STATE MISSIONS: Where to From Here?
This is one of the most exciting times of the year. Not because taxes will soon be due, but because we stand on the threshold of a new year filled with opportunities. During the next 12 months, we will experience many things. For several, there will be places to see and things to do. Babies will be born and loved ones will pass away. We will experience times of joy intermingled with sorrow.
God desires that we serve Him every day of the week. I want to encourage our people to be faithful to their churches because they are a place where people can connect with other people of like faith, but, more than that, where we can connect more with God. This may be a good time for us to stop and ask ourselves this question. Where will you be personally in your walk with God one year from now? I ask because as babies begin to lose that baby face and fat, toddlers grow to be juniors and juniors grow to be adolescents who grow to be teens. The same should be true for the Christian. It is natural for children not only to grow, but to mature. If growing and maturing are natural, then it stands to reason we should have a closer relationship, a better understanding of God and be more connected to God and his will for our lives with every passing day.
Jesus said the fields are white unto harvest, but the laborers are few. Next time you stand in front of the mirror, look into your eyes and ask yourself this sobering question — “Do I attend church to be ministered to, or do I attend church to minister to others?” For some, it is past time they grew up.
From Our Missionaries
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “It has been a long time since the last time talking about the North Little Rock Mission. Let me give you a rundown of what we've accomplished.
“December 19, we celebrated Jesus’ birthday with 95 people, 23 adults and the rest under 18 years old. The gospel was preached, and we enjoyed a good party.
“December 24, we met for our traditional Christmas celebration. The youth sang Christmas carols, and the adults presented a drama.
“We welcomed the year in the temple at our end-of-year meeting on December 31. A group of brothers and sisters stayed after the meeting. We ate and had fun with group dynamics. At midnight, we all hugged each other and expressed our best wishes.
“Then, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Jan. 1-3), we had prayer meetings, during which we expressed our gratitude to the Lord and prayed for personal requests and the 2025 scheduled events.
“This Sunday afternoon (Jan. 5), we visited the Jacksonville Lighthouse mission, where a group of people accompanied our church worship team, which led the time of praise. It was a joy to serve and support the work that Michael Hight is establishing in the North Jacksonville and Cabot area.”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “Thank God we had a good end of the year. The last two weeks, we started a series on plans and evaluation. We have evaluated our 2024 goals, giving thanks to God for the goals achieved. Last Sunday, we talked about a step-by-step plan for elaborating goals. Next Sunday, we will pray and dedicate each project to God’s hands.
“This month of January, we will be praying for each home. Every year, I visit homes as a missionary and pastor to enjoy fellowship and pray for each family. This month, we will also start the workshop on ‘Gospel Movements.’ We did it last year, and we want to do it again in 2025, so God will continue to lead the members of Ebenezer to be in the community and bless it.
“Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your support. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, (Dec. 22) “What a great week at Faith Chapel! We had a great number, our second-highest attendance ever, with five first-time visitors! Praise God! That is a total of 17 first-time visitors in the past 3 weeks since we got in the new building — praise God again!
Here is the really good part — one of our young ladies, whose parents and I have been counseling for the past few months, said she needed to talk to me before the service. When I asked her what she wanted to talk about, she said, ‘I got saved last night.’ I gave her the biggest joyful hug, and of course, I cried. She told me all about it, and I am certain that she indeed did get saved! Praise God again and again! She wants to be baptized soon so we can break in our new baptistry.
“All of the kids came up on the stage to sing, and I helped her make her profession of faith to the church. We have all been praying for this day for her, so it was a joyous morning!
“We had a glorious time of worship for our Christmas service — the kids led in two songs, and two of our teens, sisters, beautifully sang ‘Mary, Did You Know,’ and we all thanked God for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
“We thank you for your prayers and support for our mission. You had a part in this, too. It helped this young lady come to a saving knowledge of Jesus, and we pray there will be many more!
