Launching into the Deep in Lawrence, Kansas

Pastor Scott Hanks

We travelled on Wednesday from Marion, Iowa to Lawrence, Kansas to Heritage Baptist Church for their Faith Promise Missions Conference. Their theme was "Launch Out Into The Deep." Pastor Scott Hanks is the pastor of this wonderful church. They had seven different missionaries in for the conference and Dr. Bob Smith from the Trinity Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas was their guest speaker. Dr. Smith preached some great messages throughout the conference.

Dr. Bob Smith

Coming to Heritage Baptist Church was a little bit of a home coming for us. Not only had I been privileged enough to preach for Pastor Hanks from time to time over the years, but my son got married in this church. My daughter-in-law is Faith Painter, who use to be Faith Smith, her family attends this church. In fact her parents took us out to eat Friday night. It was great to spend some time visiting with them.

Bro. and Mrs. Kirkland Smith

We also had the privilege of seeing Travis Miller who is attending the Heritage Baptist College here at the church. Travis comes from Lincoln Baptist Church where I use to be the pastor. Interestingly enough my wife led his mom to Christ out soul winning on a Thursday night in 2009. She had an Episcopal background. Then I was able to later lead here husband to Christ who had a Catholic background. I was also able to lead Travis to Christ that year. The whole family got baptized at our church and became faithful. Now his dad is a deacon in our church and his mom is a Sunday school teacher and faithfully runs our African bus route in our home church. Now here is Travis at Bible college training for the ministry. God is a great God!

Travis Miller

While here I also was able to have an old reunion with Brother Shawn Ham. Brother Ham and I went to church together as little kids at a church in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a friend and good brother in Christ. Back when he lived in Nebraska we would sometimes go and win souls together. It is great to see him and his family faithfully serving in this great church!

Brother Shawn Ham

On Thursday afternoon we went out on the soul winning bus being driven by Pastor Hanks himself. While out door knocking I was able to meet Matthew. He said he was unsure about his eternity, so I took my New Testament and showed him God's map to Heaven. He bowed his head and trusted Christ as His Saviour. He asked a lot of questions about the church program for the family and wants to get his wife and two children into church.

Pastor Hanks leading the soul winning!

Matthew after getting saved!

My wife's soul winning partner, Shania

On Thursday evening Pastor Hanks had me give testimony and present our ministry to Thailand. It was a great time giving testimony in this church that I am so familiar with the folks in. Truly a great work is being done here in this church for the cause of missions. Dr. Bob Smith was preaching great messages each evening. Pastor Hanks set a goal for the church to add 15 new missionaries this year!

On Saturday morning they asked me to go on a Lawrence bus route and visit a Chin family from Burma that comes. They sent a bus worker from the route that knows the family with my wife and I, named Adrienne. She introduced us to the family and my wife and I visited with them. They weren't sure if the husband was truly saved, so they asked me to talk to him. I spoke to him a little bit in the Burmese language, but my Burmese is not very strong. However, his English is much better than my Burmese and he gave a testimony of trusting Christ when he was a teenager in Burma. We visited about the land and area that I have such a heart for and then moved onto make some other visits. The family came to church Sunday morning.

Adrienne and my wife Saturday morning

Maung and his family on Sunday

I taught the boy and girl teen Sunday school class on Sunday morning. The had a special before I taught the lesson and even gave me a nice love gift afterwards. I was very impressed with the teachers, helpers and the kids themselves. The entire program here is very first class. Then I preached teen church during the morning service. God blessed with one getting saved during the invitation time. It is good to be used as a tool of God!

Special in Teen Sunday School Class

Update: My daughter Rachel was supposed to have surgery on Monday morning, but we had to switch surgeons, so she will be having surgery on Tuesday morning now. We will travel to Lincoln tomorrow from Lawrence so we can be there for the surgery on Tuesday. Then because of time frame and the logistics, my wife and I will be flying out to Parkersburg, WV for a missions conference. Please pray for the surgery to go well and for our travels, when we fly back we drive to Arkansas. We definitely stay busy with our meetings! 

