STATE MISSIONS: Spring Advisory Committee/Missionaries Meeting
Monday, all the members of the Advisory Committee met in the office in Little Rock, along with our state missionaries to hear the missionaries’ reports and to handle other business. While I will not try to deliberate on all, I will say that, overall, it was every encouraging and profitable. Please pray for the missionaries and those who faithfully serve on our committee for their dedication.
Prayer
Please remember all those affected by the storms of late. We had two churches damaged or destroyed in the North Little Rock area.
Special Prayer Requests
Please add Michael Hight to your prayers as he has been seriously ill in the past few weeks. He says he is having a hard time getting over it. Please remember all the Hight family during this time.
Juan Carlos Posadas’ father-in-law is seriously ill and is lost. Juan’s wife, Sayra is with her dad and sharing Christ with him. Juan Carlos is planning to travel to visit him soon and share the gospel with him. Please pray that God will touch her dad’s heart.
Special needs
A couple of our works are needing portable sound systems. If you can help let us know.
From Our Missionaries
Hispanic Coordinator: Michael Hight writes, “Thank you for the calls and concern over my health scare. I’m still struggling with a few things and would ask your continued prayers.
“Next week, the Central Arkansas Hispanic Churches will have their youth camp. Please be in prayer for all of them.
“I also ask you to be in prayer for Wynne. While none of our members were injured, some did receive quite a bit of damage. The recovery for Wynne residents will be long and they still have some people unaccounted for. Thank you for being a prayer partner.”
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “Friday’s tornado passed very close to the temple and our home, thankfully not close enough to cause physical damage to the buildings. Power returned to the house Sunday night, but the church is still without power.
Two families related to our congregation were victims of the tornado. Lizeth and her daughter Nicole had to leave the apartment building where they had lived. They attend Thursday night Bible study. Sister Edith’s daughter has also had to leave the house she rented since a tree fell on it. This last family does not attend church, but we are interested in reaching them with the gospel. Let us pray for these two families as none of them are believers, and this is a good opportunity to serve them and become significant to them so we will have the opportunity to share the gospel with them. We have requested donations from the congregation, the community and partners to help the victims of the tornado. We have already received some and hope to receive more during the week and take the donations to families who need it.
“My father-in-law is in very complicated health and the doctors do not give much hope of recovery. So very soon, we will have to travel to Honduras to have a good time with him. We will greatly appreciate your support in prayer.”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “It has been a week with family focus. On Tuesday, Ruben (my son) was able to meet here in Little Rock with other young people going to college along with him.
“Wednesday, Kory (my wife) had her birthday and we were able to celebrate by watching a movie and having a cake.
“As many of you heard last Friday, a tornado hit Little Rock. I had to pick up Zuly (my daughter) at school and then my son (Ruben) at his job in the Chenal area and then we went to a safe place. Thank God, everyone in our family is fine. Only one family in Ebenezer was affected by this tornado. Less than half a mile from where they live in an apartment complex, everything was destroyed. Thank God, the apartment complex where Victor Ahmed’s family lives was hit, but they will not have power until next Thursday. They had to move in with friends for the week.
“Last Sunday, we gave thanks for the goodness of God in being alive and having the opportunity to praise Him. We were teaching a little of the chronology of the events the Bible mentions with the entrance of Jesus Christ to Jerusalem. On Resurrection Sunday, we will have our service at 6 a.m., then we will have breakfast as part of our fellowship. Keep praying for the two new families at Ebenezer to make their decision for Christ. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had an extremely busy, yet fun and rewarding, week at Faith Chapel. We were trying to finish all the details so we would be ready when the Master’s Builders came. The septic system, water line and electrical power were all completed on Wednesday, and the first of the Builders also came on Wednesday.
Thank you, Lord! Most of them were here and settled in by Saturday, and they joined us for worship Sunday morning. What a blessing! What a great group of men and women, and what a great ministry they have. We had a glorious service, and more of them arrived Sunday afternoon. They also joined us for our evening service. Tomorrow, (Monday, April 3) we will begin framing our building. We have been waiting for this day for what seems like such a long time, and we can only praise and thank God for bringing us to this point.
“We thank each of you for your prayers and support as well, especially for your prayers. Please continue as they mean so much to us.”
