This trip was my first representing “Save New England” as a bilingual evangelist. I covered over two thousand miles, going to six churches in the Midwest in three weeks.
My first stop was at Grace Baptist Church in Sidney, OH, where Pastor Jim Alter is the pastor. This church has been supporting me for several years, and I was glad to be able to give the church family an update on a Wednesday night. I appreciated being able to stay with Pastor Jim and his wife at his home and the love offering.
From there, I traveled to Lakeside Baptist Church in Backus, MN, where my long-time friend, Greg Stine, is the pastor.
I took part in a missions conference there from Sunday through Wednesday. Sharing our work in New England, I directed the congregational singing, sang special music, and directed a “conference choir”. I was humbled by the kindness, meals, accommodations, and generous love offering received by God’s people there. The response from the church members for faith promise giving for missions support next year was just under $25,000!
My next stop was Berean Baptist Church in Rockford, IL, where Mark Swanson is the pastor. I was there along with five other missionaries. Sunday started with my speaking to the teenagers in the morning. In the evening, Pastor John Wilkerson of First Baptist, Hammond, IN, preached and challenged us from Philippians 4.
Pastor Swanson kept us busy presenting our ministries
and preaching in the evening services. During the week, I spoke in the elementary and junior high/high school chapels. I shared the Save New England ministry and preached on the last night of the conference with one other missionary. The church family was responsive in the evening services. Pastor Swanson was gracious and spoiled us during the conference with a great hotel stay, meals, gift card, and a generous love offering.
After a great missions conference at Berean Baptist in Rockford, IL, I stopped at another one of my supporting churches, Berean Baptist in Beloit, WI. Pastor Kelvin Swanson gave me an opportunity to give an update on the work in New England and preach on Wednesday night. The church family responded well to the message. On the following Saturday morning for breakfast, I joined Pastor Lonnie Stine and a couple of the men at Waupaca, WI from Bethel Community Church to give an update. I appreciated the meals and love offering they gave.
I finished the trip preaching to the Spanish brethren at Cleveland Baptist Church in Brooklyn, OH.
Brother Josue Duarte, the Spanish pastor, and the brethren were a blessing and receptive to the preaching of God’s Word. I had good fellowship and food, enjoying very comfortable accommodations. Pastor Peter Folger and I got to see each other before leaving and prayed with him after receiving a love offering from him. I hope to have another opportunity to be a blessing to the Spanish brethren there in the future.
As a bilingual evangelist with “Save New England,” my ministry is to assist pastors in their calling to mature the saints for the work of the ministry as taught in Ephesians 4. There have been instances in a couple of the churches I was in on this trip where some were unaware of the great need to reach New England. In some cases, they didn’t know where New England was!
The ministry of “Save New England” has as one of its goals to make churches outside New England know, pray for, and help us reach this region of our country.
I am looking forward to doing what I can to help with this goal as well as help churches in our region. New England and the rest of our country need revival among His people, proactive evangelism, and churches planted. If I can be of help to you in any way, don’t hesitate to contact me.