Island Basketball!!

Here is what basketball looks like in Grand Turk.

August 2014

Greetings in Christ name,

            I stood astonished, near the end of Kids Church a young man stood and said, “I’m offering $10 to however can quote from memory the most Scripture verses next Friday night.”  For the next week several kids took the challenge seriously, studying and memorizing as many Scriptures as they could.  Friday night came and the challenge was on, someone was going to earn $10.  Bebe a teenage boy from Haiti was ready! He came forward and quoted 19 verses.  He worked extremely hard, but the missionary kid Lauren quoted 20!  (The challenge was for all and the winner was simply the one who quoted the most.)  Quickly, another $10 was offered so that the top girl and boy could earn $10.  What a great investment!  That Friday night over 39 verses were quoted from memory, 39 verses that will not return void, 39 verses that will accomplish what God pleases to do!

            Recently the phone rang and on the other end a young man said, “Pastor, what does the Bible say about relations before marriage?”  In a culture where immorality and children out of wedlock are rampant, this question was exciting.  He then said, “Pastor, I got you on speakerphone I want the office to hear your response.”  Several weeks later on social media I noted a picture of this young man with a bunch of kids.  Someone wrote, “Now its time for you to have your own children.”  He responded, “I won’t be having children until I’m married.”  Thank God for quick obedience! On a recent Sunday night a young man shared, “Pastor, I’m really struggling with women!  I tell myself when I see a indecently dressed women not to look, but when she passes I do what I didn’t want to do.”  The classic struggle between the Spirit and flesh!  The perfect opportunity to point out James 1:8 “A double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways,” as well as James 4:8 “Cleanse your hands ye sinners, purify your hearts ye double-minded.”  Please pray much for this young man that he indeed would seek a pure heart. 

            Daily we have multiple youth in our yard to play basketball.  The basketball court is loose dirt and when they play the dust flies into our kitchen window.  FEA has approved a project to pour a concrete court that would be used for multiple purposes.  We have a team willing to come but need $3,000 for this project.  (Click here to donate)

In closing we want to thank you for your continued prayers and financial support.  For 18 months God has supplied every need through your faithfulness.  We are excited to announce that in 5 months we will be back in the States for deputation.  Soon we will be calling Churches and scheduling services, please keep us in mind.

Yours for Christ,

The Lopers – Rob, Martha, Josh, Mike, Tyler, Josiah, Lauren, & Eli

Here a few pictures;

Lauren and Ashley.

Youth with God's Missionary Youth Crusaders

Renessa and Martha - (Renessa recently accepted Christ into her life)

Martha and one of many 'Island Kids.'

Solomon with his new friends.

Pastor Delancy changing out electric panel box in house. 

A new door with an awesome breeze to help cool down a very hot house!

Repairing rusted rebar on house. (Church needs done badly)

TLC 2014 Team Grand Turk!  

A tired missionary kid.

A boy who has a dog is a happy boy.  (Not our dog, just one of many strays)

1st Quarter Update

Greetings from Grand Turk,

            What a difference a year can make! On March 4, 2013 we landed in Grand Turk with nothing more than a calling, a vision, and a passion to develop an indigenous work. We had little idea where to start, so we just began loving the people and visiting in homes of those connected with the church. Thankfully, God has multiplied our efforts. 

            Welcome to the very southern tip of Grand Turk and sharking 101. Greetings Professor Demarco! You are seated in the white sand listening to the waves roll in; its “hands-on” teaching night. While waiting, the conversation turns to questions about God, and for the next few hours the professor and students question you. Student Shard speaks up in the midst of the conversation and exclaims, “Pastor, we are like the disciples and you are like Jesus teaching us by the seashore.” How exciting!

            Now, fast forward to Friday and climb aboard the white Ford church van as we begin the van route to pick up kids for Kid’s Church. The driver is Demarco, the door opener is Josh, and the van captain is Shard. Prepare your ears for it is about to get loud for the next 30 minutes with the 15-25 kids packed into the van. Finally, back at the church you are in for a treat. To your right are nearly 30 boys and to your left nearly 15 girls who are ready to clap their hands to the beat of a song, learn a Scripture verse, and hear a Bible story.

