Posted by: Matthew | September 14, 2008

Welcome!

Welcome to our site! Through this blog, we plan to keep you up to date with our family and ministry as we travel on deputation. As you read our posts, we pray that God would burden you to pray for our family. Pray for safety as we travel, that God would continue to open doors to present our ministry, and that God would burden churches to add us to their missionary family! Thank you again for visiting and please come back frequently, we will update our blogs at least once a week!

Scroll Below For Our Latest Updates!!

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Posted by: Matthew | March 8, 2010

“Little” Blessings!

It would be hard to describe how difficult the deputation transition has been for our kids.  If you could imagine, being taken out of your school, moving out of your house, packing your belongings in a big metal box, being away from your home church and friends 90% of the time, schooling in the car, going to a different church every week, and going to church twice as much.  Well, that about sums up what they have been through this past 13 months.

However, they have handled it like champions!  This morning, Crystal and I received a special blessing.  As we were packing the car at Princeville Baptist Church in Illinois, the kids were having church!  In this picture, you see Pastor Kyle Herrell, his pianist Madeline, and his choir director Lauren.  At the time of this photo, the KIDS choir was singing (Tanner & Lauren).  Kyle brought a great message and Madeline did a wonderful job on the piano.  Although this was in fun, it has been such a blessing to watch as they have become our “little” missionaries.  They help set up the display and video, sing, fellowship with kids and adults, and have generally kept a really good spirit.  We thank God for giving us a BIG blessing in these “little” blessings.

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Posted by: Matthew | March 4, 2010

March Newsletter

We are excited to send our March newsletter!  Click on the link to read it!

March PDF Newsletter

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Posted by: Matthew | February 26, 2010

100 and 4th

My dad's two favorite preachers!

When our family pulled into the parking lot at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, NC, we had officially arrived at church number 100.   What at blessing it was to be with Pastor Roberson and the congregation of Gospel Light this past Wednesday.  My father has pastored for 28 years and his favorite preacher has for a long time been Bobby Roberson.  Thus, it was an honor to present our burden for Peru with his church.  We had a wonderful time sharing our ministry as well as hearing Pastor Roberson preach.

On Thursday, we headed to Greenwood, SC for our 4th time.  Before God called us to Peru, I had never been to Greenwood.  Now God has allowed us to share our burden with four different churches there.  We thank God for Eastside Baptist, Augusta Highway Baptist, Calvary Baptist, and Trinity Baptist churches.  Two have already partnered with us while the other two have committed to come along side our ministry in the near future! In last nights service, three of the pastors were there and members of the fourth church were present as well.  What a blessing for churches to dwell together in unity!  This proximity will sure help when furlough rolls around.

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Posted by: Matthew | February 12, 2010

Let It Snow!

Kyle shoveling the Beach Snow!

When we tell people that we are going to visit Crystal’s parents at Virginia Beach, they response is often, “Must be nice!”.  Well, this winter they have not been exempt from the snow.  To the left, is a picture from our visit this month with the in-laws.  Kyle is in their driveway shoveling a path to the car!  The snow has led to two meetings being cancelled this month.  However, it has given us a surprise blessing of a week with each side of our family!

Calvary Baptist in Portsmouth, OH

One meeting that avoided the forecasted blizzard was the Christian Home Crusade at Calvary Baptist Church.  The weather in Portsmouth, OH was calling for several inches of snow for the weekend of the meeting.  The temperature stayed high enough to turn it into several inches of rain!  Pastor Brown and his people prayed a 100 mile radius of rain into the Portsmouth area.  Thank the Lord because the meeting was a great blessing.  Dr. Clarence Sexton spoke on the the home and reaching the children of America.  The meeting was encouraging.  There were seventy preachers at the Friday morning fellowship.  I was able to visit with several supporters, see again several who our family has been with or will be in the near future, and also able to get three new meetings as well.  We ended the weekend with great meetings at both Solida Baptist and then back at Calvary Baptist on Sunday night.  We want to say thanks to the people of Solida.  On Sunday, they brought in $426.50 worth of change for the children’s home fund!  That amount has brought us very close to $25,000!!  This weekend our family will be at Landmark Baptist in Winchester, KY Sunday morning and then begin a Mission Conference at Gunnings Baptist in Blountville, TN Sunday evening.  thanks again for you prayers!

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Posted by: Matthew | February 3, 2010

Just a word of praise!

Our family has had a wonderful week!  We have so many things to praise the Lord for today.  It all began with a blessed weekend.  Despite five inches of snow in Virginia Beach where we were staying and ten inches of snow in Richmond where we were heading, we were able to drive safely through the heart of the storm to get to our meeting.  On Sunday, we had a wonderful time at Calvary Baptist Church in Colonial Heights, VA with Pastor Ray Haskett and the many members who drove through all the snow to get there.  We also had a wonderful time of fellowship with Pastor Haskett, his wife, his staff, and Dr. & Mrs. Jack Reiss at lunch following the service.

Due to a midweek cancellation, we were then able to spend a few “family days” in Williamsburg, VA.  It has been a much-needed time of relaxation and refreshing for all of us!  Monday was a great day for us as well.  I woke up to an email and a voice mail!  The email was to inform us that Harvest Baptist Church (Pastor Jeremy McClain) in Greenville, PA had voted to take us on for support.  The voicemail was from Pastor Randy Ouzts at Trinity Baptist in Greenwood, SC.  After returning the call, we were informed that they too had voted us in for support!  This has brought our support level to 57% in just over one year of deputation!  God is so good!

