Montana Mission Trip - July 2014

Andy and Denise Samuelson regaled us with tales of Montana -- it was a blessed time for all, in spite of multiple obstacles.

Graceville Mission Trip - Rowland Tipler

The mission trip to Graceville was a great success. The school president said the group had saved them more than $50,000 by doing repairs and maintenance around the property.

Listen to Rowland's report:

The Baptist College of Florida is located in Graceville, FL, in the panhandle, just northwest of Tallahassee.

About 100 adults and children from First Baptist made the trip!

Prison Ministry - Bob Delaney

Bob and Elaine Delaney were in class today, and Bob shared with us a prison ministry outreach they are involved in, with Angola Prison in Louisiana.



For more details and information on how you can be a part of this, please visit the website:

Awana Lifeline

Montana Mission Trip - Updates and Upcoming

Andy and Denise Samuelson give an update on the Montana Mission trips.

Montana Missionary Trip - Reflections from Cindy Dowell

In recent years, God has shown me that my contribution to the body of Christ, His church, is an unabashed ability to greet strangers and to speak in front of large groups of people. This gift from God is also my greatest fleshly weakness as I sometimes misspeak, shock, and embarrass myself and others. I struggle with a concern that when a critical time arrives I will misspeak and only blather on like an idiot. Fortunately, a dear sister in Christ once reassured me that the Holy Spirit would give me the words to speak when the time was right. My testimony today is about that very thing.

For years I felt God’s calling to step out and participate in a mission trip to Montana. I had many excuses as to why I could not be a member of the team that conducts a “Back Yard Bible Club” each year. Chief among my excuses were poor health due to my obesity, and a lack of faith in God that I had anything to contribute. In addition, I was concerned that my selfish desire to see Montana outweighed my desire to serve the Lord. I prayed and meditated and prayed again, watching for the Holy Spirit to direct my path.

Finally in July 2013 I had no more excuses, and I said, “Yes, Lord, I will go where you lead me.” Still unsure as to why He was sending me, I journeyed with my husband, Doug, to an amazing land of huge mountains, great prairies dotted with sage brush, cattle and horses.  Accompanied by a dynamic team of Christian brothers and sisters and led by a godly couple, Andy and Denise Samuelson, we prepared the way for the Lord to enter the hearts and minds of children who might not otherwise know Him.

It was a week of incredible exhilaration, constant driving/packing/unpacking, and incredible blessings as we bonded together as a team with one purpose: to serve the Lord.

During the week I struck up a relationship with a boy about 12 years old. He was polite and fun, and we just took to each other. Yet even as the week raced by I continued to wonder why I was there and what impact I was making.

On the last night of the Bible Club there was a neighborhood block party that was open to the entire town. My sweet young friend attended the block party as did many in the community.

That night he told me about an elderly friend whom he had just visited in the hospital. I was deeply touched by his concern for his friend. I asked him if we could pray for his friend and he agreed.

As we bowed our heads and I collected my thoughts to pray, I was filled with a calmness that I have never known before.

The Holy Spirit spoke words into my heart and I was able to offer a beautiful prayer of intercession. I did not falter or misspeak as I felt great peace and love flow through me on behalf of this child. As he left my side to join the festivities, tears of joy ran down my face.

At that moment I knew why God had sent me to Montana and that the Holy Spirit had worked through me to touch the life of a child.

I do not know if my young friend will remember that moment of simple prayer but I know I will never forget it.


To God be the glory, for He does great things in me. Praise the Lord!!!!
In Him,
Cindy Dowell
Pressing On in Grace class member

Montana Mission Trip 2013

Andy & Denise Samuelson shared highlights from the trip to Montana, along with a slide show.

Montana News

Andy and Denise Samuelson shared some updates from Montana.




Each year in July Andy and Denise lead a team to Townsend, Montana to do outreach to the community, including kids' Backyard Bible Studies, barbecue in the park, minor repairs to community buildings and facilities, and support to the local ministers.

Paul Warner - the Dig at Tel Gezer

Paul shared with the class some artifacts and photos about the exciting discoveries made this summer during his archaeological work in Israel.

These are the types of stones used in slingshots, similar to what David would have used when protecting his sheep -- or defending Israel against Goliath.

Here are some pottery shards. Archaeologists can accurately date accompanying finds based on known dates and times of use of the different types of pottery found in digs covering over 4,000 years.

 

 



Paul shared stories and highlights from the amazing discoveries, including a huge cave at the end of the ancient water system they've been exploring. Paul and the team were the first people to go inside in 4,000 years.