            We welcome you to Sunday morning service. Fellows, forget the suit jackets and loosen your tie. Ladies, you will perspire since it is 85-90 degrees in the church. Sunday evening takes us to a Bible study. You are about to hear choruses that you have never heard, but may wish you had, as Shavar leads the singing. Testimonies are given: the fellow who said he could never give up rum, the man who was sitting in prison around a year ago, a lady who has a rough road at home, and a fellow who broke up with his fiancé because she refuses to seek God.

            God is working, and we need you! We need you to pull on the ropes of prayer as the enemy is preying on the people who are coming to church. They face daily opposition from family, friends, and even from other churches.  Please pray for the children who come; these children have amazing potential! Pastors, pastors’ wives, missionaries, teachers, and church leaders can be mined out of this group as we pray earnestly. Please help us pray concerning an assistant pastor to fill in as we come home for deputation. We also need your financial support. In 10 months, we must return to the US for deputation. We are currently in need of no less than $3250 per month in support to carry us through to January 2015. If you have not given, would you consider investing in the work at Grand Turk for the next 10 months or by giving a one-time gift? You may donate at: http://him.hopeinternational.cc or by sending a check to HIM, PO Box 1065, Hobe Sound, FL 33475. Please mark Rob Loper family in the memo line.

            We thank you for your interest and investment in our family. What you have seen, heard, and read concerning the Lopers and Grand Turk, you have partnered in. God is blessing your prayers and financial investments.

The Rob Loper Family

PS. We welcome you to look at our Facebook page (Rob n Martha Loper) for photos and frequent updates.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years!!

Greeting from Grand Turk,

            Numbers 23:19 “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”  As we look forward to what God has ahead, we look back and thank Him for performing exactly as promised in Numbers 23:19.  We feel blessed to be able to report what God is doing in Grand Turk.

            Ten months have gone by rather quickly as we have watched God perform His perfect plan.  Quickly, God placed a core group of people into our lives, people whom God has used mightily to advance the work here in Grand Turk.  We started out with 150 pens to give to new attendee’s over 18 years of age, and we now only have 15-20 pens left.  With a population of 3,700, we have had nearly 10% of the population visit the church this year.  This is particularly exciting because the majority of visitors have come by invitation from that core group.  From that group we have two young men working our van route for Kids’ Church.  Demarco drives the van while Shard keeps control of a rowdy 20-25 kids on the van.  We have two ladies who often help in Kids’ Church by leading songs and doing games afterwards.  We have another young man, Shavau, leading Sunday evening song service.  The week before Thanksgiving, Demarco started a Bible study in his office, an extension of the church.  We are so excited at what God is doing!!!

            In January we have a work team coming to help with Spaulding issues.  Our structures here are block with concrete pillars every 20 feet connected to a concrete tie beam that goes around the whole building.  The salt content in the air has caused the rebar in the concrete to begin to rust causing large cracks in the walls.  It has become a serious issue and we faced $4000-5000 in supplies and labor.  It was in the moments of trying to decide what to do that a good friend called, who has much experience in building, offering to raise the funds for supplies as well as bring a team to help repair all of the Spaulding.  PRAISE GOD!! 

             As we look forward, we realize that the battle is far from over! We want you to know that we are relying heavily on your continued prayers and financial support. To each of you who has prayed, thank you. We have sensed and seen your prayers at work.  To each monthly financial supporter, thank you for following through and investing in Grand Turk.  To each person who has contributed a little or a lot, thank you. Your giving is making an impact in Grand Turk. 

