STATE MISSIONS: The Greatest Gift Ever Given
Vicki and I celebrated our first Christmas as a family way back in 1969. We didn’t have much, but that did not seem to matter as we had each other. Going to the woods and cutting just a small limb from a pine tree, we brought it home and decorated it with red berries, popcorn on a string, lots and lots of stringy icicles, a few bulbs and hand-picked pinecones. Of course, there were no phones with cameras, and oh, how I regret not having taken a picture of our masterpiece.
We were 18, in love and blessed beyond measure. We exchanged precious but very common gifts. We had most things a person would want for Christmas, except the main thing, and that was Jesus.
We were not attending church. Moving forward a couple of years and having become parents, we realized something was missing. While holding my baby boy, I knew I owed it to my children to bring them up in church. I rededicated my life, Vicki was gloriously saved and only then did we learn the real meaning of Christmas. Yes, the traditions of gift-giving, fellowshipping and food have always been a part of our Christmases. But we know that God, through His great love, gave us Heaven’s best, His Son, and that by believing we might become joint heirs with Him. This wonderful gift of Christmas can become yours, too, if you let Him come into your heart.
As I write this, I am looking at our 54th tree. While our trees have increased in size, they are no longer the center of attention in our home. Merry Christmas.
From Our Missionaries
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “The Christmas carols have aroused enthusiasm in several brothers and sisters in the church — we have 13 children and 9 adults. Saturday night, we visited three homes, sang Christmas carols, read the Word of God and prayed for the family in each of them.
We started our tour at Yajaira’s house, her sons Marco and David were there, and her husband, Joel, whom we had not had the opportunity to meet. Yajaira has been in poor health, so it was a good opportunity to show her our love. Then we went to Karina’s house. She welcomed us with her two daughters, Kimberly and Emily. It had been a couple of months since we had seen them at church, and it was a pleasant reunion. We ended up at the house of our brothers, Oscar and Emelda, tired, but satisfied with the duty accomplished — the adoration of God and the communion with the church. Oscar and Emelda were waiting for us with tostadas, bread and hot drinks that we usually have at Christmas time.
“At our Sunday gathering, we studied Mary’s visit to her relative, Elizabeth, sang Christmas carols and prayed. As usually happens in winter, attendance increases. On this occasion, we had the highest attendance in history at a normal service, without celebrating a special occasion. We had 89 people!
“On Sunday afternoon, a group of 17 of us went to support the outreach that Michael Hight did with his church planting team at a mobile home park in Cabot. We enjoyed knocking on doors, sharing the message of salvation and inviting people to the party with trampolines, piñatas and other activities in their community.
“We also invite you to a Bible study that will begin on the first Monday of 2024. We thank God for the work he is carrying out in North Little Rock.”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “It has been a busy but rewarding week at Ebenezer. Last Saturday, we had our Christmas celebration. From decorating, coordinating the food, preparing the program and message, we were filled with a lot of pre-event activity. We started at 7 p.m. and finished at 10 p.m. My family and I arrived back home at midnight.
“The attendance exceeded 50. We wanted to get to 60, but several could not make it. The interesting thing is that we had many visitors who were entering a Baptist church for the first time. We talked about the chronology of Christmas. Many liked how the events happened year after year from the annunciation to the death of Herod. The visitors were amazed to understand and know what the Bible says about the birth of Jesus Christ. We presented the gospel to them and after the service we had several games that kept us joyful and awake. Pray that the Word of God that was sown for the first time in the hearts of the visitors will bear fruit in their time.
“In the coming weeks, our attendance will most likely decrease. Several families have already informed me that they will be traveling. Pray that God will bring them back home safely.
“Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your support. Keep praying for us. God be glorified!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had a great week at Faith Chapel! We had several families out and still had a really good number for Sunday morning worship. Once again, our returning visitors are bringing new visitors. I love it when that happens!
“We had a Christmas fellowship on Saturday, and it was so much fun. The little gray house, as we call it, where we have those sorts of things, was full and overflowing to the tables on the patio! The kids got to run and play together, and they decorated Christmas cookies. It was a wonderful time of fellowship. We had lots of good food and desserts, and we also got to celebrate my mom’s 89th birthday with her. What a great day!
“There’s not much new to report on the new building. We are still waiting for drywall, but we sure will appreciate that new fellowship hall when it is complete. The gray house is getting smaller each time we use it.
“We thank you for your support and prayers! They both mean so much to us, and they allow us to do this work that God has called us to. On days like last Saturday, it doesn’t seem like work though. We are truly blessed, and we thank Him for you all!”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “We had a busy week at the mission! I started the week helping Paul White get a van from a fellow church that graciously donated it to BMA State Missions. We had a great visit on our road trip!
“One of the nursing facilities we serve put together a Christmas card to share with friends and families to let them know that they appreciate them for their loving support and are praying for them daily. These prayer warriors are so eager to show God’s love to others. It is such a blessing to be able to be a part of this ministry with them.
“On Friday, I was asked to come speak with a local middle school at their monthly Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) meeting. I was able to share my testimony with approximately 50-60 students. It is always a great time to be able to share how Christ can change your life if you ask Him into your heart and follow Him.
“During this busy Christmas season, don’t forget that sharing Christ’s love with others is the greatest gift we can give.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “I am so excited to inform you about the work that God is doing in Northwest Arkansas, in the cities of Pea Ridge, Springdale and Rogers through our ministry. We began the discipleship work with two new families who have received the transforming grace of our Lord.
To hear a woman say her greatest longing now that she is in Christ — giving her husband his place as the head and pastor of her family — is something incredible in these times when she used to be super feminist. It’s something only God can do.
“Also on Sunday, we held our Christmas service and my wife, Patty did a wonderful job rehearsing for one month with the Generation of Grace, which is our children’s ministry, who sang in the Christmas program and also prepared a choir with the women of the church. It was a great blessing, and we had the service with the most people since we started — 45 people and 11 people visited us.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “If these reports had titles, the title this week would be, ‘Family, Miracles and Chex Mix.’ I’ve operated in ministry as if it was impossible to reach family and closest friends, but through the model of ministry we’re using in Pea Ridge, we’re seeing family reached, a family that has been prayed over for years.
“This week, we invited both our Woodbridge and Garfield Connection Groups to meet together. One of the leaders reached out to their nephew and invited him since the meeting was closer to the nephew’s home. Not only did he come, but his daughter called and asked if her new boyfriend could come. We’ve been praying for this family for years. We’ve also been praying for healing of what seemed to be obvious throat cancer. As he pulled up in the driveway for Bible study, he received a call from his doctor — it was not cancer. We celebrated that miracle in our Bible study. It’s one of several we’ve seen while praying for one another.
“We had a ‘Chex on Your Neighbor Party,’ too. Each family brought a part to mix together in a Christmas Chex Mix. Then we filled containers for everyone to take and talk to their neighbors. It was a fun way to push each other to get out in their neighborhood. The week wrapped up with a visitor at our Preview Night!”
El Faro #2 Hispanic Mission, Cabot/Jacksonville: Michael Hight writes, “Yesterday was an absolute blessing. We adopted a small trailer park to make contacts and share the gospel. With great help from South City, Creciendo en Cristo and El Faro, we were able to bless a lot of people. We shared Christ with a wide variety of people and began building important relationships. Please keep praying for us! Merry Christmas to you all.”
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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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