Weekly Update

For the Lord is good and His mercy endureth forever. I am so thankful I get to serve Christ. This week has been a very busy week, but also such a blessed week.

Bro. Larry Brown from Washington, IA preached Monday and Tuesday nights at my home church. Each and every time he comes I am convicted with truths he brings from God’s Word. Wednesday was a very exciting day. I was able to book 4 meetings! So far, this is the most meetings I have booked in a single day. 3 of those meetings are for next year, and one for this November. I am so excited to begin to see next year’s calendar start to fill. Wednesday night began the Missions Revival at New Life Baptist Church in Dalton, GA. What an incredible blessing this church has been to me this week! Today, I went shopping with a couple of the ladies from the church. It was great just to spend time with the ladies and other missionary wives. The services each night have touched my heart in a different way. I am constantly amazed at how God pricks every person’s heart with something different, even though we all heard the same message.

Things are really taking shape for my trip up to Ohio in October. This past week, a pastor called to ask me to be a part of their mission conference. I was a little worried that it would be the same dates as another mission conference I had already scheduled, or perhaps it could be a couple weeks after we were going to leave. Praise the Lord it will cover some open dates in the middle that I needed to fill!

Prayer Requests:

• Christian "Volunteers" in Morocco: this past weekend, a new minister of justice took power in Morocco and deported many Christian “volunteers”. One orphanage’s workers were all taken, leaving 33 children to go to other state run facilities. You can read the full article from the Christian Post here.
• Muslim Majority Country of the Week: Egypt. Population: approximately 79 million. Percentage Muslim: 90%.
• Safety Traveling: this week we will be heading up to Indiana.

Christians Expelled, Forced to Abandon 33 Foster Kids in Morocco

The following was taken from The Christian Post.

Christian volunteers and foster parents at a Moroccan orphanage were forced to abandon dozens of children on Monday after they were accused of proselytizing.

"Watching the children be told by their parents that they had to leave, that they would maybe never see them again, is the most painful thing I have ever witnessed," said Chris Broadbent of VoH.Moroccan authorities raided Village of Hope and said they were expelling the 20 workers and parents. The 33 children who were being cared for cried out "hysterically" for their foster parents as they were left behind.

Village of Hope registered with the Moroccan government in 2002 as an official Christian organization and received permission to talk about Christianity to the children in their care, according to Broadbent.

The North African country is a predominantly Muslim country where Christians make up only 1.1 percent of the population. The government restricts non-Islamic religious materials and proselytizing and monitors the activities of non-Muslim religious groups.

Also, it is only legal for Muslims to adopt children. Volunteers at Village of Hope were thus acting as foster parents, though the children considered them to be their parents, Broadbent noted.

For nearly ten years, VoH volunteers had been open about their faith to the authorities and were allowed to take in and foster abandoned children, who would otherwise be killed or placed in state-run "mega-orphanages," the organization stated. Despite that, authorities accused them of trying to convert the children to Christianity and forced the foster parents to board a bus heading to the airport to leave the country.

click here to read the entire article

Putting Prayer First

This week was a fairly typical week. Made lots of phone calls, dropped into a few churches. As I tried to turn on my computer this morning to get started making my calls for the day, nothing happened. That is a scary feeling. I can’t work without having my computer. All the churches I call to try to get meetings are on my computer. I have a special program just for that. Since my computer crash back in November, I have been much more careful about backing up my data, so I wasn’t worried about the data. Nonetheless, I have to have a computer to access the data. Of course my mind swirls to the worst case scenario. If I take my computer somewhere to get fixed, it may take several days - days I would not be able to work. My mind swirls deeper into the “more worst” case scenario:  What if my computer officially died and there is no reviving it? I was hoping to make this computer last at least another year (if not three). Then a thought hits me – pray about it.

It’s amazing how my mind swirls to worst case scenarios and how I will fix it and I will make it work. Well, it’s not about me. My first response is “what can I do to remedy this?” My first response should be “pray about it.” Prayer puts things first and foremost in God’s hands, not mine. Prayer shows where my trust is: in Him. Prayer helps to alleviate the worry that creeps in and soothes the frantic worst case scenario thoughts. Prayer also reminds me where my sustenance comes from. It’s amazing how something like a computer not turning on can remind you of a lesson you didn’t quite learn fully in the past, or perhaps never put into practice.

After I prayed, then called tech support, my computer did turn on and function normally. Praise the Lord! He answered that prayer quickly!

Prayer Requests:

• Scheduling more meetings
• Safety traveling
• Muslim Majority Country of the Week: Nigeria. Population: 149 Million. 50% Muslim.

And as a side note, I am starting this month to put in my budget savings for that computer for when mine finally does die. If you’ve never heard of Dave Ramsey, I would highly recommend his book, The Total Money Makeover. 

Weekly Update

What a great week! God has blessed in so many ways. First, I had 2 meetings this past week: one at Ridgeway Baptist Church in Commerce, GA, and also a mission conference at Rest Haven Baptist Church in Buford, GA. The mission conference theme was “Investing in Eternity.” This conference really challenged me about my own giving to missions. I give, but I need to be more in prayer about what God would have me to give by faith and not what I necessarily think I can afford. Each and every dollar I invest here on earth will someday pass away, but those I invest in missions will last through eternity. I am so thankful that I have something greater than this world to invest in.

