It’s hard to believe that fall is here, but looking back at the last three months, I’m once again humbled and amazed that our fantastic Lord would give me the privilege of serving Him!
It’s been a great and busy summer of ministry! It’s hard to believe that fall is here, but looking back at the last three months, I’m once again humbled and amazed that our fantastic Lord would give me the privilege of serving Him!
The first Sunday in June, I visited with Pastor Ben Potter and the church plant in Burlington, VT. Seeing the Lord building His church in a needy city in New England is always a blessing. Pastor Potter and his family are doing all they can to see the church grow spiritually and reach people for Christ!
Continue to pray for this new church plant and Pastor Ben Potter!
I attended the New England Baptist Fellowship held on June 3rd at Lifeline Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA. It was an encouragement, blessing, and challenge. Pastor Tom Bish was the main speaker. Bro. Bish constantly challenges us to live for Jesus, not only by his preaching but also by his example. Consider the following statement he gave as he was challenging the pastors there. “Be careful to give the right perception of who God is when going through trials.”
Sunday, June 9th, I once again had the opportunity to be at Community Baptist Church in Lawrence, MA. Pastor Nick Stelzig had me fill in for him while he was out of town. It’s always a blessing to preach in English and Spanish to the bilingual brethren there and see what the Lord is doing in the lives of the church family. Pastor Stelzig and his wife have been working on learning Spanish for many months so the church can continue to reach this bilingual city in Massachusetts. Pray for them!
The last week of June, I spoke at the annual South Gardiner Baptist Church men’s retreat, which was held in the Deboullie Public Lands in the North Maine Woods area. It was a very rustic camp setting way up north between two ponds, and the only access to the campsites we used was by boat, canoe, or kayak. Fishing was the main activity, but I, along with a few others, took advantage of the hiking trails there. I spoke five times during the three days we were there. I believe the Lord helped me and the men attending. There were about twenty or so present. There was a good response, and Pastor Keith Hilton, who sponsored the retreat, said many of the men commented that the Lord spoke to them.
July started with preaching at a tent meeting held by one of my supporting churches, Gettysburg Bible Baptist Church in Gettysburg, PA. I was one of the preachers that spoke there that week. During the mornings, I accompanied Pastor Dave Mitchel and a couple of other men, and we went into the downtown area of Gettysburg to get the Gospel out. We covered several streets, hanging invitations to the church and the tent meetings, witnessing to people, and seeing God do the work in hearts. There were several who trusted Christ before the week was over.
After the tent meeting in Gettysburg, I went down to preach at a Spanish church, Grove City Baptist in Knoxville, TN. We enjoyed a great response to the word of God and fellowship with Pastor Selvin Escobar. On Sunday evening, I was able to share the ministry of Save New England, sing, and preach at Bible Baptist Church of East Tennessee. What a blessing to see God’s people respond to His Word there!
I was able to give an update and preach to a supporting church, Liberty Baptist Church, in Pigeon Forge, TN,
on Wednesday night, June 10th. From there, I stopped at Curtis Corner Baptist on the way home, spoke in children’s church, and provided special music. The following week I went back south again to give an update to another supporting church, Freedom Baptist Church in Greenville, SC. I preached in the morning and showed our video. We had fellowship and good food. I was glad to catch up with Pastor Scott L’heureux and see what the Lord has been doing there.
Onmywaynorthona Wednesday night, I had a first- time opportunity to speak to the Spanish brethren at Calvary Baptist Church of Statesville, NC. Also, I was able to present the ministry of Save New England the following Sunday, July 28th, at Grace Baptist Church in Woodstock, VA, after spending a couple of days at the church’s youth camp property that the Lord provided for them in West Virginia. This month, on the first Sunday of August, I filled in for Pastor Tony Barbosa at East Bay Baptist Church in East Providence, RI. I was glad I had one Sunday this month, the 11th, to be home at my home church as Pastor Steve Grubbs, after nine years of faithful service, was returning home to Tennessee, and this Sunday would be his last with us. It was
an emotional service, to say the least, and there’s no doubt that God has used him and his wife to make a difference in many lives here. Pray that God will send the man He has in mind for our church, Gospel Light Baptist, in Vineyard, ME. This last weekend, I gave an update to a supporting church, Calvary Baptist Church in Alford, PA, and drove down Sunday afternoon to speak to the Spanish brethren at Solid Rock Baptist Church in Berlin, NJ. Also, I enjoyed filling in for Pastor Mark Bodanza at Tristate Baptist Church in Chesterfield, NH.
It sure has been a busy summer in the ministry of evangelism, as it should be. Since we believe that the “day is approaching” when the return of Christ will occur, it means that we should be “redeeming the time” for the “night cometh when no man can work”. Let us all be doing “so much the more” to reach people for Christ, churches planted, pastors helped and encouraged! As the hymn says, “We’ll work till Jesus comes and we’ll be gathered home”. If we can be a help to you in anyway, let us know!