One Door Closes
As we mentioned in our last letter, the situation at El Nathan Christian Camp has changed. This once open door has now been firmly closed. The administration at the camp felt that we were taking too much time away from the camp for deputation. When I made it clear that starting a church in Flagstaff was our first priority and not working at the camp, it became evident that the relationship was not going to work out. We have been given 6 months free rent in the house we now live in after that we will be looking for a place to store our belongings and then live on the road completely.
We would appreciate your prayers in this matter as it will make it more difficult to make ends meet as the small salary we were also being paid has stopped as of January. We are hoping to find a used ultra-light travel trailer that can be pulled behind our small SUV, which is rated to pull 2300 pounds. The Lord has begun to work in these area and we would appreciate your prayers.
Back On the Deputation Road
After a couple of weeks back in Flagstaff to make necessary changes due to the El Nathan door closing, we returned to Texas. On Feb 15th we preached at Bay City Baptist Church in Bay City where Bro. Lee Watson pastors. We had the honor of kicking off their Faith Promise Emphasis Week with a sermon from Philippians 4 “The Mission of Missions.” The folks there are beginning to feel like old friends and we really enjoy their faith and friendship. We then traveled upstate to Faith Baptist Church where Darin Watson, son to Lee Watson, pastors. The Lord blessed the day and we had a wonderful service. We stayed at the Leagueville Baptist Church’s mission quarters and preached on the Wed. night service there. We have been at Leagueville several times over the past few years and really love the church and its pastor. They were really a real blessing to us.
In March we headed to Colorado stopping at Camp Masterson overnight and attending the camp’s host church Riverview in Borger. Bro. and Sister Gilmore were a joy to be with. Bro. Gilmore’s message that morning as we attended the service was powerful and moving, I was encouraged to think that a pastor who has been in the ministry this long has such power and presence in the pulpit.
We attended a Home Missions Conference in Englewood, Colorado at First Baptist Church there and stayed at their wonderful Silver State Baptist Camp. This is the first conference we have attended dedicated to just Home Missionaries. I pray that it is the first of many and that we will begin to see more conferences for the purpose of home missions. There must be more emphasis on home missions if we are to turn the tide that is shutting down local churches all across the United States.
We had meetings later in March in Kountze, Texas at Midway Baptist Church and Bethel Baptist Church. Our time with these great and good churches really lifted our spirits. Pastor Thomas McGarity at Midway and Robert Jennings at Bethel have loving congregations which seemed more like families than just a visting church.
We have now put over 50,000 miles on our Subaru in the year that we have owned it. We have been through snow, ice, rain, fog, freezing fog and thankfully sunshine along the way always with God’s presence beside us. We have found the Lord’s churches gracious and welcoming with Missions Quarters or members homes. Only a few times have we had to stay in a hotel at our own expense. We are very thankful for the Lord’s provision and for His Churches’ hospitality.
Support So Far
Our support in January was $883.00 and $1039.00 in February this is right at the 25% we think we will need to get started in Flagstaff. Our support in December was $1691.00 this amount included several churches which gave special double offerings for Christmas. We thank you so much for remembering us during the holiday season. It truly was a blessing. Without the special Christmas offering our regular support remained about the $900.00 a month level.
We are also happy to announce that Temple Baptist Church in Texas City where Rudy Rios is pastor has added us to their mission support at $100.00 a month and Countryview Baptist Church where Sam Bynum is pastor for $75 a month. We know that in times like these it is very difficult to add to an already strained mission program and we thank these bold churches for their willingness to step out in faith with us to start a church in Flagstaff, Az.
In the mountain vineyards of Northern Arizona,
Kris and LeeOra Minefee
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