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January 2010

January 11-15, 2010

Warren & Norma Davis – January 2010 Newsletter
Some of you have not heard from us in so long, we feel we should introduce ourselves! But that does not mean you have not been in our thoughts, often.  And now another Christmas has come and gone and we’ve enjoyed and been blessed by the many cards and letters that have graced our mailbox. Most of you are our peers and you understand the feeling—not as easy to do many things as we used to! But we will share the highlights of 2009, which were interspersed with trips to various doctors and our favorite pharmacy!
MARCH…on St. Patrick’s Day great grandson #2, Zane Warren, was born to Paul and Brandy Criger. Paul, daughter Pam’s oldest son, is a captain (major is next) in the Air Force, still stationed at Tinker AFB in Oklahoma City. He was deployed to the Middle East for four months, stationed in the United Arab Emirates and completed more than 30 missions over Afghanistan. We are thankful to have him safely home.
JULY…Warren turned 90, and he likes to tell folks he’s in good shape considering the shape he’s in! We mentioned to one of our doctors that, like an old car, everything seems to be falling apart at once. Came the gracious reply, “Some old cars are very valuable.” _ We also celebrated our 63rd wedding anniversary.
SEPTEMBER…though it was anticipated, it was with very mixed feelings that we decided it was time to move our David into the Special Care Unit of our retirement village. Having cared for him for 36 years since his “accident”, it has been an adjustment for all of us, but we feel he could not be in a more pleasant place. Much of his day is spent playing dominoes with us and friends who happen by.
NOVEMBER…Tim, Pam’s middle son, was voted “Teacher of the Month” by his students at a charter school in Longmont, CO, where he teaches math and science. Tim and his wife Lisa are kept on their toes by their never-still 15-month old son Eli Davis Criger, and sometime in May they will welcome his brother or sister! Joel, Pam’s youngest son, lives about 30 minutes away from them in Boulder, CO, where he maintains the computers in four of the city’s schools.
DECEMBER…Norma received the welcome news of a misdiagnosis, and that “it” was instead an easily treatable condition rather than cancer. Then for Christmas, Pam and her husband David (still in Hernando, MS) joined their sons, daughters-in-law and grandsons in Oklahoma City at Paul’s home. They had planned to see us on Christmas Day, but a blizzard prevented them from coming. Some were able to come for a brief visit a couple of days later.  After the CO family went home, Pam came to spend a few days with us and we saw the New Year in together (asleep).
And so another year has quietly passed, and we’ve been given a fresh new year to enjoy as we walk with Him through it. Though we don’t know what it holds, He does and we know He is “too good to be unkind and too wise to make mistakes.” The only bump in the road that appears on our horizon at present is shoulder replacement surgery for Warren on February 15th, done by a specialist in Tulsa. Pam will come to help us through the ordeal.
We would appreciate your prayers!

