Hello folks,
I hope your week is going well. My apologies that I’m a day late on our weekly update. Yesterday I went to Dallas, Texas to participate in the planning of the Annual Meeting for the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention. I’m sure you are like any other person in that you don’t particularly love meetings. But the time was well spent and this year’s annual meeting ought to be pretty awesome.
As I was driving there and driving back, I reflected on all of the things that were going on in my life and at the church. The Lord is doing some exciting things in our church! These past two Sunday’s we’ve had a tremendous number of 1st time visitors. This Sunday we will have a new member orientation lunch with over ten people scheduled to come!
The Lord is building his church at Broadview. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.”
I’m thankful for God’s hand of grace in growing our church numerically and, more importantly, spiritually. The series we’ve been in, going through the book of Colossians, has been particularly helpful in my own growth in godliness. I hope the same could be said of you and your family.
A few weeks ago, our mission team returned from India. You’ll remember a few years ago that we embraced an unengaged and unreached people group named the Gudiya (or Ganrar). That commitment led us to a strategic location in North East India & some strategic partnerships for the purpose of doing evangelism & planting churches. (If you’re interested in praying for these partners you can find prayer cards in the Gathering Place.)
The purpose of this past trip was to have members of our church get their eyes on some of the things God has been doing these past three years through the work of our partners on the ground. Four churches have been planted and over twenty people have been baptized. This has happened in a climate of increased persecution. As usual, God has used the suffering of his Church to multiply the advancement of His gospel.
Some of you may be on the email updates and so you’ve already heard about the details about this trip. If you’re not on that list and you’d like to be, contact Les Campbell.
Our team arrived in country on January 6th and left January 18th. There’s about 2 days worth of travel on either side.
The church that we’re partnering with has now grown to about 50 members That church has multiplied themselves resulting in 4 different house churches. Those churches are led by 2 teams of 2 disciples each week. Their weekday ministry reaches about 50-60 children a week and their school works with about 70 students each semester!
A few years ago we helped this church plant another church in a nearby neighborhood. This wasn’t a house church. It was a self-standing building in an unreached area. That church is now averaging between 60-70 people each week! Many of the people being reached by this church are from the Guidya people group.
Our effort to reach this people group exposed the fact that they no longer go by that title. In reality, there is no such people group any longer. The people still exist but no longer go by that title and no longer engage in the kind of work that grouped them together in the first place.
However, whatever remnants of this people group that still existed in this area would’ve spoken Oriya. Of the 70 people attending this church plant, the vast majority speak Oriya. In that respect, we’ve essentially engaged our previously unengaged and unreached people group.
Not only have we found whatever remnant that remained. They’ve heard the gospel, are repenting of their sins and trusting in Jesus as their savior and Lord! Not only did we find our way to them through the help of strategic partnerships, they’re finding their way back to God through faith in Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
It doesn’t stop there. God is so blessing this work that the churches (we helped to plant) are multiplying all throughout the region. Two churches have multiplied into four. And it’s only going to grow from there. It’s really exciting to see this happen and to also be part of the reason WHY it’s happening!
Please continue to pray for this effort. Sign up for the email updates by contacting Les Campbell. Continue giving to the World Missions Offering. Pray about the future decisions that need to be made concerning this effort. There may be an opportunity to send a long-term missionary for this project. What that person will do depends on a verity of factors.
Pray that churches will continue to multiply and that the gospel will continues to advance. Get involved personally in what God is doing among the nations. It’s happening in our own backyard! It’s an exciting day for the Kingdom of God. The opportunities to make a difference are all around us. Take the initiative & join God in what He’s doing.
I’m thankful to be able to pastor this church. The people God has entrusted to Broadview are some of the most generous, mission-minded, kingdom-focused, biblically-grounded people I’ve ever met. If there’s any way I can pray for you or your family please let me know. I will put it on my prayer list!
Blessings,
Pastor Wes