The doctor's office called Cindy today a few minutes before 5:00 pm. She recognized the number on her caller id. Her initial thought was this can't be good. They are calling this late on a Friday before the extended holiday weekend. Her initial thought was incorrect. The echocardiogram showed her heart to be in great shape.
Now the next hurdles are: (1) getting the documents we need for our visas to the Secretary of State of Indiana to authenticate the nortary on the documents and get the docs back by December 31st. We have an appointment with the Honduras Consulate in Chicago on January 2nd to start the visa application process. Might as well have everything back up until the last minute. We couldn't send the docs earlier because we had to get the results of our physicals first.
Hurdle (2) get everything moved out of our apartment sometime over the weekend of December 28-30. Perhaps we should get started packing soon?
Monday, December 24, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
December 19, 2007
Well, here's a wrinkle. We went for the second day of our physical today - the first day was just getting tests so they could tell us today what the results were. Brad was fine except for a somewhat elevated cholestoral level. Cindy however stole the show when the doctor said her EKG was abnormal and indicated she had a heart attack in the past. That was a little surprising since she does mini-marathons and works out at least twice a week with no problems.
So, tomorrow she is scheduled for an echocardiogram. He was going to do a stress test but when he found out about her running he said the stress test would be useless because she would out last the test.
Not sure when we will here the final results of the echocardiogram.
P.S. Cindy did decide it would probably be best if she didn't work out today.
Brad didn't realize it was so stressful living with him that it caused his wife to have a heart attack.
So, tomorrow she is scheduled for an echocardiogram. He was going to do a stress test but when he found out about her running he said the stress test would be useless because she would out last the test.
Not sure when we will here the final results of the echocardiogram.
P.S. Cindy did decide it would probably be best if she didn't work out today.
Brad didn't realize it was so stressful living with him that it caused his wife to have a heart attack.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Thoughts
(Brad) In getting rid of our “stuff” we have been trying to decide what to do with it – sell it, give it to Goodwill or some other nonprofit organization, or simply give it away. At first my thinking was we could sell it but that would be very difficult and time consuming. My next thought was we could donate it to a nonprofit organization for which we could get a tax deduction. This would provide us with some money to put in savings to help pay for our son’s last year of college or be there for other needs that may arise. This seems reasonable, logical, and the smart thing to do. We would have some extra money for the unknown that may occur in the future. The giving away option didn’t seem a “good idea” because we would get no money for our emergency fund.
Also, we could sell our cars. Put the money into an account to buy a car for our kids in case one of their cars dies. Another reasonable, logical, smart thing to do. Don’t you think. Yea, me too.
Talking with Cindy we were discussing some people we know with needs and she starts listing all the stuff we can give these people including our cars. What??? What is she thinking??? Let’s be reasonable. Let’s be balanced about this. Think this through.
In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus goes through this long discussion with those following Him explaining we shouldn’t worry about what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will wear. Our priority should be to put God’s Kingdom first and God will take care of meeting our needs. Jesus then ends this discussion by saying “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I don’t know about you but I think Jesus probably meant what He said. So I guess we will be giving most of our stuff away and trust God to provide for us when we have an unexpected need. Gotta stop reading that “Bible”. It’s really messing up my “balanced, logical, reasonable life.”
Besides I learned today that I’m rich and you probably are too. Did you know that if you make $37,000 or more a year you are in the top 4% of all wage earners in the world? If you make at least $45,000 a year you are in the top 1% of all wage earners in the world. Should we feel guilty about this? I don’t think so. We should feel grateful that God is allowing us to manage so much of His resources.
Also, we could sell our cars. Put the money into an account to buy a car for our kids in case one of their cars dies. Another reasonable, logical, smart thing to do. Don’t you think. Yea, me too.
Talking with Cindy we were discussing some people we know with needs and she starts listing all the stuff we can give these people including our cars. What??? What is she thinking??? Let’s be reasonable. Let’s be balanced about this. Think this through.
In Luke 12:22-34 Jesus goes through this long discussion with those following Him explaining we shouldn’t worry about what we will eat, where we will live, or what we will wear. Our priority should be to put God’s Kingdom first and God will take care of meeting our needs. Jesus then ends this discussion by saying “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
I don’t know about you but I think Jesus probably meant what He said. So I guess we will be giving most of our stuff away and trust God to provide for us when we have an unexpected need. Gotta stop reading that “Bible”. It’s really messing up my “balanced, logical, reasonable life.”
Besides I learned today that I’m rich and you probably are too. Did you know that if you make $37,000 or more a year you are in the top 4% of all wage earners in the world? If you make at least $45,000 a year you are in the top 1% of all wage earners in the world. Should we feel guilty about this? I don’t think so. We should feel grateful that God is allowing us to manage so much of His resources.
December 12, 2007
Cindy has closed down the mall the past three nights. She hasn’t bought anything but she stays until they close at 10:00 pm. She said the security guards are starting to follower her because she stays until the mall closes but never buys anything. Cindy says the reason she’s doing it to keep her mind occupied and not think about Camille (our granddaughter).
Thoughts - December 10, 2007
Is God worth giving up everything for Him? Is He worth taking up your cross and following Him everyday?(Mt 6:24 & 10:38) Is He worth losing your life for so you can gain your life?(Mt 6:25-26 & Mt 10:39) Is He worth letting your dead bury the dead while you go off and follow Him?(Lk 9:59-60) Is He worth selling all that you have and giving the proceeds to follow Him?(Mt 13:44-46) Is He worth following even when He makes no promise of giving you a nice place to sleep?(Lk 9:57-58) Is He worth following when it prevents you from telling your family goodbye?(Lk 9:61-62) Is He worth following when He demands we make Him more important than our closest family members?(Mt 10:37)
Until we get a real picture and understanding of who this God is that is asking us for this type of commitment it is very difficult, if not impossible, to honestly answer “yes” to these questions.
Until we get a real picture and understanding of who this God is that is asking us for this type of commitment it is very difficult, if not impossible, to honestly answer “yes” to these questions.
December 9, 2007
For the AM service pastor Jeff Smith gave us the opportunity to share at the Vineyard Community Church in Evansville, IN. Wow! What a morning. From the moment we walked in the door we felt we belonged. By the time it got around to our time to share God’s presence had already been so powerful that we could have ended the service right then and it would have been a great day. It was just what we needed. Then to top it off, after the service they spent some time laying hands on us, praying for us, sharing visions God had given them that pertained to us, and encouraging us.
For the PM service pastor John Stepp allowed us to share at Princeton General Baptist Church. They were a lively, enthusiastic group. When the service ended pastor Stepp announced they were having some snacks (read large quantities of food) after the service and invited everyone to stay. Before he closed the service he asked those who wanted to come forward and pray for us and the rest were free to leave and go eat. I think every person there came up, prayed for us, and then stayed to talk with us individually.
Does God know what you need or what? It was a day of God ministering and encouraging us through His body – the Church. Thanks church for being willing to be use by Him. Another reminder this is a TEAM effort. We are simply the ones on the ground in Central America.
For the PM service pastor John Stepp allowed us to share at Princeton General Baptist Church. They were a lively, enthusiastic group. When the service ended pastor Stepp announced they were having some snacks (read large quantities of food) after the service and invited everyone to stay. Before he closed the service he asked those who wanted to come forward and pray for us and the rest were free to leave and go eat. I think every person there came up, prayed for us, and then stayed to talk with us individually.
Does God know what you need or what? It was a day of God ministering and encouraging us through His body – the Church. Thanks church for being willing to be use by Him. Another reminder this is a TEAM effort. We are simply the ones on the ground in Central America.
Thoughts - December 8, 2007
We are starting to do last things – this is the last time we will do this or that before we leave. It makes it more real when you think this way. We’re also wondering why does moving seem so BIG? When Brad was in the Navy we moved very frequently. By the time our daughter Whitney was nine she had lived in eight different states and nine different cities. We always looked forward to moving.
Now it feels different. It’s not a lack of excitement for where we are going and what we are doing. But there seems to be a sadness this time that we have never experienced with our past moves. Could it be this time we are not taking our kids with us. With all the other moves our kids always went with us. Could it also be this time the move is about taking the gospel to those who have never heard which brings into play spiritual warfare?
Of course we do have the additional attachment here of our granddaughter. But then we think, we’re not the first people to live a great distance from their grandchildren. Sometimes when we share with people our struggle with leaving our granddaughter we feel guilty. As if we’re acting like we are the only people who have ever been in this situation. We are just trying to be honest about where we are at this time.
We were told early on that every person who goes to the mission field has a major obstacle to overcome. The obstacle is not the same for each person, but each person will have one they must overcome to get to the field and be successful. Perhaps this is ours.
Now it feels different. It’s not a lack of excitement for where we are going and what we are doing. But there seems to be a sadness this time that we have never experienced with our past moves. Could it be this time we are not taking our kids with us. With all the other moves our kids always went with us. Could it also be this time the move is about taking the gospel to those who have never heard which brings into play spiritual warfare?
Of course we do have the additional attachment here of our granddaughter. But then we think, we’re not the first people to live a great distance from their grandchildren. Sometimes when we share with people our struggle with leaving our granddaughter we feel guilty. As if we’re acting like we are the only people who have ever been in this situation. We are just trying to be honest about where we are at this time.
