Endurance and Encouragement

A new post is long overdue. We have been working feverishly on the fundraising banquet which will be this Saturday evening. We had hoped for 25 tables...we have 23. But we still have two days left! And we expect some to come who were not officially invited by a table host...friends from church who are interested in coming and supporting the crusade. So we are hoping for the best and leaving it all in God's hands. Pray with us for this...pray that God will have there the people He wants to participate and that everyone will make it a matter of prayer as to how much to give. I know, it's that ugly thing about asking people for money. But you know, I've learned that there are plenty of people out there who are willing to give of their resources to causes such as this, especially when they seek the Lord's guidance about it. Those who give of what has been given to them know that they will be blessed many times over. I'll try to post a report early next week, so be sure and check back and see how God blesses His vision!

Sometimes I look at all that needs to be done, both for the banquet and for the crusade and for the trip itself, and I just feel overwhelmed. How can we do this? It is an enormous task! But it is a task that we feel God has presented to us to do, so we go along, trying to follow His guidance and do what we can do. We just have to ask God to bless our inadequacies and blunders and send us good, mission-committed people to work with us who can share the vision God has given us.

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:5-6)

Buck is back from Caracas and arrangements are going well down there. His task is to enlist 50 teams of 2 people each to go with us and work with the local churches in Caracas. (Yes, this is a hint...if you are reading this and are interested in going or know someone who is, let us know as soon as possible!) Gail Graves has a brief report from Caracas as well about the house church training. (I'm at the Vision office this morning and cannot access his report...I'll post it after I get home.)

Time is getting short for enlisting folks to go with us. We have heard from the group at Colonial Heights in Kingsport, Tennesse, and there are about 6 from there who want to go...including our friend, Matt Dykes, whom we have gone with before. This will be added to the updated prayer list at the end of this post. We need PEOPLE to sign up to GO as QUICKLY as possible! So many have voiced an interest in going, but we have yet to get them to commit definitely.

Another prayer...the New Testaments. They have been shipped and are on their way. Pray that they get there in time, that all the paperwork is in order, and that a place is secured to store them until January. 50,000 New Testaments...that's a lot of boxes!

One more thing...pray for our good friend Tom Robuck who has been our liaison with the BGCT. Due to budget cuts, many jobs were eliminated (effective Oct. 31) at the BGCT, and Tom's job was one of those. We are not sure where that leaves us in working with the BGCT, but we DO know that this leaves Tom without a job and looking for answers at a crucial time in his life.

Time for a praise! Several people have already given substantially toward the crusade and we were able to send $38,500 as a deposit to secure the hotel in Caracas. I know this seems like a lot for a deposit, but they required half, and we are reserving the entire hotel with its apartment-style accommodations.

OK...the PRAYER LIST:
1) The Fundraising Banquet, Saturday, October 20, 7:00pm
2) The New Testaments
3) People to go with us in January
4) Tom Robuck and other employees whose jobs were eliminated at the BGCT
5) Still need assurance that we will be able to use the Baseball Stadium
6) Upcoming meeting in Atlanta on Nov 2 with Bill Cashion and the baseball players
7) Pray for Kerry and me and Buck as we continue to seek God's guidance on the planning; that He will give us strength and endurance.