We left from Rodgers and drove to Pueblo, Colorado where Pastor Chuck Bigler was gracious enough to let us park our RV and then to preach. This is one of our first supporting churches and they have been faithful in their prayers and support throughout the months of driving and preaching from church to church, state to state.
We then left Colorado and drove through Wyoming, Utah, Idaho into Oregon. We had canceled meetings in Oregon with Cloverdale Baptist and Grace Baptist, now we were anxious to make these up. (Getting out of Houston during the month of August was also a strong incentive.) After 2400 miles we turned in the Oregon coastline and knew the trip was worth every mile. The beauty of the area was only surpassed by the warmth and welcome of the Lord’s churches and people.
Our first week was spent with Pastor Randy Winesburgh and wife Donna. Randy is a former student of mine and his Dad, Charles Winesburgh was a pastoral friend back in Farmers Branch, Texas at my first pastorate. How reassuring to see the next generation carrying on the work begun by their fathers. In Pastor Randy’s case literally as he is now pastor of Cloverdale Baptist where his father served for many years.
The following week we traveled to central Oregon and spent three days with Grace Baptist Church and their Pastor John Campione and wife Shelley. Bro. John is an old friend from our days in the Dallas, Texas area and it was good to be with him and his family in their new pastorate in Prineville, Oregon. While we were there Shelley Campione fell sick and was in the hospital undergoing tests. Please keep her in your prayers as they are still looking for the cause of her illness though she has been released.
We traveled back through California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico in order to stop in Flagstaff and check on our storage shed, which has all our worldly goods awaiting our return to the area. Seeing the city was a reminder to both LeeOra and I that this was now home, even though we have not been there in almost 18 months. There was a strong feeling of being incomplete until we are there working to raise up another independent Baptist Church for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are hoping, praying, and planning to be in Flagstaff this coming spring of 2011. All along the way God has miraculously supplied and we are dependent on Him through your prayers to meet our needs to be in Flagstaff. We need a place to live, a place to meet, more support, jobs for both us and of course people that only God can provide to help in the work. We believe we need a team to launch the work properly and are trusting the Lord to provide music, child care, education, and administration of the church through that team. Please pray with us.
Finally, we want to praise the Lord for First Baptist Church of Clute which is the latest church to take us on for support. What a blessing to know the Lord is still meeting our need via his churches and faithful Pastors like Bro. Lyndon Pettijohn and his wife Ann. Our thanks to God and to them for the blessing they have been to us.
We will be in the Texas Gulf Coast region from now until January as we wait for the birth of our first grandchild in Humble, Texas. We will continue to seek appointments in the area and within a few hours drive. If you need pulpit supply or would like to schedule a conference during this time please contact us. Thank you again for all your prayers during my recent health problems and now as I recuperate and look forward to regaining my health before heading to Flagstaff and the real work of planting a church.
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