September 2010 Update
September 2010
Summit Ridge - Rancho Cucamonga, CA A quick weekend trip to CA was such a blessing! Spending time with many dear friends from Eric’s CA days, and worshipping at Summit Ridge made for an awesome weekend!
Northern MI Christian Physicians Dinner
Praise God for the doctors in N. MI who serve Him at home and around the world. It was an honor to share about Togo and the opportunities for medical evangelism at HBB & Mango.
Elizabeth Joy - Baby Dedication Thank you FBC
family for your love and prayers for our family. It was a blessing to be with you to dedicate Elizabeth Joy to the Lord.
Commissioning Service It was an exciting time as our brothers and sisters in Christ at Faith Baptist church commissioned us to be sent out as messengers of the King of Kings. We have been entrusted with the message of the hope of salvation found in Jesus Christ!
Calvary Bible Ypsilanti, MI We were so encouraged by the saints during our second visit to CBC. We shared our pre-field progress and were blessed by the sermon delivered by Pastor Brian Jones.
Grace Bible MC Owosso, MI
Thank you GBC for your prayers and support!. It was a joy to share in this missions conference with you and the other faithful missionaries. We felt very welcomed and well fed!
To 85% and Beyond!
Our monthly support has just surpassed 85%! Thank you for praying and for the families and churches who have begun to support us, and even increased their support! It is our privilege to be partners in ministry with you.
This month we had the honor of being commissioned by our sending church, Faith Baptist in Cheboygan, as missionaries to Togo. What an amazing evening. It was a blessing to have Mr. Don Trott of ABWE, Dr. Bob and Shirley Cropsey, and Todd and Jennifer DeKryger and family present for the evening. Thanks to each of you for coming and for exhorting, challenging, and encouraging us as we step out into this new journey. Thank you Pastor Jim Currie for your challenge to us to remain firm in the Faith and in our resolve to serve in Togo. Thank you to each of you who has committed to pray for us daily. We are humbled and yet so grateful for your investment in prayer on our behalf. Thank you to all who worked to make the evening so special.
November 1st we will leave MI to attend Field Prep. at ABWE. This is our final training course before we leave for France. After a few weeks with our families, right after Christmas we hope to be ready to begin language studies. We are trusting God to bring in the final 15%of our support, and to make our paths straight.
Thoughts and Lessons about packing
For the last 8 weeks we have been packing up all our belongings. Some we prepared for Togo and placed in storage. Others we prepared to be put in boxes for the next 5 years and stored here in the US while we are in Togo. First of all, it was a very tough job! Sorting through everything we own and deciding where it should all go: Togo, France, Storage, Good Will, trash or keep it with us while we are on the road. It certainly was a lot of stuff! Yes, we need stuff, but going through it all made me realize what a burden 'things' can be. Jesus said to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy them. I pray that God will continue to strengthen me to follow through with storing up treasure in heaven and counting the gains of this world as loss in comparison!
Also, there were those possessions such as pictures and gifts from people I love (some of whom are with the Father) that I mourned leaving behind. Our wedding book for example was very hard for me to put in a box and say goodbye until we come home on furlough. I began to wonder...if it is this hard for me to leave 'things' behind in order to leave my home for the sake of the gospel, how much harder must it have been for Jesus to leave His home, and all His glory for the sake of the gospel? He truly has gone before me knowing what I am going though. "Thank you Jesus for leaving your home for us!"
Update February 2010
Dear Friends,
Good Morning! Our family loves mornings. God was so good and wise to know that we would need new beginnings more than just at New Years, month’s end or even at the end of a week. We need a new beginning every 24 hours! His mercies are new each day, and we are grateful.
Other things we are grateful for:
v Health. Elizabeth is beautiful and is doing very well. We cannot imagine our family without her!
v Rest. Eric was able to spend time at home following Elizabeth’s birth. We also have spent time over the last couple months resting from ministry travels.
v Help. We are so grateful for the body of Christ. Thanks to all who brought us meals- you so blessed us and we felt incredibly cared for by our brothers and sisters in Christ!
v Guidance. Tomorrow we are back into the swing of pre-field. We are also working on planning out the next year. It promises to be a busy, a little scary, and exciting journey!
v Financial Support. God has powerfully answered prayer for 60% of monthly support by the new year. Some wonderful brothers and sisters have partnered with us and have raised us to 64%!! And this while we were homebound with the birth of Elizabeth.