Yours for Christ,

The Lopers

Follow us on:  facebook: – Rob N Martha Loper Blog: – Loper Bunch

Call us: Stateside number 937-867-0953

News from November

Greetings in Christ’s Name,
      Adjustments are the new normal in our lives. The challenges of Island living and missionary living are two separate challenges merged into one. Where do you go for a vacation? How about a day trip to town? Where can we go where we’re not Pastor? What do you do with time, when projects cost money and you have none? How do you escape 110-degree heat without A/C? Then you must deal with cultural differences. What do you do when the neighbor boy is at your place and it’s time for supper? What do you do when that same boy’s parents head to town and leave him with you without asking? What about unexpected visits at all times of the day? What about uninvited guests inviting themselves into your family time around the dinner table. How you deal with these kinds of things will make you or break you. (Sometimes we feel broken.)
     In coming to Grand Turk, we knew our God-given assignment. God defined clearly to us that we were to see to the establishing of the church. We have found the task to be much different than pastoring stateside. We started at zero numerically on March 4, when we arrived! Our first Sunday we had three “Belongers”; the last Sunday of October we had 67 “Belongers.” (Special service) We have started at zero when it comes to Biblical understanding and living. This has proven to be a challenge as it is absolute, very basic teaching. It’s here that we work much differently than in the States. Stateside we’ve pastored established churches, here we are challenged to develop and make disciples. God is blessing in these efforts.
      We are working with Mr. Demarco, a young man who has the capacity to be a strong spiritual leader. It is a thrill to see God working in his life. He recently stated, “When I’m struggling, I hang around godly people.” (Now, we know why he visits so often.) We work with Mr. Garret who recently was saved and baptized. Mr. Demarco now has taken Mr. Garret and is teaching him what he has been taught, creating another disciple. The last Sunday of October, I watched as an old friend of Mr. Garret came to church. It was so interesting watching a newly converted believer reaching out and beginning to teach what he had been taught. Mr. Garret recently stated, “I just feel like I’ve found a new family.” As is common with missionaries we tend to leave out the hard times. Times like when a young lady states, “I want to get saved, but I’m not ready to give up some things”; then watch her strong interest for God fade as she becomes very cold spiritually.
     Yes, we are adjusting! God is blessing! But, please understand we need you! We need your prayer covering daily! We need your words of encouragement! We seriously need your financial support! we add as well, thanks for your prayers, encouraging words, and financial support. Thanks for your investment.

Your for Christ,
The Lopers

September Newsletter

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands

Greetings in Christ’s Name,
Six months have passed since our arrival here in Grand Turk. As we look back, we can see

the hand of God at work both here in Grand Turk and in our lives. The adjustments haven’t always been easy, but God has comforted us through the people He has brought into Bible studies and Sunday services. Since our previous newsletter some exciting things have taken place. We’d like to quickly share them with you.

For several weeks leading up to June 23, the church had been making plans for a church dinner after church. During the week leading up to this date, the Turks and Caicos radio station asked to broadcast our service live. When Sunday June 23 came, the church parking lot was filled, nearly all seating was filled, and most importantly God came. We had over 70 in attendance, and the church was introduced to all of Turks and Caicos. What an exciting time!

From March to June we didn’t meet on Sunday nights. Sadly, the tradition here is that every Sunday night is family night. (A good idea but on the wrong night.) On July 7 we had our first Sunday night service. Our service isn’t like yours; there’s no preaching, offering taking, nor set way of doing it. We sing a few songs or choruses, have a praise time (testimonies), time of sharing needs to help pray for one another through the week, then we study God’s Word. For the last nine weeks, we’ve been studying James 1. We’ve been blessed with 12-16 people in attendance.

One July afternoon, Demarco came by the church with Shards. Shards had been coming to Bible study for weeks. The Wednesday prior to his coming with Demarco, he had stated, “I’ll never be able to give up rum.” Demarco said four words that afternoon, “He’s ready to pray.” With tears and prayer to God, God came and delivered Shards. For six weeks, Shards has been rum free!! Please pray for Shards. His home is full of evil influences that fight him constantly about his choice to go with God.

As I close, I extend to you our thanks for your continued prayers and financial support. We deeply appreciate you partnering with us. To you who helped with Youth Camp expense, thanks. To you who helped towards needed A/C units, thanks. To the monthly financial supporter, thank you for giving and encouraging us through your giving. Monthly supporter, you’re the backbone to the work here in Grand Turk.

Blessings, The Lopers