Thank you for your prayers for VBS this summer! In July, we were able to help the Hartmans with a one-day VBS in Manila, UT. Fourteen local kids attended, as well as five kids from Kemmerer. On August 2nd, we held another one-day VBS in Cokeville at the town park. We had five children from Cokeville come, with three of those being LDS and all of them unsaved. At both events, the children learned about the two kingdoms - the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the devil - along with the armor of God. In Cokeville, we had the opportunity to give children's Bibles to the three LDS kids (the other two siblings received one in the past).
Please pray for fruit from these Bible Schools! Specifically, that the family of the two in Cokeville will start coming to church, as well as for the salvation of all five children.
We are both grateful for God's grace in providing the energy and strength needed for these ministry opportunities. We also praise Him that Elizabeth's health seems to be holding steady and she is able to have a break from infusions for a bit!
As far as housing goes, there has been a very slight decrease in pricing, but most of the listings continue to be either too small or too expensive (or both). Please continue to pray with us for wisdom and guidance, and God's provision before another winter.
Looking ahead, we have several busy months of ministry-related travel on the schedule. At the end of August, James will be making a trip to Marysvale, UT, to teach some website-related orientation for the grand opening Legacy Trade College. He has been building and setting up the digital systems for this new college, whose goal is to train men and women in both trades and ministry, and equip them to be in bi-vocational ministry. James began helping about two years ago with this effort, as it fits with God's call on our lives - to not only give the gospel and see people saved, but also see them equipped and established steadfastly in the faith, so that they may be able to teach others also.
Heading into the fall, we are preparing for our mission board's annual fellowship meeting. This year's meeting will be held at the new facility for Mountain View Baptist Church in Grantsville, UT, where our mission director also pastors. James made a trip down there at the end of July, to help with some preperations and get an understanding of the space for planning music and A/V. Now, he is working on planning all the music for the services including specials, accompianist and song leaders. Pray that all this can get done and that it will be refreshing for all those attending.
In addition to our other regular outreaches on Sundays and during the week, Pastor Hartman and James have begun going into the county jail on Monday evenings. This is in addition to their regular Friday service times, and at the request of several state inmates who desire more in-depth teaching and discipleship. Though this adds yet another thing to prepare for, and more time each week, we rejoice that God is working in these men and that they want to grow further in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Above all, we seek to continue to be faithful each week in the little God has already given us oversight of, as we minister in Cokeville to three regular attenders on Sunday plus two others on Tuesday nights. Pray for the salvation of R&R, J&C, BR, RG, and B. It has been encouraging that lately BR has been opening up even more to the gospel. Just last Sunday after the service, BR was talking and said that he has a past. James pointed to the Apostle Paul's past as a murderer and how God, through His Word and His Spirit, changes us in Christ - to which BR replied, "God needs to hurry up and change me." This opened the door for BR to again hear the gospel!
Keep on praying with us, and trust that God is working in unseen ways in people's hearts!