Here is our schedule so far:
v Feb. 7 - Immanuel Bible Church – Chelsea, MI
v Feb. 14 - Eric will visit dear friends at Summit Ridge Church – Rancho Cucamonga, CA (Please pray for Melissa at home with Sam and Elizabeth)
v Feb 24-28 - Missions Conference at Starkey Road Baptist – FL
v March 12-27 - We are planning a road trip beginning in Northern MI. Next to Carthage, MO to spend a few days with Fairview Christian Church. Finally to Memphis, TN to spend a few days with family, eat some BBQ, and drop off many of our belongings that we plan to leave in the US for use during furlough’s.
v May 2 - Boardman Baptist Church – OH
v May 26 - Eric finishes working full time with Chelsea Surgical Associates. That same week we will move out of our rented condo and essentially be living on the road, another exciting chapter of this journey!
v Month of June – Center for Intercultural Training, Eric will be taking three Bible courses – NC
v July 7-11 – Columbia International University, Eric and Melissa will be taking an informative course about Islam – SC
v July 19-23 – ABWE Missionary Enrichment Conference – Messiah College, PA
v July 26-30 – ABWE Essential Missions Component, Equipping missionaries for cross-cultural church planting – PA
v August – Surgeons as Educators Course – Preparing for HBB to one day become a training hospital for African Christian Surgeons
v Sept. – Tropical Medicine course
v Nov. - Field Preparation Course – ABWE, PA
v Dec.- Move to France for French language school (Thank you to Dr. Suzanne Jones and Dr. Linh and Robin Vi for graciously giving us valuable audio and computer French training courses. We want to get a good head start on language school!)
v Jan. 3 - Begin language school
Prayer Requests:
v Provision and peace as our family transitions to full time ministry and full dependence on support in June.
Current support level – 64%!
v Our computer is going to the Geek Squad today to see if they can salvage its function. HP has not been able to help us over the phone.
v God’s wonderful wisdom during the journey…Oh, how we love your law! (Psalm 119: 16, 47)
v God’s sovereign guidance regarding our house in Cheboygan. He has chosen not to allow it to be sold, so may His plan and will for this situation become clear.
Note: We are looking to buy or borrow a covered 5x8 or 6x10 ft. trailer to hook to the back of our Explorer to carry our belongings while we are on the road.
Praise be to God for His goodness, guidance and watchcare; and for you, our faithful praying brothers and sisters I Christ!
Eric, Melissa, Samuel, and Elizabeth Miller
December 2009
Dear Friends,
Thanks for your continued prayers for our family as we journey through deputation. We know that our ultimate destination is heaven. Through the coming of Jesus and his work on the cross, we have the Holy Spirit and the promises of heaven to carry us through this journey.
Our journey through the month of November had some very unexpected turns…
Our plan for the first week of the month had been for Sam and I to accompany Eric to Chicago for a medical conference. However, my dad became very ill that same week. What was initially thought to be kidney stones, turned out to be five massive aortic aneurysms which required dad to be placed in ICU and undergo an eight hour surgery. Sam and I left Eric in Chicago and flew to Florida to be with my family. After a week, Dad was discharged and Sam and I flew home. Soon after this, Dad was readmitted for problems breathing. He is now home, but still does not have a diagnosis for the breathing problems which continue to be a big problem even now. I want to thank you for lifting us up I prayer. Thank you to those who have been praying for my dad as he continues to struggle.
Days after Sam and I returned home, Eric left for a Medical Missions Conference in KY. This was a great opportunity to spend time with some incredible “heroes of the faith” in medical missions, including great missionary surgeons Drs. Bob Cropsey of Togo, David Thompson of Gabon, Africa, and Bruce Steffes of multiple mission fields. It was a chance to have serious discussions about the possibility of training African Christian surgeons in Togo through the Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons (PAACS). It reinforced in our hearts that God in doing incredible work in the continent of Africa, and specifically, in the country of Togo.
Since that time we have had the opportunity to visit Bridge Bible church in Muskegon, Faith Baptist Church in Chelsea, and Camden Baptist Church in Ohio. Our family wants to extend gratitude to our brothers and sisters in each of these precious churches. We have been immeasurable blessed by you! It has been a joy getting to know you and worship Jesus with you!
Since our last update, four families have committed to supporting our ministry. Our support is now about 57%! If three more families commit to giving $60.00 per month we will be able to enter the New Year 60% supported!
