Merry Christmas!

I want to start by thanking you all for your faithfulness to pray for and support our ministry over the last year. 

It has been a while since our last update. Ministry has been very busy here. We have had difficult challenges and some exciting opportunities, and God continues to be faithful to build His church here in Lawrence. 

This past week a friend of mine passed away. I met Helen after her great-granddaughter was baptized in the spring of last year. She reached out to her grandson after having watched the baptismal service online. She told Brad that when she was a young girl she attended a Baptist church and that my message reminded her of that time in her life. I had simply preached the gospel, but it was clear that a gospel seed that had been planted over 70 years ago was taking root. 

I have often been in that pastor’s shoes. You minister to folks for a time and for some reason, they leave, and you never see them again. Those are difficult times. At times you can feel like a failure, or that there was something that could’ve been done differently. I have to think that Hellen’s pastor from 70 years ago experienced all of the same emotions that I do when someone that we have ministered to leaves.

After Helen left that church she went on to become Catholic for most of her life. She was 90 years old when I met her and she wanted answers. Brad and I met with Helen regularly over 9 months. About a year ago, Helen called me. She had placed her confidence in Christ for salvation. That seed that was planted over 70 years ago brought fruit. Her first pastor has probably been in heaven for a long time. He probably thought that his ministry to Hellen had no impact, but it is still having an eternal impact today. 

On this past Wednesday, I had the privilege of speaking at Hellen’s funeral. Helen’s family is Catholic, so they had a Catholic funeral but asked me to speak at the graveside. What an awesome contrast it was! They realized that something was different about Helen, and on Wednesday, I had the opportunity to share with them Helen’s confidence in Christ’s finished work. I could tell them with confidence that Helen is with her Savior!  Please continue to pray for Helen’s family’s comfort during this time and pray that the gospel seed that was planted would take root. 

On Christmas morning, my family and a young man who attends our church will be serving breakfast to the Lawrence Police Department. We will get to interact with about 50 officers. Please pray that this opportunity would open doors to further opportunities to minister to our police department. It has been my prayer for some time that the Lord would open the door to be involved in the police chaplaincy. It’s my desire to minister to the officers in our city, but some city officials have politicized the police department, and it has been a struggle to get much traction. We are excited to minister to them in this way, but I am hopeful it will open doors for further ministry to the officers without getting into the politics of things. 

The Lord continues to bring visitors regularly. We have several who are attending who need Christ. Please pray for the Lord to work in their hearts and for us to have wisdom as we minister to them.

Thank you again for your faithful support and prayers. Merry Christmas!