Missions: A Family Affair

Grace Bible Independent Baptist Church had their 30th annual Missions Conference this past week, October 22-26. Pastor and Robyn Isaacson, former missionaries to Romania, were such a blessing to us and made us feel right at home and welcomed! The theme was Missions: A Family Affair and had three families join them: the Rhoades' to Guyana, the Polivka's to Belarus and us. Ed Hembree was the keynote speaker, also a former missionary to Romania, whom presented some good missions challenges.

     

     Our first night of the conference, Pastor and Mrs Isaacson and the missionaries got to go to Sprague's Restaraunt. The children were fascinated by all the bear decorations.

Each night, the missionaries took turns being in the kids class. The lesson was on redemption, so the children had a chance to redeem soda cans. Micah even got to share a short devotional from John 3:16.

Saturday, we went on a shopping trip to Erie with Pastor, Mrs Isaacson, the missionaries and two other couples.This is the view from a rest stop by the lake.

Sunday before we left, we were given this basket of assorted goodies from blankets for the kids to school supplies and items for everyday use!

Thank you, Grace Bible Independent Baptist Church, for a great conference!

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you," Philippians 1:3

"...Some Have Not The Knowledge Of God..."

1 Corinthians 15:34 "Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame."

We had a wonderful time in Eden, NY at Faith Bible Baptist Church, for their 2014 Missions Conference, October 19-22. It was great getting to know Pastor Kohl and Pastor Garland and their families. The conference theme was from 1 Corinthians 15:34 and it was neat to see what this church is doing to change the fact that "some have not the knowledge of God". Besides Hungary, the other countries represented by different missionaries were Mexico, Lithuania, and Panama. Dr Rene of BEAMS presented some good messages in 1 Samuel 1, 2 Corinthians 8 and Genesis 35-45.

     

Our family was blessed to have a mechanic in the church look at our van and fix the problems that have needed attention. Thank you, David's Star Automotive!

Tuesday was a neat day as we got to see Niagara Falls and ride the Maid of the Mist. It was a bit chilly out with the mist, but the time getting to see the falls was nice. Jason and I had gone there on our honeymoon and done the boat ride, so we enjoyed getting to see it this time with the kids.

Our family had to depart a day early to get to the next conference on time, but we are so blessed having met the sweet people of this church, and especially enjoyed our host family, Mark and Jen, and the time we got to spend with them in their home. 

"So Little Time"

     Last Tuesday morning, while looking at the calendar, I noted the empty Wednesday with no church scheduled on it for the following day and said to Jason, "Wow, this is the first Wednesday we have had open in a while. What will we do?" He simply stated he had been praying for a meeting and left it at that. Later on that day while at my home church watching little ones in the nursery during a ladies Bible Study, Jason text me and said we'd be leaving early the next morning for a missions conference that had somehow not made it to the calendar for October 15-18. God had answered Jason's prayer for a Wednesday meeting in not allowing him to schedule another one because he already had and did not know about!

     I'm so thankful for God allowing us to be at Open Door Baptist Church in North Canton, Ohio this past week, and they have even taken us on for support! Praise the Lord! Their Missions Conference theme was "So Little Time" as you can see by the table decor placed for a banquet held Saturday evening. The theme came from John 9:4: "I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work." So little time.

     We were truly blessed by Pastor and Mrs Butterfield and their servants hearts and the friendships we made with individuals. We will welcome the day God allows us up go back and visit this dear church!

    

WMBC Missions Conference

This past week was the 19th Annual Missions Conference at Warren Missionary Baptist Church in Warren, Michigan from October 8th-12th. Pastor Walter Jones had organized the meeting very well and thought of everything to make the stay for all families be a pleasant one. We met many new missionary families and there was a grand total of 17 in attendance throughout the conference! I won't take the time list all of them, but I will tell of one group we got to spend time with. Happiness Hill Chrisitan Homes is a ministry for girls in tough situations that need a place to simply escape from the world and grow closer to God. We spent a lot of time getting to know the girls and their staff. Saturday, after morning door knocking, Jason the kids and the Happiness Hill group was able to go to the Henry Ford Museum together and later our family and their group had dinner at the church. Evening devotions with them was such a sweet time of opening up God's Word together. Jason was able to share a challenge from Luke 16 about the "Certain Man". During our time with them, one of the young ladies expressed a strong interest in taking a missions trip to Hungary next June after she graduates. Our prayer is if it's a God's will for her to go, He'd work out all the details and keep doors open as she takes steps to prepare for the trip.

The services were held in the morning and evening, with rooms designated for homeschooling the children in the morning. At the beginning of each evening service, a flag parade led the missionaries in to introduce ourselves to the congregation. There was singing, missionary videos, and missionaries preaching during each service. The conference theme was from Job 14:15: "Thou Shalt Call And I Will Answer Thee". It was great to be in this missions minded church!

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Vandalia Baptist Temple Missions Conference

The Vandalia Baptist Temple Missions Conference was a great one this past week, October 1-5. Pastor Rick Washburn and his family were a huge blessing to us and we are very thankful for them. The other missionaries in the conference were Bill and Mary Horton to Brazil, Tommy and Kannika Tucker and their son, Austin, to Thailand, Dick and Tonya Burdine to Cambodia, Shelley Grimm to Honduras, and Jenni Stukkie to Italy. Shelley and Jenni are from the church and had their commissioning service on Sunday.

Pastor Mark Dallalio was the keynote speaker. His challenges to the congregation were very great calls to action. 

The church had put on a moving production called "God Has A Plan". The message was that even when trials happen, God can use them in His plan for our lives.

Friday was a day out with the gals: the missionary wives, pastors wife and secretaries. We had a great brunch at First Watch and then moved on to the Fairfield Mall for a Build-A-Bear journey. My girls, Laura and Heidi, had never been there before, so they had an exciting new adventure!

Saturday was a day at the Creation Museum. Micah and his new friend, Austin, had a great time getting to feed the animals outside and they even got to hold a snake outside the planetarium.

The most exciting moments in the conference was those individuals that went forward during invitation surrendering to missions and one salvation! Please pray that they continue to grow in the Lord!