Silcott Ministries

Now in Arizona, I can fill the pulpit in churches for pastors as they travel to see family or go on a vacation.  On October 16, 2022, I was able to preach in Ajo, Arizona at Calvary Baptist Church.  This church is north of Organ Pipe Cactus National Park and the small city of Why, Arizona.  We left Florence on Saturday, arrived in Ajo, and drove through the park, and spent the night in Ajo.  The church enjoyed the whole family Sunday School class with Rawley and the challenge from the book of Jonah.  Sunday morning, I preached from John chapter 3, giving an invitation for salvation and a challenge for the Saints to be a witness to those around them.  Five raised their hand for prayer as they seek to reach their friends for Christ.

After the service Sunday afternoon, we headed back to Pheonix to stay in a motel close to a patient that Jane needed to see Monday morning.  We finally arrived back home in Florence, Arizona on Monday night.  Please pray for safety in the many miles we travel each day and for the church in Ajo, Arizona as they seek to reach this small city for Christ.

From July 17 – August 28, 2022, I was able to fill the pulpit for Rapid Valley Faith Baptist Church in Rapid City, South Dakota.  This opportunity gave me a chance to achieve several things.  I was able to help the church by preaching for 7 weeks of services, so they could continue their search for a senior pastor.  During these seven weeks I had my eye surgeries to remove cataracts and perform laser surgery for my severe astigmatism.  I was so thankful that I could be a blessing to the church as I had these surgeries and recovery in Rapid City with the doctors who have seen me since childhood.

During the month I was able to drive my dad (Pastor Ralph Silcott) back east to Merrillville, Indiana where we took my step-mother Loma Davies Silcott’s remains to be buried next to her first husband.  During my stay I also helped my dad by driving him to his different doctors’ appointments and errands around town.  This trip to South Dakota even presented an opportunity to try and do some work in his house.  Our dear friend Pastor Ron Fanning and his helper Pete Rodolph came to town and installed trim in the living room and dining room, so Dad might put down flooring.  Please pray for Ralph Silcott and the church as they seek a pastor to come to Rapid Valley and serve the Lord in Southwest South Dakota.

June 5 – 10, 2022, I held my first Daily Vacation Bible School for the summer in Ash Flat, Arkansas for Pastor Lyon Raby.  I have held meetings with Pastor Raby in Hardy, Arkansas and now he is the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Ash Flat.  They used our Racing Theme for the week and Randy, driving the Ford, won for the week.  Randy said that Ford stands for, “First on Race Day”.  Each day we had visitors with the church families faithfully attending each night.  My wife Jane would help me get out Randy when I want to get two out at the same time.  Because she is not always with me now, I must find someone who would be willing to help me.  Lynn, the pastor’s wife was willing to step up and help me with this important task. 

We have friends that live in Cherokee Village who invited us out for lunch on Thursday.  The fellowship was great, and I was able to take a picture of the waterfalls in the middle of the village surrounded by several lakes in the midst of all the retirement homes.  Please pray for the two that trusted Christ as their Savior that they will keep coming to church and growing in their walk with the Lord.  Also pray for Pastor and his wife as they seek to reach the lost and feed the Saints in their area. 

On Sunday, May 29, I held meetings for Pastor Robert Hurd at Spring City Baptist Church in Spring City, Tennessee.  It was evident the God was working in hearts as I spoke for a whole family Sunday School and for the morning service.  For Sunday School I preached on the prophet who told God “No.”  For the morning service, I preached from Mark 5 on how Jesus cast out the demons from the man who dwelt in the country of the Gadarenes. 

During the week of May 24 – 26, I was able to attend a Hope of Israel Baptist Fellowship Conference.  This conference was held at the Cedine Conference Center in Spring City, Tennessee.  Daniel Fried was the moderator who introduced each speaker and encouraged us to pray for and support Israel.  Speakers brought out facts about Judaism and how we can pray for them and reach them with the good news of the gospel. 

The next Sunday after the COME conference, I held a meeting with Pastor Aaron Revis at Bogle’s Chapel in Evansville, Tennessee.    Randy helped me tell the story of Samson and his battle with the Philistines.   It was good to see friends again and spend some time with Pastor Aaron.  Pastor was not feeling very well that night, so he wore a mask and kept his distance from us all.  He had to come and see me again and hear from my friends.