For more photos and details, visit the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary's blog,

"Can You Dig It?"

 

 

Montana Mission Trip 2012

Andy and Denise Samuelson put together a slide show about this year's mission trip, and shared it with the class. Andy and Denise have been traveling to Montana every year since 1992, and they have been privileged to be a part of spreading the gospel and helping new churches to grow and develop.

Here is their story, followed by Bob Delaney's report and photos. It was a wonderful time of love and fellowship, and of seeing God's work in progress.

Our second mission trip to Townsend, Montana is now history. Our leaders Andy and Denise Samuelson along with Bob and Elaine Delaney, Dot Hawk, Kristine Linquanti, Cathy and Kurt Seland, Katie and Andrew Stuart, Helen Tallon, Jennifer Hanes, Kasey Fiscus, Gene and Loraine Hendrix held a week long backyard Bible Club in the local park.

Twenty-two kids showed up the first day excited and ready to participate in songs. memory verses, puppet show and Bible story, crafts, games, and refreshments during the morning hours. The number grew to 36 by Thursday. In the afternoon various service projects were down a church and throughout the community on behalf of Elkhorn Community Fellowship Church.

A special addition this year was a basketball sports camp run by Pastor Jack Fiscus along with his son, Trenton, daughter, Tori, Bernell Hunter, Eddie Porter, and Cameron Tallon.

During the week four young people made a profession of faith in Christ.

Thursday night a block party was held for the entire community. Approximately 200 - 250 people attended. For entertainment were two inflatable jumping stations, a climbing wall, ball and bean bag toss, cotton candy, pop corn, and a special roasted 250 lb. pig. Special awards were presented to winners of the sports camp, and names were drawn for three bicycles to kids who had memorized Bible verses during the week.

Pastor Eric of the Elkhorn Community Fellowship Church invited the team to come back again next year.

By Bob Delaney

July 2012 Missionaries

Dolores Livingston led a team from our class to join with Back To Jerusalem 2012, where they ministered to Jewish and Arabic people, as well as the Druze people (click here to learn more about the Druze in Israel).













Team members shared personal experiences, and how the Lord ministered to them as well.

Also from our class, Louis and Carole Avriett shared stories from the trip to Brazil with the team from our church.

As a special treat, class member Elaine Pickford introduced us to her daughter and son-in-law, Karen and David Rigsby. They have been in China for many years.

They are missionaries in China, where they teach English. They have three adorable children. Here is their newest addition!

Each of the recorded messages are available to listen to on our "Class Lessons" page: http://poigrecordings.blogspot.com

Visitors from Montana!

We were blessed to receive Pastors from the church in Montana that our class has been ministering to: William Johnson (Manhattan), Eric Crusch (Townsend) and Steve Fowler along with his lovely wife Alicia Fowler. Alicia is the Director of Missions in Treasure State.

They shared with us some updates and stories of how their church is growing. The Samuelsons lead a group every July to minister to the area, and we were delighted to get to meet some of the folks our class has been praying for!

Dolores Livingston - Back to Jerusalem

Dolores talked to us about the upcoming missionary trip, and invited class members to join the group in ministering the gospel.

The program includes a 3-day training conference in Jerusalem alongside many of the Christian churches there in Jerusalem and the West Bank, followed by traveling with a small team to an assigned city for the purpose of sharing the gospel while ministering directly to the community with food, children's activities, and other tangibles. Two full days of touring the Holy Land are also included. For details, contact Dolores Livingston or visit the site: www.back2jerusalem.org

Paul Warner - Archeologist in Israel

Paul Warner is a POIG class member who visits Israel often to participate in archeological digs. He recently returned from an eight week trip there, and he shared many pictures and artifacts with the class today.

You can listen to his presentation by clicking the "play" button below:

Norm & Fay Boulton - Missionaries to Israel

Norm and Fay recently returned from spending time in Israel with CFI (Christian Friends of Israel). The purpose is to reach the Jewish people for Christ, and to begin to undo some of the damage done by Gentiles in the eyes of the Jewish people. We want them to understand that True Believers really do love the Jewish people.
Visit the CFI site to learn more.

You can listen to what Norm shared with the class here:

Go Forward

Then the LORD said to Moses, Why are you crying out to me?  Tell the people to get moving!  (Exodus 14:15). 


   The Israelites needed to go forward because there was no turning back.  With the Egyptian army behind them, the wilderness on the right and left, and the Red Sea in front of them, what choice did they have?  Instead of putting their faith in God, they cried out to Moses, Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness?  They still hadn't learned the benefits of trusting in God.

