May 2009

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Rom. 10:3)

Dear Praying Friends and Ministry Partners,

Paul is burdened for the nation of Israel because they have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God. That word "submission" is unpopular today. Man desires to make his own rules rather than subject himself to God's perfect standard. But Phil. 2:10-11 says that one day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Have you fully submitted yourself to the Lord?

Deputation News

Our travels have continued through the month of May, with meetings each weekend. We had a wonderful time at Davidson Baptist Church in Hazard, KY. The mission conference was a blessing to us. One night the electric was out at the church when high winds had knocked out power. Dave preached half his message by flashlight before the power was restored! Coal mining is the major industry in Hazard. One day we were invited to tour a strip mine and got to ride in one of the big CAT dump trucks that sit about 15 feet off the ground!

On May 3 we visited Calvary Baptist in Wabash, IN where we had planned to be in February last year before a snow storm blew into Cincinnati. The following weekend we returned to Calvary Baptist Church in Hubbard, OH where Ruth was the guest speaker for their Mother/Daughter Dinner. On Mother's Day we visited Huntsburg Baptist Church in Huntsburg, OH. Dave enjoyed seeing our host's vintage Fiat and Alfa Romeos.

May 16 was our community's annual garage sale. We were glad that our schedule allowed us to participate, and we sold many items, including some larger ones. The next morning we visited Bethany Baptist Church, which is only 15 minutes from our house. That day we learned they were planning their own garage sale for June 6 to raise funds for a mission trip to Haiti this summer. We thought that would be a great place to donate many of our unsold items.

On Memorial Day weekend we traveled to South Haven, MI to be with Jeff and Robin Malin at Bethel Baptist Church. The teen cookout and wiffle ball game was a lot of fun. That evening we traveled to Otsego, MI to be at First Baptist Church. Ruth had a wonderful time seeing her roommate from college again, and we enjoyed our time of fellowship with Pastor and Mrs. Jones that evening. Our hostess, Mrs. Dawson, served as a missionary to Ecuador. She was a great encouragement to us.

On our way back home we stopped to see Jeff and Pam Jones who have been to Romania five times for short-term mission trips. They invited us to a cookout with their friends who live off Gull Lake. We had a delicious meal, and we enjoyed a boat ride on the lake. God's timing was perfect again as one of the families we met is interested in supporting our ministry.