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.