Dear friends and supporters,
Thank you for being our co-workers by means of prayer and giving.
Recently I wrote to you concerning our plan to combine as many Bible studies as possible in-order to make more time for new evangelistic relationships. Although we have been able to do some of that, our plan has not been completely successful. There are some situations where individual discipleship is essential. Since God has called us to discipleship, it is important to do whatever it takes to make disciples. Actually, it was one of our supporters who challenged us concerning the need for individual discipleship. He shared how his life was changed and molded by one on one mentoring. I am thankful for our members of our ministry team (including supporters) who are so engaged in this work that they do not mind challenging the missionary when they think they can help. This all means that Deb and I need your prayers as we order our schedules to disciple existing believers, and yet engage new friends in evangelistic relationships.
And God is providentially bringing new relationships into our lives. Recently, a neighbor confided in me that he would be coming to me when he is in need. He did so after asking me to meet with another neighbor who has pancreatic cancer. Deb has engaged two African ladies in friendship, and is planning to have them in our home for cooking classes. One day while spending some free time in Boston, Deb and I met an Iranian couple visiting our city. We spent several hours talking to them about their homeland. They are a bit bewildered about the trajectory of their country, and they seemed a bit broken and looking for substantive answers about life. They have our contact information. Please pray that they will reach out to us. Tuesday afternoon, we met another neighbor who would like to go to the rock climbing gym with us. Who knows where this relationship will lead. Also, a new evangelistic relationship has started. A friend from a supporting church asked us to follow up on a friend (a Chinese immigrant). We have done so, and it has generated a new evangelistic study.
It is good that new relationships are starting because many of our disciples are leaving. Next Wednesday Becky will leave for Florida, and in the fall she plans to attend Faith Baptist Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa. Becky came to us as a committed Christian. It was our responsibility to help her stay focused on her walk with the Lord. She desires to be a bondservant of Jesus Christ. Two weeks from last Monday, Ronnie will leave for China. Ronnie is our son in the Faith, and we have no doubt that he will remain faithful to the Lord. In the middle of June, Bolin will move to Irvine, California. She is our daughter in the Faith. Bolin is committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Both Bolin and Ronnie hope to move back to Boston one day. Jiachen was married on Sunday. After her honeymoon she will move south. She came to us as a very young Christian. It has been our joy to watch her grow, be baptized and continue on with the Lord.
Although we will very much miss our family members as they move out of Boston, we are comforted to know that they are not just moving on. Actually, they are launching out of Boston with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Please continue to pray for five individuals who have been involved with evangelistic studies. Pray that they will continue to study and become Christians.
Lord willing, next week a major answer to prayer concerning Toby and Susan Stevens will be shared here.
Please pray with us,
Our Prayer
Dear Father, please help the International Baptist Church (IBC) join You in building a just, equitable, and righteous church in Boston. Please give the IBC wisdom to build, “the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth,” a place where every kind of person is effectively cared for, a discipling center that will equip individuals to start discipleship centers wherever they go. Please give the IBC wisdom to build a multi-ethnic church that ministers to the whole world in Boston (every ethnicity, university/college, rich and poor, sophisticated or simple minded). Help the International Baptist Church be a truly orthodox church in every good sense of the word. Without Your supernatural empowering, this will not be done. Make us into a church that is able to do Your will in Boston.
It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray,
If you are interested in our financial ministry needs you can visit our Supporters Website where you will find more information than you may have ever wanted.
We love you,
Bill and Deb