Archive for May, 2007

INDEPENDENCE

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

bellpa-005.jpg

After the conference we left Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania to see some of the local sights. We started at the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Park. This site represents early American iron works. It was a “plantation” for iron. They made pig iron to send to England, cast pots and pans, and molded iron plates for the Hopewell cooking stove. During the Revolutionary War Hopewell Furnace supplied cannons and cannonballs for the Continental Army.

We also stopped at General George Washington’s headquarters at Valley Forge. I had never imagined the terrain of the winter encampment as hilly.

We spent the night “boondocking” at Grace Baptist Church in Norristown, Pennsylvania. We attended services the next day. Pastor Ernie Mascho asked me to tell a story using ventriloquism on Sunday morning. They all enjoyed Rawley and scheduled us for a Vacation Bible School in August of 2008.

The next day Memorial Day, we left our trailer and truck at the church and rode the train to downtown Philadelphia so that we could see The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Caleb enjoyed the storytellers stationed throughout the downtown area. These storytellers told stories about Benjamin Franklin, Betsy Ross, and others that made our history great. It was a joy to be right there where our Independence began and was finalized with signatures by the Continental Congress.

C.O.M.E. Conference

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

churchpa-001.jpg

On May 19 – 23, 2007 we attended the 39th annual COME conference at the Maranatha Baptist Church in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. It was a very long drive from Muskegon, Michigan to Pennsylvania. Yet we made the trip with no trouble and had a great time at the conference with our fellow evangelists and the church family.

The pastor’s wife heard me speak at the conference with Rawley and asked me to come and speak at their JOY club on Wednesday night. I was happy to leave the conference and tell the story of David and Goliath. I shared the gospel and challenged the children to live for the Lord, even when we face big challenges in our lives. One girl came forward to trust Christ as her Savior. Her mom and dad had been praying for her for several months.

We gave our yearly report to the church as well as all the evangelists and our COME board members. It was good to see all of them again and hear about the challenges that they face and the great things that God is doing with them in their ministries. It is always a joy to be with others that are going through some of the very same things that we face throughout the year.

Faith Baptist Church

Tuesday, May 8th, 2007

muskegonmi-001.jpg

On May 6th through the 9th we held revival meetings at the Faith Baptist Chruch in Muskegon, Michigan. It has been great to see our friends again that we have known for several years. In the past 16 years we have had a part in 4 weeks of meetings at this church. Pastor Swieringa was a student with me at Faith Baptist Bible College in the 80’s and is now the senior pastor at Faith Baptist Church on the west side of Michigan.

This week we have had some great decisions by the adults, as well as, young saints in the church. Three people came to me to let me know that they have some things in their homes that they knew that they should destroy. I preached against books like Harry Potter, Pokemon cards, and dreamcatchers. These things are very Satanic and are things that Christians should not have in their homes.

muskegon008-1.jpgThis picture is a picture of a young lad by the name of Brandon that took a big step in his Christian walk to destroy his collection of Pokemon cards and Harry Potter collectables.

Ormas Baptist Church

Wednesday, May 2nd, 2007

ormas-002.jpg

During the week of April 29th through May 3rd we held a week of meetings at Ormas Baptist Church in Columbia City, Indiana. This church is very hard to find because they have changed the name of the county that the church is located.

We have had a great week with lots of visitors that included neighbors that lived across from the church. This was the first time that they ever came to the church. Please pray that they will soon respond to the gospel that was clearly presented in the meetings.

Pastor Rodney and Nancy Schuler are doing a great job in this country church. They have four wonderful children looking forward to serving the Lord with their lives. Jonathon their oldest has a desire to serve the Lord as a pastor or a full time Evangelist. He has lots of decisions that he needs to make. Please pray for this young man that he will make good decisions concerning Bible College.

Jane spoke at the Mother daughter banquet on Tuesday night. Over 70 ladies came that night enjoying poems, a skit, the story of Noah told by Rodney, and a devotion by Jane. What a joy to see lots of ladies that never came to the church before. Please pray that the pastor and his wife will be able to follow up on these ladies and see lots of fruit in these last days.