Now, we look forward to our Thursday mid-week service.  We are heading to Calvary Baptist Church in Portsmouth, OH to take part in their Family Crusade with Dr. Clarence Sexton.  Then on Sunday evening, we will be presenting our ministry at Calvary.  Sunday morning will have our family at Solida Baptist in South Point, OH.  We had a snow service there last winter and the attendance was down so we are going back again.  This weekend the forecast calls for snow again!  Maybe we can dodge it this time?  Thanks to each of you for your prayers and support. God Bless!

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Posted by: Matthew | January 28, 2010

Family Time

Kids and Cousins

For the first time in our deputation, our travels took us near Crystal’s family.  It is so funny how deputation has changed travel for our family.  I can remember in the not so distant past when a trip to see Crystal’s parents would begin by packing the previous night.  We would rise early in the morning and spend the day making this long journey across the state of Virginia.  My how things have changed.  On Wednesday, we got up and spent the day doing school, finishing paperwork, cleaning up the house, and packing the car.  At 3:00, we all loaded into the car and set off on our trip.  Along the way, we stopped at Wayside Baptist in Hillsborough, NC to present our burden and to preach the Word!  We thank God for a great service that night.  After church, we continued on our way and ended up in Virginia Beach that night around 1:30 AM.  As we headed into the in-laws neighborhood, Crystal said, “That was a pretty easy trip today.”  The funny thing is that she was serious!  We are thankful that we have these three days to spend with the family.

This trip will continue in Richmond, VA on Sunday unless the church happens to be buried in a foot of snow as forecasted.  From there, our road trip will go through Georgia, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, and end up in Tennessee.  We look forward to these upcoming meetings and pray that God will use our family to be a blessing.  We also want to thank the Lord for a good month of January.  Our previous meetings have gone extremely well.  We are just so thankful for the many blessings that God has sent our way!

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Posted by: Matthew | January 17, 2010

Year One Done!

What a year!!  Tonight we officially finished our first year of deputation.  It has been one incredible year as we watched God supply, protect, and guide.  We have traveled as far North as Chicago, as far south as Louisiana, as far west as Kansas, and to Peru and back!  We visited 93 different churches in 18 different states. the following is a year one report.  We truly praise God for the mighty things that He has done!

Support Level:  56%

Change Jars Distributed: Nearly 1000

Haven of Hope Donations: Over $23,000

Prayer Partners Gained: Innumerable

We have been so blessed this past year.  Our schedule is really full in the upcoming four months.  Please pray for safety as we travel, increased financial support, and that we may be a blessing to the churches we contact.

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Posted by: Matthew | January 8, 2010

January Prayer Letter

We thank God for his blessings over the past two months.  Click here to see our latest prayer letter:

January 2010 Newsletter

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Posted by: Matthew | January 8, 2010

Changing Lives Update

We are simply amazed at the blessings of God on our “Changing The Lives Of Children” project.  Click here to get the latest update on the project:

Changing Lives Update

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Posted by: Matthew | January 1, 2010

Here We Go Again!

The year 2009 brought many blessings to our family.  We traveled over 35,000 deputation miles without incident.  We were in 89 different churches in 18 different states.  God allowed us to be blessed through these services and allowed us to minister in return.  Through these travels and meetings, God provided mightily.  In just eleven months, God has raised our support level to 55%.  850 people took home jars for the “Changing The Lives Of Children” project and have already sent in an astounding $21,000!  To God be the glory!  Our prayers and focus remain the same. Would you pray along with us that God would allow our family to be in Peru by August of this year?  In order for that to take place, we are praying for increased support from our 2009 meeting and for blessed meetings in the year 2010. The following is our schedule for the next three months.  Please pray for our family as we travel:

January

3rd          Fellowship Baptist (Roanoke, VA)

10th – 13th     Eastside Baptist Mission Conference (Greenwood, SC)

17th          AM Blomingdale-Salem Baptist (Barboursville, WV)

17th          PM  Lighthouse Baptist (Louisville, KY)

24th          Madison Missionary Baptist (Minford, OH)

27th          Wayside Baptist (Hillsboro, NC)

31st          Calvary Baptist (Colonial Heights, VA)

February

3rd          Sandy Creek Baptist (Madison, GA)

5th – 6th     Calvary Baptist Family Conference (Portsmouth, OH)

7th          AM  Solida Baptist (South Point, OH)

7th          PM  Calvary Baptist (Portsmouth, OH)

10th          Calvary Baptist (Lewisburg, WV)

14th          AM  Landmark Baptist (Winchester, KY)

14th (PM) – 17th     Gunnings Baptist Mission Conference (Blountville, TN)

21st          Boone’s Creek Bible Church

24th          Gospel Light Baptist (Walkertown, NC)

25th          Augusta Highway Baptist (Greenwood, SC)

28th          AM  Joy Baptist (Glade Spring, VA)

28th          PM  First Christian Church (Ramseur, NC)

March

3rd          Valley Baptist (Oswego, IL)

4th – 7th (AM)     Danvers Baptist Mission Conference (Danvers, IL)

7th (PM)          Princeville Baptist (Princeville, IL)

10th – 14th     Temple Baptist Mission Conference (Lenoir, NC)

15th – 17th     Boiling Springs Baptist mission Conference (Fletcher, NC)

21st – 24th     Faith Baptist Mission Conference (Fairless Hills, PA)

28th          AM  Porter’s Grove Baptist (Rising Sun, MD)

28th          PM  Kennett Square Baptist (Kennett Square, PA)

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