We were told early on that every person who goes to the mission field has a major obstacle to overcome. The obstacle is not the same for each person, but each person will have one they must overcome to get to the field and be successful. Perhaps this is ours.
December 7, 2007 (Pearl Harbor Day)
We went to dinner with our Sunday School class from Main Street General Baptist. With all the traveling and speaking we haven’t been able to spend much time with them so it was great to spend the evening with them.
November 30 - December 2, 2007
Brad spent Thursday through Sunday in Branchville Correctional Facility (an Indiana state prison) with a group of 46 (I think) other guys on a Kairos team. This is modeled similar to Tres Dias, Walk to Emmaus, etc. but it’s geared toward the gang members and negative leaders in the prison. This is the third one we’ve done at Branchville. It’s amazing to watch these 42 inmates come in on Thursday evening not too sure what to think about us or the program. Then leave Sunday evening hugging us and not wanting it to end. (the Kairos team is not too excited about it ending either) God can really do some amazing things when we get out of the way and just let Him use us to show people His love for them.
Cindy spent Sunday morning at our church in Boonville, Main Street General Baptist Church, playing with the orchestra from our other church, Christian Fellowship Church. Everybody had a great time. Cindy said the next time the orchestra’s self-esteem gets low they will go play at Main Street – the people were incredible.
(Brad) On Sunday someone mentioned to me that it was December 1st and then asked when we are leaving. It hit me, from now on when people ask that question I won’t be saying January, I’ll be saying next month. It’s getting closer.
When we started the process of putting together a support team we talked about how we should do it. We knew it would require quite a bit of traveling to speak at churches and we wanted to share our hearts with as many people as possible. Initially we thought the best approach would be to remove ourselves from all the other stuff we were involved with (Brad with prison ministry and Kairos and Cindy with the orchestra). As we thought about it we begin to understand it was our involvement with thses that had played a significant role in getting us where we are in our relationship with God leading to our move to Central America. With this in mind it seemed crazy to remove ourselves from what was playing a significant role in growing our relationship with God. So, we made the decision that Brad would stay involved with prison ministry and Cindy with the orchestra as much as possible. In fact, we marked on our calendar the major events for these activities and chose not to schedule speaking engagements for those weekends. Yes, it did mean reducing the number of opportunities we could share. However, we believe God is more interested in our relationship with Him than cramming in as many speaking engagements as possible.
Besides, who is better at putting together a support team – us or God? (Won’t bother to answer that one) What’s that principle Jesus laid out about putting God first and trusting Him to take care of the rest? Of yea, it’s found in Matt 6 and Luke 12.
Cindy spent Sunday morning at our church in Boonville, Main Street General Baptist Church, playing with the orchestra from our other church, Christian Fellowship Church. Everybody had a great time. Cindy said the next time the orchestra’s self-esteem gets low they will go play at Main Street – the people were incredible.
(Brad) On Sunday someone mentioned to me that it was December 1st and then asked when we are leaving. It hit me, from now on when people ask that question I won’t be saying January, I’ll be saying next month. It’s getting closer.
When we started the process of putting together a support team we talked about how we should do it. We knew it would require quite a bit of traveling to speak at churches and we wanted to share our hearts with as many people as possible. Initially we thought the best approach would be to remove ourselves from all the other stuff we were involved with (Brad with prison ministry and Kairos and Cindy with the orchestra). As we thought about it we begin to understand it was our involvement with thses that had played a significant role in getting us where we are in our relationship with God leading to our move to Central America. With this in mind it seemed crazy to remove ourselves from what was playing a significant role in growing our relationship with God. So, we made the decision that Brad would stay involved with prison ministry and Cindy with the orchestra as much as possible. In fact, we marked on our calendar the major events for these activities and chose not to schedule speaking engagements for those weekends. Yes, it did mean reducing the number of opportunities we could share. However, we believe God is more interested in our relationship with Him than cramming in as many speaking engagements as possible.
Besides, who is better at putting together a support team – us or God? (Won’t bother to answer that one) What’s that principle Jesus laid out about putting God first and trusting Him to take care of the rest? Of yea, it’s found in Matt 6 and Luke 12.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Thoughts
(Brad) I was reading a blog by another missionary who is in Ecuador. He was talking about do we really believe God for big things. Not just say we believe but really believe. Do we ask God for new believers? He said his team is praying for and asking God for 500,000 new believers in the next five years. I thought “Wow!” Then it made me think what should, if any, we be praying for in Central America?
Well, team, what do you think? Let’s go to God and ask Him what He thinks. Ask Him to give us a number of new believers He wants us to be praying for in Central America for the 2008. Will He give us a number? Will He say no number is needed now? What will He say? This is a team effort so I’m asking if you will join with us and go to God and see what He tells you. When you get an answer will you share it with us? This entire adventure is about trusting God and just opening ourselves up to be used completely by Him. We don’t have to wait until this team has a representative on the ground in Honduras to start the adventure.
Well, team, what do you think? Let’s go to God and ask Him what He thinks. Ask Him to give us a number of new believers He wants us to be praying for in Central America for the 2008. Will He give us a number? Will He say no number is needed now? What will He say? This is a team effort so I’m asking if you will join with us and go to God and see what He tells you. When you get an answer will you share it with us? This entire adventure is about trusting God and just opening ourselves up to be used completely by Him. We don’t have to wait until this team has a representative on the ground in Honduras to start the adventure.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
November 25, 2007
We had the opportunity to share at Wadesville General Baptist Church in, you guessed it, Wadesville, IN. Pastor Joe and Jacquelyn Dumond allowed us the opportunity to share with the church. Afterward Joe and Jacquelyn had us over to their house for lunch. It was fun just sitting around the table, talking, and getting to know them. We also found out some stuff about other General Baptist missionaries who had gone to school with Joe and Jacquelyn. This new information certainly burst our bubble and changes our perception of the image we had of them. If these people treat us nicely the information will not be revealed. However, if not, no promises.
November 24, 2007
We spent the evening at Kevin and Andi Miller’s with several close friends just hanging out, talking, laughing, and eating. It was a wonderful and relaxing evening. Thanks.
November 16 - 18, 2007
Friday morning we left to spend the weekend in Arkansas. On our way we stopped in Poplar Bluff - General Baptist Medina (General Baptist Mecca is Evansville – if you’re not familiar with islam and the General Baptists this will make no sense to you – don’t worry about it). Once again, back to the topic. We stopped at the General Baptist headquarters in Poplar Bluff to take care of some paperwork stuff. Yes, even when you move out of the country to serve God you still have to fill out all the government paperwork just like you do here when change employers. What does Bible say about being obedient to those in charge of the government because He put them there?
So after completing the paperwork, eating lunch, Cindy going through some medications that had been donated to see what we could use, and missing a turn on the way out of town (ok, it should read Brad missing a turn on the way out of town) we headed for Heber Springs Arkansas. We spent the weekend with David and Jillbaby Eades. We had a blast.
Saturday Cindy and Jillbaby went to Little Rock to shop. She had a great time just spending time with Jill, hanging out, laughing, and seeing Arkansas. She had been looking forward to this trip since it was arranged in September and it was definitely worth it.
On Saturday David and the boys Mason (aka “Buddy”) and Harrison (aka “Buddy Lee”) took Brad to their farm for a guy day complete with being outdoors and shooting guns. At one point David asked Brad to get on the back of the four-wheeler and go with him to replenish the automatic deer feeders. After Brad got on he then handed Brad a rifle and said that’s in case we come across a bear - he wasn’t joking. I wish I could tell a story about how I had to shoot a bear that was charging us but the truth is all we saw were some wild turkeys that ran as we approached.
On Sunday we went to Jerry and Evelyn Eades' church and had the opportunity to share. Afterwards they were having there church Thanksgiving dinner so we were “forced” to stay and eat the home-cooked food. It was difficult but we forced it down until we were completely stuffed. Jerry and Evelyn are amazing people. Jerry is 83 and in February is going to make his (I believe) fourth trip to Honduras in two years. Evelyn is making her fifth trip in 2 ½ years. What an encouragement.
After lunch we headed back to the David and Jillbaby’s, changed clothes, and drove the eight hours back to Newburgh. It was a good weekend.
So after completing the paperwork, eating lunch, Cindy going through some medications that had been donated to see what we could use, and missing a turn on the way out of town (ok, it should read Brad missing a turn on the way out of town) we headed for Heber Springs Arkansas. We spent the weekend with David and Jillbaby Eades. We had a blast.
Saturday Cindy and Jillbaby went to Little Rock to shop. She had a great time just spending time with Jill, hanging out, laughing, and seeing Arkansas. She had been looking forward to this trip since it was arranged in September and it was definitely worth it.
On Saturday David and the boys Mason (aka “Buddy”) and Harrison (aka “Buddy Lee”) took Brad to their farm for a guy day complete with being outdoors and shooting guns. At one point David asked Brad to get on the back of the four-wheeler and go with him to replenish the automatic deer feeders. After Brad got on he then handed Brad a rifle and said that’s in case we come across a bear - he wasn’t joking. I wish I could tell a story about how I had to shoot a bear that was charging us but the truth is all we saw were some wild turkeys that ran as we approached.
