Ministry Update Fall 2014

James and I are our association's Evangelism & Discipleship Team Leaders, so in September we organized a "Curriculum Preview".  Ken from LifeWay in Springfield came up, brought samples of curriculum, explained the differences, and answered various questions.  We had about 30 in attendance, which was super!  

PKs learn early how to entertain themselves at various boring church events.

Three of our ever-faithful youth accompanied me to Kahoka's Old Settler's Day at the end of September.  The weather was perfect, unlike last year - so thankful.  We added face-painting into our repetoire this year and it was a hit, even though we're really not that good at it.  Kids are gracious.

On their own, A & K decided to walk around handing out balloons to kids to draw people to our tent to hear salvation testimonies and Bible story (with face painting).  So proud of their initiative.

New playground at the Kahoka park was a big hit!

In October, we took our church family to the Pumpkin Crate, which was loads of fun even though it was ungodly cold.

We also went to a sister church's bonfire, hayride, and dinner.

Making apple cider

Serious sun flare

Bro. Jesse, the cowboy

H painting a pumpkin....and a watermelon

James officiated his second wedding in October.  Congratulations to Katie & Matt!

 Each month, our association has a Hymn Sing where we gather at a church and sing for about an hour with snacks afterward.  We hosted the October Hymn Sing.

Halloween party at the community park!

Hudson loves Rusty!

He'd had enough of the turtle costume

His stance upon finding some kids' gun that went with their costume.
I have no idea where he learned this

Our church hosted the fall quarter's Girlfriends' Cafe. It's where women from our area get together, eat (we are Baptists y'all) and have a Bible story.  I sadly got no pictures.  But we had fun and 28 ladies were present - awesome!

Myself and two of our girls went to the Girls in Action retreat.

Also in November, James and I, along with pastor-friend Bro. Ted went to HLGU's Booster Banquet.  We ate a tasty gourmet meal and listened to the Duggars.  

Like last year, we hosted the International Students from HLGU for a Thanksgiving Meal then listened as they presented their final project for the American Culture class - a presentation on their home country.  Our area is very homogeneous culturally (mostly white) so I always get excited to see some people of different races/ethnicities.  That probably makes me weird, but oh well.  

James has become a volunteer for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  Part of that means promoting the different movies that the BGEA has recently produced.  We've shown two of them at our churches on fifth Sunday evenings.  He


It's been a busy fall and we're on tap for a busy winter as well.

Thank you for all your prayer support this past year and a half that we've been in northeast Missouri.  We have definitely felt it and needed it, still do.  Please join us in prayer....

Praises:

• Mild weather (so far).  Though it's bitterly cold, so far we've had only a sciff or two of snow.  
• Our church has worked really hard to try to get their neighbors, friends, and family to consider the gospel of Christ.
• James and I have visited every person living in Williamstown.  It has taken forever due to people's work schedules and well, suspicion of random people showing up at their door - ha!  

Prayer Requests

• Discouragement.  Despite all our members (and our) efforts to share the gospel with people in our community.  We've had no one come to faith this year (yet) and have seen little interest.  It's super discouraging.  Though we all know that we're being obedient it'd be nice to see some fruit from our efforts.  To use an agricultural analogy, the ground is really hard here.  Pray for encouragement and continued trust in God's plan.
• Church member Patsy - she is now home from the nursing home after having fallen, almost died, spent weeks in the hospital and nursing home.  
• Wisdom in setting the church budget for next year.  
• Our association - in October our DOM (Director of Missions) retired.  So we're in the search for a new one, or other options (like joining with another association since we're so small).  Our associational Moderator and Camp Director also resigned so we're in the search to fill those vacanies as well.  I'm part of the association's nominating committee so pray for wisdom for me in looking for people God may have planned to do this service.

Until next quarter....