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Author: Marie Williams, OJIF

  • Northward, Spring ’26

    Northward, Spring ’26

    For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

    Romans 12: 4-5

    As we make our way north ending our 5th season journeying in faith, thoughts have turned to the excellence of the body of Christ. We saw it at Triple S Christian Ranch and again at Missionary Acres as God’s people stepped forward to use their given gifts in service for the greater good. Like ours, some parts of the body may not be as noticeable as others, but all are vital to kingdom purposes. We are reminded that our God is eternal, has a plan, and His provision and timing are perfect. We are grateful to be members of the body of Christ and able to serve the body, as so many others do, for His kingdom purposes!

    Let’s see what the Lord has been doing in these places!

    Triple S Christian Ranch: Rose Bud, AR

    Our arrival at here coincided with preparations to welcome staff and campers for the first summer sessions. What a fun and busy time! We could feel the excitement in the air.

    Fun Camp Preparations
    OJIF’s video updates at Triple S

    While these preparations continued, we were able to help remodel bathrooms in one of the staff homes. Pipes had burst causing water damage on two floors. Scott installed fans, added insulation, hung drywall, put up shiplap, and painted. Others came in to build pocket doors, repair plumbing, and sort electrical issues. Still others came behind us to lay flooring and work on cabinetry. It is wonderful to see how God brings so many with various talents together at just the right time to accomplish such great work in His name!

    Before
    After
    More about Triple S

    Missionary Acres: Silva, MO

    More recently, we were able to mud, tape, sand, and paint most of the basement for one of the missionary residents. Betty taught high school to missionary children in Brazil. Ed served as a missionary carpenter at the Acres before retiring.

    Scott also helped another lifelong missionary. Ken serves as the building maintenance supervisor at the Acres. Together they worked to remodel his bathroom. They moved walls, installed a window, and replaced a shower along with a host of other related tasks.

    For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Romans 12:4-5

    Yet we were just a small part of the body already working in this place. Residents have welcomed a record number of volunteers this last year. It was encouraging to hear that others in the  body of believers donated enough material, machinery, or money to help with the needed upkeep and renovations of such a large village. We see again that “we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” To God be the glory! Great things He has done!

    View OJIF’s video updates!
    More About MA
    Opportunities

  • Childlike Expectation

    Childlike Expectation

    Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: Let them also that hate him flee before him. But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: Yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

    Psalm 68:1, 3

    If you skipped the scripture above, please read it. The powerful imagery of God arising, His enemies being scattered, seems to describe the victories we witnessed on our journey in faith last year. For those who are new to this journey, OJIF had an exceedingly busy year full of challenges, growth, and celebrations. God blessed His people along our journey. We witnessed the lost saved and baptized. Buildings were raised for His glory. Disciples are being equipped with the gospel message. Praise the Lord! It is no wonder then that we were physically weary, but spiritually rejoicing before God, when we arrived at The Homes of Ethnos 360 in December.

    Mulching is our job while here and it provides us with time to spiritually rest.

    We listened to preaching, podcasts and music. We read the books that have been piling up all year, and we observed the excitement of the residents as they shared of incoming staff members to help lighten the load of service. We met interns, both recent additions and new, who daily lend their youthful strength and untiring endurance to the many necessary tasks. And we began to “exceedingly rejoice” before God. Not just because of all we had been reflecting on, but also because of all He is doing in this place as well. The new staff and interns are just one of the blessings.

    We can’t forget the volunteers. When we arrived for the first time 5 years ago, the rv court had glaringly empty spaces. The concern? Some of the faithful volunteers throughout the years were no longer able to travel and/or complete the jobs they once held. Who would answer the call to serve? The volunteers we met that season were retired as well. We were one of the youngest couples on campus, if not the youngest. While we continue to be amazed at what those in their 70’s can do, heavy lifting and the long hours needed here can be hard with physical limitations.

    Volunteers, February 11, 2026

    Watch the Volunteer Appreciation Video!

    Not only has God provided more staff who serve year-round, but He also answered prayer for volunteers to help in the winter months. Most arrive in January and leave by the end of March. We try to arrive in December. There are fewer volunteers then, and we can get better acquainted with the few who do stay over the holidays. This year, the rv court was over half-way full by December 5th! By January, all was overflowing, many for the first or second season. Combined with the influx of fresh staff and interns, tables had to be added, and break times had to be staggered. There weren’t enough seats for everyone all at once. Praise the Lord! What an answer to prayer!

