With the weather finally warming up in our part of the country (although we're expecting snow again next week!), we are gearing up for summer outreach ministries. We are grateful and encouraged by the prospect of the team from Nampa, ID, coming to help us with VBS and a special music/Gospel service in the park. Pray for the team's preparations and for people in Cokeville to come, hear the Gospel, and be saved.
We will have extra financial needs this summer to help feed the team, rent a trailer to haul VBS equipment to Cokeville from Kemmerer, host a community lunch in the park, and have dinner with the attendees and team at the restaurant. If God moves you to help us with this special time of ministry this July, please send it to our mission board, designated for VBS in Cokeville.
We also ask you to continue praying and interceding with God for BR. They continue to show signs of being under God's conviction and being drawn by the Holy Spirit to salvation, but they are still stuck by something preventing them from actually trusting Him for salvation. Additionally, as we noted last month, RG has returned to Sunday services; please continue to pray for their salvation, and for trust in God alone over man's opinions. Also for J&C as they both have health problems, for their salvation, and for C to be able to return to Sunday services.
Beyond the conviction that He is bringing in Cokeville, God is doing good things in Kemmerer. The state inmates in the Monday night discipleship ministry are growing in Christ. It is encouraging to see men hunger for the Word of God and to desire to study and know it for themselves. Also, we are encouraged, along with the Hartmans, by the growth of the men attending the church's Wednesday night prayer and Bible study. Pastor Hartman has just started working through the discipleship book "Remaining Steadfast and Stable," and we have gone from 1 other man besides us, to regularly having 4-5 additional men.
We also must report an answer to prayer: that God brought visitors to church on Easter in Kemmerer! On Easter Sunday, so many people came for the service that we had to add extra chairs down both sides of the center aisle to fit everyone. This is God's doing, and we give thanks and praise to Him! Pray with us that many of those who are from the area would return and start coming regularly.
On a more personal front, we need your continued prayers for wisdom in our housing search. There are several decent prospects on the market, and some of the prices have even come down - including one house we looked at and would like to pursue - but with the current interest rates, they are out of our budgetary ability. We believe that all things are possible for God (Matt. 19:26), but we also do not want to get into a foolish bind financially that would hinder our ability to continue ministering as we currently do. We are thankful that, so far, God has prevented us from buying property that would have become more a hindrance to us than a help. However, we need specific guidance whether we should attempt more deputation to raise our support level, take on more work responsibilities to increase our income - and decrease our time for ministry, or just be patient and wait on the Lord.
We praise God for what He is doing, and how He directs our steps as we look to Him for gudiance. And we give thanks for your faithful support and continued prayers!