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I was hoping to get to Idaho today, but got stopped by snow an hour south of Salt Lake City. With a 1987 Honda Accord, I don't have a lot of confidence to take risks through snow and ice. Please pray that I make it to Columbia Falls, MT by Wednesday.
At least I'm stuck in a BEAUTIFUL state! :-)
Last Saturday I packed up my car for three months on the road. What an adventure! I would never have thought a few years ago that I would travel on my own around the country... or that I would enjoy it! :-)
After traveling about two hours, I realized that I forgot one minor item...my winter coat! I double-checked every room in the house to make sure I wasn't forgetting anything, but I forgot to check the coat closet. oops! :-) I was going to have Mom mail it to me in Montana until I learned it would cost more than my coat was worth. Next stop: Goodwill!
This past Sunday it was a joy to be in two churches on the western slope of Colorado. In the morning I shared for 35 min during the adult Sunday school of Liberty Baptist Church, in Grand Junction, and then taught a children's church lesson on what it means to love our God. For lunch the Lord placed me in the home of a former missionary in Kenya, Becky Hendrickson. She did much the same things that I hope to do in Tanzania. What a resource of practical ideas!! Thank you, Lord!
In the evening I popped in on one of my supporting churches, Victory Baptist Church, in Montrose, CO. God is doing exciting things here through Pastor Jim Welch. Praise the Lord!! It is also such an honor to have this great church behind me through prayer and finances.
Living in two states for the past few years, I'm blessed to have two home churches. A Colorado home church, Grace Bible Church, and an Ohio home church, Newark Baptist Temple.
Yesterday I enjoyed one last service in my Colorado home church for awhile. Pastor Jeff Anderson preached on contentment from I Tim. 6:6-8. What a great reminder that true gain comes only by what we invest for eternity! The problem of discontentment is not caused by our financial status, being too poor or too rich. The problem lies in our hearts! Cultivating a deep, personal walk with our God can do nothing less than fill us with contentment, no matter what the economic status may be. This is an especially timely reminder for me! I'm working on my "needs" list/ shopping list for Africa. What is it I really need? :-)
Praise the Lord with me for the opportunities He has given!!
Last Wednesday I got to share my heart with the youth group at New Heart Community Church. The Lord truly blessed the evening! Because of the passion and prayers of their pastor, these teens' hearts were open! I shared how the Lord challenged my heart as a teenager to truly believe in His goodness and surrender my life completely to Him. (After all...who is better capable of taking care of us?) I can't wait to see how God uses some of these teens now and in the future!
This weekend could possibly have been the last time I'll drive across Kansas (at least for awhile)! :-) I shared about Tanzania and how the Lord is leading me there in two churches on the east side. Praise the Lord for small churches who are faithful to the Lord and who love missionaries!! I showed my DVD and shared a 30-minute testimony during the Sunday school hour at Prescott Baptist Church. I also got to play for their congregational singing and accompany a teen ensemble singing "There is a Fountain." After some down home cooking at The Sister's Cafe (?) in Hume, we returned to the church for a quick shopping spree in their missions closet. Thank you Pastor Kellum and Prescott Baptist Church!
After a quick nap and a cup of tea, I headed to Pastor Kellum's father-in-law's church in Fort Scott. Again, I had the joy of sharing 30-40 minutes (on my favorite subject!) with the dear people of Emmanuel Baptist Church. Pastor Stevicks and his wife welcomed me into their home and hearts. It amazes me that there can be such a bond in the Lord with folks we barely know!
January
6- Firm Roots Fellowship, Colo Spgs, CO
9- New Heart Community Church youth group, Pastor Tim Norris, Colo Spgs, CO
13am- Prescott Baptist Church, Pastor John Kellum, Prescott, KS
13pm-Emmanuel Baptist Church, Pastor Larry Stevicks, Fort Scott, KS
27- Liberty Baptist Church, Pastor Eric Turner, Grand Junction, CO
30- Columbia Bible Baptist, Pastor Ed Henson, Columbia Falls, MT
February
3- West Side Baptist Church, Pastor Lynn Howe, Billings, MT
6-10- Fairview Baptist Church, Pastor Richard Dion, Great Falls, MT
13- Big Sky Baptist Church, Pastor Richard Peacock, Hamilton, MT
17am- White River Baptist Church, Pastor Bob Courson, Bedford, IN
17pm- Temple Baptist Church, Pastor David Simpson, Carlisle, IN
27- Jeffersonville Baptist Temple, Pastor Bill Atkins, Jeffersonville, IN
March
2-5 First Baptist Church of Atoka, Pastor Freeman Weems III, Atoka, TN
9am- Grace Baptist Church, Pastor Terry Biggs, Newark, OH
9pm- Calvary Baptist Church, Pastor Steven Schag, Shelby, OH
12- Chapel of Prayer Baptist Church, Pastor Sherman Bailey, Akron, OH
13-15- Loudonville Baptist Temple, Pastor David Koehler, Loudonville, OH
16-Hilltop Baptist Church, Pastor Barry Wilson, Fairfield, OH
30- Apr 10- Missionary Medical Intensive (medical training course), Marion, NC
Dear Friends and Family,
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do,
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:13-14
I recently had the privilege of hearing a seasoned pastor preach on this amazing passage. He shared that he has but one goal now: to finish strong. Although I am in a very different stage of life (I’m still trying to start well!), his words and his life motivate me! Press toward the mark!
Many people ask me, “How is deputation truly going? I know it can be hard.” My answer is a bit different than last spring. I still love to travel and make many new and dear friends; but it’s not quite as exciting to pack the suitcases yet again. I still love to share about Tanzania and all that God is doing there, but it’s a little easier to depend on “auto-pilot mode” rather than on the Lord. And, honestly, hours on the phone are still not something that fill me with eager anticipation. :-) Press toward the mark!
Praise the Lord with me for:
*57% (The Lord did not see fit to bring all 66% in by January 1st, but His timing is perfect!)
*Six meetings these last two months, a wonderful number for the busy holiday season!
*A full spring schedule! (Jan- churches in CO, Feb-MT and IN, Mar-TN and OH)
Please pray for:
*The riots in Kenya to subside and God’s protection through the upheaval.
*The Lord to use me in each church to accomplish His purpose, challenging His people to pray, give, or go.
*Safety on the roads, especially through the winter months.
*The last 43% (about $1600/mo.) to be raised quickly.
*God’s perfect timing for the future (how many more meetings to schedule and when to purchase my one-way plane ticket and start packing.)
Pressing toward the mark,
Lisa Newland