

Beaming

In the last month there have been several professions of faith at Berea assembly. One lady is ‘on fire for the Lord’. Pray for her. She attends prayer meeting with…

23

Aug 2018

A full follow‑up strategy

We just returned from camp. After the last message, a number made professions of faith and some of the youth rededicated their lives to the Lord. We saw clear evidence…

15

Aug 2018

Genesis

At Western Paradise chapel we have begun a series on Genesis. Pray for a couple whose children are Overflow youth. They have been coming out regularly and they have brought…

21

Jun 2018

Overflow

The first year of the ‘Overflow’ youth group ministry will conclude in the next few weeks. We hope to have a special picnic to mark the end of a great…

19

Apr 2018

Successful surgery

Vera has come through her kidney removal operation, which was a success. The surgeon explained that it was a challenge to cut out a shrunken, scarred and sick kidney that…

15

Feb 2018

Hijacked

The new little assembly here purchased a used van in the US for the ministry. The van left Houston as part of a group of vehicles. A few hours into…

11

Jan 2018

Encouraged

A family moved to the area and joined us at Western Paradise Bible Chapel. They remember the Lord with us and their girls joined the Overflow youth group. A couple…

23

Nov 2017

The latest eTeam

The latest eTeam to Belize just concluded. It was our first eTeam to visit the Belize prison and share on the radio. The entire village of Western Paradise was visited…

18

Oct 2017

‘Overflow’

We’ve been very encouraged by the new youth group. ‘Overflow’ launched in September and there are now between 20 and 25 young people coming out, with a few new ones…

6

Sep 2017

Starting to understand the Gospel

After our return from furlough, a young boy accepted the Lord! The boy, about 11 years old, approached Vera and said, ‘I am really bad and I want to be…

17

May 2017

Detention center

Sean visited a youth detention center down the road. We are going to see about visiting the youth on a regular basis. Pray for these troubled teens, that we will…

12

Apr 2017

Western Paradise Bible Chapel

We have been helping to get the little outreach at Western Paradise Bible Chapel formed into an assembly. Four or five of us break bread every Lord’s Day. Vera has…

22

Mar 2017

eTeams

The 3rd eTeam to Belize was a great blessing. eTeams (www.eteams.ca) is a ministry of MSC Canada. Using a paint board, tracts, testimonies and some gospel illusions, the team visits…