Silcott Ministries

We left a week open on our way to Tucson, Arizona so that we can take our time and see some friends on the way and stop at some local vacationing sights.   We stopped close to Ore City, Texas to have supper with some dear friends that we have met over the years of travel and special meetings.  Then we were off to Carlsbad to spend one day at the caverns.  Then we stopped in El Paso to see Jane’s friend from high school.  We arrived in Tucson, Arizona on February 24, 2011.

We were able to spend a week at Sahuaro Baptist Church in Tucson.  Please pray for this church as they are in the process of looking for their next pastor.  Pastor James Smith has retired from the church and is looking for his next ministry.  The church has a beautiful new building and is ready for growth.  We were able to encourage the Saints and  challenge the lost to trust Christ as their Savior.  During the meetings we had 10 Adults respond to the invitation for spiritual growth and living for the Lord.  Then in Awana we saw 4 raise their hand for prayer to live for the Lord at school and at home.

On January 30, 2011  I preached at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Pineville, Louisiana.  I spoke for Sunday School, morning and evening service.  The church responded well to our ministry and six raised their hands asking for prayer as they seek an opportunity to witness to a friend.  Please pray for this growing church and pastor as they seek to reach the lost. 

This week the church is repairing the sanctuary.  The ceiling in the sanctuary suffered damaged when lightening hit the bell tower.  The men are covering the cracks and then repainting it.  Because they are repairing and repainting the ceiling, they removed the pews.  Because they removed the pews, they are also replacing the flooring and repairing the pews.  Like many repairs I think this one is getting bigger each day.  But the people are working hard together. 

Much of our ministry is built by word of mouth.  We met Pastor Joe Sharp through Pastor Dale Stockburger, a church planter in Topeka, Kansas.   We met Pastor Dale through David Cox a COME board member who lives in Topeka. 

As we wait for all of our parts to come in for our trailer,  I was also able to drive up to Oakland, Minnesota to preach on October 17 at the Oakland Baptist Church.  This change of schedule allowed us to minister at this small church between Albert Lea and Austin on I - 90 in southern Minnesota.  I was able to speak for their Sunday School, Morning and Evening service.  At the end of Sunday School, one of the adults stood up sharing with me that he wanted to talk to the pastor.  The church has been praying for him for several months and his wife had prayed for his salvation for 7 years.  Pastor had the opportunity to lead him in the sinner’s prayer as he trusted the Lord as his Savior.

During the morning service six responded for prayer as they seek to share the gospel with friends that they know are not saved.  This church has been able to reach lots of children through a bus ministry that brings children from surrounding communities.  This month they are conducting an outreach event called “The Shadow of Death” that adults and teens can walk through in a field across from the church.  It portrays a true story of an accident and tries to demonstrate the eternal consequences of choices that people make.    

July 25 -30, I preached and taught the Bible lessons for the Junior I week  at the Victory Ranch Baptist Camp in Moreno Valley, California.  The young people responded well to the preaching of the Word of God.  We saw three trust Christ as Savior and over 25 come forward in the service to indicate their interest in getting baptized when they returned to their local church. 

The camp offers many activities for the campers: swimming, horseback riding, crafts and many organized games directed by Francine.  The camp is located on the North side of Moreno Valley with lots of rolling mountains and trees that shade the camp in the evening.   The ranch has goats, donkeys, cows horses and wild life when the ranch is quiet.  So far we have seen one fox and three rabbits close to our trailer.   Please pray for these campers as they go back to their homes and the world pressures around them.

This last week June 14 through the 18 we held meetings at Camp Manitoumi in Lowpoint, Illinois.  The 80 plus children enjoyed their large pool and horseback riding.  Each evening they had a hay rack ride and snacks from the kitchen and open canteen.  I was able to use Rosie this year for the first time in my camp ministry.  We saw three trust Christ as their Savior and others that made life changing decisions.  One of the children shared with me that he was going home and destroying his Pokemon Cards and dream catchers.  We enjoyed seeing friends who helped in camp and others who dropped off children for the week. 

As we were leaving the camp, we got bogged down in the wet grass land between the road and RV gravel park.  It took several of the camp staff and two tractors to get us up on the road.  After getting out we made our way to the state of Iowa for our next meeting.  Jane is in lots of pain with her broken foot making it very hard for her to travel.  Please pray for healing power.

Our meetings in northern Minnesota went from Sunday to Sunday.  I preached at Northwoods Bible Baptist Church in Cloquet on Sunday morning at 10:00 to 12:00 on both Sundays and at 6:30 on Thursday.  Each day from 10:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to about 3:00, Pastor Sweckard and I knocked on doors looking for prospects.  Please pray that these contacts will result in future members for Northwoods Bible Baptist Church.   They are praying for ten families and have already started the fund for a future building.

On Sunday night, we held a special meeting at Calvary Baptist Church in Superior, Wisconsin.  Members from both churches and some visitors attended.  Two people responded to the invitation to defeat sin in their Christian lives.  Please continue to pray for us as we strive to stir up the Saints and reach the lost for our Savior.

The meetings at Stockton Baptist Church in Stockton, Kansas went very well.  The half of week of meetings were well attended.  During each meeting, we had visitors from the community and people that showed their support from neighboring churches.  Pastor Harlan Palser has been leading this church and helping them to find a full-time pastor for the future.  Please pray that this church would soon find a pastor.

Our meetings in Stockton ended on Wednesday night; on Thursday, we started the long trip to Cloquet, Minnesota.  On our way, we were able to stop in Mankato, Minnesota to see Jane’s Grandma Lee who is now 93 years old.  It was a joy to get to see her again and talk about the past and hear her recall the joy of sitting at the feet of the Savior.  We rejoice in our family’s godly history and the privilege to serve the Savior.

April 11, 2010, we had the opportunity to minister at the Gonzales Baptist Temple in Gonzales, Louisiana.  Pastor Clint Johnson has been a great encouragement to us in our ministry in evangelism.  He has helped me in the past with my web site, our computer, and ministry promotion. 

Sunday morning, we had a whole family Sunday School service with ventriloquism and object lessons.  For the morning service, I spoke on John 3.  That evening, I presented our ministry and Ephesians 4.  The church family responded with great kindness and warm-hearted gratitude.  We covet their prayers for our future ministry in evangelism and for our safety as we travel the many miles ahead.

This Sunday found us at Candlestick Baptist Church in Sulphur, Louisiana.  The fellowship was uplifting to our hearts.   Sunday noon meal featured a Cajun Cook-off:  shrimp ettouffe (ay-too-fay), catfish caubion (Koo-be -on), okra, and a shrimp casserole called blend of the bayou.  Cajun food is usually spicy with seafood and French cream sauces.   “You’ve gotta come and try some.”

In the two services, four saints came forward to pray for God’s help in trusting Him more.  On Sunday morning, we had unsaved visitors : please pray that soon they will respond to the gospel.  I used Rawley on Sunday morning and Rosie on Sunday night.  It is wonderful to speak to Cajuns.  They have an enthusiasm for life and laughter.  They celebrate the joy of the Lord. 

Sunday, March 21, we ministered at Charity Baptist Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.  The first time we ministered here, they were a church plant meeting in the local elementary school on the corner.  Now,  they have their own building and are continuing to reach the community with the gospel.  For Sunday School, I was able to minister to the whole family with a story from the book of Jonah and object lessons presenting the truth of the gospel.  For Sunday morning, I preached an evangelistic message; and I presented our ministry in the evening and preached a message from the book of I Peter. 

Please pray for these faithful servants and their pastor as they continue to reach this expanding community with the gospel.