On Sunday we went to Jerry and Evelyn Eades' church and had the opportunity to share. Afterwards they were having there church Thanksgiving dinner so we were “forced” to stay and eat the home-cooked food. It was difficult but we forced it down until we were completely stuffed. Jerry and Evelyn are amazing people. Jerry is 83 and in February is going to make his (I believe) fourth trip to Honduras in two years. Evelyn is making her fifth trip in 2 ½ years. What an encouragement.
After lunch we headed back to the David and Jillbaby’s, changed clothes, and drove the eight hours back to Newburgh. It was a good weekend.
November 15, 2007
Jack Eberhardt and Sam Ramdial from General Baptist International Missions headquarters spent the morning with us. It was good because it covered more specifics about how to go from where we are in Honduras to where we want to be. We know where we are and we know where we want to be. The road to get from where we are to where we want to be is, shall we say, VERY FUZZY. (this could be because we’re ultimately not the ones in charge and if He showed us the entire plan at one time we might be overwhelmed and say “never-mind, that looks a little too frightening. We’ll just stay in the Evansville area”)
Part of the time was discussing the game plan and part discussing basic logistics. Overall it was left us knowing we are all on the same page.
Part of the time was discussing the game plan and part discussing basic logistics. Overall it was left us knowing we are all on the same page.
November 14, 2007
We had dinner with Dan & Ginna Grimm. They have a missions organization, GATHER, and we consider them two of our missions mentors. It was through their work in Bolivia that Cindy was introduced to the Latin American people and Scott Strouse which led to her going to Honduras on her first trip a few years ago which led to Brad going to Honduras earlier this year and, as they say, the rest is history. (yes, for you English majors this maybe a run on sentence. Cut us some slack. Now that we are trying to learning another language we're still trying remember what all those English terms mean such as: conjugate a verb, definite and indefinite article, participles, etc.) Back to the topic. We spent the evening talking about what we would be doing, what they thought about what we plan on doing, asking for any suggestions, insight, and/or wisdom. Finally discussing how GATHER can be a part of what we are doing. Having experienced people to draw on is great.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
November 11, 2007
We spoke at Pleasant Chapel General Baptist Church, Evansville, IN in the morning. Had a great time with people of Pleasant Chapel. It was a fun morning getting to meet some wonderful people and talk about Honduras, Central America and the vision God has given.
In the evening pastor Jim Rudolph of Garvinwood General Baptist Church in Evansville, IN allowed us to share with the congregation. Had another wonderful time talking about Honduras as some had been to Honduras and were still heavily involved with the work there.
Once again, a very encouraging day to be around seasoned believers who still have such a passion to serve and be used by God.
In the evening pastor Jim Rudolph of Garvinwood General Baptist Church in Evansville, IN allowed us to share with the congregation. Had another wonderful time talking about Honduras as some had been to Honduras and were still heavily involved with the work there.
Once again, a very encouraging day to be around seasoned believers who still have such a passion to serve and be used by God.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
November 8 -10, 2007
We just spent Thursday night, all day Friday until about 11:00 pm and half a day Saturday in Louisville at the Global Missions Health Conference. It was held at Southeast Christian church which is, how do I describe it,a monster church. How big is it you ask:
The guy at Starbucks referred to it at Six Flags over God
They have signs in their parking lot directing you to I-64 – if they didn’t you could drive around for days in the parking lot and never get out.
The main building (yep they have several buildings) is five stories and the they have not one but two balconies in the main sanctuary with jumbo screens.
It seems to be a very laid back church. The P&W leader shows up for the Friday morning sessions wearing jeans with holes in them, a long sleeve t-shirt, don’t think he got up early enough to comb his hair before he arrived and then proceeds to lead us directly to the presence of God. When we got our box lunches and suppers they could have cared less where we ate. In the foyer, the sanctuary, in the middle of the floor. The church just went out it’s way to make us feel at home. And they did that for all 4,000 or so of us.
It was so nice to be in an environment where, as Cindy said, “we just fit in”. We were not strange, odd, “radicals” causing problems, unrealistic, weird, or different. We were around a bunch of people who thought the same way we do. In fact there were a lot of people there who are way ahead of us in their commitment to God and made us feel like we were way behind the curve. Just the kind of people we want to be around. Those that challenge us and show us the way. Yea!
It was so great to be in the sanctuary with 4,000 people singing about taking the gospel to ends of the earth and knowing everyone there means it when they are singing. Words like these from the Newsboys in “He Reigns”:
It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
They really mean it when they sing these words. This is what they are giving their lives for. Honestly, when you are in your church a sing about taking the gospel to the ends of the earth no matter the cost to you the reality is only 10%, maybe 20%, actually believe it. But to be among four thousand people who are either living out now or wanting to go somewhere to live it out it just unbelievable. Every time we gathered in the sanctuary to sing Brad had to get out his handkerchief because it brought tears to his eyes being in the presence of these men and women who are giving their lives to take the gospel to those who have never heard. It was like a glimpse of heaven. On My!
Brad went to breakout session that had about thirty people (small number of people for a breakout session) and people during the hour would mention were they were serving or had served. Just a sampling of the saints we were around here is a listing of just those people who mentioned where they were serving (we have not mentioned the name of the countries closed to the gospel but only listed them as “closed countries” for security purposes – they are all in the 10/40 Window): Uganda, Brazil. Closed Country, Closed Country, Closed Country, Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Closed Country, China. These are the kind of people we got to spend two days with – people who are on the frontlines doing it – not just talking about it. Ok, we’re a little pumped.
Close to half of those attending were under 30 years old. What an encouragement to see these healthcare professionals, who could be making a very comfortable living in the future, wanting to know how they could give their lives to God for the spread of the gospel to the poor and underprivileged of the world.
There was a breakout session on marriage on the mission field and Cindy couldn’t get in because the room was full. It was full of young people! Brad went to a breakout session on how to penetrate the darkness and reach your patients with the gospel. It was packed – with young people! We hear a lot about the negative side of what is going on with young people. For those who are concerned you should have been with us. We are in good hands for the future. This kids are willing to give up the income, lifestyle, and prestige to serve in some unknown land for their Lord and King.
Friday night they had a breakout session from 9:00 – 11:00 pm on apologetics and ethical issues in healthcare. Once again packed with over 400 people, mostly younger students and professionals. Scott Strouse and Brad are bragging a little over this one because they outlasted many of the younger attendees who left before it completely ended.
If you can work it out it would be worth your time to try and attend next year. It’s the second weekend in November. You don’t have to have any interest at all in healthcare to make it worth your time. Brad has no interest in healthcare and this was his second year to attend. Both years he did not have enough time to do everything he wanted to do. If you have an interest in healthcare this was Cindy’s third year to attend and is always sorry for it to end.
The guy at Starbucks referred to it at Six Flags over God
They have signs in their parking lot directing you to I-64 – if they didn’t you could drive around for days in the parking lot and never get out.
The main building (yep they have several buildings) is five stories and the they have not one but two balconies in the main sanctuary with jumbo screens.
It seems to be a very laid back church. The P&W leader shows up for the Friday morning sessions wearing jeans with holes in them, a long sleeve t-shirt, don’t think he got up early enough to comb his hair before he arrived and then proceeds to lead us directly to the presence of God. When we got our box lunches and suppers they could have cared less where we ate. In the foyer, the sanctuary, in the middle of the floor. The church just went out it’s way to make us feel at home. And they did that for all 4,000 or so of us.
It was so nice to be in an environment where, as Cindy said, “we just fit in”. We were not strange, odd, “radicals” causing problems, unrealistic, weird, or different. We were around a bunch of people who thought the same way we do. In fact there were a lot of people there who are way ahead of us in their commitment to God and made us feel like we were way behind the curve. Just the kind of people we want to be around. Those that challenge us and show us the way. Yea!
It was so great to be in the sanctuary with 4,000 people singing about taking the gospel to ends of the earth and knowing everyone there means it when they are singing. Words like these from the Newsboys in “He Reigns”:
It’s the song of the redeemed
Rising from the African plain
It’s the song of the forgiven
Drowning out the Amazon rain
The song of Asian believers
Filled with God’s holy fire
It’s every tribe, every tongue, every nation
A love song born of a grateful choir
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
It’s all God’s children singing
Glory, glory, hallelujah
He reigns, He reigns
Let it rise about the four winds
Caught up in the heavenly sound
Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals
To the faithful gathered underground
Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation
Some were meant to persist
Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples
None rings truer than this
And all the powers of darkness
Tremble at what they’ve just heard
‘Cause all the powers of darkness
Can’t drown out a single word
They really mean it when they sing these words. This is what they are giving their lives for. Honestly, when you are in your church a sing about taking the gospel to the ends of the earth no matter the cost to you the reality is only 10%, maybe 20%, actually believe it. But to be among four thousand people who are either living out now or wanting to go somewhere to live it out it just unbelievable. Every time we gathered in the sanctuary to sing Brad had to get out his handkerchief because it brought tears to his eyes being in the presence of these men and women who are giving their lives to take the gospel to those who have never heard. It was like a glimpse of heaven. On My!