Please pray for this growing church in the country and for Pastor and his family as they seek to reach this area for the Lord.  Covid is still a concern in many of the churches that I have ministered in.  Please pray for Pastor Aaron and his health and for our dear saints across America that we will all feel safe to go back to church.  We need to encourage one another in prayer and good fellowship.

The second week of May, I left Arizona and traveled to Tennessee for our COME Missions Conference.  This year our conference was held at Calvary Baptist Church in Dayton, Tennessee.  For the first time in the history of COME ,we had our board preach for our evening services.  Our speakers were Pastor Bill Lobb from Fergus Falls, Minnesota; Pastor Joshua Stock from Dayton, Tennessee; Pastor Curtis Sayre from Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, Dr. Mark Fishburn from Pierceton, Indiana; then, last of all, was me as the COME Field Representative.

It was a great week leading the singing and seeing all the evangelists and board members that traveled from across America to attend the conference.  Please pray for our evangelists and their up-coming meetings and for our board members who faithfully support COME. 

On March 20, 2022, I was invited to share our ministry at Berean Baptist Church in San Tan Valley, Arizona.  This is the church that Jane and I attend when I am not scheduled to speak at other churches. It has been a privilege to get to know this church family in Arizona and present our ministry.  I spoke for a whole family Sunday School to start the morning and invited Children’s Church to stay for the morning service.  Sunday night Jane was able to help me get Rawley out so that I could use two of my friends together.  The church was encouraged to see all that is involved in the Silcott Ministries.

Please pray for Berean Baptist Church and Pastor Skylar Bernick as they seek to raise money for their new building that they plan to build in two years.  Please pray for the Silcott Ministries as we seek to schedule meetings in the Summer and Fall months.  Next on our schedule is the Pastor’s Conference in Wyoming for the Northern Plans Baptist Fellowship.

After arriving home from Elmira, California, I was able to fill the pulpit for Pastor James Kester on December 5, 2021. Because of Covid they still only have Sunday School and Morning Service on Sunday.  The other services they live stream over the internet.  Pastor was able to harvest an elk to fill their freezer and I was able to present our ministry to the church family. 

For Sunday School I preached from Psalms 37: 3-11 on Comfort in a world that is filled with sorrow and despair.  For the morning service I introduced the message with a story from Rodney and preached on Daniel and his well- known reputation.  Please pray for Sahuaro Baptist Church in southern Tucson as they battle Covid in their community and seek to reach the lost with the gospel.

Prayer warriors and friends of the Silcott Ministries, I got back to Arizona and enjoyed a week in the valley with my wife.  On November 14 – 17, 2021 I drove out to Elmira, California where I held a week of revival meetings for the whole family.  It was good to see the meetings well attended each day as the church family invited their friends and came back to find out which one of my friends would come out for the service.  It was clear that God was working in hearts seeing those who raised their hands for prayer.

We have held meetings in Elmira several times over the last 20 years.  It was encouraging to see their new building under construction and hear about their plans to move in soon.  It is always hard when churches need to wait for funds to come in before they can complete the building.  Please pray for their new Pastor Scott Dean and his family as they seek to reach Elmira for Christ and continue their building project.

After ministering in Baker, I traveled back to Rapid City to spend the week with my dad, Pastor Ralph Silcott.  On Sunday, October 3^rd I preached at Rapid Valley Faith Baptist Church where my dad was the pastor for over 40 years.  It was encouraging to preach in the church where I grew up and see all those who are still faithful to the Lord and have prayed for us all these years. 

On Monday, October 4, my dad and I traveled to Cheyenne, Wyoming to attend the Northern Plains Baptist Fellowship at Faith Baptist Church with Pastor Tommy Miller.  This Fundamental Fellowship has churches in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota who come together twice a year for fellowship and to support a thriving camp ministry. On Wednesday, my dad and I travelled to Iowa to attend the 100-year anniversary at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary.  The next week we visited the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum in Kentucky.  Then, we returned to Faith for the Global Reach Conference from October 18 – 22, 2021.

Please pray for me as I have some doctor’s appointments before leaving Iowa on Saturday, October 30, 2021.  Then we will travel back to Rapid City to take my dad home before returning to Arizona.  Thanks for praying for the Silcott Ministries.