The primary reason for our being in the States instead of Puerto Rico is our financial situation. To raise the needed funds we have visited about 50 churches in the past 6 months (and driven more than 20,000 miles). Recently, we received news from PR that our own church has voted to support us for $200 per month!
When Paul wanted to stimulate the Corinthians to give, he told them about the Macedonian Christians' sacrificial attitude. In 2 Corinthians 8:2, the apostle declares, that "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." In verse three he adds that they gave beyond their economic power. Incredibly these poor, suffering saints were so eager to give that when Paul expressed concern that they were giving too much, they begged him to be allowed to give (v. 4)!
Maybe it's hard for you to imagine that some believers actually want to give so generously, but we know that this is not an exaggeration. First, because 2 Corinthians is inspired by God and is therefore an accurate statement of the situation in Macedonia. Second, the example of the church in PR is of the same sort.
The Corinthians responded with a generous gift when they knew of the sacrifice of their brethren. May God use the testimony of the believers in Ponce to motivate the churches we visit to support our ministry so that we may return to PR by the summer of 2008. Will you join with us to make this goal a reality?
Friday, December 7, 2007
God's Gracious Provision
Our oldest son, Steven, has just one semester of college left. He has decided to finish his studies by correspondence, but he will need to find a full-time job, housing, and a car in the next few weeks.
Within 10 minutes of sending the email, I received a phone call from someone who wanted to do just that! What started as a joke became an answer to prayer that will not be forgotten. Steven now has a 1987 Volvo station wagon which runs well and gets 27 mpg. He only had to pay $640 for some needed repairs! Why should we be surprised? Our awesome God has said, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). Now we need to pray for the job and the housing needs.
Within 10 minutes of sending the email, I received a phone call from someone who wanted to do just that! What started as a joke became an answer to prayer that will not be forgotten. Steven now has a 1987 Volvo station wagon which runs well and gets 27 mpg. He only had to pay $640 for some needed repairs! Why should we be surprised? Our awesome God has said, “Before they call, I will answer” (Isaiah 65:24). Now we need to pray for the job and the housing needs.
Winter Wonderland
For the past week we have had three separate snow storms which have dumped about 8 inches of snow. We are located in the Laurel Highlands of southwestern PA. Our kids have been thrilled with the view and the opportunity to have some fun. They even built a snowman today, but it was too dark to get a picture when they finished.
In spite of having to travel in the slippery conditions, the Lord has protected us from accident and from getting stuck. Wednesday was the most dangerous day, but Bill put the car in firwst gear and eased down the mountain without incident. Praise the Lord for His goodness and a warm place to stay.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Back in Pennsylvania
Our journeys through Ohio and Michigan were a special blessing to us. Many thanks to all who made our visits so enjoyable. We were able to renew contact with four of our supporting churches and participate in a wonderful missions conference. The messages were all very good and the fellowship was tremendously uplifting. Each of these churches has been with us for many years and we count them as dear friends. Our one sadness is that furlough travel did not allow us to spend more time with them.
On Friday, November 16, we departed Ohio accompanied by light snow flurries. About an hour into the trip the snow was really flying. Our kids loved the novel sight. Not much snow falls in Puerto Rico! For a while we saw whitened fields and trees outlined in snow. Jonathan wanted to stop and make a snowball, but we never saw that much snow where we could legally stop. In Ebensburg, PA we even had a near white-out. The best part of the whole adventure was that no snow was on the roads. I have driven on snow, but not with a trailer in tow.
On Sunday we visited 2 more supporting churches. Both are encouraging to us in their enthusiasm for what God is doing through them. One of these churches is constructing a new building. Currently the 100 people who regularly attend must split into 2 services. The new building will seat 177! What a joy to see the blessing of God on a faithful group of people who have weathered many storms and stayed true.
Thanksgiving will find us in Elizabethtown with extended family. It's hard to believe, but the weather is forecast to be snow-free with temps in the 70s! Over the weekend, Teresa and I will get together with some of our high school classmates from 1982. This is an unexpected blessing.
The Lord is teaching us many things during this furlough. We are grateful that He is so patient and long-suffering. Truly, it is due to His mercies that we are not consumed every day. Our support is starting to improve. Even the church in Ponce has begun to help us. Our heart's desire is to be back in PR. Pray with us.
