MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 09-26-2006

Greetings, one and all! We've just finished up the second of two missions conferences in a row. Our first, at Trinity Baptist Church in Centerville, GA with Pastor Terry Hyman, went very well. Dr. Fred Moritz, Executive Director of Baptist World Mission, was the main speaker, and was greatly used of God to deliver the preaching of the Word to us. We had a great time of ministry and fellowship, and the LORD blessed. Our drive there and back went well, and everyone handled it great.

Back in St. Louis, we were involved with our home church, Grace Baptist Church (Pastor Ken Spilger), in it's 29th annual missions conference. Dr. Clayton Shumpert (CLAIM) was the main speaker. God moved and really dealt with all of us in the services. It was simply a tremendous time, and we were very pleased to get to be a part of it. Our missions giving had kind of stagnated in recent years, for a variety of reasons. I had been in prayer for some time that God would change this, and this year our prayers were answered. Our missions giving reached a level higher than any prior year. This means we will be able to give cost of living increases to all of our missionaries, as well as increase the support levels for the missionaries sent out of our church. On a more personal note, our church is helping us put new tires on the van! That was a real need, and they really went above and beyond the call of duty to help us with this. I want to especially thank our youth group, as they raised most of the funds for this need. I know you're young, but I regard you as a fine bunch of mature and upstanding young men and women. You are a credit to your parents, and to our LORD, and I wanted you to know how much I admire and respect you, and how much you have ministered to us.

Since our last email, two additional churches have been added to the roster of supporting churches. Praise the LORD! This brings our current total up to around 38%. We're praying that we'll top the elusive 50% by year's end, and reach 100, or thereabouts, by the middle of next year when we go down to Texas for language school.

On Friday, we'll be heading to Lewisburg, PA for a meeting in Faith Baptist Church with Pastor Ron Bixler. This is the first of several meetings this Fall that will put us out on the road from the first of October 'til a few days before Thanksgiving. This is a good thing (it means I succeeded in getting the schedule filled up), but the logistics of getting to the meetings do require lots of driving. Pray that we will be safe and healthy, that all our needs will be met, and that God will burden these churches for Uganda as we have been burdened, and that they will be so moved to support us financially and help us get to the field.