FFM Online Newsletter - July, 2009

We began the month of July at home enjoying Joshua's 12th birthday, and holding our FFM Board Meeting. Then we hit the road on the 4th and headed for Valdese, NC where we worshipped at Trinity Baptist Church with Pastor Scott Moneyham. Brother Scott and his wife, Sharon, are dear friends and are always such a blessing to us!  We enjoyed lots of laughs this time over our unusual welcoming committee at the prophet's chamber....a 5 foot snake!! What a warm welcome!!! We left bright and early Monday morning for the long drive to Nottingham, Pennsylvania for the annual Eastern Pennsylvania Baptist Camp Meeting which began Monday night. It was a wonderful week of meetings as the Lord blessed us with cool weather and the godly preaching of Craig Edwards, Brad Davis, and others! We are always treated so royally at this meeting! On Tuesday, all the missionaries, preachers and their families loaded up on the bus and were treated to a delicious dinner at the Shady Grove Smorgasborg and a shopping trip in Amish country! What a treat! On Saturday after the meeting, we enjoyed a day "off" and leisurely toured the boardwalk at Havre de Grace, MD. On Sunday we ministered at Nottingham Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Gary Moore and his sweet family. What a blessing this church is to our family! From Pennsylvania, we headed home (a 2 day drive!) and had to opportunity to stay with Rick's 93 year old mom for a few days so his sister and nephew could enjoy a much needed vacation! It was a special chance to spend time with Gram!

On Saturday we left for Atoka, TN and the Homecoming services at First Baptist Church there! Pastor Freeman Weems and his church were a blessing to us and the Spirit of God was working! We drove home that night so that Leah could spend some time at home (a "staycation"!), and the rest of us took off for High Point, NC and the Youth Jubilee there. God truly blessed during the week as the altars were flooded throughout each service and MANY young people were saved!! What a special moving of God there was. Brother Mike Soup had a special anointing of God on him as he preached with such love and compassion to these young people! We drove home on Friday so that we could be at two local churches on Sunday. (What a treat!) On Sunday morning we ministered at Temple Baptist Church in Tanner, AL with Pastor James Spears. Though a small congregation, this church has a sweet and loving spirit! That night we enjoyed a special treat as we ministered at Highland Park Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals, AL, the church we served WAY back in 1981 - 1983!! What a joy it was to see all those special people that God used in our lives in those BC years (before children!). The Lord definitely has His hand on this church and their wonderful pastor, Ted Vafeas! Christian fellowship is so amazing! Time does not change the relationship between brothers in Christ! The next morning we left for Camp Zion in Myrtle, MS. God always works in amazing ways at Camp Zion and this year was no exception!! The Spirit of God fell on the services and many were saved by His grace!! We are always so blessed by the preaching of Dr. Gray Allison, Brother Tom Gilliam, Brother Larry Winkler, and Brother Mike Bagwell!

The Lord has shown Himself in miraculous ways this month, and none so mighty as the work that He is doing in China!! Our daughter, Rebekah, has spent the last two weeks ministering to orphans in China and has seen God's power and grace as children and adults alike have come to Christ for salvation!! This is the fulfillment of her life's dream and purpose, and we praise Him for giving her the opportunity to minister there! Please pray that the fruit would continue as these children return to their orphanages and realize their great need of a Savior. Pray that God would open the door for Rebekah to return to China as He allows!