OUR CITY

This Week in Boston

Scripture: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” Matthew 23:37 “Jesus wept.” John 11:35 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

These three portions of Scripture reveal that God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are personal and have emotion. This reminds me that God cares about what happens in “Our City.” He is particularly concerned that those who are His be concerned for the city and that this concern be translated into effective Great Commission ministry. Our Savior, who comforted His disciples with the words “All authority has been given unto me,” has exercised His authority by gathering “all the nations” into global communities like Boston. Our love for God compels us to not “grieve the Holy Spirit of God” by neglecting to join the Son of God in the building of His body in the global city.

Our Greatest Need: Recently I received an email and a phone call, both with the same request. The enquirers wanted to know the most important prayer need for the Boston ministry. In both cases, I responded with the same answer, our greatest need in Boston is to develop evangelistic relationships and evangelistic Bible studies. Evangelistic relationships may be defined as those genuine friendships which a Christian seeks to develop with non-Christians that hopefully result in opportunities to share with non-Christian friends the love of God in Christ Jesus (the Gospel). If we are to join our Savior in the building of His body in the global city, then those of us who are members of the International Baptist Fellowship must develop these kind of friendships. Please pray for us.

Bolin is Going Home: We became acquainted with Bolin when she arrived for the first time in the United States. In fact, Deb and my son Dave went to pick her up at the airport upon her arrival in the United States. From the very beginning, Bolin was very inquisitive about Christianity. She began to attend Bible studies and then church as faith slowly began to dawn upon her soul. Finally, Bolin was able to affirm that her faith was in the Lord Jesus Christ. Soon Bolin followed the Lord in believer’s baptism and is now a faithful member of the International Baptist Fellowship. A while ago Bolin’s parents came to visit. It was indeed humbling to hear Bolin tell her parents that Deb and I are her American parents, and it was exciting to share the gospel with Bolin’s parents at our kitchen table (with Bolin translating). At the beginning of May Bolin will be going home for several months. Please pray for our sister in the Lord as she takes her new faith home with her.

Basement Update: Since I communicated the need to finish our basement several people have responded. One person sent a financial gift to help defray the construction cost, a pastor is working to bring a team of workers to help with some of the labor, and a married couple has expressed interest in helping financially as well as with the actual labor. After receiving some financial help and after reevaluating the cost, we are still in need of around $1,000 to complete the project. Remember that making our basement inhabitable will help in two ways. 1. It will make it easier for my son and his family to live with us as they are mentored for city ministry. 2. It will make more more for our church family to fellowship on Sunday afternoons.

A Trip to Iowa: I will be in Iowa to take a seminary module at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary the week of the 23rd of May. Perhaps, while there, I could make contact with some of you who are our ministry partners. If there is any interest, I am free on Wednesday evening to give a ministry update.

Thank you for being our partners in the Boston ministry,

Bill Edmondson