A New year, Same Mission
Wow Guys!
We have been so blessed as we have begun this missionary journey. At the onset, we knew that God would begin to raise up people He has already predetermined to support the work in Lima, and man has he been faithful. Here are the highlights!
The last service of 2019, I was asked to fill pulpit for Redeemer Church in Norwalk. I can’t say enough how thankful I am for God’s work that he is doing right there in a small town just south of Des Moines. It was a full house and the church is so warm and friendly, with a genuine heart for the Lord. If you know anyone in the Norwalk/ Cummins area that are struggling finding a good church, here is one you should check out.
After this, we were fortunate to visit Missionary Baptist right in our own backyard of Carlisle Iowa. As I told them, my kids call this church “AWANA church”, as they minister to the community children with a thriving AWANA club every Wednesday. My own kids have been blessed by their ministry and it was so fun sharing our vision for the nations right there in Carlisle.
We have also been blessed to visit with a few other pastors as we have sought to network with churches, and God has been good to give us meetings with not only churches, but individuals and small groups. One of the best things we have been able to do is continue to share our vision of ministry with small bible study groups. Its amazing just sitting with Christians all over Iowa and talking to them about the amazing things he is doing right here in Des Moines, Maxwell, Ames, Ankeny, Norwalk, Monroe, Carlisle, Alleman, Algona, and so many other places in our state. We have been so humbled and blessed to share about a place far far away, where God is at work, saving the lost just as he is here in Iowa. As our vision for the nation of Peru is exciting, what is even more exiting is how God is giving us a snapshot of His plan for all nations, and how He is at work right here in Iowa in ways that I had no idea about. HE IS GOOD!
Thanks for all of your prayers for opportunities to share the gospel, share our ministry with others, and about adopting our two youngest. God has been faithful to continue to do just that.
Please pray for one of my neighbors who Debbie and I have sought to be a light to for the last 5 years. Just last week, I was able to share with him the gospel. Pray that God would soften his heart, and that he would come to know Jesus. Another big praise is for my friend Ben. I met Ben 16 years ago and have shared Jesus with Him a number of times over the years. Over the last few years, I have noticed changes in Ben that have been wonderful and make no sense outside of knowing Jesus. I was able to talk with him over lunch about four weeks ago, and was overjoyed to hear that he has placed his faith in Jesus, and is interested in knowing more about Him. He came to our Church for the first time this Sunday with his young son, which was huge to me! Pray that God would help Ben grow in His faith.
We now sit, unofficially, at about 23% support based on commitments for our ministry. We are absolutely thrilled that God has gone before us and is continuing to grant us favor with His people.
We may be in a new year, but God’s mission to seek and save the lost is the same as it has been. We are simply thankful to be apart of it!