Brad went to breakout session that had about thirty people (small number of people for a breakout session) and people during the hour would mention were they were serving or had served. Just a sampling of the saints we were around here is a listing of just those people who mentioned where they were serving (we have not mentioned the name of the countries closed to the gospel but only listed them as “closed countries” for security purposes – they are all in the 10/40 Window): Uganda, Brazil. Closed Country, Closed Country, Closed Country, Haiti, Ecuador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Closed Country, China. These are the kind of people we got to spend two days with – people who are on the frontlines doing it – not just talking about it. Ok, we’re a little pumped.
Close to half of those attending were under 30 years old. What an encouragement to see these healthcare professionals, who could be making a very comfortable living in the future, wanting to know how they could give their lives to God for the spread of the gospel to the poor and underprivileged of the world.
There was a breakout session on marriage on the mission field and Cindy couldn’t get in because the room was full. It was full of young people! Brad went to a breakout session on how to penetrate the darkness and reach your patients with the gospel. It was packed – with young people! We hear a lot about the negative side of what is going on with young people. For those who are concerned you should have been with us. We are in good hands for the future. This kids are willing to give up the income, lifestyle, and prestige to serve in some unknown land for their Lord and King.
Friday night they had a breakout session from 9:00 – 11:00 pm on apologetics and ethical issues in healthcare. Once again packed with over 400 people, mostly younger students and professionals. Scott Strouse and Brad are bragging a little over this one because they outlasted many of the younger attendees who left before it completely ended.
If you can work it out it would be worth your time to try and attend next year. It’s the second weekend in November. You don’t have to have any interest at all in healthcare to make it worth your time. Brad has no interest in healthcare and this was his second year to attend. Both years he did not have enough time to do everything he wanted to do. If you have an interest in healthcare this was Cindy’s third year to attend and is always sorry for it to end.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Experience
(Cindy) Last night I woke up, my chest was tight, and the Enemy was saying to me “Do you really think you can say good-bye to your granddaughter and leave her. You can’t do that. You know you can’t do that.” Then it was a battle trying to get to sleep. Even after I went back to sleep I had a restless night. It was a struggle
Experience
(Brad) Yesterday I watched a movie titled “The Second Chance” starring Michael W. Smith (yep, the Christian singer). The acting is ok but I really enjoyed the movie. At one point in the movie a man who obviously is a little slow mentally says he was reading his Bible last night and it says we should love our Christian brothers and sisters. He thought he had said something unloving to another man and so he washed the guys feet. As I watch this scene I thought to myself “Why is it so hard to just do what the Bible says and not worry about the consequences? To just read it, do it, and let God handle how it turns out.” In fact, I had to stop my work as I was so convicted. I begin to cry and ask God to forgive me for my failure to do what His Word says.
Ever wondered what the world would be like if every Christian just read the Bible and did what it said all day, every day of the year?
Ever wondered what the world would be like if every Christian just read the Bible and did what it said all day, every day of the year?
November 4, 2007
We spoke at the First General Baptist Church of Fairfield, Illinois today. The pastor is Jim Glisson who went on the March 2007 medical/dental mission trip to Honduras with both of us. Jim has such a BIG heart for missions and is a vocal proponent in his community sharing God’s heart to reach the world with His message of salvation. We also got to see Don and Virginia Witter. They have been heavily involved in mission work for over 20 years. Great day of sharing with the church and then having lunch with the Glissons and his youth pastor and girlfriend (that would be the youth pastor’s girlfriend for all you wise acres out there).
October 29, 2007
Brad met with Terry Schultheis to talk about the basics of international business. No, we are not looking to go down there and become businessmen. But, going in with a better understanding of how international business works has several benefits:
(1) Gives us a better eye of what to look for as business possibilities as go about starting churches. These countries need jobs for the people so they can provide for their families and if we can help provide some of those jobs then that’s what we should do.
(2) One way to get into areas that are otherwise closed to missionaries is through business. A great book about business as missions is God Is At Work by Ken Eldred.
(3) We must always be looking at “what might be”. Governments can change quickly in these countries. Countries that are open to missionaries today may be closed tomorrow. So if we can go in with a two pronged approach of working as missionaries and starting businesses that provide jobs the countries citizens our work is much more stable. The government may kick out “missionaries” but we will still be able to stay in the country with a business that is providing jobs for the citizens.
(4) As we talk with Christian business people in the States and get a better understanding of what they do then when we come across something that might interest them we can give them a call. If it’s something they want to pursue than we have increased the number of missionaries in the country.
(1) Gives us a better eye of what to look for as business possibilities as go about starting churches. These countries need jobs for the people so they can provide for their families and if we can help provide some of those jobs then that’s what we should do.
(2) One way to get into areas that are otherwise closed to missionaries is through business. A great book about business as missions is God Is At Work by Ken Eldred.
(3) We must always be looking at “what might be”. Governments can change quickly in these countries. Countries that are open to missionaries today may be closed tomorrow. So if we can go in with a two pronged approach of working as missionaries and starting businesses that provide jobs the countries citizens our work is much more stable. The government may kick out “missionaries” but we will still be able to stay in the country with a business that is providing jobs for the citizens.
(4) As we talk with Christian business people in the States and get a better understanding of what they do then when we come across something that might interest them we can give them a call. If it’s something they want to pursue than we have increased the number of missionaries in the country.
October 26, 2007
(Sorry this is out of order - had a little problem with the edit function)
Instead of Brad going to prison Friday night Cindy came up the with great idea of the two of us going on a date. As we begin talking about going a date we realized we had not been a date where we just focused on being with each since we made the decision in April to go to Honduras. Since April, whenever we spent time together we talked either about our photography business or going to Honduras. So, Friday night we started our date about 4:30 pm by going to The Vineyard, getting a coffee, and reading books for a couple of hours. Then we went to Newburgh and ate, for the first time, at the Newburgh Café. What a great place to eat. Great food. Great atmosphere. A nice change from the chain restaurants. We spent the evening just talking about whatever – yes Honduras did come up. It was nice just to spend a night with the one you’re crazy about and not have an agenda except to be with the other one.
The next day Brad was reading a missions magazine article about the top ten reasons missionaries leave the mission field. It was a survey the writer had done with several veteran missionaries. One of the reasons was a failure to spend time on the marriage relationship. Could this be God speaking? Once again, we are seeing that part of this support team building process is getting us ready for what we will experience in Honduras.
Instead of Brad going to prison Friday night Cindy came up the with great idea of the two of us going on a date. As we begin talking about going a date we realized we had not been a date where we just focused on being with each since we made the decision in April to go to Honduras. Since April, whenever we spent time together we talked either about our photography business or going to Honduras. So, Friday night we started our date about 4:30 pm by going to The Vineyard, getting a coffee, and reading books for a couple of hours. Then we went to Newburgh and ate, for the first time, at the Newburgh Café. What a great place to eat. Great food. Great atmosphere. A nice change from the chain restaurants. We spent the evening just talking about whatever – yes Honduras did come up. It was nice just to spend a night with the one you’re crazy about and not have an agenda except to be with the other one.
The next day Brad was reading a missions magazine article about the top ten reasons missionaries leave the mission field. It was a survey the writer had done with several veteran missionaries. One of the reasons was a failure to spend time on the marriage relationship. Could this be God speaking? Once again, we are seeing that part of this support team building process is getting us ready for what we will experience in Honduras.
October 28, 2007
We spoke at the Sebree General Baptist Church in Sebree, Kentucky with pastor John McCurry. We had such a great time with a lively group of people who have a real heart for missions. Not hard to see why the church has such a passion for missions when to talk to their pastor for a short period of time.
After church Bobby and Judy Littrel were nice enough to us to lunch. We went to a little restaurant in Hanson, Kentucky. There specialty is fish – specifically catfish. Brad growing up in Kentucky was definitely excited about the possibility of eating catfish. It didn’t disappoint. The fish was great!
After church Bobby and Judy Littrel were nice enough to us to lunch. We went to a little restaurant in Hanson, Kentucky. There specialty is fish – specifically catfish. Brad growing up in Kentucky was definitely excited about the possibility of eating catfish. It didn’t disappoint. The fish was great!
Thought
Thought
(Brad) I meet with a group of guys on Wednesday mornings to study the Bible, prayer for each other, challenge each other, and support/encourage each other. I shared with them how getting an actual date to leave surprisingly increased the stress in my life. How I had made a list of everything that needed to be done. How all the things on this list had to be done before we could go to Honduras. One of the guys in the group, Jeff Jackson, made the point that we all have lists that we think we must complete before we can serve God. How true isn’t it. Certainly changed my view of “the list.”
(Brad) I meet with a group of guys on Wednesday mornings to study the Bible, prayer for each other, challenge each other, and support/encourage each other. I shared with them how getting an actual date to leave surprisingly increased the stress in my life. How I had made a list of everything that needed to be done. How all the things on this list had to be done before we could go to Honduras. One of the guys in the group, Jeff Jackson, made the point that we all have lists that we think we must complete before we can serve God. How true isn’t it. Certainly changed my view of “the list.”