   Jesus said, Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.  (Luke 9:62 NLT).  


   Is your faith being tested?  Are you in a position where there is no turning back?  I can't go back and undo the mistakes I've made and neither can you.  Our only course is to go forward.  The army of God never stands still.  God's marching orders are firm.  The seeming impassable seas have to be crossed, and the unscalable mountains climbed.  I know from experience that God is able to pave the way and make the path straight.  He supplies the abilities and equipment to finish the task.

Thought for the Day: Claiming the promises of God puts us on the road to victory in Christ.

Montana Missionary Trip - Overview

Andy and Denise Samuelson shared with us some of the highlights of their recent trip, which also include several other members of our class.

"Welcome to Townsend, Montana!"

This is the church the group was working with:

There were lots of fun activities with the kids:

.... as well as plenty of work to be done:

And here is a look at a beautiful Montana sunset:

Painted Faces

   On our recent mission trip to Montana, the team helped to mange a "block party" held for the entire community of Townsend on Thursday evening from 5:30 to 8:30.  The weather was windy and cool and many coats and sweaters were in evidence.

   For food we had a roasted pig along with hot dogs, side dishes, pink lemonade and cake for dessert.  Our youth helpers made popcorn and cotton candy.  The event was held in the local park and team members helped manage the inflatable jumping stations, a climbing wall, and bean bag toss.

   One of the popular stations for the "painted faces" tent was our very own Carolyn Kitzman who braved the cold weather to paint the faces of a long line of waiting participants.  The kids coming from Carolyn's tent looked like a rampaging Indian war party.

   The Elkhorn Community Fellowship will hold their first service on August 11th.  Pray for Pastor Eric and Jessica as they seek to start this new work in Townsend.  

 

Digging in Jerusalem

Paul Warner shared some highlights from his recent time spent in the archaeological digs in Jerusalem, including seeing and touching the original Wall which is now some 75 feet underground!

Back To Jerusalem 2011

Thank you so much for your prayers covering Back to Jerusalem 2011. God's presence and His direction was continually present with us. It is an awesome thing to watch God work. He does so much better than we ever could!

This year we changed our focus from mainly distributing packages of Christian materials to distributing food and clothing to poor and needy Arab, Jewish and Druze families with the hopes of sharing the love of Jesus with them. It is very difficult for locals to begin a relationship with the Druze especially. However, they love to have foreigners in their homes to learn about their culture and ways. Through inviting us in, the locals were also able to begin a relationship that they can now go back and follow up.

Once I heard that it is kinda like being pregnant for the 9 months but needing a doctor to come help deliver the baby. Locals often pray for years about opening an area but need the help of foreigners to help accomplish it. How great of God to allow us to be a part of that!

I will look forward to sharing some of the stories in a couple of weeks.

Dolores Livingston

Schooner and His Boss

    One of the activities during our Montana Mission Trip to Townsend was a puppet show that introduced the Bible story for the day.  Schooner who was a Parrot was played by Andy Samuelson, and the Boss (straight man) was played by Bob Delaney.  The kids laughed and squealed and everyone listened intently to the Bible story that followed.

    The highlight of the week was Thursday when Schooner and The Boss introduced the story about the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Pastor Eric presented the gospel, and everyone got to stick his head through a hole cut in a chart right after the words, "For God so loved ------------and finish saying John 3:16.  I have no doubt that the children went away with that verse fixed in their minds forever.

Montana Mission Trip

   It was a joy and privilege for Elaine and I to be a part of the First Baptist Montana Mission team led by Andy and Denise Samuelson.  Members of the team were: Dot Hawk, Sheri Smith, Suzanne Mulling, Don and Shirley Easter, Carolyn Kitzman, Rosemary Matthews, Wendell Feltman, Tim and MaryLou Campbell, and Bobbi Ebert.

   The team bonded well and we not only were able to minister to the Townsend children, but to one another as well.  Relationships were established and a fellowship enjoyed.  All in all I would label it as a tremendous success in helping the Elkhorn Community Fellowship to get started.  If another opportunity to minister again next year develops, I would pray that God would be pleased to include us on the team.

   Thank you First Baptist for the opportunity to serve.

Bob and Elaine Delaney

Brazil - Louis and Carole Avriett

The Avrietts were part of the group from church, First Baptist Church of Orlando, that went to Brazil to minister to pastors there and also to evangelize.

Carole took along 100 bags of special goodies that our class and some others donated towards, and gave them to the pastors' wives. She said they were delighted.

Louis and Carole shared many special moments from the trip; here's one of them: