Miguel and Ana Quintana – church planters serving the Hispanic ministry of Starkey Road Baptist Church in Seminole, FL
1. Jorge & Francis Robledo- Immigration documents and spiritual coverage for their eldest son at work.
2. Fory Gonzales- Delicate Kidney Surgery.
3. Rene Sotolongo- Spinal surgery recovery.
4. Marmolejo family- physical and spiritual health.
5. Latin Thanksgiving Dinner Nov. 23 at the Fellowship.
6. For members who are traveling for work outside of Florida. God keep them while they are away from home.
7. For the families of the church who have stopped congregating due to health problems.
8. Carolina Urquilla- for wise direction for her teenage daughters.
9. For the leaders- may God keep them in their service for the Lord in the church.
10. For the sermons of Pastor Miguel Quintana and the prayer services and Bible studies on Wednesdays.
Tim and Marsha Weeks – Director of Church Facilitation with an emphasis on Missionary Care
Our God keeps His promises! We are blessed each year as we ‘try’ to read through the Bible with passages that remind us of His precious promises, such as: Isaiah 41:10:
“0 fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
We pray that through these days of searching for a Pastor (note prayer requests below), being a witness to neighbors, preparation for service (Riley), training leaders (CA) and necessary home repairs, we are encouraged with: 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
As the children’s song goes; my God is so big, so strong and so mighty there’s nothing my God cannot do! As the theologian notes, “He cannot sin!” We trust you get the bigger picture of our Strong and Powerful and Almighty God Who will as well as He continues to strengthen, help, and uphold us!
Prayer requests:
1. Please pray for wisdom for the body of believers in both Fullerton and Genoa, NE in their search for an Under Shepherd; this has been challenging.
2. Please continue to pray for our contact with neighbors that the Lord would have us planting seeds of spiritual value in preparation for His good news.
3. Pray for the Dale’s church planting efforts in Scottsdale, AZ. Tim got to visit with their son Riley while he was at the mission conference at Faith. What a blessing that we can pray for the next generation as they prepare for ministry.
4. Continued prayer for Leadership Journey men that meet each week with Tim from Tracy, CA. As they are nearing the end of their 24 weeks of training.
5. Also pray that the unfinished projects here at home can be completed before winter arrives. Some progress has been made, trusting for much more to be accomplished before the snow flies.
Wayne and Shanna Dale – church planters serving Grace Baptist Church in Scottsdale, AZ
We are thankful to see God at work in the lives of the older and younger attendees at church. In October, several of the ladies planned a 50th wedding celebration for one of the church couples. They were so surprised and blessed, and we were thankful that others organized the whole event. This month Wayne has been meeting and counseling with a young, professional couple who desire to be married next month! Eric is from Burundi and his fiancee, Olha is from Ukraine.
We are also grateful that God continues to bring His people in His time. God is answering prayers for more young couples. Recently, we had coffee with a young couple who have been visiting for several months. They enjoy the intergenerational aspect of the church and the friendliness of the people. The husband is currently taking seminary classes and is interested in a possible internship with Wayne. Another young couple just recently moved from California and have visited with us the past two weeks. What is remarkable is that they have attended all the services the past two weeks and even stayed for the business meeting. Last week, another couple from the older generation also visited for the first time. They had called and talked to Wayne and had many questions about the church and doctrines even before visiting.
In October the kids had a week off from school for Fall Break, so we were able to accompany Shanna’s mom to Kentucky to visit with her brothers and sisters. The kids enjoyed riding horses; fishing in a pond; and controlling a backhoe and riding a four wheeler for the first time. They also enjoyed spending time with cousins since they have none in AZ. It was a great visit for Shanna’s mom as this was her first opportunity to spend individual quality time with each sibling since her surgeries and the passing of her husband a few years ago.
It is always a great deal of work for us to plan to be away from the church. We are thankful that we are now able to delegate some responsibilities and we have seen growth especially in our music program. We are thankful that we have individuals who can play piano and participate in special music. We also enjoy hosting missionaries and recently enjoyed the Papius family who are serving in Puerto Rico. Please pray as we seek to disciple and develop some men who can help in areas of teaching and directing other ministries. Many are often overwhelmed by their work and busy schedules. We are also thankful for a pair of men who came out as a work team to help with jobs around the church and at our home. They are presently are working on repairing our back “sunroom.”
Our family continues to grow spiritually and physically. Rylee is in his second year at Faith Baptist Bible College. He has been playing on the soccer team, serves as a Pre-primary Sunday School at church, serves as an usher and sings special music occasionally. Gloria just finished up her Senior Volleyball season at school. She is also taking dual enrollment college classes. She and Shanna will be traveling to Faith for their Scholarship weekend next weekend. Please pray for her as she makes college and career decisions here in the next few months. Gloria sings in the church ensemble and runs the A/V for our services each week at Grace. Claire will be playing for the girls’ varsity basketball team and we pray for her safety. She is also taking dual enrollment English and History classes this year, and is looking forward to getting her driver’s permit in Dec. Claire also sings in the church ensemble, and helps with hospitality, nursery, and A/V for the services at Grace. Simon has begun taking piano lessons from a skilled new church member. Despite his initial protests, he really does enjoy his lessons and is excelling. He has a nice touch and expression, and sometimes practices without me reminding him. He is still very interested in all things basketball and is hoping to play for the elementary boys basketball team in February. Simon also sings in the church ensemble, and helps with turning on the lights and opening the curtains for services, he also helps stuff bulletins, and with greeting. He is the only child in the church and so his friendly, talkative nature is a magnet to most people.
