What God Has Done

While attending The Crown College of the Bible, the Lord placed a strong burden on our hearts for the people of England to be reached with the Gospel of Christ.  We began praying that God would send laborers into His harvest in England.  Before long, the Lord made it clear that He wanted us to be laborers in this field.  When we finished our graduate studies, we began deputation and just asked the Lord to work in a mighty way.  We praise God for His provision and that we were able to raise full support in just 13 months. 

Graduation 2010

When we arrived in England, God provided for us to stay in the home of a person who attends Beeches Road Baptist Chapel.  As we prayed, within a couple weeks the Lord helped us find a good car to drive.  Just a month after we arrived, a house became available in a lovely neighborhood near the chapel, just two doors down from a couple who are members of Beeches Road.  We did not bring any furniture with us, but God has provided for all of the furniture and appliances we have needed.

Our new home!

Upon arrival, we immediately began helping with the ministries of Beeches Road Baptist Chapel. We work in the two weekly children’s clubs and the evangelistic Sunday School at the Chapel. Every Saturday evening, we help with the men’s and ladies’ Youth Rallies, where the Gospel is preached to 50 to 60 young people ages 12 to 19.  Just three weeks after we arrived, we helped organize the Holiday Bible Club during the children’s mid-term break.  There were between 60 and 70 children in attendance each day and two children made professions of faith in Christ! We’ve had the opportunity to go to Brighton twice to help prepare the facility and knock on doors to invite children to the Bible club and adults to the new English class. 

Helping children make "Gospel Bracelets" at the World Mission Conference 

Jonathan leading a song in the children's Sword Club

We have also been extensively involved in soul-winning ministry multiple times a week.  Every week since October we have been visiting a family of six, whom we met while knocking doors. This past week they came out to the Gospel service and Sunday school for the first time and brought their cousin with them.  Pray that this precious family will understand their need for salvation and accept Christ very soon!

In the month of December we were able help arrange carol singing and a Gospel presentation in four local nursing homes.  Many of these homes have asked us to return each month to hold a service with the residents.  We are praying that we will see residents and care takers come to know Christ as a result of this new ministry.  

In the past month we have also been contacting local schools, volunteering to help with their assemblies and religious education courses.  The door to work in state schools is wide open here in England.  God has specifically given us favor with a very large secondary (senior high) school. We had our first assembly last week with the year 11 students, in which we were able to give a clear Gospel presentation to over 150 young people.  Several other schools have a great interest in having us in to help with assemblies!  Please pray for God’s continued favor as we contact schools and for a great work to be done in the hearts of young people for the cause of Christ!

Jonathan giving the Gospel in a State School Assembly

St. Michael's school where we have assemblies

It is unbelievable to see what God has allowed us to be a part of already.  We are looking forward to all that God has for us in this new year!

Ministry in England

We praise the Lord for His goodness to us in the past six weeks!  God has allowed us to arrive in England and we are now getting settled.  We arrived on September 28 and since that time we have seen again first hand how dark this nation has become.  We are currently serving at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel under the leadership of Pastor James Zenker.  We are learning about and getting involved in many aspects of ministry.  Jonathan has had several opportunities to preach.  We are helping in weekly children's clubs and youth rallies.  We also helped out with a special VBS in October, with two children professing faith in Christ!

Leah and me at the Girl's Youth Rally

We have also had the privilege of seeing two people baptized in Oxford Baptist Chapel and three in Beeches Road Baptist Chapel.  Please pray for Tommy, Rebecca, Kay, Lyndon, and Nina as they grow in Christ and share Him with their families, coworkers, and friends!

We have had many opportunities to go out door to door to share the Gospel and give out leaflets about our church.  Please pray for these new contacts to continue to welcome our visits and come to know Christ as Savior. We have also had the opportunity to travel down to Brighton for two workdays to knock doors and prepare for the opening of the Brighton Bible Club.  Much cleaning, painting, and decorating has been done to prepare a school room for the children to come to hear the Gospel!

Finishing Up Deputation!

Since the beginning of August, we have been very busy visiting churches while making plans for our departure for England.  God has been working in mighty ways to open the door for us to go to England.  Two days ago we received an email telling us that our visas have been issued! Praise the Lord!  Lord willing, on September 14, we will be having our Commissioning Service at Mamre Baptist Church at 7:00 pm.  Bro. Scott Pauley and Bro. Don Ball will be preaching.  There will be a reception to follow.  If you would like to come and need any further information, our email address is: jm4england@hotmail.com.
We have purchased plane tickets and are planning to leave on September 27th for England! Please pray for our safety as we travel and that God will help us as we adjust to a new country and culture.

In the past month we were in Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia!  We praise the Lord for every opportunity we have had to share our mission work with churches around this country!

Chesapeake, VA

Lebanon, MO

Russellville, Arkansas

 We went back to Russellville to visit with some of Jonathan's family.  It was a blessing to see them again and to spend a little more time getting to know them.  We shared our work at Bible Baptist Church, which was started and is still pastored by Jonathan's uncle, Ron Kauffman.  We are so grateful for the family God has given us!  It  is a blessing to have so many faithful people praying for us every week.

Pastor Kauffman

Mrs. Carol Kauffman

The Kauffman Family 

Fort Smith, Arkansas

We were blessed with the opportunity to share our work in a Spanish-speaking church in Arkansas: Iglesia Bautista Biblica Fundamental.  The O'Briens started this church a couple of years ago.  We had a great time of fellowship and were encouraged to see how the Lord is working in their church.  Jonathan preached and Pastor O'Brien "interrupted" for him.  It was a new experience for Jonathan, but he did a great job!

Pastor O'Brien interpreting for Jonathan.

They just recently started their church choir!  What a blessing!!

Some of the children from the church.

Mrs. O'Brien plays the piano for the services.

We sang "Cuan Gran Es El" (How Great Thou Art) during the evening service.  

Lebanon, Ohio

Our last meeting in June was at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Lebanon, Ohio.  We were grateful for the opportunity to share our burden and meet some more great people who are not too far from our home.

Bro. Rick Ross led the singing.  He is a graduate of Crown College.  He and his wife finished just before we came to college.

Pastor Ross

        

Indianapolis, Indiana

At the end of June we were able to be a part of the Faith Promise Missions month at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana.  Each service in the month of June they invite missionaries to come and share their ministry with the church and make it a month-long emphasis.  We were grateful to be a part of this missions emphasis month!

Pastor Daniel Tidd

A ladies' ensemble sang a special in the evening service.