In January, I was able to drop into Murrayville Baptist Church in Murrayville, GA. The pastor allowed me to give a quick testimony during the service. Afterwards, a lady came to me and asked if I could speak to their ladies meeting this month. Wow! I was so excited.  I have been asked to teach Sunday School before, but never asked to speak at a ladies meeting. Well, last night was the night of the ladies meeting. I was so nervous, I flew through the lesson – it went much faster than I anticipated. I guess it is always better to be a little shorter than a little longer. Afterwards they even gave me a love offering! I did not expect that at all, and I am very thankful. God provided what I needed. It is so easy for me to begin to worry about money, but each and every time God provides. I have nothing to worry about.

Prayer Requests:

• Scheduling meetings
• Safety when traveling
• Muslim Majority Country of the week: Bangladesh Population: 156 million Religion: 83% Muslim

Weekly Update

God is so good! I stand amazed just to think of all He does for me. Dying for me was more than enough, yet in addition He chooses to bless me in so many ways. I dropped into a church in Fayetteville, GA last week. After the service, he came to me and asked if I had an opening in March. He said if I did I could join them for their mission conference. Praise the Lord – I did have an opening. I am really excited to have the opportunity to go back and be a small part of the “From the Cross, Through the Church, To the World” conference at Kenwood First Baptist Church.

This week I had my first car almost break down scenario. Yes – almost. I had a meeting a couple hours away on Sunday night, so my mom and I dropped into a church on the way. We park and wait for people to arrive to go inside. About 5 minutes til Sunday School was to begin, no one was there. We thought they might have cancelled church altogether, so perhaps we should get to another church in the area (and quickly). My car wouldn’t start. We called our roadside assistance and were waiting when someone drove up. He let us know that they were having church, but had cancelled Sunday school just to make sure any ice left on the roads would have melted. We told him our car trouble and we thought we would try to crank it up to let him hear what was going on to confirm our suspisions. The car started! That afternoon we were able to switch cars with my dad just to make sure we could make it to my meeting that night. Plus, my dad was able to fix the starter for a grand total of…$1. He works at a starter/alternator rebuilder shop. Praise the Lord! So many things could have gone wrong in that situation, but God has truly blessed!

For those who have been reading this, last time I wrote about being in Ohio for a month in October. God has allowed me to book at least one meeting per week while I’m there. I am really excited about how God has blessed and things are progressing. Thank you so for all of your prayers! 

Prayer Requests:

• The Tolson Family - click here to read about the baby and how you can pray better for them
• Scheduling meetings
• Muslim Majority Country of the week: Pakistan
• Population: 173 Million
• 97% Islam

Resting in God's Provision

I have the privilege of being in a very close friend’s wedding in October.  Since I will already be in Ohio for the wedding, I have been praying about the possibility of getting meetings there for at least a couple of weeks, if not for the month. So far, I have been able to send out a lot of information to pastors about what I will be doing in North Africa, but have not scheduled many meetings.  Another thing I have been praying about is scheduling meetings on Wednesday nights. The most common meeting I schedule is for the Sunday Night service, but I have been praying to get some Wednesday night meetings. Praise the Lord! This week He gave me a meeting on a Wednesday night in Ohio!  What an answer to prayer!

Not only is this an answer to prayer, but it ties directly in with what I have been reading for my devotions. Right now I am reading in Exodus. The children of Israel have just come through an amazing set of miracles: the plagues, being set free, walking on dry (not muddy) ground through the Red Sea, and watching the Egyptian army crushed beneath the waters where they had just walked. Not a week goes by before they are murmuring that they should have stayed in bondage in Egypt, because they would have water and food there. God provided manna each morning. They were allowed to gather enough for that day, but no more (except the day before the Sabbath). They had to trust Him each and every day for their food. No pantry with food in it for them; just that day’s provision.

The Lord used this story to remind me of where my provision comes from. It does not come from me, other people, or churches. He is the one Who provides. I must trust Him for my EVERY need, and I must trust Him daily. He promised that He would meet our needs, and I must rest in His promise.

Prayer Requests:

• Schedule a full month in Ohio
• Lord to continue to use me while on deputation to bring Him glory
• Muslim Majority country of the week: Indonesia. Population: 240 million, 86.1% Muslim                    click here for more information on Indonesia

Tap, Tap, Tap...Is This Thing On?

It’s been awhile, to say the least. Well, it’s time to start this blog back up and running. Much has happened since my trip to North Africa.

A new year has come, bringing many new opportunities. In December, I took a step of faith and quit my job in order to begin full-time deputation. I am heading back to North Africa as a HELPS ministry. I will be working under Tyler and Gretchen Masters and focusing on a ladies ministry. I am so thankful God allows me to serve Him. I know God is faithful and will bless this time of preparation for the field.

Though I just started full time deputation, I did begin part time deputation in the fall while continuing to work full time. In the past few months, I have had the privilege of visiting many churches and meeting dozens of people who have greatly encouraged me. I am grateful for the prayer partners God has given me. I am very thankful, and deeply humbled by the many prayers being lifted up daily on my behalf.

Right now I am calling daily to set up meetings to present what I’ll be doing in North Africa. This week the Lord has blessed tremendously! I was able to book several meetings, including my first meeting of 2012!  If you would, please keep me in your prayers as I work towards raising the support I need to get to North Africa.

Prayer Requests:

·      * Calendar to be filled and support raised

·      * The Masters Family – they will be leaving for Spain possibly as soon as next month. Click here to read their blog and keep updated with their progress.

·       * People of North Africa – God will soften their hearts to hear the gospel and be saved

·       * Believers in North Africa – growth and protection

·      * Laborers to be raised up in North Africa and around the world

·       * God will use me to bring Him glory