TEXAS STATE MISSIONS REPORT FOR JULY 2005
Beginning Balance - $210,107.14
Offerings - $20,578.56
Missionary Salaries - $9,092.00
Designated/Heritage Housing - $260.00
Designated/LaMarque Mission - $278.02
Adm. Salaries/Expense - $2,071.33
Ending Balance - $218,984.35
Over the past 30 months as I have been privileged to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for the churches of the MBA of Texas, you have responded to provide the financial needs, more than sufficiently. These funds are provided for the purpose of doing "mission work" as I understand our purpose. In the beginning, I asked for funds to be given for this purpose and you have so done. I have also continued to ask that you pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers "for the fields are white unto harvest." So far there has not been much evidence of this being accomplished. So what is the situation? Are we sincerely and earnestly praying, or is God not answering our prayers, or is it that those God is calling are refusing the call? I don't know.
Whose responsibility is it to do mission work? I believe it is the responsibility of every child of God, in and through one of the Lord's New Testament churches. Are we as pastors not teaching and encouraging our members to be concerned and involved in praying and sharing in more than just the giving of financial support? Is it that we are "at ease in Zion?" God's nature and God's principles do not change. "For I am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3:6) If God was angry with His people of old who were living in ease and indifference to the sin in the nation and in their own lives, could this not be true also in our time? Have we become "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God?" (II Timothy 3:4) We spend more time in rest and recreation than with the Lord and His Word, thus allowing "the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to choke the Word." Thus, we become unfruitful. It is my prayer that we will each take inventory of our lives, concerns and involvements in regard to what God wants from us and seek to do His will. We should be burdened for those around us who are without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" (Romans 10:13-15) People hearing the gospel and accepting Christ will eventually result in the establishing of New Testament churches. "Preacher" in the above scripture does not mean just the pastor, the evangelist or the missionary. It means anyone who will share what God is able to do for those who need to be saved and establish a relationship with God through salvation. "Church members" are the preachers in this account.
JOEL CLAY
LAMARQUE
Souls Saved 2 Baptisms 2 Letter 0 Statement 8
Sunday School 45 Morning Worship 135 Evening Worship n/a
Total Church Offering $10,222.50 Gave To Missions $984.89 Paid For Rent $750.00
1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him." To all our Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we send greetings of great joy. After spending two weeks vacationing with my family in the beautiful state of Georgia, it is still with great joy that I send our Mission report for the month of July. This is the first vacation that we have taken since the inception of the Mission in 2003. Trust me when I say that a vacation was very much needed. However, we did not take a vacation from sharing Christ with others. While there my wife and I were able to lead twelve souls, some of them family and friends, to trust Christ as their Savior. We were able to facilitate Bible study and the response to the teaching was such a blessing to witness. God is so GOOD! Our Mission had two to come for salvation during July and both will be baptized the first Sunday in August. Praise God for the great things He is doing.
Hopewell's Youth Camp 2005 took place July 11th-15th. We had an awesome time with our youth, averaging over thirty each day. We also had much fun with our larger kids (17 adults) as well. We needed three fifteen-passenger vans and my wife's Suburban to get everyone transported. God provided. Many thanks to Fellowship MBC and Pastor Charlie Ellison for allowing us the use of their church van. This gesture helped to accommodate our offsite activities. Another local church, Macedonia Baptist Church, allowed us to borrow theirs, also. We offer many thanks to them as well. We are looking for an even larger turnout next year. Praise God!
Our most immediate need is for prayer as we continue to wait patiently on God for guidance concerning property and a building that will allow us to continue to add souls to the Lord's work here in LaMarque. We thank Bro. Marion Reed for his prayers, counsel and encouragement during this process. I know that God will open a door for our Mission. God is a faithful God!
Again we extend our deepest appreciation to Mission Bend BC of Houston, Woodville MBC Ladies' Auxiliary, Calvary MBC of Baytown, Unity MBC of Richwood, Florida Avenue BC of Beaumont and Baker Drive BC of Dickinson for your continued support. Thank you so much for considering our Mission.
ROY FIKAC
ROUND ROCK
Souls Saved 2 Baptisms 2 Letter 0 Statement 0
Sunday School 50 Morning Worship 70 Evening Worship 45
Total Church Offering $4,959.05 Gave To Missions $200.00 Paid On Property $1,750.00
Faith received 2 on profession of faith and baptism; Bob and Carmen Jones. Total offering for July was $4,959.05. Attendance averaged out 50 in Sunday School, 70 in Morning Worship and 45 on Sunday night; around 30 on Wednesday nights.. We had a week of VBS and it averaged about 80 each night. It was good.