From Rosemount, MN to Marion, IA

Pastor Dave Clear

We made it into Rosemount, Minnesota from Michigan on Friday evening for a weekend missions emphasis with First Baptist Church of Rosemount. It is a great church being led by Pastor Dave Clear. We were excited to come to this great church up in the twin cities area. We felt privileged to stay in the home of Al and Peggy Teller who have been faithful members of the church for a very long time. They treated us much better than we deserved! 

Al Teller

On Saturday morning we met Brother Stephen Fletcher at the church for soul winning. He gave us an area to go to and then had us meet back at the church a couple of hours later. Brother Fletcher is one of the assistant pastors at First Baptist Church and oversees the bus ministry. He is a sharp young man that I believe the Lord will use greatly to influence the bus ministry in this church. 

Brother Stephen Fletcher

While out door knocking my wife met Julian and was able to lead him to Christ. He was supposed to come on Sunday morning but over slept, please pray that he will come the next Sunday. Then I met a man named Joe who is looking for a church. I talked to Joe and promoted the church to him. Then I took sometime to talk to him about eternal things. Joe said, he wasn't sure if he has actually ever been saved, even though he knows he believes in Christ and that he is the only way to go to Heaven. So after I took Joe through the Romans Road, he bowed his head and trusted Christ. Joe is planning on visiting the church in the next few weeks, please pray that he does!

My wife and girls out door knocking

Then on Sunday, I taught the College and Career class for Sunday school. Then during the evening service, Pastor Clear had me present our ministry and preach the evening message. Folks seemed moved by the message and I was praying many would make decisions for their Faith Promise pledges. They emphasis missions for the whole month of October. Please pray for this church as they strive to reach their area and as they are pushing for an increase in their missions outreach.

Pastor Tim McCurdy

Monday morning we headed to Marion, Iowa for a missions conference at the Gospel Light Baptist Church. Pastor Tim McCurdy has been the pastor there since January 1st, 2018. He is doing a wonderful job as he is shifting the church toward a greater missions emphasis. They were holding their first ever missions conference in this church. I had presented at this church before when Pastor McCurdy was just the interim pastor. He asked me to come back through for their first conference. It was an honor to attend. 

Pastor Humbert preaching

Their guest speaker was Pastor Bruce Humbert from Sauk Trail Baptist Temple in Richton Park, Illinois. Pastor Humbert did a fantastic job preaching and hearts were stirred each night of the conference. On Monday night I presented the ministry. The special music was fabulous and we really enjoyed getting to stay in Pastor McCurdy's home. The whole church was very hospitable. We travelled on Wednesday to Lawrence, Kansas for a missions conference starting that night. Please pray for God's moving there at Heritage Baptist Church!

Special music

Charlevoix, Central Lake, and a Prayer Request

Pastor Phil Green

After leaving the conference in Grass Lake, Michigan we travelled to Charlevoix, Michigan to be with the Bible Baptist Church there. The pastor is Brother Phil Green who has been the pastor here since 2014. He had me preach their evening service on Thursday night. On Saturday I went out visiting and door knocking with him. Then Sunday I attended the men's prayer meeting before Sunday school and attended the pastors class before preaching the morning service. 

The pie judging

They then had a pie baking contest after the service. The judge was the pastor's sister in law who was visiting from Wisconsin. Then afterwards the pastor preached the afternoon service. He preached a themed message to go with the pie contest called "A Slice of Humble Pie." Then on Sunday evening we dropped into Grace Baptist Church in Gaylord, Michigan. Pastor Tim Rader was filling the pulpit since Pastor Jenkins was out of town. They had me give a testimony and pray for the offering that evening. We handed out prayer cards after the service and visited with several members about Thailand. It was a blessing!

On Wednesday evening we were at Bible Baptist Church in Central Lake, Michigan. Pastor Russell Tharp has been the pastor here since 2007 and is doing an excellent job. I was able to visit with him on Monday before he left town to go preach in South Carolina at his brother's church. His son Brother Matt Tharp who is his assistant pastor, handled everything Wednesday night. I presented our mission and video before the church and then preached the evening message. This is a great missions church in the middle of a rural area here in Michigan. Please pray for them as they reach this surrounding area.