Monday, October 29, 2007
Learning Experience
(Brad) We received an email from Jack Eberhardt on October 22, 2007 letting us know they are purchasing our tickets for Honduras. We are scheduled to leave January 7, 2008. Wow, an actual, real date. This seemed to have more of an impact on me than Cindy. As we go through this process we are learning that what generates concern (ok, let’s be honest - it’s really stress) in one of us has little or no impact on the other and vice versa. I begin thinking about all the “stuff” that would need to be done before we left. Trying to remember it all seemed to increase my stress. So, I went (read I was kicked out of the house by Cindy because of my bad attitude – she was definitely right) to Barnes and Nobles, took out a notebook, and wrote down all the stuff I could think of that would need to be done. After getting it all on paper I looked at the list, leaned back, said “wow” or “oh my gosh” or something along those lines. I must have said it pretty loud because a guy two tables away jerked his head up from the book he was reading and looked at me that look of “are you ok?” or was the “what’s wrong with you buddy?” I will assume it was the first one – it makes me feel better.
During this same time Cindy was struggling with something else and when she tried to share it with me my response was not to listen to what she was saying and try to help. Nope, my response was to jump on her and make it worse. For three days after my wonderful response I’m going around feeling terrible and not sure how to make it better. Here is this beautiful lady who is stepping out to follow God to Honduras and wants to share with her husband some stuff she’s struggling with about this move. What does the loving husband do? Act like a jerk.
Wednesday night we finally talked for a long time. I was just happy she would even consider still talking to me. I believe this entire process from April until we leave is about getting us ready for Honduras. Sometimes I forget that in the day-to-day activities of getting ready to go. We have to remember the principle we’ve established of “Primero pienso sobre el espiritual” which is our best Spanish for “First think about the spiritual.” Meaning when situations arise our first thoughts should be what is/are the spiritual implication(s) of what is happening and not to first become defensive or take things personally. Great principle. Not always so easy to implement in the heat of a situation. The best way to be prepared and not be caught off-guard when this stuff comes up is to spend significant amounts of time in prayer each day just letting God get your mind and heart right. Better start doing what I say!
During this same time Cindy was struggling with something else and when she tried to share it with me my response was not to listen to what she was saying and try to help. Nope, my response was to jump on her and make it worse. For three days after my wonderful response I’m going around feeling terrible and not sure how to make it better. Here is this beautiful lady who is stepping out to follow God to Honduras and wants to share with her husband some stuff she’s struggling with about this move. What does the loving husband do? Act like a jerk.
Wednesday night we finally talked for a long time. I was just happy she would even consider still talking to me. I believe this entire process from April until we leave is about getting us ready for Honduras. Sometimes I forget that in the day-to-day activities of getting ready to go. We have to remember the principle we’ve established of “Primero pienso sobre el espiritual” which is our best Spanish for “First think about the spiritual.” Meaning when situations arise our first thoughts should be what is/are the spiritual implication(s) of what is happening and not to first become defensive or take things personally. Great principle. Not always so easy to implement in the heat of a situation. The best way to be prepared and not be caught off-guard when this stuff comes up is to spend significant amounts of time in prayer each day just letting God get your mind and heart right. Better start doing what I say!
October 21, 2007
We had the privilege of sharing at Duvall’s Chapel General Baptist Church in Greenville, Kentucky. We always refer to getting the opportunity to share as a privilege because these churches do not have to let us come and share. They open their doors and in almost every case are letting someone they don’t even know come and speak. We had a great time with pastor Ken and Becky Miller and the congregation. Great group of people and after the service they had a lunch for the congregation. We’ve got to recommend the banana pudding – it was awesome homemade banana pudding. One of the benefits to all the traveling is the eating.
October 14 2007
We had been trying to schedule a speaking opportunity for this date for about a month without success. Interesting that Brad lost his voice during this week and if we had been scheduled to speak he probably would have had a very difficult time speaking. Huh? Sure makes you wonder who might be in control. We’ll leave it up to you to decide what you think.
October 13 2007
Brad played in the golf scramble for the General Baptist Church in Fort Branch which raised money to support the church’s trip to Honduras in 2008. It was a great day for golf, good turnout to support missions and Brad had an opportunity to speak during the lunch.
October 11 2007
October 11, 2007
(Brad) Today formations started for Kairos #3 at Branchville Correctional Facility (Prison) in Tell City, Indiana. For those not familiar with Kairos it is similar Walk To Emmaus or Tres Dias for prisons. It starts on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday night. The difference is Kairso doesn’t target Christians. Kairos focuses on the trouble makers in the prison. The gang leaders. I had the privilege of serving on the last first two Kairos at Branchville. It is an amazing experience to watch these inmates show up on Thursday night not really happy to be there and trying to figure out what we “want” from them to Sunday night when they don’t want us to leave and many who have not cried in years wiping away tears as they have experienced - possibly for the first time in their life – unconditional love from another person (or in Kairos’ case about 45 –50 people). To be a part of the team requires a very large time commitment. With that in mind after the last Kairos I decided if given the opportunity not to participate in the next Kairos because I would be heavily involved in getting ready to go to Honduras. As the time got closer I begin to waiver in this decision. Prison ministry, Kairos, and my weekly Bible studies with others are some of the reasons I am where I am today in my relationship with God and commitment to Him. Now that I’m getting ready to make this move to Honduras I shouldn’t stop what has gotten me to this point and continues to help me grow. So, when I had the privilege of being asked to be a part of this Kairos team I excitedly said yes.
(Brad) Today formations started for Kairos #3 at Branchville Correctional Facility (Prison) in Tell City, Indiana. For those not familiar with Kairos it is similar Walk To Emmaus or Tres Dias for prisons. It starts on Thursday evening and ends on Sunday night. The difference is Kairso doesn’t target Christians. Kairos focuses on the trouble makers in the prison. The gang leaders. I had the privilege of serving on the last first two Kairos at Branchville. It is an amazing experience to watch these inmates show up on Thursday night not really happy to be there and trying to figure out what we “want” from them to Sunday night when they don’t want us to leave and many who have not cried in years wiping away tears as they have experienced - possibly for the first time in their life – unconditional love from another person (or in Kairos’ case about 45 –50 people). To be a part of the team requires a very large time commitment. With that in mind after the last Kairos I decided if given the opportunity not to participate in the next Kairos because I would be heavily involved in getting ready to go to Honduras. As the time got closer I begin to waiver in this decision. Prison ministry, Kairos, and my weekly Bible studies with others are some of the reasons I am where I am today in my relationship with God and commitment to Him. Now that I’m getting ready to make this move to Honduras I shouldn’t stop what has gotten me to this point and continues to help me grow. So, when I had the privilege of being asked to be a part of this Kairos team I excitedly said yes.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
October 8th
Today Brad had the privilege of meeting with Pastor Kevin McKinney of Methodist Temple in Evansville, IN. It was wonderful getting to meet him and so appreciated that he would be open to meeting with us. It was really neat to learn that his grandparents had served as missionaries in China, Asia and South America for 53 years. He has a real heart for missions and for the church functioning as the church across denominational lines. Once again, another time where God used this process of meeting people we would never have met except through this adventure to encourage us. One thing we are learning through this: there are a lot of believers out there who love God, are striving to follow Him as best they can, understand they are not where they want to be in their commitment to Christ, but are wanting to improve their commitment to Christ.
Church Planting Course
Brad has been looking for a church planting course to increase his knowledge in this area but has been having a difficult time finding training in this area that is not geared toward church planting in the United States culture. So, he has found several books from different sources about what God is doing around the world in reaching people through church planting. He has a collection of 5 –6 books that he is currently reading. It is very exciting learning about what God is doing in different parts of the world.
October 7th
On October 7th we had the privilege of speaking at our home church Main Street General Baptist Church in Boonville, IN. It was a great day being back at Main Street. Being able to share with our church family and them being able to go to our Sunday School class and learn about prayer. It was a good day. It was also nice to not be on the road traveling and to be able to rest a little. Not sure we are realizing how draining it is physically, mentally, and emotionally to be opening yourself up to strangers and putting your heart and passions out there week after week. We enjoy doing it but the mentally and emotionally draining effect might be an indication we are still trying to put a lot of the pressure on ourselves to make this happen. God still has some stuff to teach us!
Thoughts
David Willis best described the process of speaking week after week. Before you speak you think: “I really don’t want to do this. I don’t want to travel again. Etc.” After you speak and spend some time talking with people you think: “I’m glad we came because we met some really great people.”
(Brad) This week it hit me that The Women’s Hospital will replace us with a new photographer. This is real. Once they replace us we can not come back and step into this position again. Once again the thought arises “Do we know what we are doing?” It keeps coming back to the time we took before we committed to make sure God wants us in Honduras. For anyone considering something like this we highly recommend being sure it’s what God wants you to do at the beginning of the process. Than when the doubts come in you can go back to the time you spent with God and know you are doing what God wants. Where else would you want to be?
(Cindy) The closer our departure date the harder it is getting for Cindy to think about leaving our granddaughter Camille who is 17 months old. To think about all the things in her life we will be missing. The little day-to-day things and the big events in her life. But the God promises to take care of these things when we put Him first
(Brad) This week it hit me that The Women’s Hospital will replace us with a new photographer. This is real. Once they replace us we can not come back and step into this position again. Once again the thought arises “Do we know what we are doing?” It keeps coming back to the time we took before we committed to make sure God wants us in Honduras. For anyone considering something like this we highly recommend being sure it’s what God wants you to do at the beginning of the process. Than when the doubts come in you can go back to the time you spent with God and know you are doing what God wants. Where else would you want to be?