Looking forward, our baby girl is due in about three weeks. All is going well and we covet your prayers as we look forward to her birth.
We pray the Prince of Peace will bring rest, joy and blessings as you celebrate the birth of Jesus this season.
Merry Christmas
Eric, Melissa and Samuel Miller
Giving Account # 013395
October 26
You know you’re a pre-fielder when you stand at your hotel room door and try to unlock it with your car door remote opener!
Dear Friends,
Mango~ First, thank you for praying for the ground breaking of the new hospital in Northern Togo! The event was a wonderful success as around 4,000 people gathered from Togo and around the world to commemorate this event. From government officials to children, the property on which the hospital in Mango, Togo will be built was full of people who listened as prayers of thanksgiving and praise were offered to God, and the gospel of Jesus Christ was proclaimed! God glorified His name in this middle of a place dominated by Islam; where Satan’s grasp has been strong. But now, redemption and freedom in Jesus is piercing this darkness!
The last couple weeks have been a little bit crazy, but full of fun and blessings!
Missions Morning~ Covenant Community Church in Redford, MI (one of our newest supporting churches) hosted a Missions Morning. We were privileged be among many other missionaries, some of whom have been serving God for many years. Thank you Covenant Community for your hospitality and for a morning of encouragement and fellowship.
OARBC~ The next morning we drove to Ohio where we attended the Ohio Association of Regular Baptist Churches annual conference. This was our second year to attend this conference. We had a great time catching up with friends we met last year as well as friends from churches we have visited throughout Ohio. It was also a delight for us to be there as our president of ABWE Dr. Michael Loftis was the key note speaker.
MARBC~ After a few days of catching up at home we headed to Grand Rapids for the Michigan Association of Regular Baptist Churches annual conference. Once again we were able to visit with many friends that we do not get to see very frequently. This was a particularly special conference because our fellow pre-fielders and Togo teammates Rory and Kristy Moore were also there. We also were able to spend some time with Pastors Jim Currie and Tony Barber from our sending church Faith Baptist in Cheboygan.
At both conferences we were challenged by the speakers. God used them to teach us new lessons, remember old lessons that needed refreshing, and encourage us in this unique ministry of pre-field.
Support~ Our accounts have seen some amazing growth this month. Three churches have given generous special gifts toward our O&P bringing it up to an amazing 109%! The surplus in this account will help us offset some current traveling. It can also be divided into the months of our first term and be counted as monthly support.
We are also praising God for Memorial Bible Church in Tulsa, OK for making us their newest missionary family! What an honor to be supported by the very people whom God used to direct Melissa’s heart toward missions! This new commitment will bring our monthly support level up around 55%.
Right now there are 30 families/individuals who have committed to support our ministry every month. These precious people make up more than half of our current support. We believe this trend will continue and are praying that God will raise up more families to join in committing to be part of this journey to bring the gospel to the Togolese through monthly gifts.
9 weeks and counting! All is going well with pregnancy. We appreciate your prayers as we continue to prepare for the birth of our baby girl as well as continue traveling and preparing for Togo. We have been so blessed by the love and support of our church family in Chelsea. We were showered last week with tons of beautiful girly clothes, and cloth diapers in preparation for overseas living. Thank you Immanuel Bible church family!
October 4, 2009 Update
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continue prayers and support. We have had a wonderful weekend! We drove to Northern MI this weekend to visit with lots of friends from our sending church, Faith Baptist Church in Cheboygan, Glenn Memorial Baptist Church in St. Ingace, and Liberty Baptist Church in Alanson. What a perfect weekend marked by encouragement, prayers, love, laughter, friends, fellowship and fun!
Praise God with us as in the last few weeks a few new families, one business, and two new churches have committed to support us monthly! Thank you Liberty Baptist and Covenant Community for becoming partners of God’s work in Togo. These commitments have brought our monthly support level just over 50%! We also want to extend a huge thank you to Genesis Church and Fairview Christian Church for your generous special gifts. These gifts have brought our Outfit & Passage near 100%!
Another item of news is that in preparation for the baby, Melissa has resigned from her part time job at the Chelsea Retirement Center. It was a profitable year of work. We are so thankful to the Bieber family for loving Sam and making him part of your family while Melissa worked.