On Friday, November 16, we departed Ohio accompanied by light snow flurries. About an hour into the trip the snow was really flying. Our kids loved the novel sight. Not much snow falls in Puerto Rico! For a while we saw whitened fields and trees outlined in snow. Jonathan wanted to stop and make a snowball, but we never saw that much snow where we could legally stop. In Ebensburg, PA we even had a near white-out. The best part of the whole adventure was that no snow was on the roads. I have driven on snow, but not with a trailer in tow.
On Sunday we visited 2 more supporting churches. Both are encouraging to us in their enthusiasm for what God is doing through them. One of these churches is constructing a new building. Currently the 100 people who regularly attend must split into 2 services. The new building will seat 177! What a joy to see the blessing of God on a faithful group of people who have weathered many storms and stayed true.
Thanksgiving will find us in Elizabethtown with extended family. It's hard to believe, but the weather is forecast to be snow-free with temps in the 70s! Over the weekend, Teresa and I will get together with some of our high school classmates from 1982. This is an unexpected blessing.
The Lord is teaching us many things during this furlough. We are grateful that He is so patient and long-suffering. Truly, it is due to His mercies that we are not consumed every day. Our support is starting to improve. Even the church in Ponce has begun to help us. Our heart's desire is to be back in PR. Pray with us.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Snow Flurries in Michigan
Since our last blog entry we have traveled many miles. We left the fair State of Pennsylvania on Saturday, November 3 en route to Toledo, Ohio. We spent Sunday morning with a supporting church in the area and then moved on to the outskirts of Detroit on Sunday afternoon. The evening service was shared with another of our supporters as we brought them up to date on the Lord's working in our lives.
Well, this morning (Tuesday, November 6) we awoke to find snow in the air. This is the first snow our kids have experienced since 2002! Nothing is sticking, but it is exciting to see the snow. Our eight-year-old wants to build a snowman. As long as I don't have to pull a trailer through the snow, I don't mind if he gets his wish.
Well, this morning (Tuesday, November 6) we awoke to find snow in the air. This is the first snow our kids have experienced since 2002! Nothing is sticking, but it is exciting to see the snow. Our eight-year-old wants to build a snowman. As long as I don't have to pull a trailer through the snow, I don't mind if he gets his wish.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Beginning at Home
Tonight (October 26) I will bring a message with this title in a missions conference meeting. Following is a brief summation of the message.
The Gospel must be taken home. In Luke 16:27b the rich man in hell cried out for someone to go and warn his brothers of their impending doom. In spite of his personal anguish in hell-fire, this lost soul's concern that others not join him is notable. Though he had every reason to be self-absorbed, he was more evangelistically-minded than many believers today. Think of his indescribable torment as the literal flames of hell engulfed his entire body! Further, his torment was inescapable. From that day to this that rich man has never had one moment's relief from hell's misery! His suffering is also inexcusable. He didn't have to go to hell! Any soul that arrives in hell does so in spite of the warnings contained in Scripture. Isaiah 66:24 describes hell as a place where the souls of men will languish in eternal, conscious suffering. The fire will never go out! We must take the message home so that those we love will never face such a bleak eternity.
A second motivation to take the Gospel home may be found in our Savior's words to the former demoniac of Gadara recorded in Mark 5 verse 19: "Go home and tell thy friends." Our Lord commands us to take the message of salvation home. This delivered man heard his Savior say, "Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." Psalm 66:16 declares, "Come and hear, ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." The new believer need not worry that he does not know enough verses in order to testify of his faith, nor should the more seasoned believer fear a lack of theological preparation. Each redeemed soul can and should declare the great things God has done in saving his soul. The Savior also encouraged him to tell how God had mercy on him. This destitute and abandoned man was now a child of God, accepted by the God of the universe as His own son. No longer was he naked, but clothed in Christ's own righteousness. No longer was he out of his mind, but in his right mind by the mercy of God.
The Gospel must also go beyond home to the great beyond. Acts 1:8 declares, "Ye shall be witnesses." That is not a suggestion, nor even a command; it is rather a statement of inevitable reality. Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, and 10:39 reveal that the early believers became witnesses as a natural result of God's supernatural grace changing their lives forever.