Shanna continues to teach English to minor league baseball players and is now the substitute teacher for the Spanish teacher at TCA who is on maternity leave until January. With the addition of two pianists at church, she no longer has to play piano, except when they are both gone. She continues to lead the ladies’ Bible Study, but is encouraging the ladies this quarter to each lead a lesson on their own since they are all mature believers. She was also involved in a “Story of Hope” Bible Study with a single mom, but due to schedules has not been able to meet with her for several weeks. Please pray for La Donna as she is facing several personal and financial struggles and needs salvation.
Prayer
-God would add to His church
-Time priority for new believers
-Greater commitment from believers
-Finances during higher prices (food/gas)
-Wisdom and discernment
-Finances for college
-More contacts around the church area
-Spiritual growth and maturity
-Declining health of older members
Praises
–2 new young couples attending
-New guests attending
-Kids’ Christian School tuition paid with state ESA funds!
-Visit from Shanna’s sister
-Contact in the community through Dunkin
-Visit from work team to help with projects.
-Upcoming wedding in the church.
-Good spirit among church
-Health of family
Jim and Janice Mitchell – church planters serving Grace Fellowship Church in Preston, ID
Thank you for praying for our special 20th anniversary day. We had 133 people and received 8 folks into membership and had two baptized. The founding pastor came down with Covid so he couldn’t be with us. We had 10 people who were with the church in the first 10 years share memories and highlights. It was an exciting day for us.
Also, on Saturday morning we had 19 men out for our men’s breakfast which was the most we have had yet. Please pray for our men to grow spiritually and become godly leaders.
Marty and Susan Basinger – ITM pastor concluding ministry to Brown Street Baptist Church in Alton, IL
I would describe the last several weeks as exhilarating, joy-filled, exhausting and dependent. Susan and I have been reminded over and over that “the joy of the LORD is (our) strength.” Neh.8:11
The focus of this eleven-week period has been on leadership training. On Oct.28-29, I along with four of the Brown Street BC men attended the Leadership Journey Retreat in Muscatine, Iowa. Here 52 men from seven different churches gathered to experience an enriching time of fellowship and training. The retreat was led by BCP President, Jon Jenks, and assisted by my director, Scott Owen. I am now leading these four men through the 24-week Leadership Journey course. This particular leadership training is rooted in the pastor’s responsibility in 2 Tim. 2:2 to “…entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
On Sunday evening, Oct.30, the church hosted its annual Trunk n Treat. This is the one time during the year when the community comes to the church. More than 600 adults and children came through to get the treats, while we greeted them with hot chocolate, a photo booth, prayer booth, conversation and gospel literature. Also, 400+ New Testaments were given out. We are thankful that relationships are being strengthened with people in the neighborhood. A number of children are now attending Awana Club, as well as a father and daughter who attended worship service this past Sunday as a result of Trunk n Treat.
Over the past month the deacons at Brown Street each took the personality profile assessment. Recently a Saturday evening workshop was held where they were able to understand their personality profile as well as the other men’s. This was both enlightening, enjoyable, and unifying. The training helps the men know how to better communicate with one another.
I have also enjoyed the opportunity to coach the pulpit committee as they go through the pastoral candidacy process. The men are currently engaged with a wonderful candidate who could potentially be the next permanent pastor of Brown Street Baptist Church.
In addition to the Leadership Journey course now ongoing, five faithful teachers are prepared to begin the 24-week Teacher Journey Training course with BCP’s Youth Ministries’ director, Chip Wood. A bootcamp to be held here at the church on Jan. 20-21 will launch the training.
Our ministry with the Brown Street congregation will end Sunday, Nov.20. It will be an emotional farewell for them and us. Pray that the people may remain encouraged and unified and that a permanent pastor will soon be in place to shepherd this congregation into the future.
Thank each of you for your partnership in the ITM ministry. Susan and I trust that you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.
SALT – Senior Adults Living Triumphantly
Tom and Carol Phillips – retired, living in Fredericksburg, VA
After two years being closed, Chuuk is now open to visitors. I am set to leave, Lord willing, this coming Thursday. There have been problems with the Radio Equipment and there is the need to discover what has happened and make repairs as needed. I was told that the computers were no longer working so I am taking two computers with me. Pray with Carol and myself for wisdom.
Carol will not be going with me this trip. You have heard of inflation, and we saw that in the price of tickets. I was not able to get the normal connections that we normally take. It ends up that it will be about 56 hours from the time I leave Thursday morning until I get to Chuuk at 2:10 AM. That is not all time in the air (24 hours), but also time between connections. For those interested I leave from Richmond and then to New Jersey, Japan, Guam, Pohnpei and then to Chuuk.
I will be returning home on November 30. Our daughter suggested I chose that day to be home for my birthday. My response was when did you start giving me presents.
Prayer is needed as there are always hiccups when traveling to foreign countries as they all treat Covid differently. I have been told that there are no Covid tests required, only proof of up-to-date vaccination.
Thanks for praying for us, Carol as she stays behind and myself as I travel. Have a blessed Thanksgiving.
