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May 2012 Prayer Letter

Posted on May 17, 2012 by in Deputation, Missions, Prayer Letter

Dear Pastors & Praying Friends,

The Lord continues to bless our deputation as we work diligently to get to the United Kingdom.  We have had a fantastic month of meetings, conferences, and retreats. 

We have been blessed by several new supporting churches this month which has now pushed us passed the 50% mark with our support!  It is so humbling to see how God works and provides each month; and we have met some great people along the way.  I am very encouraged to see that there are still churches all across this country that are burdened to get the Gospel to the world.

Last month, we were able to spend a week at Sand Mountain Bible Camp for our missions orientation with Vision Baptist Missions.  It was a great time of encouragement, training and spending time with missionary families.  We are super blessed to have such a great team of families to work with.

In just a few short days, we will take over a dozen people on the “UK Vision Tour”.  We have been preparing for this for over a year now and are very excited to see how God will work.  Please pray for this trip that people would catch a vision of the great need of the Gospel there.  We are asking God to send forth laborers unto His harvest!

Thank you so much for praying with us each month, we honestly could not do what we do without you.  We are very blessed to be partnered with so many of you in carrying out the Great Commission.  It is our desire that through us and through the people of the United Kingdom, the world might know Jesus and the power of His resurrection.

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Deputation TrailMix – Alabama, The War, Mothers Day

Posted on May 15, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Last Wednesday I had the opportunity to preach at Mountain View Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.  Pastor Rouse and the church were extremely kind to us and made us feel very welcome.  I had been looking forward to this meeting especially because I knew that several people that I went to college with were a part of this church.  It was great to get to catch up some with old friends.  It was obvious that this church loves missions and missionaries by the way that we were treated; way better than we could ever deserve.

The next three nights we were at our home church for “The War”.  This is an annual teen event that we have hosted for many years, and in fact is where my wife was saved at 17 years ago.  Over 20 teens trusted Christ as their Savior and many other decisions were made.  It was a tremendous weekend!

Sunday we did something that we rarely do, we were at our home church for Mothers day.  Sherry and the kids enjoyed the rare “day off” just being at our home church, seeing our pastor, friends and family.  We are truly blessed to be sent out of a great church that we miss each week we are gone.

All in all, we had a very busy, but just a great week!

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Deputation TrailMix – SC

Posted on May 9, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Sunday we were at Antioch Baptist Church in Sunset, SC.  Pastor Barry Pace is out of one of our supporting churches in Mile Creek, SC and is doing a great job.  We had a great time with him, his family and the church.  I was able to teach Sunday School and present in the morning service.  Thank you church for your kindness to us and your desire to reach the world with the Gospel.

That afternoon we spent some time with Pastor Roberts in his home learning about missions and the ministry before going over to Concord Baptist Church for the evening service.  We had a great day talking with people about what the Lord is doing in our lives and count it an honor to do so.

 

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Deputation TrailMix – FL, TN, NC

Posted on April 30, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Wednesday we capped off our time in Florida with Riverland Baptist Church.  Pastor Carringer was very gracious for having us in and we had a great time with he and the church.  We share a common burden with this church, as they have a ministry there called Vision UK.  This is a ministry to raise awareness for missions in the UK, needless to say, we were excited to see that!  Peter Wilkinson, the man who heads it up, is from England and lived most of his life there.  He was saved during a trip to Florida, later moving to the states, and now has a great desire to see his home land reached with the Gospel.  I was able to learn from him before the service about many of the needs there from a “nationals” perspective.  

We drove home through the night, having to be in other meetings the following day, and thank the Lord for another safe trip.  From there it was on to Alpine, TN to be in the missions conference at Grace Baptist Church.  Pastor Copeland grew up in this church nearly his entire life, to be trained there for the ministry, and 17 years ago to become the pastor.  That is the way it should be!  We stayed in an awesome cabin in a state park about 15 miles away and really enjoyed our time there with the church.  

Sunday morning we were in Hickory, NC with Tabernacle Baptist Church.  It was great to see Pastor Scott Hooks, he taught both Sherry and I at Crown College.  We also got to spend some time with other college friends.  Pastor Hooks and the church were extremely kind to us and we can not thank them enough for their generosity.  Sunday night we were at Needhams Grove Baptist Church in Seagrove, NC before making our way home finally.  Pastor Cockran is a very encouraging pastor with a real heart for people.  He has a great church and is doing much for missions all around the world.

Today, we leave in just a few minutes for North Georgia to be at our missions orientation with Vision Baptist Missions.  This is a probably my favorite time of the year, getting to spend time with veteran missionaries that can share what God is doing in their lives and teach us how to be better used on the mission field.

We are so thankful for the churches the Lord has allowed us to be in and partner with in the ministry.  We certainly could not do what we do without each one of you.  Thanks so much for keeping up with us, and praying for us!

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Deputation Trail Mix – Florida

Posted on April 25, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Continuing our round of Florida meetings (I can think of worse places to be in April!), we were in Pensacola last week where we presented and I preached at Pensacola Baptist Temple.  This church has been around since 1935 and has been used greatly in the community.  I had the chance to speak with Pastor Anderson about ministry and learned a ton from him.  They put us up in their very nice missions apartment that they have built and were very kind to us.  Pastor Anderson has a heart for missions and just came out of their conference a few weeks before we were there.  I was blown away by they way they are reaching into the far corners of the world with the Gospel.

