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.
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.
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.
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.
MuddingSanding
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
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.
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!
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 brokeand 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!
These words were spoken by the mother of Jesus just before His miraculous turning of the water into wine. Turn water into wine?! Impossible. Yet, the servants faithfully obeyed and found that with Jesus the impossible became possible. I believe this miracle illustrates our mission trip to Peru.
Setting up IXL the online platformTeaching Prep!Thankful for school supplies!Computer lab complete with new xerox machine
It all started when Scott announced one morning that he felt led to begin an ESL program in Peru. By the end of the day, plans were being made. Unbeknownst to us, Pastor and Mrs. Desent had been praying about starting a school. Scott’s call from half-way across the world, solidified God’s answer for them. School would begin in March 2025, just a few months later.
Scott and I were tasked with finding a self-paced, Bible-based ESL program. We spent months looking for the “right” program with no success. How could we teach and manage a class in Peru while living in the US?! The task seemed impossible. In frustration, we cried to the Lord, and He “turned water into wine”. He provided two programs that are perfect for distance learning. Thanks be to God!
All still seemed impossible until the plane tickets were bought. Within a week of this purchase, plans began to coalesce. Like the water turned into wine, our Lord provided what we needed, when we needed it. Perfect way, perfect provision, perfect timing. Perfect God!