(Cindy) The closer our departure date the harder it is getting for Cindy to think about leaving our granddaughter Camille who is 17 months old. To think about all the things in her life we will be missing. The little day-to-day things and the big events in her life. But the God promises to take care of these things when we put Him first
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Bowling Green Kentucky
September 30th we were with pastor Rodney and Wanda Smith at Liberty General Baptist Church just outside Bowling Green, KY. It was so great to hear people who have walked for many years where we are headed and still have their passion for Christ. Their only regret being they didn’t give up all to completely follow Him sooner in life. To listen to Jerry, the former pastor of the church, stand up and with tears running down his face and talk about how he gave up his lively hood to follow God and his only regret is that he didn’t do it sooner. It’s what we needed to hear. To hear pastor Rodney tell of how they drive 60 miles each week to serve at the church because it’s what God wants them to do was so encouraging. At the end of the service they took up an offering to give us. They had already taken their normal weekly offering during the service. The offering they collected for us was 2/3 of their normal weekly offering. Amazing! They believe so much in what God is doing and going to do in Central America that they were willing to sacrifice to be a part of it. Once again, very humbling and very encouraging to be able to meet and spend some time with people who still have a passion for God and His work. Thanks.
Arkansas Trip
The weekend of the 22nd – 23rd we were in Rector and Piggott, Arkansas. Saturday the churches in the association put together a Faith Home day and we got to be there along with Sid and Vicki Smith (who all already in Honduras). David and Jillbaby Eades and the boys came up to see us and we got to spend the day with them and then we all stayed together in cabin on a lake. That was a lot of fun.
Cindy got to see cotton fields for the first time and even got to walk in a cotton field and pick some cotton. We brought a stalk (not sure if that’s the correct term) of cotton home and have it sitting in a vase in our kitchen.
Sunday morning pastor Charles and Paula Richardson allowed us to share with the congregation of Hitts Chapel General Baptist Church. After we spoke they took up the offering for the day and gave us the entire offering. Yep, that’s right. The entire church offering that day was given to us. It’s two weeks later and we’re still trying to process this. The entire offering for Sunday morning was given to us. From what I understand this is a normal practice for them when they have a guest speaker. Wow! What faith in God!
Sunday night we shared at South Canaan General Baptist Church with pastor Don and Helen Willingham. Yep, Willingham – the man the Willingham Bible Institute in Honduras is named after. Just getting to spend time with them and be around people who have made the choice to give it all to God and trust Him to provide was such and encouragement.
On the way home thinking about the money these wonderful people had given us and knowing many of them being farmers were struggling this year with the low rainfall we felt guilty taking money from them. But, if we believe God than it would be wrong of us to not accept their gifts since they are investing in God’s Kingdom and transferring the responsibility of meeting their needs from themselves to God.
Cindy got to see cotton fields for the first time and even got to walk in a cotton field and pick some cotton. We brought a stalk (not sure if that’s the correct term) of cotton home and have it sitting in a vase in our kitchen.
Sunday morning pastor Charles and Paula Richardson allowed us to share with the congregation of Hitts Chapel General Baptist Church. After we spoke they took up the offering for the day and gave us the entire offering. Yep, that’s right. The entire church offering that day was given to us. It’s two weeks later and we’re still trying to process this. The entire offering for Sunday morning was given to us. From what I understand this is a normal practice for them when they have a guest speaker. Wow! What faith in God!
Sunday night we shared at South Canaan General Baptist Church with pastor Don and Helen Willingham. Yep, Willingham – the man the Willingham Bible Institute in Honduras is named after. Just getting to spend time with them and be around people who have made the choice to give it all to God and trust Him to provide was such and encouragement.
On the way home thinking about the money these wonderful people had given us and knowing many of them being farmers were struggling this year with the low rainfall we felt guilty taking money from them. But, if we believe God than it would be wrong of us to not accept their gifts since they are investing in God’s Kingdom and transferring the responsibility of meeting their needs from themselves to God.
Indianapolis
On the 16th we were in Indianapolis at the First General Baptist Church with pastor Larry and Wanda Johnson. We had a great time sharing with them and then having lunch with the Johnsons, their daughter-in-law and their grandson.
Thoughts & Lessons
Brad spent some time with Carl Mann talking about the gifts of the Spirit, being led by the Spirit, recognizing the gifts in other people, and how to help people grow in being led by the Spirit while at the same time not letting things go so far off track that people get hurt (my concern in this area). The problem in talking with Carl is that he doesn’t know the Bible very well and so simply gives his opinion instead of referencing what the Bible says. Ok, for those who know Carl they immediately realize this is exactly the opposite of what it’s like talking with Carl. For those who don’t know Carl – he is a walking Bible constantly referencing the Bible as he talks.
Cindy was talking with Sheryl Walts recently about how hard it is for us to ask people to support us financially. Sheryl told her it’s pride. Our pride makes it hard for us to ask. At first we thought we maybe there is some pride involved with not wanting to be turned down but we really didn’t see how pride was the real issue. As we thought about it more we realized it was pride. Not pride of being turned down – rejected. Pride of having to admit that we can’t do this ourselves. We have to rely on others. It is the pride of giving up control and self-sufficiency that is the obstacle.
God is teaching us a lot through this process. When He is confident we have learned what we need to learn then He will get us to Honduras. Patience while this learning process is progressing is not always easy.
Cindy was talking with Sheryl Walts recently about how hard it is for us to ask people to support us financially. Sheryl told her it’s pride. Our pride makes it hard for us to ask. At first we thought we maybe there is some pride involved with not wanting to be turned down but we really didn’t see how pride was the real issue. As we thought about it more we realized it was pride. Not pride of being turned down – rejected. Pride of having to admit that we can’t do this ourselves. We have to rely on others. It is the pride of giving up control and self-sufficiency that is the obstacle.
God is teaching us a lot through this process. When He is confident we have learned what we need to learn then He will get us to Honduras. Patience while this learning process is progressing is not always easy.
Thoughts
Some days we wonder “What in the world are we doing?” We look at all that will need to be done in Honduras and know we don’t have the ability to do get it done. Some days we question can we even do this? Can we really move to another country, live there, and be productive. Can we leave our granddaughter? Do we even want to leave our granddaughter when we think about all the stuff we will be missing as she grows up? Once we leave we can’t come back and walk into the hospital account again. Are we crazy?
Then it comes back to what is God wanting to do through us to make His Name great? He owns us (I Cor 6:19-20) and it’s not for us to decide how He wants to use us. It’s His decision and we are simply to be obedient. God promises when we put Him and His Kingdom first He will take care of the other stuff. We trust Him to be faithful to His promises and we know He has opened the door for us to be in Honduras. So we go. Fear, concern, doubts and all knowing this is His vision and purpose – not ours.
Then it comes back to what is God wanting to do through us to make His Name great? He owns us (I Cor 6:19-20) and it’s not for us to decide how He wants to use us. It’s His decision and we are simply to be obedient. God promises when we put Him and His Kingdom first He will take care of the other stuff. We trust Him to be faithful to His promises and we know He has opened the door for us to be in Honduras. So we go. Fear, concern, doubts and all knowing this is His vision and purpose – not ours.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
September 2007
We are sending Thank You notes to all who have become are part of the Church Planting team in Central America (sorry Tom Sharp but we just want to personally express our appreciation to those who are joining the Team). If you haven’t gotten one yet you should be getting one.
The first week of September Cindy was in Honduras with the Medical/Dental team and they got to experience first-hand hurricane Felix. She was so distraught over the entire experience that when Felix actually passed through where they were she slept through it. It did give the team a chance to try out the new medical clinic that Cindy will be in charge of in Honduras.
We received a call from Amy Wolf at Bluegrass United Methodist Church. Bill Files had given her one of our brochures. They are giving us an opportunity to be part of their Christmas mission spotlight. Wow! For a church who doesn’t know us allowing us to do this is very special. Thanks BGUMC.
Billy Long arranged for us to share at his church Immanuel United Church of Christ on the west side of Evansville. We got to share for the entire Sunday School hour and they even allowed us to briefly speak to the entire congregation during the service. Once again, for a church not associated with the General Baptists to open their doors to us is not a normal occurrence. We appreciate pastor Paul’s willingness to let us come and share.
The first week of September Cindy was in Honduras with the Medical/Dental team and they got to experience first-hand hurricane Felix. She was so distraught over the entire experience that when Felix actually passed through where they were she slept through it. It did give the team a chance to try out the new medical clinic that Cindy will be in charge of in Honduras.
We received a call from Amy Wolf at Bluegrass United Methodist Church. Bill Files had given her one of our brochures. They are giving us an opportunity to be part of their Christmas mission spotlight. Wow! For a church who doesn’t know us allowing us to do this is very special. Thanks BGUMC.
Billy Long arranged for us to share at his church Immanuel United Church of Christ on the west side of Evansville. We got to share for the entire Sunday School hour and they even allowed us to briefly speak to the entire congregation during the service. Once again, for a church not associated with the General Baptists to open their doors to us is not a normal occurrence. We appreciate pastor Paul’s willingness to let us come and share.
