Entries by James

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 04-18-2005

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Greetings! Quiet day today, so I reckoned I'd better take advantage of it to send an update. We were home this weekend for the very simple reason that I couldn't line up any meetings for April 17, try as I might. Not a problem, tho', because it's nice to get a break from meetings in order to be in your home church once in a while, and to get caught up on the stuff (translation: laundry and yard work) piling up in your absence at home.

Week before last, we were in Gethsemene Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge, AR. This is Kyle Guimon's hometown and boyhood church, and is where his parents attend. It was a very good church, and it was a great encouragement to us just being there. Derek Collins has a real heart for his community, and for soulwinning, as does his church. 97 have been saved through their ministry in the last year, which is a prodigious achievement. God is plainly at work there, and the people are joyful to be a part of it. Since they're the only ones doing any kind of community outreach, with the exception of the Jehovah's Witnesses (and they don't count), they have been tagged with the derisive term of "Walkers". Walkers, indeed! You know, the LORD needs some more Walkers out there, folks who will get out and do the daunting task of sowing the gospel seed. They're doing it in Walnut Ridge, and it's clearly bearing fruit. While there, we got to visit with the Guimons and be an encouragement to them. We'll be heading back to Walnut Ridge in June for their missions conference, so we'll get to spend more time with these wonderful people and their great pastor and wife then.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 04-04-2005

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Howdy, folks! We're back in town again. We just finished a missions conference in Ash Street Baptist Church (Pastor Jerry Pyle) in Nevada, MO. They've got a problem, the best of problems – they're outgrowing their building. Be in prayer for them as they seek other property elsewhere in town where then can build a larger building. Bro. Hathcock from Tulsa Baptist Temple preached, and did superbly. He preached a message from 2 Corinthians 5 on the Great Commission, how we are ambassadors for Christ. The phrase that stood out the most to me was in verse 20 "as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God." Ours is a ministry of reconciliation. We beseech the world in Christ's stead: be ye reconciled. There is no greater calling, and no greater privilege, than that God should include us in His great ministry of reconciliation. The church loves the LORD, as does their pastor, and it is evident to witness. It was very refreshing to be there. We had some good fellowship with Jason and Sarah Knabb, missionaries on their way to Vera Cruz, Mexico. They were just regular folks like us, trying to do God's will and get to the field, and it was a pleasure getting to know them. Pray for Larry, a thirteen year old young man who got saved while Jason and I were out soulwinning on Saturday. Also be in prayer for Curtis and Pat Hollingsworth, and older couple who were under great conviction as we witnessed to them, but were unwilling to be saved.

He is Risen!

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He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter everybody!

"Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 03-21-2005

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Greetings, once again! We're back in town again for Easter, and have a missions conference in Ash Street Baptist Church (Pastor Jerry Pyle) in Nevada, MO the week after that. Our meeting last night in Prairie Flower Baptist Church (Pastor Dave Ernst) in Webb City, MO went well. It was good to get back at it after being out for a bit with the Church Planting Conference, and the unexpected reschedule the week before. I preached and showed our slides, and God blessed us. They put us up in a hotel for the night, which was a real blessing. I hate travelling late at night if I can avoid it, especially when I'm tired. The kids were real excited about getting to stay in a "he-toh". They slept like logs, but for some reason, neither Anna nor I could sleep. Most of the night, as I drifted in and out of semi-consciousness, I found I had the B-I-B-L-E song from a Patch the Pirate Sunday School Singalong CD stuck in my head. Oi. We drove back this morning without incident, and fed our "starving" children, and got the lot of the weary young'uns off to bed. That's about it. Pray for us as we keep lining up meetings, driving to 'em, and continuing on our way to Uganda. Pray that the support will come in quickly so we can get to the field.

More Great News!

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My son, John, just got saved! It's been a few days. He wasn't sure about Jesus dying for him. He understood he was a sinner, and he understood Jesus died for others, but it wasn't clicking that He died for him personally. We went over it again tonight during Bible reading, and he kept telling us he wanted to be saved. So, I used the wordless book to give him the gospel, and he got it! "Jesus died for me!", he said. But Jesus didn't stay dead. He is risen, and is in heaven. He understood, so we prayed, and he asked Jesus to save him, and to clean him all up (his words). My son is a believer. It is so much easier to train a regenerate child, than an unregenerate one. It's made all the difference with James. John has been struggling with his conscience the past few days. Now, he has a new nature, and a clean conscience. James was so excited. He's been very worried for John, but now his brother is born again! Of all the people in the world, the millions who are lost and on their way to Hell, I have always cared for my children the most. It is a great relief of mind to see them get saved, and in their youth. Pray for James and John, as they grow in Christ together.