Brother Matt Tharp

Prayer Request: This past Sunday one of my adult daughters who live in Lincoln, Rachel; was working on the Karen Bus Route at our home church when she fell. It was snowing there and she slipped while going up a stairway at an apartment complex and fell down the stairway. She broke three bones in her leg including her shin bone. She is scheduled to have surgery on October 29th after the swelling goes down. Please pray that the swelling goes down and that the surgery goes well. The recovery time is said to be twelve weeks after the surgery. We will be finishing a missions conference in Lawrence, Kansas the day before and plan to make it back for her surgery. After that my wife and I will be flying out October 31st for a conference in Parkersburg, WV. God has worked this out for us, just pray it all goes off smoothly. Thank you ahead of time for your prayers. We will be heading to Rosemount, MN for a meeting this weekend.

Great Start for Michigan Run

Dr. Mike Cox and Pastor Bobby Toler

After being in Indiana we then headed Saturday afternoon to Grass Lake, Michigan for a missions conference at Harvest Baptist Church. Pastor Bobby Toler has been here for 23 years and is retiring later this month. Dr. Mike Cox is his missions director and is also the head of Global Outreach which acts as a mission board and a ministry of helps to missionaries. I originally met Dr. Cox at Iglesia Bautista Libertad in Houston, Texas during their missions conference last November. He was one of the guest speakers for that conference. 

On Saturday night at the hotel my wife had struck up a conversation with the two ladies working behind the desk at the hotel. My wife gave them an invitation to church for Sunday. They were going to have to work, but my wife decided to witness to them. One was a Jehovah's "false" Witness and quickly was disinterested. The other was a Filipina lady named Marlin who has lived in America 12 years. She was shocked when my wife told her we have been to the Philippines. She told my wife that she didn't know where she would go when she dies. However, the place became busy with customers and my wife had to just leave her a tract to read. 

On Sunday, I taught the adult Sunday school while Dr. Cox preached the morning service. They had a international dinner at lunch time. The ladies did such a wonderful job decorating the tables of the different countries. Then that afternoon at the hotel my wife saw Marlin and the place was totally dead without even another car in the parking lot. My wife asked her if she read the tract. She said she did and even looked up some things in her Bible at home. However, she told my wife she wasn't sure she understood everything. So my wife took 15 minutes to explain all the verses to Marlin very thoroughly. Then Marlin bowed her head and trusted Christ as her Saviour! Praise God for another soul coming to the Saviour!!! We love all souls of course, but we get very excited at the opportunity to lead another Asian to Christ. This part of the world is where God has placed my heart.

Marlin after she trusted Christ as her Saviour!

Sunday night I preached the evening message as hearts seemed stirred for missions. Then Monday morning there was a men's breakfast where I was to give my testimony about many different decisions made throughout my life. It was a good time and I believe all the men that came enjoyed themselves. Then I presented our ministry in the evening service. 

Tuesday the pastor took the missionaries to Men's Wearhouse and bought them all new suits. (What a blessing!) Then Tuesday night I preached a message called "Set Sail with Missions" and many came forward to the altar. Then Dr. Cox finished the conference up Wednesday night with a great message. We were all stirred! Pray for us as we travel farther north in Michigan now! 

Meetings Back to Back in Indiana

Assistant Pastor Ethan Donoho

I left Colorado Springs and traveled to Indiana for a pair of back to back meetings. I was at Roanoke Baptist Church in Roanoke, Indiana on Wednesday night. Pastor Mike Tarr is the pastor of this church, but he was out of town. So one of his assistant pastor's Brother Donoho hosted us and was in charge of the service that night. It was my first time as this church and I was pleasantly surprised about what a great ministry they have going out in this rural area of Indiana. I was able to present our ministry and preach the evening message. The folks responded very well during the invitation time. We also enjoyed visiting with many folks after the service. Pastor Tarr has done a wonderful job here as well as Brother Bachman (pastor emeritus) before him. 

