MISSION UPDATE

Pacific Islands

I traveled from Vanuatu to Fiji, where I was able to encourage and edify the brethren in Nadi and Lautoka, Fiji for five days while waiting for my flight to American Samoa.  It was like I was coming home!  It is here that Mary, Mark, Tonya, Maria and I lived for ten years while the above children grew up.  It was good to be back with our co-workers, the Randy English family.  This is the first family that we recruited and trained for the work in the Pacific Islands.  They have been steadfast in their work for seventeen years.  We thank God for them. 

It brings much joy to my heart to come back and work with the Nu’uuli congregation that was just about dead many years ago when Mary and I got involved and got others involved in helping this congregation to grow.  This congregation now runs about 115 in attendance on the fist day of the week.  They have two elders and men who can teach and preach.  They have been hosting the PIBC classes for the last few years.   Thank God for congregations like this one that are growing throughout the Pacific Islands.    – Robert and Mary Martin

Massena, New York

I’m not sure if it is Satan pressing in upon us, or just the cycles of routine, but sometimes “evangelism” seems to slow as we take care of maintenance or simply “love” items.  This past quarter, many of the home studies I was excited about in my last newsletter have cancelled or been postponed. 

Even when we are not particularly concentrating on evangelism, it is still going on though.  In my last newsletter, I asked for prayers for Beverly Riehle.  I am pleased to share that on April 8 Beverly did indeed put on Christ in baptism.  Beverly is the wife of one of my long-time hunting buddies and she has been bringing him along to church with her quite often, so please keep Bob in your prayers as well.  Whenever one is brought to the Lord, it quite often opens the door to new opportunities. 

We covet your prayers.  God is always at work and we trust that His Word does not return void.  To Him be the glory!      —John and Denise Kashorek

21^st Century Global Missions

Global News:  National director Alyosha Kolody reports twelve souls were baptized into Christ during May in Dniepropetrovsk, Ukraine.  A New congregation has been established in Odessa.  At the first Sunday’s meeting seven brethren came together for worship services.  In Minsk, Belarus, three students will complete their classroom requirements and will be graduating September 9, 2006.  In San Cristobal, Mexico, twenty-two precious souls were taught and baptized by staff and students.   – J. C. Enlow

Georgia Outreach

Sylvester, Georgia:  Veteran preacher, John Stewart, who has labored tirelessly at Sylvester, is retiring.  John and his good wife, Evelyn, will be moving to Moultrie where their son, Larry is the preacher.  The Sylvester congregation is seeking John’s replacement.  Anyone interested should contact Billy Culpepper at (229) 777-3743.  Adel, Georgia:  Roger Lane and his good wife, Shirley, are now working with the church in Adel.  They have been well received, and the attendance and interest are on the increase.  Roger, who had served for some years as an elder in the West Georgia church in Carrollton, decided to come “out of retirement” and resume work as an evangelist.  Manchester, Georgia:  A campaign was conducted in June in the Merriweather County town.  Forrest Chapman assisted in the preaching.    –  Robert W. Gray

VIEWPOINT

A scientist once conducted an interesting experiment in his laboratory.  From the ceiling he suspended an iron ball weighing one ton, attaching it to a cable strong enough to sustain its weight.  Beside the huge iron ball, he hung a small sphere made of cork, attached to a thread fastened to the ceiling.  An electrical mechanism kept the little cork ball swinging slowly, pendulum-like, against the iron weight.

At length, after days of unceasing swinging back and forth on the part of the cork, the iron ball weighing a ton began to swing very gently to and fro in harmony with the little cork ball.  Gradually its motion increased until it was prescribing a wide arc, all because a tiny cork ball had persistently kept knocking against its massive side, day in and day out. 

What task or project is before you?  The scripture gives this admonition about persistence:  “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

I look forward to seeing you Sunday with a Bible, a smile, and a positive word!    RA