Marion Reed

Missionary Baptist Association of Texas

Post Office Box 450813

Garland, TX 75045-0813

Tel. 972-272-7727 Fax 972-494-6959 Email cbmin1@juno.com

General Fund Balance was $13,361.91 on December 1, 2002.

Offerings Received in December totaled $15,479.25

Closing Balance on December 31, 2002 was $7,223.61

These offerings came from 150 churches and some individuals.

The above figures were given to me by Mrs. Luther Crawford. I want to express appreciation for her continued help. I know it has been hard to be responsible for much of this work. I have been delayed in getting everything changed over due to the holidays and my wife spending three days in the hospital due to a kidney stone. She is recovering and we hope to be able to make the necessary transition very soon. I would like to encourage you to continue praying for Mrs. Crawford and let her know of your concern for her welfare.

I want to thank our Special Missionary Advisory Committee for responding to my request for help in keeping the churches aware of our needs. I have heard good reports from the efforts of these brethren. I have heard from one Association that is planning a Mission Rally, inviting the missionaries to come and help to raise special offerings. We need approximately $21,000 each month to pay the salaries.

I am in the process of mailing a poster and letter explaining the need to every church in Texas.

I pray that more of our good churches in Texas will respond with a special offering for State Missions. As you can see from the above report, we need help. Let us all remember that this is our Lord’s work and we are so blessed to be a part of it. In doing this work, souls are hearing the gospel and many will come to know Christ, as we are privileged to know Him.

If you would like for me to make a visit to represent State Missions, please let me know.

It was good to see our attendance up once again and our offerings increase, even in December. We had a high of 27 in Sunday School, 29 in Morning Worship, 28 in Evening Worship and 24 in our mid-week services.

The day after I returned from attending funeral services for Bro. Luther Crawford, I received word that my oldest sister, Inez Campbell, had passed away. She was a faithful member of Southside Landmark MBC in Oklahoma City, OK. Bro. Marc Ray was her pastor.

Average Attendance

Sunday School - 24

Morning Worship - 28

Evening Worship - 21

Midweek Service - 18

Received from project for salary - $1,348.00

We had many regular attenders out of service due to illness. However, we received many blessings through the month.

We are now using our new addition for nursery and Sunday School. We are in the process of finishing a few minor details.

We will get back on our survey visitation in early January. We ask your continued prayers and support.

Average Attendance

Sunday School - 22

Morning Worship - 26

BTC - 23

Evening Worship - 23

Mid-week Service - 13

Received from project for salary - $200.00

Received from others for salary - $450.00

First, let us give all praises to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We here at New Life MBC are expecting great and mighty things from the Lord. There seems to be a new joy within the members. We had gotten away from some things that had gotten us this far with God. We are so happy and joyful this month. We had five first time visitors. After we visited with them, they have stated that they feel right at home. My wife and I plan to move to Midland very soon and I know this is going to be of great benefit to the church, and to my ministry all around. We ask that you all keep us in your prayers.

As for my physical health, there are some days that are greater than others. I am not sure what I am going to do because my liver is starting to swell again. I am also going to have to see a bone specialist about my leg. I really ask your prayers for my wife. The battle with this sickness in her body has taken its toll. Through it all we are learning to be content.

With love ,

Bro. Mitchell Williams

Average Attendance

Sunday School - 20

Morning Worship - 28

Evening Worship - 12

Mid-week Service - 12

Received from project for salary - $150.00

Received from others for salary - $300.00

This past month has had its ups and downs, but we know God is so good to us. We have had to make some difficult decisions regarding the work here and some of the members. The result is that our numbers have decreased for the time being, but I believe the work will benefit from this in the long run. Those that are here and involved in the work now are in sweet harmony and have a desire to see the work grow with a willingness to work, and yet to wait upon the Lord as well. Sometimes you may have to take a couple steps backward in order to truly move forward. I want to express to you my gratitude for your prayers and your support. Our Lord knows all that you have done for His work in the fields of labor. Thank you for your help.

Souls Won 0 Baptized 0 By Letter 0 By Statement 0

Total Church Offering $796.60

Total Given to Missions $122.07

Total Received from Project for Salary $365.00

Total Received for Others for Salary 0

Average Attendance

Sunday School 8 Morning Worship 11 Evening Worship 4 Wednesday 7

BLESSED WITH GUESTS

We continue to have first time guests as well as return visitors. We are so thankful for these folks. On the last Sunday of December Brother Marion and Sister Nancy Reed were among the guests in our services. Our attendance averages were down during the month, so this was a great encouragement to our church family. Brother and Sister Reed are very special people. We are thankful we had them to step in after the passing of Brother Crawford. Brother Reed reported on State Missions and the church-planning ministry and brought the morning message. It was a real blessing to have the Reeds with us!

"SHARE THE LOVE"

We are using the holidays to meet physical needs and hopefully spiritual needs as well. "Share The Love" is simply a campaign to gather food items, household goods and Christmas gifts to give to a family who may need a little help. The family we helped at Christmas is a single mom and four children. As we reach out to families who may not know Jesus or may be unchurched, it is our goal to meet physical and spiritual needs. We simply want to share the love of Jesus in our communities. We have done this at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our people are excited about this effort and are learning some lessons about giving and generosity along the way. Pray for the Texas Avenue Baptist family as we share the love of Jesus.