We plan to have a Faith Promise Revival in the month of August. We are making plans for organization on November 5, 2005. Please continue to remember us in your prayers. There is still much to do. May the Lord bless you and know that we appreciate you very much.
Sponsored by Modoc Missionary Baptist Church of Athens, TX; Les Rhea Pastor.
LARRY FRYE
DENTON
Souls Saved 21 Baptisms 0 Letter 2 Statement 0
Sunday School 21 Morning Worship 23 Evening Worship 16
Total Church Offering $2,180.00 Gave To Missions $1,218.00 Paid On Property/Rent $1,300.00
Greetings My Brethren In The Name Of Our Lord And Savior Jesus Christ. There were two adults saved while door-knocking this month. Please pray for the follow-up on these. Our sponsoring church came out and did a tremendous job on our VBS. We had 54 children on the last day. We had a total of 19 professions of faith that we know about. Praise the Lord! These are all unchurched bus kids. Please keep them in your prayers.
It looks like the Lord is sending us a youth man. His name is A. J. Lawson. He is from Penn. He is 22 years old. He is a soul winner. I met him in Morgan Town, WV while I was there for City Reach. Please pray for him. He will be joining us the middle of August.
We had two additions by letter this month. They are my oldest daughter, Jeana, and her husband, Ricky Wesson. He is a coach and she is a school teacher. They came here from New Caney, TX. They are already a great blessing to the work here! They want to work. We averaged 18 on Wednesdays and had 24 visitors in July. Please pray for them. Please pray that the Lord will send us more laborers.
Words cannot convey to you how much I appreciate what you do for us. The Lord only knows what you mean to North Lake Baptist Mission. Your gifts and prayers are very important to the success of this work. May the Lord bless you!
RICKEY PAYNE
WILLS POINT
Souls Saved 1 Baptisms 1 Letter 0 Statement 0
Sunday School 44 Morning Worship 59 Evening Worship 32
Total Church Offering $3,304.00 Gave To Missions $330.00 Paid On Property $600.00
Excitement! That is the word for what God is doing at Meadowbrook. Our folks are excited. Our internal offerings are better than ever. Out attendance is up. Our people are on fire here at Meadowbrook. We had a carwash/bake and rummage sale. It was a great success. We raised over $600.00 and the folks at Meadowbrook were able to witness to over one hundred people in two days. What a blessing this has been for our people. Please remember us in your prayers as we move forward for the glory of our Lord. May God bless each one who has had a part in this wonderful work.
W. S. TAYLOR
FORT WORTH
Souls Saved 1 Baptisms 0 Letter 0 Statement 0
Sunday School 19 Morning Worship 25 Evening Worship 13
Total Church Offering $4,799.00 Gave To Missions $280.00 Paid For Rent $1,600.00
God is good! A Hispanic family started coming to Crossroads about a year and a half ago. The wife has been waiting to join until her husband is saved and will join with her. We've been praying and witnessing to him but he says he's just not ready yet. He is a graduate of the Technological University of Mexico City and is in the medical equipment field. He's very friendly and open to the Gospel and is sincere when he talks about salvation. But so far, he's not accepted the Lord as his Savior. His oldest daughter, age 11, was saved two weeks ago during services and will be presenting herself for baptism soon. Join with us in praying that her Dad will respond to the Holy Spirit's leading and join her in a new life in the Lord. They are a fine, loving family.
Only a couple more weeks and the City says they'll be through with the road construction. We're hoping they stick with the schedule. It looks doubtful from our point of view, but who knows!
We were blessed this month with the visit of Bro. Marion and Nancy Reed in our services. He presented some options for our future building. We'll be discussing these plans and try to come up with one that will serve the needs of the growing community around us.
We received through Crossroads $211.00 for the building fund. We received $50.00 from Corinth MBC in Timpson. We received a total of $1,414.00 from other churches. We thank those of you who continue to support with your offerings and prayers. We are, among other concerns, analyzing where the Lord has us as far as financial strength and how much to reduce our request for state support. Please continue to pray for the work here. There are lots of challenges and opportunities. God Bless You!