(12/29) “Another great week at Faith Chapel! We had a wonderful time of worship, with a really good number with several return visitors and two for the first time — that is four weeks in a row with first-time visitors. We had a young lady get saved last week and are planning her baptism for the Jan. 12. Two of our long-time faithful visitors came forward this morning and want to join us by baptism. We are not sure when yet. They really wanted to be baptized in Cotter Spring, but that may have to wait for warmer weather, so they will decide if they want to be baptized in our new, warm, heated baptistry. (I know which I would choose — I have baptized people in Cotter Spring before, and it is cold!)
“We sure are enjoying our new building, which seems to attract visitors. It certainly is better at seating them. Our attendance average is up 44% since we moved in. Praise God! Even the Sundays that were not our dedication service or Christmas were up, so we will pray that it keeps increasing.
“I want to thank you again for your prayers and support. It means so much to us that you lift us up and hold us up with both. And we thank God for you! Happy New Year!”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “Faith Journey and our family has had a holiday season to remember! We had a Christmas service with great food. We chose a Mexican fiesta and shared the story of Christ’s birth through the reading of Luke 2. We also had gifts for our youngest guests so they could enjoy a fun night of worshipping our Savior. We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas this year!
“Going into the New Year, we enjoyed our daughter’s wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony filled with loving touches of her and her new husband’s faith and love for each other and their families. When your children are little, you pray for their future spouses to be a godly man or woman, and God has been faithful to our prayers when He brought this sweet couple together. Please pray for strength and love for their marriage and that they always keep Christ at the center of their relationship.
“We finished this week by filling in at Village Creek Baptist Church in Mabelvale for their pastor, who could not be with them. They are an amazing group of people. Everyone was so warm and welcoming that it felt like family as soon as we walked in. The message God laid on my heart was from I Thessalonians regarding how we should encourage one another. I want to thank Village Creek Baptist Church for allowing me to speak about what is happening at Faith Journey and for supporting their BMA missionaries.”
Misión Gracia Soberana (Sovereign Grace), NWA:Roberto Marcelletti writes, “At Gracia Soberana Mission, we wish you a happy and blessed 2025. We begin the year with many plans and goals, but we pray that the Lord will direct those plans and goals within His sovereign will. One of our prayers is that the Lord will add those who are to be saved, and on Saturday morning, He began to answer this prayer.
On my way to church, I got a call while still in the parking lot. It was a woman crying and desperate. She asked, ‘Is that you, pastor?’ ‘Yes, of course,’ I answered. She asked me, ‘Could you listen to me?” I told her, ‘Of course.’ She told me, ‘I'm desperate. I need help. I've hit rock bottom. I’m losing my family and my marriage, and I don't know what to do.’ I told her that if she could come to church, we would meet to have a devotional and pray and that my wife and other sisters who could also help would be there. The woman arrived when we had already started the devotional. We invited her to the office, and my wife and I began to listen to her. The woman had tried to take her own life, and by the grace of God, we were able to present the gospel to her. She received Christ!
Then I left the office, my wife stayed with her for another hour, listening to her and praying for her. I praise God because no one from the church had invited this woman — she googled pastors in Springdale and found my number there. We were able to experience what Acts 2:47 says: “The Lord added daily those who were to be saved.”
When the woman left the office, the brothers who were there in the morning in the church realized the transformation of her face. The woman changed from disturbed, anguished, and suffering to a woman with peace and tranquility. I praise God for His divine appointment for us on Saturday.”
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes, “In the past, as things slowed down through the Christmas and New Year’s Day timeframe, it was a refreshing break for our family from the busyness of ministry. This winter break, we found ourselves completely missing our Epic Life Family, which is a testament to the connection being built in Epic Life.
“We have a big week this week as our Connection Groups return to their regular meetings, we have our monthly worship service and we’re doing our first youth event.
“Please pray for our coach households by their last names — Chadwell, King, Leatherwood, McCandless, Petrocelli, Sailors and Simon. Also pray for the prospective coach households of Stewart and Wright.”
El Faro #2 Hispanic Mission, Cabot/Jacksonville: Michael Hight writes, “Yesterday was a great day! We had our third preview service. Creciendo en Cristo Mission from North Little Rock came and helped with the music. We appreciate them very much.
“We had 29 people present, and we will go to the first and third Sundays of each month beginning with this service. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to meet people here in this area!”
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