EXETER, RHODE ISLAND

Sandy and I visited the home mission work in Exeter, Rhode Island this past weekend.  We had a great time with Bill and Christy Reynolds and their 4 children.  Bill is a Rhode Island native, so he fits in well.  He is doing a good job building a church there.  That includes literally building a new church building - Bill was the General Contractor (and main laborer).  They finished it in August, 2012.

Here's a picture of the outside of their beautiful new building.

Nice looking big parking lot

Big fellowship hall with great kitchen

Auditorium seats 250

Nursery - I like the lettering

Bill's son, Billy, plays the guitar for service.

Here's Bill leading the service.

Christy did a great job playing the piano!

Bill's daughter, Michaela, is on the right playing the keyboard.

Greeting time.  The church averages about 70 on Sunday morning.

Tommy and Sue Goodfellow had helped work on the building last year.  Now they have moved to Rhode Island to continue to help the church.  I would love to see more people do this.  The Goodfellows are the parents of home missionary Dawn Elliott in Quebec. 

Fellowship Dinner and Pie Contest after church

They twisted my arm to be a judge in the pie contest.  You can see that I really hated it.

Tommy Goodfellow hated it, too.


We loved spending time with the Reynolds family.  The children are respectful and yet a lot of fun.
Bill and Christy are dedicated and hard working.  They are also down to earth and humble.
We appreciate the great job they are doing!

Bill, Christy, Michaela, Hannah, Billy, and Sarah

VIDEO Q & A FROM SUFFOLK, VIRGINIA

The Suffolk, Virginia team of David Sexton and Marc Neppl have done a great job of getting a new church established.  After a start in a motel, they bought a funeral home and renovated it and now average over a hundred people each Sunday.

David and Charity Sexton

Marc and Casie Neppl

David and Marc recorded answers to many questions about reaching people and building a church.  They have some great ideas!.  It would be worth your while to watch this 15 minute video if you are interested in what it takes to start a new church or reach people in an established church.

Click the link below:

https://vimeo.com/62088738

PUBLICATION HELPS

Eric Thomsen is the editor of ONE magazine.  He has been the editor for 9 years and is doing a great job!  Below his picture is a link to an interview we did recently about church publications.  He gave some good ideas and thoughts. Listen for his personal story in answer to the question, "What is one thing you would say to a church about their publicity? Click the link below his picture to view the 10 minute video.

http://youtu.be/4lRa2Kg3iwk

COLLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS

Collinsville, IL is a suburb of St. Louis.  Steven Gray started a church there about 5 years ago.  The church averages around 90 on Sunday mornings.  Sandy and I visited Steven and Denise and the church this last weekend.

Steven and Denise at lunch

Steven shows me their portable baptistry

This is the Youth Room.  They have a weekly youth activity in here.

The auditorium before church on Sunday

People gather in this room on Sunday mornings for coffee and conversation

Steven used tennis balls as an object lesson at the beginning of his sermon  on the family.

Steven and Denise have 4 children: Jacob, Caleb, Hannah, and Levi.

Great looking family!

Everyone at the church was warm and friendly and it was a good service!

Please be in prayer for Steven and the church as they search for a building for a permanent location.
We appreciate their hard work in planting a new church!

VIDEO INTERVIEW FROM MARANA, ARIZONA

A new church in Marana, Arizona is being started by Jeff Goodman and Josh Bennett.  The church had the first service about 1 & 1/2 years ago and is averaging about 90.  We appreciate the great job they are doing in this suburb of Tucson.

Jeff, Heather, and Ava Goodman

Josh, Ashley, and Sawyer Bennett

I sent Jeff and Josh a list of questions and they have made a video of their answers.  This is very  interesting, informative, and helpful.  It is worth watching just to hear about "the most successful thing we have done..."  The video is less than 10 minutes long.  Take a look:
https://vimeo.com/58669463

NOTES FROM ALL AROUND

Tim Osborn in Memphis, TN area has been battling cancer.  Larry Powell, Sandy, and I went down last week to visit Tim and Robyn and take them out to lunch.  His recent CAT Scan showed no more growth on the cancer.  Let's keep praying for more good news with his health.  Tim preaches every Sunday and the church is doing well.

Here is Tim showing Larry Powell the baptistery.

Robyn and Sandy look over the auditorium.  They have had to make more room for more people

OTHER HEALTH STORIES:

Melissa Lewis in Clarksville, TN - The doctor said that the cancer is not growing and she doesn't have to have any treatments for the foreseeable future.

Greg and Lea Floars in Marquette, MI - Both had surgery (Greg-knee and Lea-shoulder) right before the end of the year and are recovering.

Board member Ron Parker's grandson Pierce is having tests to decide on treatment for tumor in his leg.

FAMILY NEWS:

Congratulations to Kent and Jeanna Nelson on the birth of their new daughter - Corinna Jewel.

Congratulations to Allen and Jenny Hall on the adoption of their new son - Joshua Allen

CHURCH NEWS:

Jose Correa in Puerto Rico had 60 young people attend a youth retreat.

The home mission church in Suffolk, VA (David Sexton and Marc Neppl) had 311 visitors in 2012 with 23 people saved!

Daryl Grimes in Erie, PA took 8 men to the Ohio Men's Retreat.

Greenfield, CA church had 105 people attend their Wednesday night Christmas play - from home missionary Jim Kilgore.

GOODBYES:

 Dana and Betty Booth have left New York to minister in Alabama.
Here is Dana on the left and Betty is on the left in the picture below.

Dana is passing the baton to his Associate - Jim Martin
Jim and Sylvia are on the left.

We also say goodbye to the Crabtrees.  Their church in Fredericton, New Brunswick went self-supporting at the end of 2012.
Here's a picture of me and Jeff (R)

Here is Donna with her handbag.

My favorite picture of their church building.

We appreciate the dedication, hard work, and faithfulness of the Booths and Crabtrees.  It has been great to work with them!  I'm happy to call them my friends.
Remember - you are always a part of the home missions family!

CLARKSVILLE, TENNESSEE

The home missions church in Clarksville, TN was started by Clayton Hampton.  Clayton has moved to Michigan and passed the baton to Chad Kivette.  

Clarksville is a fast growing area and is located near Ft. Campbell.

As Sandy and I pulled into the parking lot yesterday, I immediately noticed the big signs.  Nobody driving by can miss the time for the Sunday morning service.

 

Chad makes sure he greets every one.  I think it is very important in a home mission church for the pastor to give people a warm welcome.  (That goes for other churches, too.)

Home Missions Board member, Bob Lewis, was at the service, along with his wife, Brenda.

Chad preached a good message on sacrifice and not just giving to God that which cost us nothing.

Here is a picture of the family - Chad and Paula with Kinsley (right) and Kylah (left).

Brian and Melissa Lewis also work as team members in the church.  Here is Brian and Melissa with Camden (right) and Rory (left).

The church owns land and is trying to find plans for a building of their own that they can afford.