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We praise the Lord for a wonderful year of ministry in 2007, participating in a total of 50 ministry opportunities during our 42 weeks out on the road. Again this year we spent part of our summer in pioneer mission meetings with evangelist Rick Ingle from Denton, TX. Pioneer mission revivals are normally held in areas where the majority of evangelical churches are small and struggling. Most of them have never experienced a revival with a full-time evangelistic team. After the first service, they really get excited about the revival and begin bringing their lost friends and family members to church. Visit our blog on this web site to view some of the pictures from our mission work in 2007.
Our first pioneer mission revival was a weekend meeting at First Baptist Church in Ignacio, CO. On Friday, we began the meeting with 20 in attendance, and by Saturday night, our crowd had grown to 40. That night 16 year old Samantha attended at the invitation of one of the church members and the result was that she gave her heart to Christ. Eighteen year old Matthew also came that night with his grandparents. He had just been released from prison, and it was a victorious night as he came forward with tears in his eyes to be saved. On Sunday evening, we ended the service with the baptism of two girls. Afterwards we went to the fellowship hall for snacks and to say our goodbyes to the folks. During the fellowship, the pastor received a call from a man who wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. John came to the service with his wife the first night of the revival. Although he had been saved several years before, he had never been baptized. He did not come back to the revival after that first evening, but evidently the Holy Spirit was at work convicting him of his need to be obedient in baptism and join his wife in church. The pastor told John that the baptistry was still full of water, and we would all wait for him to arrive so he could be baptized.
Our next stop was at Cheraw Baptist Church near La Junta, CO. Cheraw is a small community of about 500 and the landmark for finding the church building is a huge abandoned grain elevator sitting in the church’s front yard. On Sunday morning, we began services with their usual crowd of 20 folks, but that evening 30 attended. On Monday evening, 21 children came for the pizza supper which was more than our total attendance on Sunday morning. Our crowd grew to over 40 in the service that evening. By the end of our time there, over 10 folks had surrendered their lives to Jesus in a church that normally runs 20 on Sunday.
After a busy summer of pioneer mission ministry, we began our fall schedule leading worship at a singles retreat on Labor Day weekend at Alto Frio Baptist Camp near Leakey, TX. On Sunday afternoon, we all went to Garner State Park to minister to the hundreds of folks who were enjoying the holiday weekend there. Some of the singles gave away hotdogs and cold water to the campers, while others set up booths for face painting and crafts for the children. Witnessing teams canvassed the park sharing gospel tracts. We took our instruments and sang at the campsite where the hotdogs were being grilled and the craft booths were set up. Everyone worked steadily for over 3 hours doing their part in the ministry operation. Over 20 people prayed to receive Christ that day at the state park!
Our next stop was at Bethel Baptist Church in Roswell, NM teaming with preacher Dr. D.L. Lowrie from Lubbock, TX. The congregation at Bethel had attempted to purchase some land adjoining their property from a couple living beside their church. However, the couple has not been interested in selling any of the property to the church. The deacon body and ministry staff felt direction from the Lord to quit thinking about the land they needed to expand and begin to minister to their neighbors. They have been able to build a relationship with the couple, and on Tuesday evening they attended the revival. It was the first time they had attended the church, and the man raised his hand during the invitation time indicating he had prayed to receive Christ.
In October, we returned to Northside Baptist Church in Del Rio, TX for our 8th time. Ministering with evangelist Herman Cramer from Seguin, TX, the Lord blessed as members brought their lost friends and family to the services. On Sunday morning, Jesse, a successful attorney, and his wife Rose attended the opening revival service with a church member. Rose came forward first during the invitation and then Jesse followed to surrender his life to Christ.
By the end of the week 3 others had asked Jesus to be their Savior.
We returned to Cornerstone Fellowship in Caddo Mills, TX for a tent meeting with Bro. Herman Cramer. The Holy Spirit was evident in the services as there were decisions in every service. On Tuesday, Michelle attended the services in a wheel chair. A few months earlier, she had been in a car crash that killed the driver of the car she was in. Michelle gave her heart to Jesus that night and 7 year old Raya was also saved.
At First Baptist Church in Linden, TX, the evangelist for the week was pastor Joel Horne from First Baptist Church in Clovis, NM. By the end of the revival 13 had trusted Christ. We left Linden to travel across the state of Texas to begin revival the next week at Bro. Joel’s church in Clovis. Evangelist David Burk from Arlington, TX served with us during our time there. On Sunday morning a 74 year old deacon came forward during the invitation to ask Jesus into his heart. Bro. Ted’s testimony is that he spent all his life doing all the right things for God, but he knew something was missing. The missing element was a personal relationship with Jesus.
The last 4 weeks of revival for the year were spent teaming with David Burk again. At Lakeshore Baptist Church in Lake Dallas, Henry and his 11 year old son Trey attended the revival. On Wednesday evening both father and son came forward to give their lives to Christ. Two other teenage young men were also saved. At First Baptist Church in Ft. Stockton, the Lord blessed in a wonderful time of renewal for the church and 5 came to know Christ.
As we reflect upon the year we are so thankful for God’s provision in our lives. Christmas 2007 will be a little different for us because we will be celebrating it in our very own house. You know, the kind with a real foundation and NO WHEELS!!! About 8 years ago, we purchased a small townhouse in Ruidoso, NM which we thought would be our retirement home. As it worked out, we only got to be at our townhouse around Christmas time, and then we allowed a broker to rent it out to vacationers during the year. We never really got to live in the home full time. Two years ago we sold the townhouse, and began looking for a home in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. That area is a really great central location for all of our travels. This past June, we found God‘s house for us in Arlington, TX. At the time we closed on our house, we were already in Colorado ministering in pioneer mission churches. We had to do everything by fax and mail, and then made the first month’s payment on our home before we ever got back to move in! We have lived full-time in our travel trailer for over 20 years and we did not realize how much we missed having a home. Because we live in Arlington now, we can make it home almost every weekend to spend a couple of days out of the trailer.
We appreciate your prayers and concern for us as we minister wherever the Lord opens the doors. You help make the difference through your prayers for our safety and health. There are times when we minister in places where the travel expenses we incur far exceed the love offering that is given. However; the Lord always makes provision through other churches who can give more and ministry partners like you. Thank you again for your continued support of our ministry.
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