Paul & Janet Robinson, Pennsauken, NJ – January 6, 2010
PRAISE:
This is to let you know that we had a great time of ministering to others during the Christmas season. The young people from our Youth Outreach Ministry ministered in music at a homeless shelter, a retirement home and a nursing home during the holiday. Our scheduled Christmas service on December 20th was postponed because of snow; however the following Sunday we had a great Christmas program of music and drama by the children and youth of the church. A group from Faith Baptist church of Sellersville, PA, our sending church, also came down that day to help us. They brought Christmas gifts and distributed them to the children after the service. We were also able to bless many of he children in the community with Christmas gifts that were given to us by a gentleman from one of our supporting churches. We had a great New Year’s Eve service and our folks are expecting great things in their lives and through the ministry in the year ahead!
On January 4th, the Lord opened the door for Lamont, a 14 year old young man from the community who has been attending our church now since he was about eight years old, to start attending Baptist Regional High school. Lamont was sponsored by a family from one of our supporting churches. Lamont has been a great challenge to us over the years; however, in the past year the Lord has worked in his life and turned him around spiritually. He has great leadership qualities and we hope to see him become a leader in the church. This is the second young man from our Youth Outreach Ministry that the Lord has granted the opportunity to attend Christian school this year. The Lord has given us a lot of young men and our goal is to mentor and equip them to become spiritual leaders in the church, in their homes and in their community, not only in the future but starting now. It will be a slow process of making disciples, but I believe it will have eternal spiritual results.
Many of you have been praying for Byron, a 18 year old young man from our Youth Outreach Ministry who was saved and baptized last year. Because of previous problems with the law, he has to do community service along with his probation. I have been communicating with his probation officer and Byron will be doing his community service through the church. This will give me the opportunity to spend more time working with him and mentoring him as I have a long list of tasks already lined up for him to do around the church in the months ahead.
PRAYER:
Please pray for Melissa, a young woman who lives in the rowhouse next to the church. She came into the church several Wednesday evenings ago crying and asking prayer for her 14 year old son, Leonel who was put in jail for issues with drugs and also for her boyfriend who is doing time in jail. Pray for their salvation.
Pray for Faith, who had recently made a profession of faith in Christ, was baptized and was being discipled. However, she stopped coming to church since her children were returned to her from foster care in November. Janet has poured a lot of time, energy and love into Faith. Pray that she will come back to the Lord.
·      Pray for Alvin, a gentleman who lives across the street from the church. He comes to church and seems close to     salvation, but he has many issues that [he feels] is keeping him from making a decision for Christ. Please pray for   his salvation.
Please pray for the salvation of the following moms whose children are in the youth outreach ministry; however, they do not attend church except when their children are involved in a program at the church: Charmaine, Tracy, LaKeisha, Kamaria, Dionne, Danielle, Ilunga and also Ada. Janet and I have established close relationships and communications with most of these moms and we are hoping to see God work in their lives this year.
Please pray for Janet and I as we begin the New Year of ministry. We are hoping to see God do great things in 2010. Our theme verse for this year is Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me.”
January 13, 2010
Thanks for your continued prayers. Last week I asked prayer for Faith Jones, a new convert who has not been to church in over a month. Praise the Lord; she came to church last Sunday morning! Please continue to pray for her and her three daughters as we continue to minister the Word of God to them. There is overwhelming confusion in their household. On Sunday afternoon Janet and I went to visit Maureen Bright who lost her leg last week. Maureen is now home and her spirit, demeanor and attitude is drastically changed in a positive way (even thought she is not saved at this time). She was very open and receptive to the Gospel and said that she wants to start going to church as soon as she is able to do so. Please continue to pray for her salvation and physical healing.
I have been sick for over two weeks with head and chest congestion along with much coughing. I am doing much better now. Please pray for my complete healing. I had a tough time preaching last Sunday morning; however, I make it and we had a good service.
As the New Year begins, we are excited about the children and youth ministry. Last Friday evening over thirty kids came out to the Youth Outreach Ministry, even though it was cancelled for the evening. Janet gave each one a snack and sent them home. Many of these kids come to the Sunday school which is going very well also.
PRAYER REQUEST:
1.  The need for the Lord to raise up someone with a burden for the inner-city, especially for inner-city youth, to come and lead the youth ministry. The potential of making a difference in these young people’s lives for God is unlimited; so we need someone to come and devoted and dedicate himself completely to leading that ministry. For over two years now Janet and I have been leading this ministry, but we desperately need someone to come and take it to the next level. This is a very urgent need.
2.  The need for more space to do ministry here. The row house that we meet in has outgrown its usefulness a long time ago. Please pray that the Lord would provide all the funds that are needed to build a modest building on the 1.5 acre lot that we have. This is a very urgent need.
3.  Pray that the Lord would give us wisdom as we minister the Gospel and serve the many spiritually needy people in our community.