The sphere of that witness is found in the words "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." God's plan was that believers saturate their home area and then move progressively outward, declaring the Gospel in every place. In Acts 8:1 persecution effected the moving of the Gospel outward, and the early believers faithfully declared the Gospel everywhere (Acts 8:4). The final step of that outward expansion comes in Acts 13:1 when the Holy Spirit calls the first missionaries.
This is not to be an isolated series of events, but an oft-repeated pattern. As Paul went out, other churches were established to saturate their own area (1 Thess 1:6) which then expanded their influence over broader territories (1 Thess 1:7-8). Then other missionaries, such as Timothy and Titus, carried the Word even further afield.
I believe we have lost sight of this Biblical model. Modern evangelism suffers when our home area is not saturated with the Word. Have you become discouraged in God's service? Galatians 6:9 demands, "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." We must each do our part or the home base will become so depleted that foreign missions will falter. Remember, "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If foreign missions depended on your faithfulness here at home, how would missions fare?
The Gospel must be taken home. In Luke 16:27b the rich man in hell cried out for someone to go and warn his brothers of their impending doom. In spite of his personal anguish in hell-fire, this lost soul's concern that others not join him is notable. Though he had every reason to be self-absorbed, he was more evangelistically-minded than many believers today. Think of his indescribable torment as the literal flames of hell engulfed his entire body! Further, his torment was inescapable. From that day to this that rich man has never had one moment's relief from hell's misery! His suffering is also inexcusable. He didn't have to go to hell! Any soul that arrives in hell does so in spite of the warnings contained in Scripture. Isaiah 66:24 describes hell as a place where the souls of men will languish in eternal, conscious suffering. The fire will never go out! We must take the message home so that those we love will never face such a bleak eternity.
A second motivation to take the Gospel home may be found in our Savior's words to the former demoniac of Gadara recorded in Mark 5 verse 19: "Go home and tell thy friends." Our Lord commands us to take the message of salvation home. This delivered man heard his Savior say, "Tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee." Psalm 66:16 declares, "Come and hear, ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." The new believer need not worry that he does not know enough verses in order to testify of his faith, nor should the more seasoned believer fear a lack of theological preparation. Each redeemed soul can and should declare the great things God has done in saving his soul. The Savior also encouraged him to tell how God had mercy on him. This destitute and abandoned man was now a child of God, accepted by the God of the universe as His own son. No longer was he naked, but clothed in Christ's own righteousness. No longer was he out of his mind, but in his right mind by the mercy of God.
The Gospel must also go beyond home to the great beyond. Acts 1:8 declares, "Ye shall be witnesses." That is not a suggestion, nor even a command; it is rather a statement of inevitable reality. Acts 2:32, 3:15, 5:32, and 10:39 reveal that the early believers became witnesses as a natural result of God's supernatural grace changing their lives forever.
The sphere of that witness is found in the words "in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." God's plan was that believers saturate their home area and then move progressively outward, declaring the Gospel in every place. In Acts 8:1 persecution effected the moving of the Gospel outward, and the early believers faithfully declared the Gospel everywhere (Acts 8:4). The final step of that outward expansion comes in Acts 13:1 when the Holy Spirit calls the first missionaries.
This is not to be an isolated series of events, but an oft-repeated pattern. As Paul went out, other churches were established to saturate their own area (1 Thess 1:6) which then expanded their influence over broader territories (1 Thess 1:7-8). Then other missionaries, such as Timothy and Titus, carried the Word even further afield.
I believe we have lost sight of this Biblical model. Modern evangelism suffers when our home area is not saturated with the Word. Have you become discouraged in God's service? Galatians 6:9 demands, "Be not weary in well doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not." We must each do our part or the home base will become so depleted that foreign missions will falter. Remember, "the light that shines the farthest shines the brightest at home." If foreign missions depended on your faithfulness here at home, how would missions fare?
Website Update
If you have not visited our website (pfamilypr.com) for a while, you will find a few significant changes. We have added 2 pages: Mission Teams and This I Believe. The first is intended to help those who would like to plan trips to PR or to some other location. The second is a personal doctrinal statement. In addition, the Home Page has been completely rewritten. As you look over our site, please feel free to send along your comments via email. Typos, items to add, revisions, general suggestions, etc. are all welcome.
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