Another great blessing of having been in the States was the spiritual encouragement we received. Besides being able to be at the Beacon Hill Baptist Church, we were able to visit three other churches who have been a blessing to us over the years…the Petra Baptist Church, Pastor W.N. Bond, who was Dad’s pastor when he was only 19 years old, and attending medical school; the Family Baptist Church, Pastor Kelle Hein; and the Immanuel Baptist Church, Pastor Louis Horton. In 2000, I was blessed to have been a part of that church by working as a teacher in their Christian school. The people there feel like family to me, and it was such a blessing to me that Andrew and I were able to be there.
I don’t know if supporting churches in the States realize what it means to missionaries to be able to be able to visit their churches and receive encouragement. As a missionary, one often feels spent physically and emotionally, for the glory of God; and to be able to be in churches and sit and listen and to enjoy hearing the preaching is refreshing.
It means everything to a missionary to hear, “We are praying for you and your family every day.” One battles with everything from criticism and discrimination to literal demons from hell nearly every day, and to know that someone takes the time to pray specifically for me
I don’t know if supporting churches in the States realize what it means to missionaries to be able to be able to visit their churches and receive encouragement. As a missionary, one often feels spent physically and emotionally, for the glory of God; and to be able to be in churches and sit and listen and to enjoy hearing the preaching is refreshing.
It means everything to a missionary to hear, “We are praying for you and your family every day.” One battles with everything from criticism and discrimination to literal demons from hell nearly every day, and to know that someone takes the time to pray specifically for me
means a lot.
One man told us: “I have your family picture in my Bible, and every time I read my Bible, I look at your picture and pray for you. And I read my Bible at least three times a day.” What encouragement and strength we have drawn from the fact that people are praying for us!
Don’t forget about your missionaries. Pray for them, and let them know that you are praying. When a missionary comes to your church, remember they have spiritual and emotional needs. God meets every need, and He supplies according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus; but He uses people to encourage, to uplift, to say, “Just keep on keeping on!"
One man told us: “I have your family picture in my Bible, and every time I read my Bible, I look at your picture and pray for you. And I read my Bible at least three times a day.” What encouragement and strength we have drawn from the fact that people are praying for us!
Don’t forget about your missionaries. Pray for them, and let them know that you are praying. When a missionary comes to your church, remember they have spiritual and emotional needs. God meets every need, and He supplies according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus; but He uses people to encourage, to uplift, to say, “Just keep on keeping on!"
Bro. and Mrs. John Manning...
"Thank you for ALL you did for us!!! We love you!"
Miss Laquita Brown and Mom
My Lovely Mother
Bro. Manning, Bro. Jim, and David
Andrew got to bring the message on Sunday night at Beacon Hill....
The Sloan Kids singing
David's family singing
The López Family singing
The Knabb famiy singing
The Lopez children singing
Our family with Bro. and Mrs. Bond...What a blessing they are to us!
Bro. Manning telling about his golfing experience with Andrew...his first time to go golfing!Thank you, Bro. Manning, for your tender heart toward the missionaries!
Andrew gave his testimony and I translated
Another Sloan children special
Bro. Louis Horton
Sloan children singing at Immanuel Baptist Church
The Hortons took us out to I H O P...."Thank you for EVERYTHING!"
We were able to go visit Bro. and Mrs. Riley...who have always been such a blessing to all of our family!
Tom's children sang for her...
...as did Andrew and I
We love you, Bro. and Mrs. Riley!
What a blessing to have been at the Family Baptist Church with the Waldrops and the Heins!
Tom's children sang for her...
...as did Andrew and IWe love you, Bro. and Mrs. Riley!What a blessing to have been at the Family Baptist Church with the Waldrops and the Heins!Thank you for all you did for us while we were there! We love you!
F A M I L Y
Tom and Esther and Elisa