Sheryl Ridley, Gretna, NE – January Prayer Letter
I -  I had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas, rejoicing in the New Year, remembering our wedding anniversary with family and friends. I was able to go home to Illinois and Iowa to see my mom, sister and her family, brother and his family, Roger’s mom and dad and his family. Thank you all for your prayers and cards over the holiday season.  God provided His grace and strength through those days.
F -  Freezing cold and 23 inches of snow on the ground!! The weather has been a little trying on church attendance and programs as many Nebraska churches have experienced.  Many holiday services were cancelled due to winter storms, ice, and wind.  Good ‘ole Nebraska sure likes its snow.  I think this is the worst winter weather we have seen since 1997 and then since 1985. Tomorrow’s weather forecast is -30 to -40 degrees.  I wonder if they need missionaries in Hawaii? 
We are thankful that everyone is safe and sound as they traveled to and fro over the holiday.
M –  My sister is home and doing a lot better.  The old kidney transplant was removed, she is back on dialysis, but we are praising God she is better.  Pray for the days ahead as the doctors determine what direction they will go with her medical needs.
Y -  Year end….and a new beginning for each of us in 2010.  Roger taught us the verse above in our Scripture reading one month at church. Perhaps the verse above would be a great New Year’s resolution for all of us as we pray for our leaders and country.
P - Pastoral search continues. Letters have been sent out and the church is waiting for responses.  We are waiting on God’s direction for this new pastor.  I am so thankful for the Deacons of the church.  They have studied God’s Word and are using His guidance in this matter. The church membership is amazing in the call to action to each job needing done. Pray for Pastor Sauser and Judy as they travel back and forth each week to minister to us.
E –  Everything is in place for the start of the new Junior Church Program.  I found a curriculum that I will use that teaches kids how to study their Bible.  Since this a step up for the 7-12 year olds, I think it is important to get them in the Word, and bringing their Bible to church.  Pray that I am effective in this role.  I have always worked with younger children, so this will be a little bit of a change to have attentive, smart, young people to listen and ask questions.
O – Our Sunday night, God’s Word, By Design was fun once again as we created a collage of the Tower of Babel out to clay and miscellaneous objects. The Tower of Babel was not built for the worship and praise of God, but was instead dedicated to the glory of man, to “make a name” for the builders: “Then they said, ‘Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves;  (Genesis 11:4). The Book of Genesis then relates how God came down, and confused their languages and scattered the people throughout the earth. May all that we do in 2010 be for the worship and praise of God. (Another New Year’s resolution!)
P – Pray for Waverly, Nebraska…..It is still on my prayer list!.  The mission says it is still on their list… along with Nebraska State Fellowship prayer list.  We wait to see what God will do. Also, please pray for 2 speaking opportunities I will have in March and May. Pray for a lady I just talked with on the phone whose family is having some hard times. Pray for understanding for my nephew Darren who is reading the Bible through for the first time!
L - Ladies Night Out will be on January 15th. The theme is “The God of Time”, with the New Year upon us.  We will be discussing Time Management.  Clocks will be the décor, with a 2010 calendar gift exchange, hot soup and hot homemade bread with reeaallllly warm fellowship.
E -      Every promise in the Book is mine!
        Every chapter, every verse, every line.
        I am standing on His Word divine,
        Every promise in the Book is mine!
Remember that little song?  Voted the top song to sing in 2010.!
Answer:  “IF MY PEOPLE, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Let us fear God, rejoice in His mercy and grace, and walk with Him in the coming new year.  Thank you for your friendship, love, prayers, and continued support.  Wishing you a very special 2010, and looking forward to what God has for each of us.
Still with a Heart for Church Planting,  Sheryl

