This and That!

I haven't posted in awhile so I thought I would just tell you a little bit of whats been going on around here.

First: We have had our 1st teen meeting at our church. This has been an area of weakness for us here, because until lately we've had no teens. However, now that we are picking up the kids from the different villages we have quickly gained kids from all age groups including teens.


Last Friday night we had our first meeting with them, and God blessed in a great way. We had 18 teens present and 4 were saved!



My wife did a great job with gathering a few silly games for them. It turned out to be a blast. After singing and games we had preaching.



During the invitation several came to the platform so I could pray with them, and 4 others came to receive Jesus!



We then had pizza and a boxing tournament. Ok not a real boxing tournament it was with the Nintendo Wii. We gave the winner some boxing gloves, I bet their parents are happy. We look forward to working further with this age group.


Second: We continue to press forward with Soul-winning. I'm really trying to emphasis Soul-warning. This Sunday I told our people that it is the job of our Church to warn everyone in our county of the judgement to come. I hope they will take the challenge and join me in Soul-warning.




Third: We are leaving today for a family vacation. Our land-lord has an apartment on the coast and he is allowing us to stay their for free! We are so excited. Once again God did something big for our family.

I'm not sure if I'll have e-mail so you may not hear from me for two weeks. When we return I'll post lots of pictures.

God bless!

Truth!

Proverbs 23:23 says, buy the truth, and sell it not;... I'm so glad that I had people in my life to tell me the truth. Last Thursday we were getting ready for our prayer meeting and we had the front door of the church open. I was looking out the door when I noticed a young man, in his early twenties walk by the door. He was looking inside as if he wanted to go in but was scared to. I watched him walk off, but then he turned around for a second look. It was then I went to him and introduced myself. On my invitation he came inside the church for a look. After talking to him for a while I learned that he was saved but went to the local pentecostal church down the road from ours. He was a very nice young man and you could see that he was very sincere and that he loved the Lord. However, I could also see that he did not have the same opportunity that I had of learning the truth. No doubt he was taught many things that were untrue. In my short talk with him I tried to give him some truth. Hopefully he will come back and hear more.

I began to think this week how blessed I am to have the truth. How true the above Proverb is, buy the truth and sell it not. Once we have the truth don't give it up. Baptist today are not selling the truth they are giving it away. Truth is to precious for us to sell or give away. I have been challenged more than ever to stand for truth! This world needs the truth of the Word of the Living God!

Dear Christian in this age of compromise let us preach the truth more than ever! Croatia, America and everywhere else needs the truth!

encouragement from discouragement!

Yesterday we had another problem with our children's ministries. It seems as if every week there is some problem. I know the devil does not want this ministry to continue so he fights very hard to discourage it.

After the problem I arrive with the children at Church and I'm explaining to some of the people the events that just took place. I begin to tell them how much the devil does not want us working with the children. I then tell the folks how the devil has fought every step of the way. Before I'm finished with my story I'm sure they are now as discouraged as I am.

Then Brother Alen says, "Doesn't he (the devil) know that he's already lost the war!" The moment this satement was made my discouragement, as well as everyone else that was listening, turned to encouragement! One minute we were all focusing on how strong the devil is, which always brings discouragement. The next minute we were focusing on the Savior and the vivtory He has given to us all!

Too many times I have focused on the enemy instead of the Victor! Brother Alen taught me to focus more on Jesus and less on the devil! Jesus has already won the victory! My discouragement quickly turned into encouragement all because of Jesus!

Working in a Catholic country

Last week some of our bus kids came to me and said, we can't come next Sunday our sister, which is one of our kids, is going to be baptized. What? Where and by whom? The answer, the Catholic Church. The little girl is probably about 6, and I was very disturbed by this. They will throw a big party today after her baptism. They love every opportunity to party and get drunk. I think they will baptize her mainly so they can party.

This is just one more reminder for me of where I'm at. This is a country that is a strong hold for the devil. He has these people bound by religion. I pray that through the preaching of the Gospel many of these people will be set free!

The older sister of this little girl wants to be baptized in our Baptist Church. She has been saved and I will try to get her mom and dad's permission. Please pray that God will open their hearts and allow their little girl to obey God.

I'm back!

Our group from the States are gone. I took a day off and now I'm back in the swing of life in Croatia. We've been having great services. Usually we are way down in the summer and we pray for the fall. This summer has been really good. I pray it continues.

I spent 10 hours yesterday putting in two ceiling fans in our church. If you are wondering why it took so long, it's because I had no idea what I was doing. So far the Church hasn't burnt down. If it doesn't burn before Sunday then I call my work a success.

These fans are going to be a blessing. It's been very hot here lately and it's hard for people to sit in 90 degree weather.