Little Offerings
I was reading this morning the old story about how Jesus fed the thousands with just a five loaves of bread and two fish. I have read and heard this story so many times. Jesus multiplies the the small gift and meets the great need of the people. How often I look ahead to my day, week, and year, and think to myself that there is no way I can get everything done that is expected of me. But the point is, the story is not centrally about the little boy who gave his lunch to Jesus, nor is it centrally about the people. It is about Jesus and His power to work through us to bring Himself glory! It is simply our priveledge to be part of the story. Today, I am honored just to be part of the story. I am so glad God is good at multiplication. Just like He fed thousands with just a few loaves and fishes that were given Him, He can take my little offering of effort and time and multiply them to accomplish His purposes today for His glory! Mark 6:33-43
Sept. 10, 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
Thank you for your continued, fervent prayers for us. It continues to become more obvious to us that we are weak and powerless to make things happen. God however is all powerful. It is His power, so frequently unleashed by the prayers of the saints, that makes things happen!
We have been praising God as we watch our financial support continue to rise. In the last four weeks 2 more families as well as 2 churches have communicated to us their commitment to support us monthly! We will let you know in our next update exactly what these new commitments will bring our support level to.
We are also praising God for more activity regarding our house in Cheboygan. Thank you for continuing to pray about this. In the last few weeks there has been significant interest in the house. However, there are also obstacles that must be worked through in order for those interested in buying the house to move forward with making an offer. Please pray that God will intercede and move powerfully in this situation. Your prayers are being answered, please don’t stop.
We are continuing to press on in faith, trusting God’s sovereign hand to guide and make our paths straight.
See our website for new pictures, our travel schedule and lots more.
Serving our Powerful God with gratitude,
Eric and Melissa Miller
BABY Miller
We're having a GIRL!
We had our ultra sound today. Everything measured just right. Our due date is still December 29. It was a joy to spend time as a family 'seeing' our little girl! Thank you to so many who have been praying for us and for health.
August 8 Update
Dear Fellow Soldiers,
Greetings from somewhere in Missouri. We are on the road again, headed to Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is a very exciting trip for us. I (Melissa) lived in Tulsa from Junior high till Eric and I moved to Michigan 5 years ago. We are so looking forward to a week of reunions and sweet fellowship! We are grateful to have the opportunity to speak at Memorial Bible Church tomorrow. This is the church where I attended with my parents throughout my years in the youth group. God used these precious people to help me grow in my spiritual walk and move toward missions.
v Please pray that we will be a blessing and encouragement to those who have made such a tremendous impact in my life.
After all, it’s not every day we get to address an entire group of people and express gratitude for all they have done. However, this is the second chance I will have had within the last 6 weeks! We also had the privilege of speaking at Covenant Community Church a few weeks ago. It is here where most of my extended family attended during my nursery and elementary years in Michigan. What a joy for me to express love and gratitude to these precious people for their faithfulness to the gospel for all these years. The day was made more special when Sam was able to be in the nursery with ‘Miss Dorothy’ who was my Sunday School teacher as a little girl.
v Please pray the people at Covenant Community as they continue to strive to faithfully live and proclaim the gospel.
The last few weeks also presented an unexpected gift for our family. We had not made time in ‘the schedule’ this summer for a vacation. However, a couple weeks prior to our trip to ABWE for a week of training, we were informed that the training was going to be postponed for a year. Although we were disappointed about waiting another year for this training, we quickly realized the week was now free! It took about 10 seconds for us both to say, “Let’s go to Florida!” God gave us a wonderful and much needed week of rest with my parents in Fort Myers.
The week ended with a wonderful evening spent with our teammates from Togo, Todd and Jennifer DeKryger. They and their four boys were here in the states for a few weeks. We were encouraged and spurred on in pre-field by spending time with them. The soul harvest in Togo is ripe and people are coming to Christ from backgrounds of extreme bondage such as Islam and the traditions and requirements of Fetish beliefs. Our time with them refreshed in our hearts the deep desire to serve God in Togo. We long to be there!
v Please pray for the many churches with whom we have already shared what God is doing in Togo. There are many who are faithfully partnering with us in prayer. Many of these have also expressed their desire to partner with us financially. Please pray that God would bless these groups of believers so that they can give as their hearts desire.
v Please pray for us as we continue to build relationships and try to set up meetings. Pray that God would direct us and give us wisdom about where to direct our energy and time. Pray that wherever we go we will be a blessing, encouraging bodies of believers and spurring them on in their own communities to live and share the gospel of Jesus Christ!
