Saturday, January 28, 2012

New Year

Ministry Update

The Lord has allowed us to settle in here in Mississippi and has given us ministry opportunities. For the first time in several years, we were in a meeting with Evangelist Dwight Smith right here in Southaven. We alternated preaching with him one night and me the next night. He had to leave the meeting after the Thursday night service because of a long drive before his next meeting, so I ended up closing the meeting.

The Lord blessed the effort. We alternated working with the choir each night and leading the music. I had never been in a meeting like that in which two evangelists shared the preaching responsibilities. There were two that trusted Christ as Savior and God's people made numerous other decisions.

In addition to the revival meeting we had at our home church, the Lord is also opening doors of ministry in other area churches. Several area pastors are looking to start a fellowship meeting again in the Memphis area, allowing me to get to know many excellent men. In addition, I have been doing pulpit supply for the Calvary Baptist Church of Coldwater, MS, as they seek the Lord's will for a pastor.

The fact that we have been home for a few weeks makes it possible for us to be involved in something that normally does not happen much in our ministry due to our constant traveling. The Lord has allowed us to see fruit through our participation in our normal local church visitation program. Clay and Kristin were saved but had been out of church for a while when Sarah and I knocked on their door on a Saturday morning. They are now coming to our church and getting plugged in, along with their two children.

Chris and Tiffany are another couple that Sarah and I contacted through door-to-door visitation. Tiffany gave a good testimony of salvation, but admitted that they, too, were out of church. Chris was not home because he was on a hunting trip. A subsequent visit enabled me to talk to Chris about his soul. Pray for him. His testimony leaves some grave concerns in our minds. If only he can get under the preaching of the Word of God, the Holy Spirit will do His work of conviction and bring him to salvation.

The warmer winter of Mississippi means that some germ-caused diseases are rampant. Our children have been sick a couple of times so far this winter. Nothing serious, but their illness does inconvenience us a little bit. If we could just have a good, hard freeze, some of these germs would be killed off. That is all in the Lord's hands, though, and I cannot begin to complain about the mild winter we are currently having.

If you haven't checked out our latest family picture on our website, you may want to do so. Thanks so much for your prayers and support.