Monday, October 1, 2007
August 2007
August 2007:
Change in tactics. Revelation! Instead of mailing letters and making phone calls (easy to turn a person by ignoring a letter or not returning a call – Brad should know he does it frequently). Brad decided to personally visit all the churches in Evansville, Princeton, Mt. Vernon, Newburgh, Boonville, and Henderson, It’s much harder to turn someone down when they’re standing in front of you. So, over the span of two weeks Brad visited 20 churches and spoke with two (yep, count em, two) pastors. Those pesky secretaries can be hard to get past and many of the churches do not have full-time pastors so nobody is around during the day. He did have an envelope with a brochure and explanation he left in the door. This eventually resulted in two scheduled speaking opportunities. Not sure is was such a great revelation but it did change things up a bit which was nice.
You work and work and work and work to try and get an chance to share your heart and then when a pastor gives you opportunity your first thought is “I’m not worthy of this.” We NEVER want to lose that feeling. If we ever get to the point where we think we are really something will someone please set us straight. And, don’t feel like you have to be nice about it. We are serious about this. We ask for your help to keep us thinking right.
Cindy is much better about seeing the spiritual battle that is going on. To help us, especially Brad, to remember who the real battle is with (Eph 6) – principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness – we posted a saying in various parts of the house. It reads “Primero pienso sobre el espiritual”. (It’s the best we can do with Spanish right now). It says “First, think about the spiritual” to remind us to first think about the spiritual battle going on as we move through this process. Ok, well be honest, somedays we do a better job of this than others.
During he month we had the opportunity to speak at the Christian Motorcycle Association monthly meeting. Brad loves to be around these guys and gals. They are such an encouragement hearing their stories and their commitment to God. We also had the opportunity to be with Pastor John and Jane Swain and Mt. Gilead General Baptist Church in Boonville, IN. Brad also had the opportunity to spend a morning with men of North Friendship General Baptist Church in Lynnville, IN. Breakfast was great.
The most powerful thing that happened during August was when we got our first report on the number of shares that people had pledged to support us. When we opened up the spreadsheet and saw the names it brought tears to our eyes. Real, live, actual tears. We just stared at the spreadsheet in amazement. All we can say is “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
Change in tactics. Revelation! Instead of mailing letters and making phone calls (easy to turn a person by ignoring a letter or not returning a call – Brad should know he does it frequently). Brad decided to personally visit all the churches in Evansville, Princeton, Mt. Vernon, Newburgh, Boonville, and Henderson, It’s much harder to turn someone down when they’re standing in front of you. So, over the span of two weeks Brad visited 20 churches and spoke with two (yep, count em, two) pastors. Those pesky secretaries can be hard to get past and many of the churches do not have full-time pastors so nobody is around during the day. He did have an envelope with a brochure and explanation he left in the door. This eventually resulted in two scheduled speaking opportunities. Not sure is was such a great revelation but it did change things up a bit which was nice.
You work and work and work and work to try and get an chance to share your heart and then when a pastor gives you opportunity your first thought is “I’m not worthy of this.” We NEVER want to lose that feeling. If we ever get to the point where we think we are really something will someone please set us straight. And, don’t feel like you have to be nice about it. We are serious about this. We ask for your help to keep us thinking right.
Cindy is much better about seeing the spiritual battle that is going on. To help us, especially Brad, to remember who the real battle is with (Eph 6) – principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness – we posted a saying in various parts of the house. It reads “Primero pienso sobre el espiritual”. (It’s the best we can do with Spanish right now). It says “First, think about the spiritual” to remind us to first think about the spiritual battle going on as we move through this process. Ok, well be honest, somedays we do a better job of this than others.
During he month we had the opportunity to speak at the Christian Motorcycle Association monthly meeting. Brad loves to be around these guys and gals. They are such an encouragement hearing their stories and their commitment to God. We also had the opportunity to be with Pastor John and Jane Swain and Mt. Gilead General Baptist Church in Boonville, IN. Brad also had the opportunity to spend a morning with men of North Friendship General Baptist Church in Lynnville, IN. Breakfast was great.
The most powerful thing that happened during August was when we got our first report on the number of shares that people had pledged to support us. When we opened up the spreadsheet and saw the names it brought tears to our eyes. Real, live, actual tears. We just stared at the spreadsheet in amazement. All we can say is “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!”
July 2007
July 2007:
On July 8th We had the opportunity to speak at Liberty Hill General Baptist Church in Dexter, MO and St. Joes General Baptist Church in St. Joe, MO. We had a great time with Pastor Phil & Cindy Warren at Liberty Hill and they were so nice to have us out for lunch after the service. That night we were with Pastor Dan Sitze and the congregation of St. Joe’s. We then drove home and got to the house about 1:30 am Monday.
July 15th some long time friends of our Tyrone and Melissa Edwards allowed us to speak at their church on the west side of Evansville. Tyrone is the pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church. Tyrone was doing a series on the Fruits of the Spirit and he was up to self-control. Tyrone said he was thinking who needs self-control the most and he thought of Brad so that’s why he asked us to come. We did very much appreciate the opportunity and had a great time with the church and with lunch afterwards.
We attended the General Baptist Mission & Ministry Summit (formerly known as the GA). It was our first introduction to the General Baptists as a whole. We had a great time. Meeting a lot of very nice people and getting to hang out with several of the other missionaries who were home and at the Summit. It was very humbling the number of people who told us how excited they were that we are going to Honduras to work in starting churches in Central America. On the final night they had a commissioning ceremony for all new missionaries. It was a very powerful ceremony when you 400 – 500 people praying for you as you are being commissioned to be sent out. After the commissioning we headed home and arrived around 2:00 am Thursday morning. We’re getting too old for late nights. Back in good ole days we drive all night and not be bothered. Now it gets to be 10:00 pm and we’re pulling over to get coffee.
After getting home from the Summit and all the contacts we made with all those people who were so excited we are going to Honduras we thought filling out our speaking schedule for the remainder of the year would Strange thing begin happening. When we contacted these people many couldn’t seem to work us into their church’s schedule or very interested in supporting us. Not exactly the response we were expecting.
So, what did Brad do, he went to his Wednesday morning men’s group and complained about it. That’s a pretty spiritually mature way to handle it, don’t you think? Anyway, Brad was telling them about how he wasn’t sure how excited people were about us going to Honduras because they didn’t seem too willing to support us. Bruce Damm cleared it up for Brad when he said “Yea, their glad you’re going so they don’t have to go.” Doubt that’s the truth but it was pretty humorous and allowed Brad to regain perspective.
This is God’s plan/vision – not our plan. We must be faithful to process but ultimately it’s up to God – not us.
It’s hard for Brad to give up control – even if it’s being given up to God
This is a learning process for us. God is teaching us as we go through this process. We are learning what God needs to get out of this so we will be where He wants us to be when we eventually get to Honduras.
We are learning to give up control. We are learning patience. We are learning what it means to really have to trust and have faith in God to provide. Guess we shouldn’t have been asking God to increase our faith in Him.
On July 22nd we spoke at Pleasant Union General Baptist Church in Lewisburg, KY and had a fun time being around fellow members of the Big Blue Nation (that’s Kentucky basketball fans for you who don’t know your college basketball). The following weekend we spent with Pastor Harrell Hungate and Arrington Prairie General Baptist Church. It was such a pleasure to meet Harrell and Wanda Hungate and hear their passion for God.
On July 8th We had the opportunity to speak at Liberty Hill General Baptist Church in Dexter, MO and St. Joes General Baptist Church in St. Joe, MO. We had a great time with Pastor Phil & Cindy Warren at Liberty Hill and they were so nice to have us out for lunch after the service. That night we were with Pastor Dan Sitze and the congregation of St. Joe’s. We then drove home and got to the house about 1:30 am Monday.
July 15th some long time friends of our Tyrone and Melissa Edwards allowed us to speak at their church on the west side of Evansville. Tyrone is the pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church. Tyrone was doing a series on the Fruits of the Spirit and he was up to self-control. Tyrone said he was thinking who needs self-control the most and he thought of Brad so that’s why he asked us to come. We did very much appreciate the opportunity and had a great time with the church and with lunch afterwards.
We attended the General Baptist Mission & Ministry Summit (formerly known as the GA). It was our first introduction to the General Baptists as a whole. We had a great time. Meeting a lot of very nice people and getting to hang out with several of the other missionaries who were home and at the Summit. It was very humbling the number of people who told us how excited they were that we are going to Honduras to work in starting churches in Central America. On the final night they had a commissioning ceremony for all new missionaries. It was a very powerful ceremony when you 400 – 500 people praying for you as you are being commissioned to be sent out. After the commissioning we headed home and arrived around 2:00 am Thursday morning. We’re getting too old for late nights. Back in good ole days we drive all night and not be bothered. Now it gets to be 10:00 pm and we’re pulling over to get coffee.
After getting home from the Summit and all the contacts we made with all those people who were so excited we are going to Honduras we thought filling out our speaking schedule for the remainder of the year would Strange thing begin happening. When we contacted these people many couldn’t seem to work us into their church’s schedule or very interested in supporting us. Not exactly the response we were expecting.
So, what did Brad do, he went to his Wednesday morning men’s group and complained about it. That’s a pretty spiritually mature way to handle it, don’t you think? Anyway, Brad was telling them about how he wasn’t sure how excited people were about us going to Honduras because they didn’t seem too willing to support us. Bruce Damm cleared it up for Brad when he said “Yea, their glad you’re going so they don’t have to go.” Doubt that’s the truth but it was pretty humorous and allowed Brad to regain perspective.