In the last six weeks one more individual has committed to supporting our ministry and one supporter actually increased their commitment!
v Our current monthly support is at 46% Please continue to pray that God will lay it on the hearts of families and bodies of believers to partner with us financially.
God’s people have also been incredibly generous in giving special gifts. We have received many recently, some of which have been substantial!
v Outfit and Passage has risen to an awesome 76%!
v Please pray that our house in Cheboygan will sell
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Please let us know how we can pray for you too.
In Christ,
Eric, Melissa and Sam Miller
May 6, 2009 Update
Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for us. The last few weeks have been full and exciting! Our time at the CMDA conference in TN was rich. We soaked up so much wisdom and knowledge from those who have previously served in foreign missions through medicine. This was an important piece of training in preparation for service as a ‘medical’ family overseas. Thank you for your prayers.
The following weekend we had the privilege of worshipping, fellowshipping, and sharing with precious people at Genesis church in . In pre-field ministry we have a unique perspective on the body of Christ in the . Visiting so many churches has given us a glimpse of the diversity of the body. With each individual church we visit God opens our eyes to more depth and beauty to the church as a whole. Genesis was no different. Thank you pastor Norm and all the leaders for your hospitality and allowing us a glimpse of the unique ministry God has given you at Genesis!
Last weekend was also full as we traveled back to TN to spend a few days with Eric’s side of the family. Fun times! Then we hurried back to MI and attended the commissioning service for some our out Teammates to , Rory and Kristy Moore and their boys Austin and . It was a special time for them as well as for us. We are so looking forward to being in with them someday!
We have much to be thankful for in the last few weeks, but these is not all. We are happy to announce that at the end of December we will officially be a family of four! Yes, we are praising God for heavens gifts as we look forward to having another baby! We are very excited and are so thankful, once again, for God’s perfect timing. Of course we covet your prayers for the health of the baby as well as Melissa.
The next few weeks are fairly quiet for our family.
~May 17-21 Eric will be in for the Moody Bible Institute pastors conference. Please pray that God will use the teaching from the conference to prepare Eric for
ministry now and in the future.
~May 24 we will be sharing at .
Thank you to all our partners who are supporting us financially. With 4 churches, 1 missionary ladies circle, 1 business, and 23 families; our monthly support is officially 43.23%. Our O&P has risen to 60%! We are so thankful for each of you!
Thank you all for supporting us in prayer. We are humbled and grateful.
In Christ,
Eric, Melissa, Sam, and baby
http://themillersjourney.shutterfly.com
A Letter of Praise!
A Letter of Praise!
It was late Friday night when we the last of the guests finally trickled out. Eric and I were the last ones left in the church following an amazing night. We turned off the last of the white twinkle lights and bundled up to head home. As we quietly walked hand in hand in the cold night we were filled with joy and thankfulness.
The church was decorated from top to bottom with white twinkle lights. The tables were each covered with a white table cloth and were beautifully adorned with tall sparkly center pieces and beautiful table settings. A table of hors d’oeurves in the center of the room was decorated with some of the most ornately designed and delicious foods we have ever seen. Following a time of prayer the guests began to arrive. With live soft music accompanying the conversations we spent time catching up with precious friends and making new friends as well. What a joy also to have some of our teammates from Togo, Bob and Shirley Cropsey and Michael and Cheryl Gayle with us. Also Rory and Kristy Moore our partners on pre-field and Ron Washer, the ABWE administrator over Africa were with us.
The presentations began with Bob Cropsey as he shared some of the history of the ABWE and the Hospital in Togo. We were encouraged as he also challenged Eric and me as we prepare to serve through this amazing ministry. As Eric and I prepared our presentation and testimonies for this special evening, we were both depending so strongly on the Holy Spirit to fill us with His words. As we began to speak and share our testimonies our thoughts were clear, our hearts were filled with the message of the saving grace of Jesus and His testimony of transforming us into new creations. Praise God! Our dear friend John Everett gave the challenge to “pray and send” through giving. Our teammate from Togo, Michael Gayle, ended the evening with a challenge to “go”.
On Saturday while we were waiting to hear the results from the evening, Grace Bible Church in Owasso, MI called. They have voted to make us part of their missionary family through monthly support. There are now five church families supporting us. We are so grateful!
When the financial gifts were tallied up, the results were astounding. The special gifts of the evening totaled $3,215.00! There were many families who committed to support us regularly and keep us in Togo. These pledges added up to $582.00 per month! Give glory to God! From the special gifts our Outfit and Passage went up to 55% and our support went up to 45.4%! It is amazing to see our support level increase 12.4% in one weekend!