THANKS!

Thanks to you who support the work here by your offerings sent directly to us and through support of the M.B.A. of Texas mission program. Your prayers and support mean so much and are a great encouragement. You have a part in the work here as we see folks saved and lives changed. Thank you for allowing God to use you in this way. We are thankful for God helping to meet our needs through half salary through the M.B.A. of Texas. Thanks messengers for approving support for another year. During November we received special offerings for salary or housing from George and Liz Clinton, Paul and Bonnie Hull, the Pace family, and Westwood Baptist of Odessa. Thank you for your support of Texas Avenue Baptist.

Total church offerings: $3,283.72

Gave to missions: $328.72

Paid on property: $888.00

Salary received from project: $400.00

Salary from others: $550.00 (+ half salary from M.B.A. of Texas)

Average Attendance: Sunday School: 30 Morning Worship: 36

Evening Worship: 26 Mid-week Bible Study: 25

God just keeps blessing us at Crossroads. Thanks to all of you who supported us through the Texas Mission Development Fund in November, when we received the offering of a little over $23,000. That plus what we had in our building fund, left us a balance of $7500 to pay off the land. We keep folks who pass by our building aware of what God is doing by putting messages on our sign. So, in November, after receiving the TMD funds, we put a thank you to God for the TMD funds and noted that we needed $7500 for pay off. On the Monday before Christmas Eve, a man and his son came to my door, introduced himself and handed me a letter of encouragement from his church, plus a check for $7500! This church is not of our faith and is located just down the road from our property. They have shown an interest in our work by occasionally stopping by and talking when we're working around our place. On the Sunday before he came on Monday, they voted in their morning worship service to take up an offering to help on our land fund. They raised $7500! So, the following week, we paid off our land and had a note burning ceremony on New Year's Eve. God is great and good!

Our banker told us when we were at the bank that our land is now valued high enough to cover $100,000 collateral toward construction of a new building. We paid $48,000 for the land exactly three years ago!

Of course, there's always a need for more money. Our building fund is now empty and we need to raise some to help in the beginning construction needs. We will plan a ground breaking ceremony in the near future! What a great way to start off 2003!

The devil is nosing around as he usually does when God is at work and His people are trying to be faithful. Pray with us that we will remain vigilant and open to God's leading.

A great big thanks from all of us for those who support us faithfully. Continue to pray for us.

Our high attendance for morning worship was 43 and we continue to have first time visitors.

We received a total of $1364 from other churches in December.

TOTAL CHURCH OFFERING: $4583

TOTAL GIVEN TO MISSIONS: $510

TOTAL PAID ON RENT: $1600

TOTAL PAID ON PROPERTY: $34,894

TOTAL RECEIVED FROM PROJECT FOR SALARY: $800

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE:

SUNDAY SCHOOL: 28 WORSHIP: 34 EVENING: 18 WEDNESDAY: 27

Greetings once again from all the folks at North Lake Baptist Mission.

Door Knocking!

We have knocked 157 doors this month with several great visits. We were able to share The Gospel with several of these folks, which were lost, and they were very receptive! I had one man accept Christ while I was counseling Him and his future bride! Praise The Lord!

Our Second Bus Route Is A Great Success!

Our new bus route is doing great! There has been four accept Christ as Savior from this route! Hunter Hurley, Zac Covington, Danny Hardin, and Tanner Paddock. The Lord has surely put His stamp of approval on this out reach! Praise The Lord!

Our Attendance

We had 44 for S.S. and 44 for Worship Service.

Special Needs!

We are still needing some support for Brother Shaun, my Missionary Helper. This man is doing an excellent job! If it was not for him we would not have these bus ministries.

We still need someone to haul our motor grader from Sheridan AR. to Denton TX. I believe we have found someone to haul our Dozer from Bentonville, AR. Brother Danny Bowman. I sure appreciate him for doing that. We have found a trailer that we can borrow in Cornerville AR. It belongs to Bro. Marty Hughes. He was a young boy when I was attending Church there. His Mom and Dad, Billy Joe and Carolyn, were great influences to us as young Christians. The Lord has sure put some great people in my life! Isn’t Our Lord Great! Thank you Brother Marty.

Special Note To Our Supporters!!

I want to thank all of those who are so very faithful to support this work. I could never say enough about your diligence to continue to help us. You are the greatest! I pray that you all will have a very prosperous New Year In Our Lord!

Your Missionary In Christ

Larry Frye

A Note From Brother Shaun, Mason!

Dear Friends, I want to personally thank you for your prayers and support. Working with Bro. Frye has been a tremendous blessing to me and my wife. Many are coming to know Christ as their Savior. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing here in Denton, Texas.

In Christ, Name doing His Bus-iness.

Bro. Shaun Mason

Greetings Brethren,Received one on promise of letter during December, and gave $581.44 to mission work. Offerings and attendances way down. Will blame it on the time of year right now. Will have to come up with something else if it doesn't improve in January.Seems like just about everything that could go wrong did in the month of December, but we have long since learned to keep our eyes on Jesus rather than the circumstances of life. Have a blessed and fruitful 2003! The Brethren of Faith salute you.Attendance averages: Sunday School 44; Sunday Morning Worship 64; Sunday Evening Worship 36; and Wednesday Night Worship 28. Offerings averaged $1,503.32 a week.