Roy & Fran Cupples, Fullertin, NE – January 10, 2010
Roy is doing marriage counseling with a couple. They are very faithful every Sunday night and come regularly to church.  They have a lot of baggage but God is doing a work in their lives.  K and C are the couple leading the narcotics anonymous group after church on Sunday evenings. 
Praises and prayer requests:
* The K family was back in church this morning after a long absence and the mother was also back tonight.
* J and her son came for Sunday school this morning and mom said she really was glad to be there.
* Hopefully, we’ll be able to have JOY Club and Word of Life this week - maybe no more snow vacation.
* The men are planning on doing drywall in the foyer addition this week.  The warmer temps will be very helpful.
* Bill will be having carpal tunnel surgery soon and hopefully that will take care of the pain in his shoulders and enable him to sleep and to work again with Roy and the men.
* Winter Games youth rally is this coming Saturday starting at Gretna Baptist and ending at Mahoney State Park.  I don’t know how many will be going from here.  Several have make-up games.
* Several of our older ladies are not able to get out to church when there is so much snow.  Please pray for June, Sheryle and Mary. 
* Gretchen is our Chamber treasurer.  Her husband died this past week and his funeral was Saturday.  Please pray that we will be used of the Lord in her life.
* Please pray for the man and woman who said they needed to get back into fellowship and church.
* Please pray for Michael Peck - serious back problems.  We want him to get well!
* Praise God for faithful believers - those who are consistent, eager to learn and growing in the Lord. 
Praise God:  Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”  The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.  Lamentations 3:22-25

Fred & Marie Henzler, Perry, GA – January 13, 2010
MARIE’S MINISTRY
Since I am the one who uses the computer in our house, I often write about what I have been doing but Marie is a vital part of our team.
Neither I, nor the other chaplain could ever have the ministry among the female deputies and inmates that she has. Her Sunday services and weekday Bible studies are appreciated by both the female inmates and the deputies who hear her. The female deputies often tell me how they love and appreciate her. One of the inmates that she has been working with recently led another inmate to the Lord. Others show signs of spiritual growth. Please pray for both of us.

Bud & Eunice Johnson, Cherokee Village, AR – January 13, 2010
We are presently serving as interim Pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. This coming Sunday, January 17, 2010, we are having Peter Jenks, our Fields Director, visit with us and help us to make some decisions about the ministry here. Please pray for God’s wisdom!
We are doing quite well physically, but the dermatologist has recommended radiation therapy on my scalp to clear up multiple cancer spots there. The treatments are scheduled to begin on January 25, 2010, and continue five days a week for five or six weeks. Pray that this works effectively. I have been warned that I might be totally bald as a result, but I’ve also been told that “bald is beautiful”. Wouldn’t that be a miracle?

Wayne & Shanna Dale, Surprise, AZ – January 13, 2010
We have had a blessed Christmas season.  We are grateful for your generosity to us and thankful for your investment here in the ministry.  Thank you to everyone who sent us cards and Christmas gifts.  Each gift was a blessing!  We had a wall to display all the Christmas cards and photos and another wall dedicated to the children’s birthday cards.  Thank you to all who remembered them. 
We had some great Christmas programs at Oasis.  Shanna and her mom led the younger children in their first Christmas program.  Shanna also played and directed for the Choir.  There was a full house at the Spanish Church for the “Christmas Dinner.”  Beginning this New Year our primary ministry has become the Spanish Church Plant.  We will continue to assist in some ministries at Oasis during this transition year.  Please continue to pray for the leadership and growth of Oasis Baptist, for their future, and as they search for a permanent location.
“Vida en Cristo,” or Life in Christ Baptist Church is a small group that has been renting its own facility for about 1 year and a half.  We will be working with Alberto and Adela Marquez who attended BCP candidate school this year.  They are a great couple that will be able to teach us much about Mexican culture and language.  We in turn will be helping them with structure and organization as the church plant progresses.  Please pray for this group as they were unable to be financed for a loan.  The present meeting location is being put on the market.  However, God has opened up a property a block down the road that could be converted into meeting space and eventually used as a property for a permanent building.  Wayne is investigating city ordinances and codes regarding the requirements for meeting there. 
Our children were definitely affected by the transition as they are unable to sing some of the songs and were missing their other S.S. classes.  Children are adaptable and they know most of the kids.  Many of the adults are bi-lingual and able to communicate with them..  They seem to be able to charm people in any language.  We are privileged to have Shanna’s parents attending the Spanish church with us as well.  They will be an encouragement and a blessing to the people.  They cannot speak Spanish, but their love is conveyed through their actions.
We look forward to what the Lord has for us this year.  Wayne had been working part-time to cover health insurance and supplement our support level.  They like his work but it often required working four days a week.  In a step of faith Wayne will go PRN in February.  That means no steady income or discounted health insurance.  We believe God’s timing is right and we need to take this step of faith.  The needs of ministry necessitates that we place that as our sole focus.  We believe God will provide and we will be able to glorify Him through the process.  God has provided reasonable health insurance and we are going to focus our time on increasing our support level and visiting more pastors and churches.  We could not have made it this far without the faithful financial support of partnering churches and individuals.  Please pray for us as we seek to honor God with our lives, lead people to the knowledge of Jesus Christ, and become more proficient in Spanish and the memorization of His word in Spanish. 

