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August 24, 2005 |
This is Richard Gerber reporting the August 24, 2005 edition of Home Missions Today. God is using your prayers to develop the ministries of Orthodox Presbyterian mission works across North America.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA—Pastor Tony Monaghan reports that, by God's mercy, Providence Presbyterian Church is stable. Great love one for another and unity in the body is evident. God has sustained the mission work financially, and it is beginning the process of preparing for organization as a new and separate congregation. In June Providence Church had the difficult pleasure of sending a military family out, as they rotated to another duty station. To help fill the hole left by this family of five, the Lord has sent a young couple and three single adults. These young adults have settled into the body so well that a membership class is about to get underway. Some friends of these regular worshippers may sit in on the class to learn more of Christ, the Scriptures, and the church. Pray for a good outcome from the class. Praise God for his sustaining grace.
MANISTEE, MICHIGAN—The Lord continues to faithfully provide for the saints at Providence Church. Although visitors and new member prospects are scant, the grace and mercy of God are visible in other ways in the congregation. Pastor Ken Hovingh reports that several families are going through trials related to work, health, and family relationships. But the little church family is continuing to grow together as they pray with and for each other. Also, the congregation is growing in its awareness of missions outreach and what it can be doing to encourage brothers and sisters on the foreign and domestic fields. Pastor Hovingh and the congregation continue to ask the Lord for open doors for gospel witness in Manistee. God has provided a website for the congregation, for which it is thankful. Please pray that the Lord will use this new means of outreach for his glory. The riches of God's Word continue to be the mainstay of their Lord's Day nourishment, with studies from Isaiah 40-66 and the Westminster Larger Catechism.
DALLAS (NORTHEAST), TEXAS—The Lord has blessed Faith Presbyterian Church by adding several new families this year. Another man is currently in training to serve as a ruling elder. The congregation also enjoys two weekly Bible studies led by Pastor Chad Bond. The level of active participation, including that of several non-members, remains encouraging. Please be in prayer for the session of Faith Church as it re-negotiates the rental agreement on its present facility. Please petition the Lord for his mercy, so that the church would be able to afford to continue meeting at this newly renovated and improved facility. Also ask the Lord to increase the church's name recognition in the community through the direct mail piece sent to some 1,400 homes recently. Many of the church's mailings are sent to people who have recently moved into Garland and the surrounding communities.
VINELAND, NEW JERSEY—We welcome Nueva Esperanza OPC and its organizing pastor, ruling elder and licentiate Sixto Perez, who just completed his yearlong internship with the mission work's mother congregation, Covenant OPC, also in Vineland. The town of Vineland has a large Hispanic population. About 50% of the community is Hispanic. Ministry is being provided in Spanish to people from Mexico as well as the Caribbean and South America. Pray that God will bless this unique outreach as the two congregations share the same building and session.
Look for the next edition of Home Missions Today on Wednesday, September 7 or call 215/830-9424 ext. 46.
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Committee on Home Missions and Church Extension |