Quicklinks
Our women’s Bible study, men’s breakfasts, and Sunday school have all gone well this year, and we had a good congregational meeting. One Sunday I asked the members to come forward so I could pray for them and also use the opportunity to encourage others to see the need of committing to the body. We will be praying this summer about what God would have us all do in the fall. Wayne & Joy Deneault
Even though we are still held up by the county planning and zoning board, the church people persevere. We just finished our third year of Awana and the kids and teachers had a wonderful year. We started a small-church version of Awana even before Awana had worked to adapt their program for the small church. Our people were determined to have whatever they could for the kids in the confined space we have, and they have done a wonderful job. What a tragedy it would have been for them to still be waiting on a new building with proper facilities. It just proves that we are only hindered by our lack of faith in what God can do with poor circumstances. Tim & Pamela Buchanan
This has been a great year! We pray we’ll keep contact with many of our unsaved “Awana families” as we break until October. Our graduation brought out dozens of relatives and friends we never see. We had the opportunity to boldly explain the value of “hiding God’s Word” in our hearts and the spiritual preparation this would give their children for life. Many unsaved family members thanked us over and over again for helping their kids “see the truth” in the Bible. One Mormon man, whose three kids have all accepted Christ, put his arm around me and emotionally thanked me for “helping his kids spiritually in ways he never could.” We’ve witnessed to him and his wife for years and trust God will still open their eyes to the Gospel– pray! Steve & Lisa Rief
We’ve been focusing on two chronic alcoholics and praying for good relationships and opportunities to share the gospel. They are hurting and in desperate need of Christ. These same two have been coming to us for prayer – and one was in church last Sunday! I saw him walking by the church during music and I rushed out to greet him. He told me he couldn’t come to church because he’d already had two beers. I assured him he was welcome anyway – he said, “Really? I guess I’ll come in then.” After the service he told me that he was really glad he had come and wanted to keep coming. The folks were all very welcoming and eager to tell him that his presence was appreciated and desired. Bill & Rebecca Troxel
Three new deacons were accepted into our leadership. We are very excited about this new, expanded board. The Lord also continues to give us new ministry opportunities into some community families. None as yet are consistently coming to services, but we are praying to that end. We thank Him for these opportunities. Along with these blessings, 18 ladies signed up to attend the Women of Faith Conference in Spokane! Don & Dorene Cambra
Our VBS is scheduled for June 1-5. We can’t be here for the last 2 days, as my niece is getting married in SD and we’re both involved in the wedding (I will help officiate and Carla is helping with music). Our church people said, “Hey, that is great, we can do just fine and everything will work out just great – just please help us plan and we’ll work at it when we can.” They’re more than willing to go ahead with the same dates we planned. WHAT a church!!!! Great workers and helpers – what a great attitude!! Praise God. Ray & Carla Berry
We’ve visited half the families in the church so far, plus 7 families that don’t attend the church. Our outreach has included Bible studies, visitation, and even babysitting for a young mothers’ Bible study. Things are going well. Robert & Susan Bohlken, Associates
I spoke at a Couples’ Night for the Christian Women’s Club in St. James, MN. There were 125 in attendance, and 8 people indicated they had trusted Christ – five of them were men! That was a highlight of my month. Franklin & Lynnette Knoop
The small groups for the Family Action Plan have begun well. About 60% of the households in the church are meeting to focus on Parenting & Marriage, or on the more general study for Singles. We’re excited about how the Lord is helping us as a church change our perspective on ministry in the home. We’re making the changes over the course of this year to move parents back into the Spiritual Champion role in their own homes, training their own children to follow Jesus. We will help, we will teach them to teach their kids, and we will offer plenty of resources so that parents can accomplish their divinely appointed role. We’re also trying to help those who aren’t raising children see how they, too, can have an influence and why they need to join in with the small groups and the changes to the ministry. Sometimes grandparents and seniors forget that they do have a significant influence, many younger people look up to them as a model and for encouragement. We are working to help them use their influence more effectively as well. John & Candy Adams
We enjoyed seeing the Eddyville and Blodgett churches work together to put on the annual Sportsmen’s Breakfast in March. This is our biggest men’s outreach in the year. Even though there were no decisions made, it was a good opportunity to meet and get to know people from the community. We also met with a lady here about baptism and were delighted to see her respond at the end with understanding and tears. She had never been baptized after her salvation, although she was baptized as an infant. She was always very confused about the whole purpose. Paul & Lauren McIlroy
