Ministry Update
Jimmy and Abby Stevenson
ChurchCare Construction, Lincoln, NE
March 2024
Spring is my favorite season, though fall is a close second. After some intense cold weather and a couple bouts of stomach flu, warm sunny days and hearing the spring birds singing outside is beautiful and refreshing. Spring is such a beautiful gift from God. I love how it brings renewal of life, the warmth to thaw out the cold of winter, green to replace the brown. As we near the celebration of Resurrection Sunday, spring brings the picture of life to replace death, as Christ conquered once and for all the permanence of death and offers us the gift of life!
The weather of Lincoln, NE is very different from the past 3 years we have spent in Ohio, particularly in that we are getting warm sunny days, so much so that it is one of the warmest Februarys on record! While I anticipate spring’s arrival, it is weird to not have normal winter weather.
First picture – Leroy approves of overnight oats.
The boys are growing so fast, and have their own area of ministry by just being cute and giving smiles and being entertaining, especially at break time. Paul knows his colors, and knows many MANY construction and farm equipment pieces. He loves saying “no!” to everything, even when he means yes. He also loves reading “Ball’s bu Bi-ball” (“Paul’s blue Bible” for those of you who don’t speak Paul). Leroy is 15 months old and trying to keep up with his older brother. He is gaining more words to his vocabulary and constantly wants to go “up-up-up” the ladder and stairs that his brother goes, giving me a few more grey hairs as I try to keep him from gaining more bumps.
Picture is a trip to the children’s museum.
We are currently at 91% financial support! We had reached 100% before the yearly updates that help account for new adjustments and inflation of costs. Despite the exact percentage number, we continually have our needs met and see God provide in abundance. Thank you for your sacrificial giving to partner with us and enable our ministry to another body of believers.
Construction Update
- Crew from Faith Baptist Church in Cambridge, IA, came and overwhelmed us with their sacrificial giving as they came alongside this church for 3 days. The basement demolition was conquered among other things, and we just so appreciated having them here for the time!
- The new offices are getting closer to being ready for move in, which means that the old office space will be ready for demolition to make room for the new stairwells.
- The ministry of ChurchCare is celebrating its 20 year anniversary! We are so thankful for the privilege of getting to be a part of this ministry and serve God in this way. Looking forward to the next 20 years!
Praises
- Wonderful church volunteering opportunities with much fellowship and connection.
- Financial support continues to rise!
- Being near Abby’s family in Kansas has given opportunity to connect and have them visit.
- Each day God invites us to draw near and gives such grace to walk through each day!
Prayer Requests
- To stay fully connected at Temple Baptist, though we will be traveling a lot over the next month.
- Wisdom in parenting as we seek to point our young boys towards Christ.
- More workers to come alongside. We need both full-time and part-time partners in ministry.
Picture is Bible time with Daddy.
Travels
- 03-03 Grace Baptist Church in Grand island, NE
- 03-10 Ankeny, IA for Jimmy to be groomsman in friends wedding.
- 03-17 Gretna Baptist Church, Gretna, NE
- 03-24 Victory Baptist in Fullerton, NE and Grace Baptist in Genoa, NE
Abby's Corner
Jimmy and I had the immense blessing of being able to attend the Refresh Conference hosted by Faith Baptist Bible College in early February. I found that their theme of “soldiering on” was very applicable to motherhood. Having two boys two-and-under has its many challenges, especially the doldrums of staying inside due to cold weather, sleepless nights as we deal with teething and stomach flu and many other things that are a part of parenthood. It is very easy to just be in survival mode, barely getting thru each day and falling into bed at night praying for more than one hour of unbroken sleep. I am so thankful for spring and how it brings a new refreshing perspective: to refresh my focus on Christ, to remember the WHY of choosing to serve my family and ministry, to not be lazy and stay in survival mode. Rather, I must seek Christ’s face and thrive in the day He has given me. God so lovingly is calling us to look up to Him, to fill our vision with Him. He is so patiently pulling us towards Him, not letting us stay stuck. His love refreshes my heart, and I am thankful!