    The Homes is a community for retired tribal missionaries. The staff who care for these amazing missionaries consists of some of those retired missionaries as well as others called to this specific mission field at The Homes of Ethnos 360. It is a community within a community, so Ethnos 360 handles things like the care of and replacement as needed of the concrete roads winding throughout the campus.

    Dwight (left) served 24 years in Indonesia and 13 years in the Philippines as a missionary. He now serves as a retired missionary at The Homes.

    Also housed on campus are assisted living and nursing home facilities. Staff usually assume the roles of grounds maintenance, HVAC, electricians, plumbers, nurses, and food service managers. The ages of these staff members increase as do the demand for their services. The ensuing gap is helped during the winter months by volunteers (also generally retired and aging out). Perhaps you can already see the need for the stamina and strength of younger staff, and God has been providing these needs.

    Our rejoicing continued throughout our time at The Homes. As we sought the Lord’s guidance for the ministry of OJIF this coming year, He answered. The goal has always been to serve AND provide materials when needed. We were left speechless and humbled by the quick response and the way in which God answered. He is truly good—always!

    We leave this place to begin our journey north for the spring and summer months. Once again, we go forward renewed in grace through faith looking to our heavenly Father with childlike expectation for all He will do in and through His people in this coming year! Praise be to God!

    Contact us!

  • Celebrate Christ

    Celebrate Christ

    ,,,with a new church!

    Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

    1 Peter 5:6

    We spent the weeks leading to Thanksgiving with the folks at Freedom Baptist Church (FBC), Rose Bud, AR where they eagerly awaited their first Christmas services in the new church.

    Our arrival coincided with the final additions to the sheet rock in this massive building, so while we waited for this to be finished, our friends Dan and Jenny joined us in gravel and drainage work outside and paint prep inside.

    See the landscaping plan!

    Scott then set to work. He painted the sanctuary, put shiplap on a couple walls, painted trim for all the areas needing it, patched general sheet rock accidents, and started applying a second coat of paint to the sanctuary window trim.

    Check out these videos of the project!

    Meanwhile, Karl Steudl of 2 Pilgrims Ministries drove from WV to help a group from New Testament Church Planters troubleshoot electrical issues and install indoor/outdoor lighting.

    It was a blessing to work with so many to help the folks at FBC meet their goal of celebrating Christmas in their new church home. Please continue in prayer for the completion of the tasks still undone.

    As always, we pray that all who enter the doors at FBC for generations to come would know and become disciples of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    Check Out Other Places We’ve Been

  • Fall, 2025

    Fall, 2025

    The Journey South

    Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

    Philippians 4:4

    Let’s rejoice in the Lord together as we share of His goodness! Summer’s end saw us beginning our journey south for winter. Scribner, NE was our first stop and Missionary Acres, Silva, MO, our second.

    We spent two weeks in Scribner renovating a church built in 1902, an old church with a new name, Gospel Light Baptist Church.

    Our task was to replace the sanctuary subfloor. Scott was able to complete this job all the while battling a bout of influenza b.

    Once again, we experienced the sufficiency of our Lord’s grace, and His strength made perfect in weakness, (2 Corinthians 12:9) and we rejoiced in His goodness.

    Please continue in prayer for this young church, its growth, and the renovations needed moving forward.

    Missionary Acres, Silva, MO, was our next stop on our way south. Last year residents shared several prayer requests. They needed help, both financially and physically. The campus is wonderfully large but too much for the current staff to handle alone.

    Upon our return there, we were excited to see the Lord working in this place! Last fall, Scott applied mud and tape to ceilings in a home under construction for a newly retired missionary couple. We arrived on campus this year expecting to continue where he left off and to supply the materials needed to do so. Yet we were glad to find the supplies already donated and the sheet rock hung, ready for the application of mud and tape. That is what Scott did. He applied tape, mud, and sanded the walls of this 1,700 square foot home. The walls were ready for painting when we left.

    Mudding
    Sanding

    That is not all God had done! Not only had He supplied the funding to buy all needed for readying the walls to paint, but He supplied workers, both staff and volunteers. A young family raised funds for full time missionary service at MA, and the benefit of their service is already clear. Staff also reported an increase in the number of volunteers this year exceeding pre-COVID years! Praise the Lord!

