Wednesday, May 13, 2009
"Disaster Assistance" has just completed a short mission with the Hemly Rd. Church of Christ in Bayou La Batre, Al. Just a couple of weeks, ago Brs. Dave Neal and Doug Oaks from the Somerset Church in Somerset, Ohio spent time in BLB. There they taught and baptized 5 people. A call came to us, to come and help teach these new converts as well as several new Christians more about the doctrine of Christ. This church does not have a regular preacher. Thanks to your support in these spiritual matters, we were able to go there and really be a big help to this young growing church. As you may recall, prior to hurricane Katrina, the only congregation in BLB had ceased to meet some 2 yrs before the hurricane. When "Katrina" came to BLB, shortly thereafter, several Christan's came there to help. Out of this help, the church began to meet again, Christians bought another building, have a dynamic outreach program, are now a center of activity in the community and this past Sun. had 80 people in worship service. Your help greatly aided in the development and growth of this congregation. Br. Mike Baumgartner, Director of "Disaster Assistance", with the help of Rosemary and others cooked and fixed some really good meals, 460. The church invited the community in and was the community ever impressed by the friendliness of this church? We inter mingled with them and talked them about the Church of Christ at the supper time meal. We invited them to worship with us Sunday.Several of them who had not visited the church before came to worship that Sunday morning and I personally know some that have expressed an interest in studying God's word. This was an excellent outreach project that you helped make possible. With our spiritual outreach arm of "Disaster Assistance", while there we had 21 in attendance during 12 different bible studies. Now while our effort there was to help "ground" new Christians, one was baptized and I believe two more will be baptized shortly. We left the Hemly Rd. Church of Christ with a renewed appreciation for the outreach of this church, esp. with young people. Of the 80 people who were in attendance at worship Sun. I believe over half of them were young people. I went around to the Sunday School classes Sun. morn. and was deeply impressed with the dedication of the teachers. Sun. Ev. we went to the Creekwood Congregation in Moble. Br. David Sargent had an excellent lesson on Christian's caring We had an opportunity to renew old acquaintances there from our work in Katrina.
As we are back home now for awhile, I think, we have a lot of activity planned this summer at the Howel Church where I preach and which sends and supports Rosemary and I on these various home missionary trips. Our gospel meeting is in June, I am in a meeting at the Mc Burg Church in July, we have our Super Sat. Bible School in July and then there is the upcoming Sycamore Bible Bowl in Cookeville, Tn. in early Sept. then I speak at the Heritage Christian Un. Lecturship in late Sept. In between all of these activities, "Disaster Assistance " remains ready to "Drive at Dawn"to help organize and work for the local church should disaster strike. We can always use volunteers "at the ready". I must tell you, this is work. We start early in the morning and it is usually nearly dark, when we finish. That's 7 days a week, with time off to go to worship. While it's work, it has, I believe, the greatest reward of all on this earth, the knowledge that you helped make a difference in someone's life physically and you also and at the same time had and used the opportunity to show and teach people about Jesus. If you would like to be a part of this Home Mission Work, email me or call me at 931 659 6643 cell 931 698 3150. Also please see Mike's blog about "Disaster Assistance" www.mikesmissionupdates.blogspot.com http://mikesmissionupdates.blogspot..com Don
As we are back home now for awhile, I think, we have a lot of activity planned this summer at the Howel Church where I preach and which sends and supports Rosemary and I on these various home missionary trips. Our gospel meeting is in June, I am in a meeting at the Mc Burg Church in July, we have our Super Sat. Bible School in July and then there is the upcoming Sycamore Bible Bowl in Cookeville, Tn. in early Sept. then I speak at the Heritage Christian Un. Lecturship in late Sept. In between all of these activities, "Disaster Assistance " remains ready to "Drive at Dawn"to help organize and work for the local church should disaster strike. We can always use volunteers "at the ready". I must tell you, this is work. We start early in the morning and it is usually nearly dark, when we finish. That's 7 days a week, with time off to go to worship. While it's work, it has, I believe, the greatest reward of all on this earth, the knowledge that you helped make a difference in someone's life physically and you also and at the same time had and used the opportunity to show and teach people about Jesus. If you would like to be a part of this Home Mission Work, email me or call me at 931 659 6643 cell 931 698 3150. Also please see Mike's blog about "Disaster Assistance" www.mikesmissionupdates.blogspot.com http://mikesmissionupdates.blogspot..com Don
# posted by Missions with Don&Rosemary @ 11:15 AM 
