As far as a progress update, we again stand in awe of the incredible hand of God!  When you read these figures, it is so obvious that only God could do what has been done.  As of today, there is $26,123.00 in the children’s home account.  Praise the Lord!  Last week we also had two large donations promised for the month of March.  We appreciate so much Pastor Bobby Roberson and The Gospel Light Christian School for choosing our children’s home for their Mission’s Month Project during the month of March.  They are praying that God will allow them to surpass their goal of $5,000.  Would you please pray along with us that God will greatly bless their efforts this month.  This donation along with the other commitment that we received will bring the fund to nearly $35,000 by months end!  We simply want to thank the Lord and each of you as well who are praying for and participating in this project!  May God richly bless you in return.

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.

March PDF Newsletter

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.

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!

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!

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!

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.

January 2010 Newsletter

Changing Lives Update