It was truly a blessed evening. Thank you to all who were praying. Your prayers were felt and answered. Eric and I thank each person who was part of the planning and preparations. Thank you to our sending church, Faith Baptist. We are so blessed to be not only sent by you, but upheld through your love, prayers and support.
Joyfully Serving the King of kings,
Eric, Melissa and Samuel
epaulmiller@abwe.cc
Benefit Evening
Greetings in the name of the Lord!
This Friday night our sending church, Faith Baptist Church in Cheboygan MI., is hosting a benefit evening for us. We are very excited to have the opportunity share our testimonies and the ministry in Togo with the community of Cheboygan.
- Please pray for-
Everyone involved as we make the final preparations for the evening –peace and wisdom
Safe travels
Eric and I (Melissa) as we prepare our testimonies specifically for this event
The Holy Spirit to empower our words and for His will as people respond to our message
Thank you for upholding us in prayer!
Eric, Melissa, and Samuel
We were even given a little add in the Cheboygan tribune. Who knows who will respond to an article that we may never have met or who may not otherwise ever step foot in a church! Pray that the gospel is clearly presented and that people will respond!
http://cheboygandailytribune.mi.newsmemory.com/
Thoughts and Lessons
In Genesis chapter 11 the population of the earth was in one place following the global flood. God had told Noah's descendents in Genesis 9:7 to, "populate the earth abundantly and multiply it." Rather than spreading and filling the earth, they chose to settle together in the plain called Shinar. All the people spoke the same language. As the population multiplied, so did their arrogance and pride. They began to be consumed with themselves and desired to build something that would stand in the face of God, the tower of Babel. They wanted to "make a name" for themselves and purposed to increase their greatness and power by remaining together rather than obeying God and filling the earth. As a result God came down and confused their languages so that they would not be able to communicate with one another. Thus, they were forced to separate, leave their great tower and city; and pride and arrogance, and obey God. They scattered and filled the earth.
Now, 6,000 years later are we again returning to the days of the Tower of Babel? Our languages are still confused, but translation has never been easier. There are definitely wars and rumors of wars. It seems that there is so much hatred between so many nations. Yet, I have been amazed at the frequency with which people have begun to use the term "global" What does this mean? Certainly not that we are one people under one name with one government! Yet is that not what will happen in the end of days when Antichrist sets up his government over the people of the earth? If you keep up with current events at all you know that on the one hand the nations of the earth are on the brink of war, the likes of which we can not even imagine. Yet, on the other hand there is this push and deep desire for the nations to be unified - global. Our "tower of humanism" built on the foundations of pride with the bricks of arrogance and self confidence is growing greater every day! The nations and people of the earth are increasingly consumed with themselves and rebellious against their maker.
In the day of the Tower of Babel God acted in such a way that caused the people to obey. The days are coming soon when God will once again intervene, this time in judgment against sin. Oh that we, the children of God, would be sober and alert! With the world changing so quickly around us, and opposition to God increasingly daily, let us press on with perseverence in the faith. Let us share the good news of salvation in Jesus with greater joy, love, and urgency than ever before! Let us glorify our great God more and more as the day approaches that we are taken home to heaven. Let us pray, "Come quickly Lord Jesus!"
Florida!
We always love the chance to visit Florida, especially this time of year. We had a great trip down driving with Grandpa and Grandma Pike. Then we got to spend a few days visiting with family at my (Melissa) parents house in Ft. Myers. On Wed. we drove back North a few hours and had a great night with my sister Amy as we all visited Starkey Road Baptist Church. What a great evening that was! We just love meeting God's people!
On the weekend we participated in a missions conference at Faith Bible Church in Naples. Andy and Davina Davies with Campus Bible Fellowship and Nate and Cherith Logan with ABWE were also there. We all and such a precious weekend focusing on what God is doing in the hearts of people around the world, beginning right here in the US. Thank you Faith Bible for all your work putting together the conference. Thank you for inviting us to be part of it. You have blessed us immeasurably through your hospitality, service, your zeal for missions and your love!