The Table, Springdale: Clinton Morris writes, (3/26) “Prayer retreats are needed for the soul. I am grateful that I was able to get away for a few days and just be alone with God. It is amazing what happens when we are able to cut out all of the distractions and just rest in God.
He brought out so many amazing things that I had not thought about or considered. I am always greatly rewarded and humbled when I take a prayer retreat.
“The church family is reaching out, so many contacts and relationships are being formed throughout the greater Northwest Arkansas. I am so blessed to watch as these gifted individuals obey the call of God on their lives. Drew led our Thursday joint leadership meeting, and he did an amazing job listening and engaging. I am pleased with the way the other leaders were able to hear and respect Drew in his position.
(4/2) “Training is a great thing. The BMA of Arkansas, under the leadership of Paul White, brought together a missionary training at StoneRidge Baptist Camp. Dr. John David Smith was our teacher over the two-day training. He taught on ministry integrity and the marks of a healthy mature church. We were greatly rewarded for attending this training session.
“The Pastor R & R, hosted by Paul White and Ken Beavers, was another great event to attend. The preaching was timely, and the fellowship refreshing. Paul White won our basketball Free-Throw competition, making 8 out of 15 throws. It was truly epic to watch. We had a great time throwing axes, shooting guns, launching hammers, playing horseshoes and just talking into the early morning hours — and the food was fantastic! It was such a blessing.
“DeAnna and I had a panicky Saturday. We were headed out to a park to hang out with other church families, when Foxlynn started to choke on something. We got her to throw up and clear her airway, but whatever it was kept relodging. We raced and prayed our way to the ER and are so thankful they were able to help us. It seems like Foxlynn found a piece of plastic bag and was chewing on it. Thank God, we were kept safe.
“Chris and Erin Bailey led our Family Service, and did a great job. Charles Wright played camp music, along with setting several Psalms to music. I always love to see our families and kids get together to worship God. Everyone got into the service and the worship time. We even had a visiting couple. Our people are inviting others.
“Sunday morning at 12:36 my grandmother left this life and joined Heaven. She had a series of bad health setbacks these last few weeks, and finally COVID came and took her away. She was a believer in Jesus Christ, and she prayed for me and my family daily. Within the last two years, God has taken home both of my grandmas who prayed for me daily. Please remember to pray for me and my family. We need those who will fill in the gaps.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes “Faith Journey enjoyed another good and eventful week. I was blessed to spend the first part of the week in Smithville at our missionary training session. We fellowshipped, prayed together and had some leadership training over a couple of days. It was an inspirational and relaxing time together.
“I was able to share in my weekly community groups some of our Bible study and lessons again this week. These folks are eager to study God’s Word every opportunity they get, and it is such a joy to see. We ended the week lending a hand to a family affected by this week’s storms with some downed trees that we were able to help move. We are praying for all those affected and thank God for His hand in protection over us. Please continue to pray for all of those that were affected during this time.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “We spent excellent fellowship time and Bible instruction at StoneRidge Baptist Camp and were ministered to by Dr. John David Smith who gave us his experience and passion for missions.
“With our batteries recharged, we continue with the beautiful work where God has placed us in northwest Arkansas. We had our discipleship time every week on Friday and on Sunday we had what I think it is our record attendance — 30 people, 8 guests and a person I spoke with before the service testified that she had put her faith in Jesus Christ! We congratulate her with much joy and gladness and rejoice with our new sister in Christ, Angeles. In the midst of the service, we had a beautiful atmosphere of freedom to worship God, and the eight guests were able to hear the good news of the gospel and were invited to please not leave. Then we went to the fellowship room and had a beautiful time, and the guests integrated very well. We finished at 5 p.m.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “I hope you’re praying for Epic Life in Pea Ridge. We need it this week for sure as it will be an exciting and challenging week. First, the house we are looking at purchasing goes before the Planning Commission April 4. We’ve heard discouraging news and aren’t really sure which way that will go. Please, keep that in your prayers.
“We will also be having our Easter Worship Service on Saturday evening. There we will have our first baptisms. Right now, four are planned. We’re excited about that! Pray for those who have been saved, and pray for those who will see the baptisms and are under conviction!”
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Paul White
Arkansas State Missions Director Paul White pens a weekly column to inform the BMA of Arkansas concerning Arkansas Missions’ activity and includes individual reports from each church planter.
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