The last couple of months have been filled with activity for us and our church family. From June 28 – July 5 we had the See the Harvest missions team with us for a week of non-stop ministry. Each night Wednesday thru Friday we had special services with bi-lingual preachers. It was such a blessing for our increasingly Hispanic church to hear preaching in Spanish. Duey Whitfield, a Spanish-speaking pastor in Texas, and Raul Pinto, a bilingual evangelist were both such a help and encouragement to our church.
Through out the week, the team distributed materials advertising evangelistic children’s events at our local park on Friday and Saturday. Between Friday and Saturday we had about 30 children most of which do not attend our church. All of the children and their parents heard clear gospel presentations. We even had some of them visit our special services in the evenings and on Sunday.
In all the missions team was able to distribute about 3,800 pieces of gospel literature in the neighborhood around the park and at two local fireworks displays. We are so thankful and the church was so encouraged by the work that was done by the See the Harvest team.
In July, I had the privilege to speak for a week of teen camp at Camp Northfield in Northfield, MA. I was able to take Lindsey and the kids along and we all had a blast! We praise the Lord for a great week and for the two souls that were saved during the week and the many decisions that were made.
Now for an update on the purchase of the building. Praise the Lord on August 9 we closed on the church building. This is such a monumental answer to prayer and a result of your faithfulness to give toward this need.
In the past I have mentioned the need to have the roof of the church building replaced in the next year or two. We also would like to replace the siding as it is showing signs of wear. I was dumb-founded by the estimates that we received to have this work done. We would need about $90,000 to get both of these things done. We have made this a matter of prayer that the Lord would provide for the roof and siding to be replaced or supernaturally extend the life of both.
God always provides! I received an email this morning that we have been approved for a grant of $60,000 from the Jehovah Jireh Foundation. This means that we can get the roof replaced! We are still praying for the remaining $30,000 for the siding but are confident that the Lord will provide for that need too.
As I mentioned above, our church is becoming more and more Hispanic. The Lord has given us two men who are able to help translate our services into Spanish and all congregational singing is bilingual. It is an awesome thing to hear God’s people singing His praises in two languages at once. Ministering to Spanish speakers has been a huge blessing, but Lindsey and I have been severely limited in this as neither of us speaks much Spanish.
Starting in August, Lindsey and I will begin studying Spanish via Zoom with a Peruvian pastor. This will be an intensive course that will include 1 hour lessons 5 days per week and homework. Our life is already very busy but Lindsey and I both see the need for us to learn Spanish to minister to the people here in Lawrence. Would you please pray for us as we balance a busy life and ministry while also learning Spanish? Please pray for the kids to cooperate as Lindsey and I will be taking classes together at home while the kids are awake. The plan is that while we are in class, the kids will be occupied studying Spanish with an age-appropriate program that we found and watching some Spanish cartoons as well.
This is going to be a huge undertaking but we are confident that the Lord will give grace and wisdom as we seek to equip ourselves for the ministry to which He has called us.
On August 7 I had the privilege of baptizing our son, Gabe. Another man who was recently saved in our church was also baptized. James and Gabe both invited visitors to their baptism. We had 6 first time visitors including our next-door neighbor. They all heard a clear presentation of the gospel. Please pray for the seed that was sown to result in the salvation of those visitors.
Thank you, again, for your consistent prayers and support!
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