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| A friendly horse! |
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| Enjoying church with a/c! |
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| Christening/Dedication |
Monday, November 24, 2014
November - December Newsletter
Greetings in Christ’s Name,
What a golden opportunity it is for us to share Christ in a country where religion has redefined everyday Christianity. At times the thought has crossed our minds that perhaps replanting a church wasn’t needed here in Grand Turk. That thought has been totally erased as we’ve spent Wednesday and Sunday nights studying basic Biblical doctrines and ethics. These times have taught us that we are not replanting, we are starting brand new! Darkness is darkness whether it is in the form of religion or heathenism!
Many who have begun to attend Bible studies over the last 20 months grew up attending church. While it could be thought the work here is being built with people from other churches, hold that thought and visit a couple Bible study sessions. It’s Wednesday night and it’s HOT! There are 15-20 people gathered to study Christian ethics and tonight the issue is purity before marriage. As we go from scripture to scripture revealing God’s plan for courtship and engagement – listen and look closely. Listen for the whispers, sighs, and hushed laughs. Look at heads in hands, rolling of eyes, pointed fingers, and blank stares. Something is happening! Biblical light is breaking through the darkness as the Holy Spirit is bringing another person into conformity to Truth. As always at the end of Bible Study, questions are welcomed but tonight they’re not questions, they’re statements. Statements such as:
Come visit and you’ll see a great need for Bible study as well as many other ministries. Listen to three young boys in the most formative years share their struggles. “Pastor, I wish I could go to school with your children.” Why? “It is so hard to be a Christian at school because the boys do drugs and show pornography on their phones and make fun of us if we don’t watch it. I wish you had a school I could go to then I could be a Christian.” Watch those same boys at suppertime as they hang around hoping for food! Do we send them away hungry? Never!! What about the child missing school because of lack of funds for proper medication? What about humanitarian and educational ministries? I say be bold and seek a big vision for we serve a mighty God!
In closing please pray for the church here since we must return state-side for deputation. We are still in need of someone to fill in for June, July, and part of August. Please pray for Rev. Bob Clouse and his wife as they fill in from March through the first of May. They will need $3,500-$4,000 to cover expenses for that time period. (All giving is tax-deductible through HIM/FEA.) May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
Yours for Christ,
What a golden opportunity it is for us to share Christ in a country where religion has redefined everyday Christianity. At times the thought has crossed our minds that perhaps replanting a church wasn’t needed here in Grand Turk. That thought has been totally erased as we’ve spent Wednesday and Sunday nights studying basic Biblical doctrines and ethics. These times have taught us that we are not replanting, we are starting brand new! Darkness is darkness whether it is in the form of religion or heathenism!
Many who have begun to attend Bible studies over the last 20 months grew up attending church. While it could be thought the work here is being built with people from other churches, hold that thought and visit a couple Bible study sessions. It’s Wednesday night and it’s HOT! There are 15-20 people gathered to study Christian ethics and tonight the issue is purity before marriage. As we go from scripture to scripture revealing God’s plan for courtship and engagement – listen and look closely. Listen for the whispers, sighs, and hushed laughs. Look at heads in hands, rolling of eyes, pointed fingers, and blank stares. Something is happening! Biblical light is breaking through the darkness as the Holy Spirit is bringing another person into conformity to Truth. As always at the end of Bible Study, questions are welcomed but tonight they’re not questions, they’re statements. Statements such as:
“Pastor, thanks, I’ve never heard this before...Pastors don’t share this stuff.”
“I grew up in church but never knew this.”
“I’m going home and calling my girlfriend - we’ve got to have a Bible Study.”
“Boy, I’m going to start looking for my tux.”
If this has happened once it has happened 10-15 times in the last 20 months. There is no shame in being a
light-bearer for Christ in a place that has misidentified true Christianity!
Come visit and you’ll see a great need for Bible study as well as many other ministries. Listen to three young boys in the most formative years share their struggles. “Pastor, I wish I could go to school with your children.” Why? “It is so hard to be a Christian at school because the boys do drugs and show pornography on their phones and make fun of us if we don’t watch it. I wish you had a school I could go to then I could be a Christian.” Watch those same boys at suppertime as they hang around hoping for food! Do we send them away hungry? Never!! What about the child missing school because of lack of funds for proper medication? What about humanitarian and educational ministries? I say be bold and seek a big vision for we serve a mighty God!
In closing please pray for the church here since we must return state-side for deputation. We are still in need of someone to fill in for June, July, and part of August. Please pray for Rev. Bob Clouse and his wife as they fill in from March through the first of May. They will need $3,500-$4,000 to cover expenses for that time period. (All giving is tax-deductible through HIM/FEA.) May you and yours have a blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.
Yours for Christ,
Rob, Martha, Josh, Mike, Tyler, Josiah, Lauren, & Eli Loper
Friday, November 21, 2014
Not a favorite post
Not my favorite type of post here:
The cost of living here in Grand Turk is very high as can be attested by those who've visited. Over the last few months we've battled with financial shortages but have made it thus far.
We currently have 74 days until we arrive in the States for deputation. During these remaining days we must have enough finances to cover our work permits to return after deputation. (We need $3,500 for this cost.) To come home we need $2,500 for flights! Of greater importance currently is a lack of nearly $1,600 this month to cover expenses for cost of living.
We have little doubt we are right within God's present plan. We've seen great victories and advancements in Grand Turk and feel certain God is not finished with us in Grand Turk. By Gods grace with your help we shall stand to see tomorrow. Donations are tax deductible @
https://www.paypal.com/
Rob
The cost of living here in Grand Turk is very high as can be attested by those who've visited. Over the last few months we've battled with financial shortages but have made it thus far.
We currently have 74 days until we arrive in the States for deputation. During these remaining days we must have enough finances to cover our work permits to return after deputation. (We need $3,500 for this cost.) To come home we need $2,500 for flights! Of greater importance currently is a lack of nearly $1,600 this month to cover expenses for cost of living.
We have little doubt we are right within God's present plan. We've seen great victories and advancements in Grand Turk and feel certain God is not finished with us in Grand Turk. By Gods grace with your help we shall stand to see tomorrow. Donations are tax deductible @
https://www.paypal.com/
Rob
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