Steve & Becky Little, Chittenango, NY – January 13, 2010
Family: 
Our family is doing well.  Like any family, there are blessings as well as difficulties.  We are thankful for another grandchild born into our family in 2009 – Nathaniel Paul Hatch.  Nathan is full of life and fun.  In 2009,  Joshua got his driving permit and also started a college class at Utica School of Commerce in Canastota.  He is working on his junior year of High School.  Becky & I praise the Lord for each of our children and their accomplishments.  Our prayer is that in the midst of life they will each find a meaningful relationship with the Lord. Our marriage is strong and we are enjoying this time of life. 
Church Plant:
Missionary/Pastoral:  The year 2009 has again been filled with many Missionary/Pastoral responsibilities.  They include home visits, counseling (phone, office & home),  Worship Service preparations, Message preparations, Prayer Meetings, Planning and Development, Office work, Deacon’s meetings,  Problem solving and more.  Thank you for your prayers!
Becky’s Ministries:  Women’s Ministries Chairman,  Music Ministry Chairman, Patch the Pirate Coordinator, VBS Director, Teacher Training Instructor & a host of other responsibilities.
        Church Planting Associate:  We praise the Lord for Eric & Erin Moore who came on board at Heritage Baptist Church in 2009 as BCP Church Planting Associates.  Eric & Erin are here training to be Lead Church Planters.  Eric completed a Masters Degree at Bob Jones University and he and Erin completed BCP Candidate School in 2009.  They will begin Deputation meetings in January 2010.  Heritage Baptist is their sending church and we look forward to being a “New Mother Church” in the future.  Our goal is to assist the Moores in planting churches in New York State over the years to come.  We recommend them to you and encourage your support as new Church Planters to the State of New York.
Numerical Growth:  2009 was not a year of numerical growth.  Our attendance averages for all services remained almost exactly the same as 2008.  Our Annual Averages are as follows:
  Sunday Worship:  82       Family Bible Hour (S.S)  56       Prayer Meeting:  46
Organizational Growth:  Organizationally 2009 was a wonderful year for this church plant.  In January we revitalized the Constitution of the old Lighthouse Baptist Church and officially changed the name to Heritage Baptist Church.  Forty Nine (49) adult members signed a “Revitalization Charter” entering under the above said Constitution.  Our first Annual Meeting under constitution was held on January 24, 2009 when the church body voted for their first 3 Deacons.  We instituted 9 Committees in 2009 to assist in the “work of the ministry”.  It was a great year!
Financial Growth:  Even though we did not see numerical growth, we did see a 15% growth in our tithes and offerings.  This shows a maturing process is taking place in the lives of God’s people.  2009 was a great year! 
Building Project for 2010:  During 2009 our Building Committee has worked to prepare for a major building project which will begin around April 1st of this year with a new gym/fellowship hall, foyer, kitchen, pastor’s office, conference room & furnace room.  Baptist Missionary Builders will be showing up in the spring to help us manage and build this structure.  We praise the Lord for Brent & Michelle Howard (lead builders) and their love for church planting and serving the Lord in the building ministry.  We praise the Lord for one of our Project Supporters who gave a gift of $ 40,000.00.
        Events:  We held many special events this year including, VBS, Ladies Tea,  Ladies Meetings, Adult Fellowships, Several Special Sunday Services, Teacher Training, Harvest Dinner, Christmas Services,  Teacher Appreciation Cookout, Deacon Care Groups and much more.  Also several of our men and women attended the Ladies Advance & Men’s Adventure of the ESF.  It takes a lot of people doing their part to accomplish so much! 
Other Responsibilities:  Besides being the Missionary/Pastor of Heritage Baptist Church, I sit on Two Agency Boards – Baptist Church Planters Council & Empire State Fellowship, Council of Ten.  The responsibilities include Council Meetings at least twice a year for each and a few committees that I serve on.  I also teach a Deputation Class at the BCP Candidate School each year and lead the Prayer Hour at the Men’s Adventure.  Besides these, Becky & I speak at various supporting churches, men’s & women’s meetings, Conferences and Special Events.  We are humbled that the Lord would see fit to use us in this way.
Future:  This year will be another year of challenge and change.  With the building project starting in April it will be a busy year.  After this project is completed we will be renovating the bathrooms, nursery, 2-3 yr old room and the 4-5 yr old room.  We will then take 2-3 years to reduce 0% loans and plan the removal of the “Old Barn Section” and the construction of a new Education Wing.  Demolition & Construction will depend upon growth and finances.  We have discussed this plan with BCP Administrative Staff and Field Director.  “Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18
Support:  We praise the Lord for each of our Monthly Supporters both Churches and Individuals as well as our project supporters.  Each of you is a blessing to us!  We need to report that we lost two supporting churches at the end of 2009 totaling $ 293.00 per month.  We are saddened to see them leave our team of supporters.  According to Baptist Church Planters this leaves our support level at 80%.  It is impossible for us to go back out on Deputation at this point because of the weekly responsibilities at the church plant.  Becky and I have never been in this for the money so whatever the Lord has for us is sufficient.  The Lord has met our needs and given Becky part time work at the local library.  Heritage Baptist has assumed some responsibility also for us.  We are doing fine at the present.  The deficit will come when we move on to a new ministry at graduation of Heritage Baptist Church.

