I begin this report with a mixture of joy and sadness. A fellow laborer in Christ, with whom I served on the BCP Council, is now with Christ in heaven. A sister in Christ, whom I was blessed to know and pastor for a period of time, is now with Christ in heaven.

Though Rob Worthington was 64 and Barb McCourtney was 102 and lived in different parts of the country, I cared for them both…and I sensed they cared for me (I am sure many others could say the same). That human element, so necessary to a meaningful relationship, contributes to the sadness of separation one can feel. However, joy fills the heart of the Christ-follower when we are assured that the separation is only temporary and that we will join them in beholding Christ face to face.

Paul’s words in 2 Tim. 4:7-8 can be said of these two faithful servants, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
May the Lord comfort the Rob Worthington family and the Barb McCourtney family with the hope of a promised future reunion.

As I have shared in our regular email updates to ministry partners, for Susan and me the last two months or so between ministry assignments has been a time to rest, spend time with children and grandchildren, help with elderly mothers and catch up on pressing medical and dental needs. We are thankful to the Lord for our continuing good health!

With the approach of fall (and the hope of fall weather), our ministry schedule has picked back up. Labor Day weekend will be spent with the folks at Brown Street Baptist Church in Alton, IL., as they celebrate their 100th anniversary (1923-2023). Several former pastors and men called into pastoral ministry from Brown Street will be there. We are grateful to the pastor and church for including us in this special weekend.

Susan and I began our ministry there on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021 and finished on Sunday, March 19, 2023, with the passing of the baton to their next permanent pastor, Daniel Sternquist. What a blessing to know that this church has stayed with Christ and gone with the gospel over the last 100 years despite the temptation each generation of pastors faced to surrender to the prevailing views of morality and water down the message of the gospel so that it is not offensive. I am confident that under Pastor Daniel’s leadership the church will continue to stay with Christ and go with the gospel in this generation as well!

In addition to our ITM ministry, I have the privilege of helping train faithful men through BCP’s 24-week Leadership Journey program – an intentional discipleship study intended to help men become spiritual leaders by drawing them closer to God. God will then guide them to cause the same in other men, thus accomplishing Christ’s gospel mission through the church (2 Tim. 2:2).

From November 2022 thru May 16th 2023 I journeyed with four of the Brown Street men through the LJ study. A few weeks ago, I began the 24-week journey with Pastor Daniel and two other faithful men from Brown Street. The Leadership Journey experience is a structured time-tested means by which leaders are multiplied and succession planning become a reality.

Since completing six weeks of ministry with Grace Baptist Church in Laurel, Maryland, in June, I have continued to assist the pulpit committee as they have walked through the pastoral candidacy process. We continue to pray for the leadership and congregation as they discern God’s direction for the church.

Susan and I are so grateful to all of you who partner with us in the ITM ministry and pray for us.

I am often reminded of the Apostle’s Paul’s words in Phil. 4:17 “Not that I seek the gift (financial gift), but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.” Your generosity (fruit) is logged into your heavenly account and will result in heavenly rewards. As Jesus said in Luke 12:33, “…provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail.”

If you desire to partner with us in this ministry, please go to our mission website (bcpusa.org) and follow the prompts.