We left there on Saturday, drove about 600 miles around the pan-handle and south to Port Charlotte.  We were with Lighthouse Baptist Church all day on Sunday.  This is a church started by pastor Phil Sheffield the very year I was born, 1984.  He had a burden to reach this community, and has he ever!  I was able to preach TWO packed out morning services because they simply could not fit everyone in one.  This place was full of first generation Christians that God has allow this ministry to reach.  When I asked him what the key was to planting the church, hoping for a secret recipe to use someday soon, he simply told me: “Learn the culture, be with people, and give them the Word”.

A great blessing of deputation and the time it takes you get to the field is the time we are able to spend with men like this.  I was able to ask detailed questions about church planting from a man that has obviously gotten it done.  I am so thankful for the time these pastors will spend with a young guy like me to give me advice where it is needed.

Tonight we head just a couple hours north for our last meeting in FL for a few months, and will drive home through the night before heading to TN on Friday.  Thank you for praying for us and staying up to date with all God is doing in our lives.

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Deputation Trail Mix

Posted on April 16, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Faith Baptist Church – Jacksonville, FL
Saturday we left out for about another month on the road.  We will be in sunny Florida for the next two weeks before heading up to TN, NC and GA.  Sunday we had a great time at Faith Baptist Church in Jacksonville, FL with pastor Miles.  This is a great church with a heart for reaching their community.  I was blown away by how many young people were an active part of the service; it is obvious they have a love for the Lord and a desire to serve Him.  

I was able to teach Sunday School and share the great need for the Gospel in the UK and speak to many people after the service about what is going on there.  We had a great time at lunch just learning more about the ministry there.  I am always trying to get ideas from pastors about ministry, another great blessing of deputation.

Thank you church for your kindness to us, for having us in, the great place to stay and the very generous love offering.  We are praying for your ministry there and your plans to reach the world with the Gospel.

Victory Baptist Church – Thomasville, GA
We then left out and drove about 3 hours west to Thomasville, GA to Victory Baptist Church.  Pastor Holland started this church from the ground up 25 years ago and has seen God bless and build the church since day one.  It was an honor to preach for him and share our burden, as well as spend some time with some of the members, many who have been here from the beginning.

They have a very nice prophets chamber here that we are able to stay in for a couple of days while we are in the area.  We are thankful for churches like these that take such care of us, although we do not deserve it.  I am always asking for your prayers for us as we travel, as we raise support and laborers, but may I also ask you to pray for these churches that we are in.  I am humbled by the amount of churches around the country that continue to preach the Bible, send missionaries, and reach their communities.  I must realize that without the support of local churches around the country, we could not do what we do.

 

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Newton Baptist Church – Covington, GA

Posted on April 13, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Sunday night we were able to be with our good friends, the Howeth’s at Newton Baptist Church in Covington, GA.  We have known the Howeth’s for some time and they have been an influential part of our lives since we met.  We had a great time talking with people about the need in the UK and enjoyed a meal afterwards.  One thing that I always appreciate about Pastor Howeth is his willingness to help young guys like me.  He gave me some great practical advice on ministry life and missions.  Being able to spend time with people like this is one of the many blessing of deputation.  

Thank you so much church for your kindness to us, your hospitality and the very generous love offering.  We pray the Lord will continue to bless the ministry there and give you much fruit for your labor.
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Calvary Chapel Baptist Church – Minster, OH

Posted on April 13, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Last Wednesday we were at Calvary Chapel Baptist Church in Minister, OH.  Pastor Smith was very gracious to us for having us in and we enjoyed getting to know him, his family and the church.  I had the opportunity to preach and present our burden for church planting in the UK and really enjoyed getting to talk to some young people about missions after the service.  This was the last meeting we had up north as part of our month long road trip, but was a great way to end it.

Thank you church for you kindness to us and your genuine interest in what God has called us to do.  We pray that the Lord will use you greatly to spread the Gospel into your community and all over the world.
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Mansfield Baptist Temple – Mansfield, OH

Posted on April 2, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Sunday we were in a church that has a great testimony not just in their community, but around the country.  Mansfield Baptist Temple has been around for over 60 years and has sent missionaries all around the world.  Our co-laborer, Travis Snode, was saved, baptized and called to preach out of this church.  It was great to spend some time talking with pastor Adkins before and after the service.  It didn’t take long to recognize his love for people and desire to make Jesus known around the world.  It was a real blessing getting to share our testimony of what God has done in our lives and is doing in the UK.

I can’t thank you enough church for your kindness to us, your hospitality and for just making us feel like we were at home.  We pray the Lord will continue to bless you all.

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Chapel of Prayer Baptist Church – Akron, OH

Posted on April 2, 2012 by in Deputation Trail

Wednesday we were in Akron, OH with Pastor Sherman Bailey.  Pastor Bailey  trusted the Lord as Savior less than a mile from the church he now Pastors many years ago.  He has pastored this church for nearly 30 years and has a desire for Akron and the world to know the Lord.  I had the opportunity to present our burden for church planting in the UK as well as preach that evening.

Thank you church for allowing us to come and be a part of your service.  We appreciate your kindness and heart for getting the Gospel around the world.

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