Roy & Karen Kinney, Sutton, MA - January 13, 2010
This year came in with a flurry and is just moving right along!  We thank you for your patience as we continue to get organized with our move and get back into regular communications with you. 
FAMILY: 
What a joy it is to be together as a family to work, worship, and participate in life together.  Here are some family updates:
We are all enjoying our new home even though things are taking awhile to get into place.  Coralie has the biggest adjustment as she now has to travel to her babysitting jobs as they don’t come to her home anymore.  The boys have the run of the basement and can now spread out without being in their bunk beds.  They even managed to get their homemade putting green set up in their room.  All the kids are busy with schooling.  Amelia and Coralie will finish up their nutritional consultant courses this spring.  Alyssa needs an expander and braces as her teeth don’t line up right for chewing.  Somehow that was overlooked for a long time by the dentist and we are praying that her mouth will move without any need for surgery.  Both Amelia and Coralie received promise rings from their “man” (the guys they are dating are twin brothers which makes this process unique and fun) expressing that their relationships are heading toward marriage when the time is right. 
We have a new family member as of Christmas.  Her name is Tessa and she is a 6 month old Border Collie.  This was our Christmas present to the kids as they have been longing for a dog again as soon as we had room for one!  Thankfully she re-potty trained in a week and is getting into the swing of things in the Kinney household.  She is not lacking for attention in any way!
We are also not lacking in company since our move.  Praise the Lord we still have a revolving door.  Our neighbor said he wasn’t sure who to come and meet as so many people have been coming and going!  I told him to get use to the activity.  Our neighbors have laying hens and are willing to share their extra eggs.  This is a blessing for us.
Roy’s bladder is cancer free as of December.  We are thankful for this good report.

