FFM Online Newsletter - October

October has been a month FULL of opportunities to minister and serve! We started the month walking down "memory lane" as we dropped in at First Baptist Church, Russellville, AL where Rick served as Minister of Music and Youth WAY BACK in 1977!! We were newlyweds there, and have wonderful memories of God's blessings as we began our married life serving Him! We had the chance to see lots of folks who were there in '77, and we thank God for the friendships He gave us there!! That night we drove over to Memphis, TN to sing at Germantown Baptist for their evening worship service. What precious people we met there. Their interim Minister of Music, Jim Whitmire, is a blessing to our family! We headed home for a day, and then back in the van to head to the thriving community of Push, TN for their fall Camp Meeting. Pastor Carl Sutherland has such a sweet pastor's heart for his people. The Lord really met with us there. We were privileged to stay right on Reelfoot Lake where we watched bald eagles fly majestically over the lake! The next Sunday we were at our home church, Fairview Baptist! What a rare treat!! We are so thankful for a loving church and a godly pastor who support us in prayer. Rick and Nancy then took Jonathan to Indianapolis, IN to attend a week-long counseling seminar. They enjoyed the drive and overnight stay as a second...no, third...., no maybe eighth honeymoon! Leah stayed home with the "Three Musketeers", taught school, and enjoyed sewing and just being at HOME! Then we were off to Emmanuel Baptist Church in Bristol, VA where we had to sing the Hallelujah Chorus four times WITHOUT JONATHAN!! We have never been so thankful for the little guys and their diligence in learning that challenging piece so well! They didn't miss a note. Pastor Tom Williams is a godly man who has "stood by the stuff" and served the Lord for many years. We are so thankful that the Lord allowed us to meet him and fellowship with he and his dear wife.  We left Bristol and headed for Nashville, TN where we met Nancy's brother, Tom, for dinner before picking Jonathan up at the Nashville airport. Sure hope we don't have to sing without Jonathan again for a long time!!

The next day we began a Fellowship Meeting at Son Rise Baptist Church in Hartselle, AL with Pastor Brian Bridges. How nice it was to sleep in our own beds for a whole week! Those services were a blessing as we were privileged to hear Rick Safriet and Mike Suphin preach. God moved in a special way! Two days later we packed up again and left for Savannah, TN where we were in revival at Bath Springs Baptist Church. God is so faithful to work in hearts, and we saw a mighty moving of God that week. Pastor Jimmy Wallace has such a heart for his people. We were thankful for the wonderful accommodations there as we stayed in a home right on the Tennessee River. We enjoyed a real vacation as we relaxed there and even got to tour the Shiloh Civil War Battlefield. What a great "field trip"! The last week of the month we headed north to Lafayette, IN where we enjoyed worshipping with the Lafayette Bible Baptist Church and Pastor Derek Streeter. We then headed to Hobart, IN for fellowship with friends and then on to Lemont, IL where the Welcome Hill Missionary Baptist Church is allowing us to stay in their parsonage for a week while we minister in this area. We finished out the month by driving in to Chicago and enjoying the Museum of Science and Industry. What an amazing place!! Don't go there unless you have a whole day to take it all in!!

We are constantly amazed at the goodness of God and His faithfulness to guide our every step!! This is an amazing journey of faith, and we are so thankful that He has set our feet upon this path. Please continue to pray for us that we will be obedient to the Lord and His will for our family. Pray for physical strength and spiritual stamina to continue to pour ourselves out for Him. It is our desire to be clean vessels for His use. To God be the glory!!