Pastor Ryan Marsh

The next night we were at Faith Baptist Church in Berne, Indiana. They have their mid week service on Thursday night. This church actually took us on for a partnership two months before I came. However, it was an honor to be with Pastor Marsh who is doing a fantastic job at the church. I had actually dropped in for a service last March and they have significantly increased their attendance since I was last there. I went ahead and presented our ministry and preached the evening service here too. God really blessed and hearts seemed stirred! 

On Friday my wife went to the Dry Goods store in town and witnessed to an Amish lady working there at the store. My wife took her through the whole plan of salvation, but she claimed she had already done that. Berne has a large Amish population, so the need is great for these people to be reached.

Then on Saturday morning we went out soul winning with the church. I knocked on doors with the pastor and my wife with the pastors wife. I was able to present the Gospel to a Spanish lady named Mariam, but she is not ready to trust Christ as her Saviour. She was interested but still has her doubts, I am praying that she will visit the church and trust Christ as her Saviour. My wife and the pastors wife were both able to lead some one to Christ while out door knocking. The pastor also led a young man to Christ who has been attending his church already but was unsure about his salvation. Praise God for good decisions this week. We head to Michigan next!

 

Finding Many Connections at Conference in Colorado Springs

Pastor Scholz

We spent the last five days at a missions conference at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pastor is Nathan Scholz. I discovered many connections and overlappings on many different levels while at this church. First area starts with the pastor who was born in Falls City, Nebraska. He lived in Lincoln at one time in his life and attended the church that my wife and I were married in for a short while. (Not at the same time we were there.) He also came from the same church as a former pastor of mine named Brother Shonebarger. It was amazing when everything was pieced together to realize how close our lives came to crossing although they never did before now.

Pastor Barfield

Second connection was found in one of the other missionaries/church planter at the conference. Pastor Tyrone Barfield planted a church in Texarkana, Texas. The church I attended Bible college at and was ordained at played a part in helping him start that church by supplying him a family for a whole year from their church. It turned out that I know the family that helped him and many of the others from the Longview Baptist Temple that helped him too. It was a blessing to get to know this man and his family. Please pray for Calvary Independent Baptist Church to be blessed!

Brother and Mrs. Kuyendall

Third connection was found in a family that are members of Lighthouse Baptist Church. Brother Kuyendall is the founding pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Kilgore, Texas. This is a church I have known for many years. He and his wife also knew Pastor Wiley Bennett and his wife from Woodland Hills Baptist Church in Tyler, Texas. In fact they even attended Woodland Hills for a short while before moving to Colorado. Brother Bennett passed away several years ago, but was a very good friend of our family. We are still very close to his wife. It is amazing sometimes how small this world of ours really is!

Men's group singing a special

Bryant family singing special

The conference was fantastic! There was a lot of special music and heart stirring preaching each night on missions. We felt refreshed and renewed after each service. I was amazed by all the talented singers and musicians. Even the pastor jumped into the orchestra for a special number during the offering time. We thought that was pretty neat.

Pastor Scholz

My wife and daughters even got in the act and sang "Bring Them In" in the Karen language. The folks of the church really seemed to enjoy it!

Wife and daughters singing a special

While in town we stayed with our good friends Brother and Mrs. Steve Johnson. Brother Johnson lives in Colorado Springs, but is pastor of the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Aurora, Colorado. I was called into the ministry during a revival meeting Brother Johnson was preaching in 1996 at the Norfolk Baptist Church which was being led by Pastor Shonebarger at that time. Another connection yet again here! Since being on deputation we have stayed with the Johnson's five separate times. It is always a blessing to see them. I had a chance to go soul winning with Brother Johnson up in Aurora while we were there and got to knock on the door of a lady who told me that she was so excited to see me come by because she was just discussing with her daughter about needing to find a church. She told me this was of God. So I visited with her for several minutes and then asked her about her eternity. She informed me that she didn't know if she would make it to Heaven or not. I showed her from the Bible her need for Christ. After about 15 minutes she bowed her head and trusted Christ as her Saviour. She is going to start attending the Lighthouse Baptist Church in Aurora with her daughter. Praise God for His divine appointments. Please pray for us as we are flipping several time zones again and will be in Indiana by Wednesday. 

Brother Steve Johnson