Scott & Brooke Greening, Schaumburg, IL – January 12, 2010
God Answered Prayers ... With a Yes!
Our calling campaign last week conducted by Tellstart (www.tellstart.com) was a success. Thank you all for your prayers. Over the course of the week we received 72 messages of people sharing their contact information. These people for the most part are “hot” contacts, in that they had no reason to leave their information other than the fact that they were interested in the church. Brooke and I attempted to get in touch with each of the contacts within 24 hours. We had several great conversations with people. Some of the individuals were new to the area and looking for a church. Others were attending large mega-churches and very interested in a church where they could more actively minister and be ministered too. Still others were frustrated with not being able to find a church that effectively communicated the word. Finally, some seem to not be believers but interested in spiritual things. We will be following up with all of the contacts again this week and encouraging them to attend a reception that we will be hosting on Friday evening.
Please pray for the following:
Follow-Up: Pray that God will allow us to get back in touch with the individuals that responded last week. Pray that these people will still remember and be interested in our church.
Friday’s Reception: We are hosting a reception on Friday evening in order to communicate what we hope the church becomes and how people can be involved. Pray that people will come to the reception. Pray that our team will effectively plan for the event. Pray that we will show God’s love in action by how we interact with the individuals. Pray that some might come to be a part of our launch team because of these efforts.
Diversity: We know that we spoke to people from a lot of different ethnic backgrounds on the phone. Please pray that God would in fact draw people from the many nations that exist in our target area to be a part of GCBC.
Excellence: We want to do everything we are involved in with excellence. Please pray that even in our beginning stages we can communicate God’s excellence with our actions.
Jeffery: One of the contacts we made last week mentioned that their son had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer at the end of November and asked that our prayer team join them in praying for Jeffery. They seem to be believers but are understandably scared during this difficult time.
We are thankful for God allowing us to get a lot of systems in place over the last month and a half in order to effectively assimilate and welcome guests. Now we are praying that God will bless the efforts that we are beginning in ernest to reach out to people in our community. Please join us in these prayers.
Deputation Trip to Ohio
Thank you for your prayers about our deputation trip to Berea Ohio. We had safe travels both coming and going. We had a great time with the Pastor Spink family and the people of Berea Baptist Church. It was a great blessing to get a chance to speak with Bob & Donna Bennett two of our co-laborers with BCP.

Jim & Janice Mitchell, Pueblo West, CO – January 11, 2010
Thank you for holding the ropes as we continue on this new experience in church planting.  Sunday would have been just an average day but one of the families who visited in Oct visited again in response to our visit.  Also, we had another couple visit for the first time that live right down the street from the church.  They were purposely looking to turn their lives around and are interested in a visit this week.  PTL for these new contacts.
We are still adjusting to the changes from NY to here.  Some days are harder than others.  Though we are where God wants us, it has taken different periods of time for each individual to adjust.  Janice continues to do a wonderful job with hospitality.  So far we have had 18 of the 21 families over for dinner at least once.  We will be thankful when we get in our new house because it will have a much bigger dining room making it easier to have families over.  Speaking of the house,
the basement walls are poured and the basement plumbing and the basement floor should be going in this week.
We are presently working on putting together a schedule for greeters at the church.  We are going to have couples as greeters and rotate the schedule.  Each couple will be responsible to visit any visitors that come their Sunday within 48 hours afterward.  Please pray that this would help us to have a greater return rate with our visitors and open up more opportunities to minister to these folks.

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