Lessons & Thoughts
Concerning the sale of our house in Cheboygan.... Paul told us in Romans that "God works all things together for our good, for those who are called according to His purpose" I think that throughout life with each new circumstance and trial this verse will continue to reveal itself to us more. For now, I am learning to bring a sacrifice of praise. I will praise Him at all times. But the sacrifice comes when it costs something...when I feel like wollowing in self-pity rather than rallying in praise to my soveriegn God, and I choose to praise! So, I would like to take this opportunity to give Him praise, glory, and honor in the midst of the trial!
Also, God has been bringing to mind the story about Abraham and Sarah. What does this story have to do with the sale of a house? The connection is God making a promise, and God being the only one to fullfill His promise! This couple was promised to be the parents of a great nation, that all the earth would be blessed through them! Yet, with all our understanding this was impossible because they had no son, nor would it be possible for them to have a son because Sarah was sooo old! The fullfillment had to be of God. So it goes with many things in our Christian walk. And so it is with our house. God has pointed us to Togo, West Africa. Unfortunatly we cannot just get up and go like Abraham did. We have to prepare in many ways so that we will be free to serve without strings attached pulling us back to the U.S. One of these is financial freedom. As long as our house is sitting empty financial freedom is not only out of our reach it is getting farther away! The closer we get to our departure day, the more impossible this whole thing appears. However, God is the one who made the promise and God is the one who will fullfill it and He will be praised - both in the midst of the trial, and when we arrive in Togo, ready to serve because God brought us there. We will be able to say with all of you, " God did it!"
Huntsburg Baptist Church
Our lastest road trip took us to Hunstburg, OH where we had an awesome time with friends from our supporting church, Hunstburg Baptist Church. It was a delight to see everyone on Sunday morning, and get to know some of you better! We had the privilege of staying the Todd and Jess and their precious kids Tyler and McKayla! Thank you! We had a wonderful time visiting, snowmobiling in the backyard and we even went to the zoo. It was cold, but very fun to see the animals so up close. Tuesday night we were able to fellowship with many local pastors at a Christmas dinner. We are so grateful to have been introduced to so many pastors and spend time with these men and their wives. When I think of all the years of faithful service that were represented there, I am humbled. Thank you Pastor Bob and Bonnie, Todd and Jess for your support, prayers, encouragement and frienship!
And to all....Merry Christmas
Project Medsend
Check out an article featuring us in the Project Medsend News
Thank you for Praying!
We had the priviledge of visitng Liberty Baptist Church this weekend. We had an awesome time with the Ward family who graciously hosted us! Eric shared during Sunday school about one of God's characteristics as being a God who sends. He traced God sending people from Genesis to Revelation. We were given the church hour to share about God's work in Togo. Thank you so much to Liberty Baptist for your prayers and encouragement this weekend!
Yesterday we had the distinct opportunity to feel your prayers. You may think that praying for safety is just what we pray for when we cannot think of anything else to pray for. Well, yesterday we were so very thankful for every prayer that went up for our safety. On our way home from Alanson it began to snow. It snowed the entire way home and the roads were packed with people (we presume) heading home from the holiday weekend. It was, as Eric puts it, a harrowing, white knuckle experience! We were so thankful for your prayers and are very happy to be home safe!
A Whirlwind
We have returned from 10 days of travel. We are so glad to be home for a time. What an amazing time though! Eric learned so much at ECHO! It was a great time for him. Our time sharing at Immanuel Bible Church was a delight and a blessing, as it always is. We ended our trip at the OARBC conference in Ohio. What a beautiful place! The autumn colors were absolutely shining! The conference was at the Skyview Ranch, it was beautiful! We were able to connect with so many awesome people! The worship was awesome, the teaching challeged us deeply, and fellowship was encouraging!
Since our return, Our TULSA HOUSE SOLD!!!!! Praise the Lord!
I started my job at the retirement center. It is going well. PLEASE PRAY for us though. It is so hard for me to leave Sam; much harder than I even anticipated.
Prayer Requests
1. Pray for safetly as we begin a 9 day stretch of travel; first to Ft. Myers then to Ohio.
2. Pray that Melissa will be able to start work at the retirement center soon. Pray for a good adjustment to our new schedule and that Sam and Melissa will adjust to being apart two to three days per week. (God has provided wonderful friends, Brian and Christin Bieber and their kids Myles and Samantha, to keep Sam while Melissa is working)
3. Wisdom and diligence as we continue making contacts and building ministry relatioships.
4. Pray for wisdom as we work to improve our presentation. We want to be able to communicate the facts as ell as our excitement and passions for the ministry in Togo!