This is God’s plan/vision – not our plan. We must be faithful to process but ultimately it’s up to God – not us.
It’s hard for Brad to give up control – even if it’s being given up to God
This is a learning process for us. God is teaching us as we go through this process. We are learning what God needs to get out of this so we will be where He wants us to be when we eventually get to Honduras.
We are learning to give up control. We are learning patience. We are learning what it means to really have to trust and have faith in God to provide. Guess we shouldn’t have been asking God to increase our faith in Him.
On July 22nd we spoke at Pleasant Union General Baptist Church in Lewisburg, KY and had a fun time being around fellow members of the Big Blue Nation (that’s Kentucky basketball fans for you who don’t know your college basketball). The following weekend we spent with Pastor Harrell Hungate and Arrington Prairie General Baptist Church. It was such a pleasure to meet Harrell and Wanda Hungate and hear their passion for God.
June 2007
June 2007:
We begin the fun task of calling churches to follow up on our letters. Lessons learned from this experience:
If they tell you they need to take it to the Deacon Board it’s simply a polite way of saying “No.” – you can just mark it down
Leaving a voicemail message is useless.
The turndowns are extremely discouraging. Good training for Honduras.
There are some very nice pastors out there who were a pleasure to talk with
Somewhere along the way the Church seems to have lost it’s understanding of it’s primary purpose (the evangelization of the world) and many times see taking the gospel to the world as just another program of the church.
Sometimes it seemed God was using our phone calls to encourage the pastor. Please pray for pastors. Most have such a heart for God but through the years have been worn down.
We had our first speaking opportunity at Howell General Baptist Church. Brad put a presentation together and then on the way to the church he decided he didn’t like it and created an entire new presentation on the way. This is the basic presentation we are still using today.
Brad also begin meeting with Paul Medcalf to learn more about what is going on with missions, import/export business, and people using business as missions around the world. Paul has a wealth of knowledge and contacts in this area and has been a great help in opening our eyes to what is happening around the world with local contacts. We see this as building our knowledge base so when we run across an opportunity where something along these lines might be useful we will already have the contacts in place to take advantage.
We went out to eat with some friends and when we were leaving after supper they gave us a check to go toward our expenses for Honduras. Talk about overwhelming and humbling. The thought that goes through your mind is “I am definitely not worthy of this.” It is greatly appreciated and extremely humbling. This has been repeated several times with this same couple. Words are not adequate to express what this means to us.
We begin the fun task of calling churches to follow up on our letters. Lessons learned from this experience:
If they tell you they need to take it to the Deacon Board it’s simply a polite way of saying “No.” – you can just mark it down
Leaving a voicemail message is useless.
The turndowns are extremely discouraging. Good training for Honduras.
There are some very nice pastors out there who were a pleasure to talk with
Somewhere along the way the Church seems to have lost it’s understanding of it’s primary purpose (the evangelization of the world) and many times see taking the gospel to the world as just another program of the church.
Sometimes it seemed God was using our phone calls to encourage the pastor. Please pray for pastors. Most have such a heart for God but through the years have been worn down.
We had our first speaking opportunity at Howell General Baptist Church. Brad put a presentation together and then on the way to the church he decided he didn’t like it and created an entire new presentation on the way. This is the basic presentation we are still using today.
Brad also begin meeting with Paul Medcalf to learn more about what is going on with missions, import/export business, and people using business as missions around the world. Paul has a wealth of knowledge and contacts in this area and has been a great help in opening our eyes to what is happening around the world with local contacts. We see this as building our knowledge base so when we run across an opportunity where something along these lines might be useful we will already have the contacts in place to take advantage.
We went out to eat with some friends and when we were leaving after supper they gave us a check to go toward our expenses for Honduras. Talk about overwhelming and humbling. The thought that goes through your mind is “I am definitely not worthy of this.” It is greatly appreciated and extremely humbling. This has been repeated several times with this same couple. Words are not adequate to express what this means to us.
May 2007
May 2007:
We begin composing letters to be sent to all those on this list explaining what we were doing and to ask them to go to the Lord and see if He wanted them to be a part of this team. We had three primary objectives we wanted to accomplish with the letter:
Let people know what we were doing and the vision God has given the General Baptists in Central America.
To be up front and let people see what was required to get a missionary to the field by including prayer requests and our full budget
To ask people to trust God to guide them about being a part of this team. If He wanted them to be a part of this team then to completely trust God to provide what He wanted them to contribute.
Originally we divided the list of names into two categories and composed a different letter for each category. One letter went into a lot more detail than the other. After many revisions we took them both to Scott Strouse and asked him to read the letters and give us his honest opinion. After talking with Scott and making a few changes he suggested the three of us agreed we should send the same detailed letter to everyone.
We also put together a letter to send to churches explaining who we are, what we are doing, and asking them if they would allow us to come share with their congregation about what God is doing in Central America. The plan was to send letters and then follow up with a phone call.
In May we begin mailing these letters to churches and friends. We mailed about 200 letters to friends and another 100 plus letters to churches.
We begin composing letters to be sent to all those on this list explaining what we were doing and to ask them to go to the Lord and see if He wanted them to be a part of this team. We had three primary objectives we wanted to accomplish with the letter:
Let people know what we were doing and the vision God has given the General Baptists in Central America.
To be up front and let people see what was required to get a missionary to the field by including prayer requests and our full budget
To ask people to trust God to guide them about being a part of this team. If He wanted them to be a part of this team then to completely trust God to provide what He wanted them to contribute.
Originally we divided the list of names into two categories and composed a different letter for each category. One letter went into a lot more detail than the other. After many revisions we took them both to Scott Strouse and asked him to read the letters and give us his honest opinion. After talking with Scott and making a few changes he suggested the three of us agreed we should send the same detailed letter to everyone.
We also put together a letter to send to churches explaining who we are, what we are doing, and asking them if they would allow us to come share with their congregation about what God is doing in Central America. The plan was to send letters and then follow up with a phone call.
In May we begin mailing these letters to churches and friends. We mailed about 200 letters to friends and another 100 plus letters to churches.
Friday, September 28, 2007
A Summary of Our Adventures from March 2007 to April 2007
During a short-term mission trip to Honduras we saw the complete vision God has given the General Baptist in Honduras and decided we wanted to be a part of this vision. Just to be sure we were not making this decision under the influence of a “short-term mission trip spiritual high” we decided to go home, spend some time praying and talking, and see if we still felt the same way.
Several days after returning we realized we were not on the “spiritual high” and this is where God wanted us. We emailed Johnny Hibbs to let him know we would be interested in pursuing this. He emailed us back in about 15 minutes letting us know Jack Eberhardt would be in Evansville the next day and would we want to meet with him. Well, it didn’t work out for us to meet with Jack the next day but we did meet with him a week later. After the meeting we realized it’s really going to happen. We are really going to Honduras.
We have wanted and tried to go somewhere for so many years and nothing happened. We had accepted the fact that maybe God wanted us to stay here and help get others to the mission field. And then this happened. Wow!
So we started the process – filling out applications, getting copies of transcripts, reading books. For us this also involved learning about the General Baptist. We looked over their Statement of Faith to make sure we could were comfortable with it. We also found out to go as General Baptist missionaries we had to be members of a General Baptist church. We were directed to Main Street General Baptist Church and begin attending in April 2007. Pastor Kevin Morris and Main Street has been so wonderful. They have welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home and a part of the church body. The truth is we wish we could spend more time at the church but our speaking schedule doesn’t allow us to be there on a very regular basis.
We then commenced the process of telling our family. Surprisingly it went very well. Can’t say that all are excited but all are not opposed – which is nice. About this same time we begin putting together a list of people who we would like to be a part of this church planting team in Central America. As we were putting the list together we tried to listen to the Lord about the composition of the list of names. We ended up with a list of about 200 people.
Several days after returning we realized we were not on the “spiritual high” and this is where God wanted us. We emailed Johnny Hibbs to let him know we would be interested in pursuing this. He emailed us back in about 15 minutes letting us know Jack Eberhardt would be in Evansville the next day and would we want to meet with him. Well, it didn’t work out for us to meet with Jack the next day but we did meet with him a week later. After the meeting we realized it’s really going to happen. We are really going to Honduras.
We have wanted and tried to go somewhere for so many years and nothing happened. We had accepted the fact that maybe God wanted us to stay here and help get others to the mission field. And then this happened. Wow!
So we started the process – filling out applications, getting copies of transcripts, reading books. For us this also involved learning about the General Baptist. We looked over their Statement of Faith to make sure we could were comfortable with it. We also found out to go as General Baptist missionaries we had to be members of a General Baptist church. We were directed to Main Street General Baptist Church and begin attending in April 2007. Pastor Kevin Morris and Main Street has been so wonderful. They have welcomed us with open arms and made us feel at home and a part of the church body. The truth is we wish we could spend more time at the church but our speaking schedule doesn’t allow us to be there on a very regular basis.
We then commenced the process of telling our family. Surprisingly it went very well. Can’t say that all are excited but all are not opposed – which is nice. About this same time we begin putting together a list of people who we would like to be a part of this church planting team in Central America. As we were putting the list together we tried to listen to the Lord about the composition of the list of names. We ended up with a list of about 200 people.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)