Prayer Support

"Nothing is more important to God than prayer in dealing with mankind. But it is likewise all-important to man to pray. Failure to pray is failure along the whole line of life. It is failure of duty, service, and spiritual progress. God must help man by prayer. He who does not pray, therefore, robs himself of God's help and places God where he cannot help man. Man must pray to God if love for God is to exist. Faith and hope, and patience and the strong, beautiful, vital forces of piety are withered and dead in a prayerless life. The life of the individual believer, his personal salvation, and personal Christian graces have their being, bloom and fruitage in prayer. " (Bounds, E. M., The Complete Works of E.M Bounds on Prayer. Baker Book House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1993, pg. 369.)

If we have had any eternal success here in South Africa, I believe, it is because of the thousands of prayers that have been prayed for us these last four and a half years. I know that we have made it through every situation because of your intercession on our behalf. We have witnessed some incredible situations that we cannot explain any other way than that of God answering our prayers. Did He always answer according to our thoughts and ways - of course not. But God has remained faithful to His Word, which we have tried to allow to guide our paths. The photos below represent on part of our prayer journey to South Africa. Thanks for your remembrance of us in your prayers.

October 2008 - Mmabatho, South Africa

June 2007 - Longview, TX

Christmas 2006 - Mmabatho, South Africa

November 2005 - Mmabatho, South Africa

November 2004 - Longview, Texas

Happy 2nd Birthday, Melody

It is hard to believe that she is 2 years old, already!


Everybody wants to be a part of opening the presents.


Getting ready for some cake.


Just got my hair done and mom has to take some pictures

October Update

This is our new prayer card. If your church/SS class would like some,
let me know and I can email them to your closest Wal-Mart.

What a busy time it has been these last weeks. For the past 2 weeks, we have hosted 14 people from the United States. They were part of a group sent out by World-Wide Church Planters. Dr. Steve Wilkes from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN, founder and president and one of my professors when I attended, lead the group. From October 5 - 11th, Lyle Seltman came and taught Church Planting concepts to about 14 participants. What a joy it was to spend a week with man full of so much knowledge and experience. As he taught the seminar, it easy to understand why he so well liked. He put everyone at ease with his likable personality. He would be considered an expert by his peers. He is now working as a National Church Planter for NAMB. Being a grandfather himself, he adjusted easily into our household, getting down on the floor with both Melody and Bethany.

As I took Lyle back to the airport on Saturday, I spent the night in Johannesburg and picked up a team of 13 on Sunday evening. Our ride home was not without incident as the other vehicle transporting half the team had some mechanical problems. It only delayed us only 3 hours - but 3 hours at a gas station in the middle of Africa in the middle of the night could have been a little unnerving - but the team coped, shared the Gospel with whoever was at the gas station and made the best of it. For the next week, as much as we could, with the participants of the Church Planting seminar in the lead, they were out witnessing. With numbers exceeding 350 professions of faith, we had a good week. The best part of the week is that most that made decisions were immediately introduced to pastors/leaders that would be planting a church in that area. I am looking forward to see what God is going to do with all the work from this last week. They all some pretty incredible stories of people coming to Christ. There was a corner in one of the villages that became known as the "Holy Corner" as several people - in the teens/twenties - came to Christ in a period of an hour or so. This happened, I believe 2 days in a row.

I now have a big job on following on up those that live in Extension 39 - this is our area that both Jody and I feel called to. Jody has started a T4T group in that area - discipling the believers and training them to eventually start and lead groups themselves. I have talked,prayed for, and witnessed to many people out there, only to find out that many don't live there or are attending church somewhere else. Kagiso and I have have spent the last 2 1/2 months out there before this seminar prayer walking and witnessing. I believe this area was open to the Gospel because of the prayers before hand.

Jody continues her work out in Moshawane and Extension 39. She continues to have her successes and failures coupled with frustrations and joys. Throughout the last couple of weeks, several have professed Jesus has their Lord and Savior. Pray for her as she tries to determine the best direction to take in Moshawane.


PRAYER REQUESTS:
--JODY - that she have the necessary wisdom, discernment, and understanding for her ministry.
--DENNIS - that he will make progress in follow-up in Extension 39 and that some T4T groups will be started as a result.
THE BOYS - They have about 5 weeks of school left for the year.
BETHANY AND MELODY - Bethany turned 4 last month - Pray for her salvation. Melody turned 2 yesterday - Pray for her safety as she is not afraid to climb anywhere and do most anything. She will be a bold witness for the Lord.