Dear Praying Friends, March 2020
As you know, much has happened since our last letter. Many of you are dealing with the fall out of the coronavirus epidemic. We have also been affected by this.
In February we started to hold weekly, “get acquainted” Bible studies. In our first meeting we had a total of 15. Our meetings have maintained an average of 15 people consistently. We praise the Lord for the many additional contacts who have cycled in and out of these meetings. We have had to cancel these meetings and are moving to online services. Thankfully we have been able to establish relationships with those who had been coming faithfully and we are able to stay in touch with them and continue to encourage them in their walk with the Lord. We hope to restart our Wednesday Bible studies very soon.
We are still planning to begin holding Sunday services on May 3rd. It had been our plan to do a great deal of mass evangelism in the days leading up to our first Sunday. However, with the regulations that have been put in place, we are not able to begin that endeavor at this point. We still have 15,000 John and Romans packets to distribute, and plan to do so. We are not sure at this time when that project will begin. We hope we can proceed soon.
In the last letter we told you about Ryan and Abi Baker, and their plan to assist us in planting Community Baptist Church. They had been in Chile on a survey trip and intended to return in April. However, the State Department, instructed them to make their way home early as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. The story of how the Lord protected them and provided for them to get home is truly amazing and reminded us that even in less than ideal circumstances, God is in control. Please pray for Ryan and Abi as they look for jobs and housing. We know the Lord will provide, please pray for them to have wisdom in the coming days.
These are not the circumstances we foresaw in church planting. However, God certainly knew that all of this would happen and still called us to plant Community Baptist Church. We know that He will build His church. It may not be in the way that I thought, but God is still in control and still working in the city of Lawrence, MA to build His church.
Because of the limited physical interaction we are able to have with the people in our area, we have shifted some of our outreach focus to social media. This has been a fruitful venture. We have already met with several contacts from these efforts. We are excited about the opportunities God has given for us to proclaim the gospel.
We are excited to see how the Lord builds His church. This coronavirus pandemic does not detour God. He knew this would happened and planned for it to happen. I did not. This means, that when He builds Community Baptist Church, it will be even more clear that I deserve absolutely none of the credit.
“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” – Ephesians 3:20-21
My brother! Please know of our prayers for you folks and the church plant in Lawrence. We were hoping and planning to come down on a Saturday toward the end of April, but as you said, at this point, that appears to be on hold. We are eager to see what God will do in and through this there on the MA/NH line.
Your praying friends at State Line Baptist Church, Portsmouth, NH
So Excited to see all that God is going to do , He can and will do more then we can every imagine, all we need to do is trust and obey . Praying for y’all , take care and God bless you and yours 🙌🏼🙏🏼❤️
Good morning Pastor. Thank you for the updates in your prayer letter. Our pastor is also using the social media through Facebook to keep us updated on things and to give us a good message each week. It has been an interesting time but I know the Lord was not surprised. Your children are adorable! Blessings and hugs
With more people being restricted to home at this time, don’t discount sending gospel tracts out by to homes by mail! It is “old school,” but not everyone has internet access or accesses the internet regularly. Tangible materials that can be passed from person to person have a place along with digital resources; plus, these can be easily shared and re-read…especially when folks are “shut in” right now!
New England is a tough area for evangelism and discipleship, but the need is real for the gospel. Prayers for you all and the community.