"Missions Means Me" in Grove City, Ohio

Pastor Stan Slabaugh

After the missions conference in Bourbonnais ended Wednesday night we journeyed to Bible Baptist Church in Grove City, Ohio for the start of their missions conference. This church has been led by Pastor Stan Slabaugh for the last 14 years. The theme for the conference was "Missions Means Me" and the guest speaker was Missionary Walter Stevens who is a 30 year missionary to the Roma people in Eastern Europe.

Missionary Stevens

On Thursday night I presented our mission to Thailand and preached a short message before making way for the special speaker. Brother Stevens did a wonderful job and hearts were stirred at the invitation time. God really blessed the kick-off to the service. 

Speaking Thursday Night

On Friday morning there was an activity for the missionaries to the Anthony-Thomas candy factory in Columbus. It was neat to see how the candy is made and how the operation works. We appreciated then pastor and his staff taking us out on the tour.

On the way to the tour

Then Friday there was another great service. Another presentation was given and the missionary preached a short message and then Brother Stevens preached up a storm afterwards. God blessed and people were stirred once again. 

The parade

Then on Saturday morning we marched in a parade and handed out John and Romans to everyone along the two mile parade route. Bible Baptist Church had a float and threw out candy as we worked the sidelines with the John and Romans. Toward the end of the route I was able to talk to a young adult named Timothy who just moved to the area from Youngstown. I invited him to church and then asked him about his eternity. He said that he had been saved before, but didn't know that he was going to Heaven. He told me that he hadn't been living right. I presented the Gospel to Timothy and I explained to him that works have nothing to do with salvation and that he can't begin to live right until he has the Holy Spirit of God living on the inside and that comes through trusting Christ as his personal Saviour. Timothy bowed his head and asked Christ to save him. Timothy said he is going to come to church, but didn't make it Sunday morning. Please pray for him to come next week and for him to grow in the Lord.

Float for Bible Baptist Church

Then Saturday evening the church had an International Dinner with the evening service to follow. Brother Xavier Parak missionary to Siberia presented his work. This is his home church and he has gone to the church I use to pastor and presented his work there. This brother is going to a very needy field and I believe he is going to do a great job. I actually met him on a Wednesday night at my home church over a year ago. He had already speaks Japanese because he lived in Japan once and is learning Russian now. He is very good with linguistics! Brother Stevens preached another great message afterwards and all the missionaries were blessed by the church after the service with some special gifts.

Missionary Parak

On Sunday morning I taught a boys Sunday school class and my wife taught a girls Sunday school class. It was a great time for both of us to spend some time with the kids and to get to know the teachers a little better.

Mrs. Wallace and Mrs. McKeon

Bro. McKeon and Bro. Wallace

Then the morning service was spectacular with an awesome spirit in the service. The choir and special music was great and the auditorium was full. Brother Stevens preached another great message and decisions were made at the invitation time.

Great Sunday morning crowd

Great music and orchestra

 Then Sunday night was the finish to a great conference. Brother Stevens who is already supported by this church went ahead and presented his work for an update. It was a blessing to hear about all the Roma Gyspies that they have reached and churches they have started. He preached a great message and at the end of the service the pastor announced how much they raised in Faith Promise and it was $5,000 more than raised last year. The pastor also announced that all of the missionaries will be picked up for support. Praise the Lord! We will be heading to Indianapolis tomorrow for our next meeting.