    The Black family, friends who also volunteer around the country, expanded their services to MA as well. They painted rooms that are now ready for housing either church groups or larger families while volunteering. What a mighty God we serve! He is faithful to supply all our need according to His riches in glory! (Philippians 4:19)

    Special thanks to the Black Family!

    Prayers are being answered, and we look forward to what the Lord has planned next year for these retired missionaries. For example, the search for a pastor to lead the campus church is ongoing. Please continue in prayer for this amazing ministry opportunity and for God’s continued provision of help both physically and financially at the Acres. Click here for specific opportunities to serve and pray. MA Needs

     If you would like more information about becoming a resident of Missionary Acres, click here: MA Residency

  • SBC: A Vision Realized

    SBC: A Vision Realized

    But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

    2 Corinthians 10:17

    We were privileged to spend our summer at Sinclair Baptist Church (SBC) in WY. We arrived on site ready for a fast-paced busy schedule. Several mission groups planned to help, all arriving at various times, so we were certainly grateful for 2 Pilgrims Ministries, Inc., acting as general contractors for the breezeway part of the summer tasks. We were also joined by Olathe View Baptist Church (OVBC), Freedom Baptist Church, AR (FBC), and Sink Bros, LLC (KS).

    SBC had two priorities for the summer. One was to build a breezeway that would end the 15-year wait to connect the main church with its Kid City counterpart.

    See how it all started!

    We were grateful that all remained safe as Karl and Scott worked with members of the church to place the heavy rafters on the new breezeway.

    FBC came alongside to dig and place new gas lines for the entryway heaters, hang sheet rock, mud/tape, finish the roof, and install lights. They also finished the intersection. Drop-down tiles were FINALLY installed to complete the old-time look! Praise the LORD!

    See the finished Breezeway!

    Read More

  • SBC: A Vision Ready

    SBC: A Vision Ready

    Although much was completed on the new breezeway during our 8 weeks in Sinclair, Daniel and Ethan, owners of Sink Bros, LLC answered a last-minute request to put in and trim late-arriving windows and doors. Before the brothers arrived, however, an unknown crack in a drainpipe in the new breezeway broke and a torrent of water from an unprecedented amount of rainfall flooded the new addition. The flooding extended inside the intersection and could have caused a great deal of damage. Thankfully, since the doors had not yet been put in, most of the flood waters flowed outside.

    Breezeway Ready for Paint!
    Inside Breezeway ready for paint!
    Breezeway Ready for Stucco!

    “But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord,” and we do! Daniel and Ethan were able to repair the broken pipes, put in and trim the windows and doors, hang ceiling fans, and put shiplap on the ceiling. Leftover shiplap was used for wainscot around the new walls. Wow! Just, wow!

    The other priority was to finish the Kid City renovations, including the restrooms, which started last year. Joe, of Black Brothers Building, led a group from OVBC to install tile flooring. Once this onerous task was done, FBC installed the rest of the toilets, urinals, and partitions. Mirrors were hung, doors installed and trimmed, electrical outlets moved, and a mop sink was plumbed! A wall was also moved, allowing access to the storage room framed last year and blocking access to an old garage. Church members are glad for the updated look, organization, and safety the renovations provide. All looks wonderful and new and ready for a coat of paint!

    See the finished Kid City Area!

    Restrooms Complete!
    Doors installed and trimmed
    Mop Closet Complete!

  • Opportunities to Serve and Pray

    Thank you, each one, for your prayers for this ministry and those we are privileged to work with along our journey. We are blessed to see so many answers, including safe traveling mercies!

    Triple S Christian Ranch, Rose Bud AR Please pray that the lost would be saved and that the saved would grow spiritually this year during camp. Pray also for the staff. Our hope is that all would leave camp renewed and ready to show the love of Christ to the lost in their communities.

    Learn more about…

    Triple S on Facebook
    Website

    Missionary Acres (MA), Silva, MO Thank you for your prayerful support of an amazing ministry providing village homes to retired missionaries, teachers, and pastors. We hear testimony of those who could afford no other place to go, who give thanks always for this beautiful campus and housing. Please be in prayer for continued funding, volunteers, and more staff to help with year-round needs. In fact, MA is looking for another full-time staff couple, who can help with computer needs in the office and with general carpentry skills around the campus.

    Learn more about…

    Missionary Acres
    Volunteering
    Becoming Staff
    Giving