I was privileged to be asked to preach at Grace Temple, located just outside of Paragould, on Mother’s Day. The service began with a recognition of all the mothers, each of whom received a small gift. A wonderful message in song was shared about the impact they have on our lives.
I started my message by sharing the story of two mothers who claimed a living child was theirs. To preface, I noted that not all mothers are what some would consider loving and caring. I encouraged them to forgive these mothers and, if possible, to contact them. If given another opportunity, things might be different.
For without the love of Jesus living in one’s heart, we are told that none are good. I was saddened to think of anyone who was deprived of a mother’s love, a situation that is all too common.
I had a wonderful mother. My wife, Vicki, is a wonderful mother. My daughter, Kelly, and my daughter-in-law, Shelly, are wonderful mothers. God has been good to me.
From Our Missionaries
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “Hello everyone, I want to share with you an excellent week we had, visiting several families in their homes and finalizing the details for our special Mother’s Day service Sunday.
“It was a very inspiring time where we were able to honor mothers on their day by giving them a small gift to remind them of the importance of their role as women. The message was based on Proverbs 31, highlighting the virtues of an exemplary woman.
“On Friday and Saturday, I traveled to Siloam Springs to pick up Ruben and Zuly from college. I helped them vacate their rooms, and we returned to Little Rock to enjoy our summer together as a family. It was a nice Mother’s Day gift to Kory to have our children back home.
“We ask for your continued prayers for our plans to start a new Discovery Bible Study (DBS) on Wednesdays at 1 p.m. for a group of UAMS workers who are unable to attend evening DBS. I also ask for your prayers for Leo, a young man I met on Monday at the gym. He will be in town for another year before returning to Texas. Pray that God will give us the opportunity to share His Word with him.
“There is a need to teach English as a Second language at Ebenezer, pray for Kory so God can use her as she teaches this group of unbelievers.
“Once again, thank you so much for your prayers and continued support. To God be all the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “What a great week we had at Faith Chapel! What a wonderful Mother’s Day! This is the first one since my mom passed, and I sure miss her. However, it was great to be able to honor all the mothers present with roses and gifts. All the kids enjoyed helping to pass them out.
Although we had some people traveling and others who were sick, we still had a great turnout, and praise God for seven first-time visitors!
“Our youth program is going great, and we are making plans to start adult Sunday School very soon!
“Our classroom additions are progressing well. We are still working on the electrical and HVAC. It just takes a bit more time when you do it yourself, but that effort is paying off. I joked the other day with someone that I don’t think the Lord wanted us to have a building built. He wanted us to build a building, so that is how we are approaching it. However, we know that it will be done soon, and we are thankful and appreciative that we can do it. We have received so much help and support, and we can’t thank you all enough for that, though we try. We also appreciate your prayers for us, our building project and our community; we believe they have made the biggest impact, so please continue! God is blessing us through you.”
Faith Journey, Benton: Bryan Clay writes, “Faith Journey experienced an extraordinary week filled with ministry, fellowship and life-changing moments of spiritual growth. God’s goodness and faithfulness have provided us opportunities to serve and share His love.
“The week began on Tuesday night with our bi-weekly men’s small group Bible study, where the men had heartfelt discussion and prayer, which helped set the tone for the week ahead. We also had our very first ladies’ Bible study meeting on Tuesday, which we are praying will be an encouraging and spirit-filled time for our ladies as well.
“On Thursday, we had the privilege of celebrating Mother’s Day with residents at three local nursing homes. Our worship leader, Roy, led the singing, while his wife, Melanie, read Scripture that touched the hearts of all. We handed out flowers to the women as a small gesture of appreciation and love, and we also shared a Bible devotion about Hannah, a mother in Scripture whose deep longing for a child was answered by God in a powerful way.
“Friday brought another opportunity to pour into the next generation through our monthly ‘Mountain Movers’ Bible lesson with sixth graders at a local middle school. We presented the gospel and talked about Romans 6, discussing how Christ has already given us victory over sin. The students were encouraged to let the Lord live His life through them, walking in the freedom and power He provides.
“Sunday, we had two special Mother’s Day services, where we honored moms in both our morning and evening services with flowers and heartfelt recognition. We also had a meal for the moms, so they didn’t have to worry about cooking for the evening. That night, we also celebrated several birthdays with a fun trivia game focused on events from the year each person was born. It was a fun and lighthearted way to bring everyone together. But the night didn’t end there. One of the most meaningful moments came when we had a baptism, followed by the exciting news that a young girl asked to receive the Lord as her Savior that evening. What a powerful reminder that God is moving greatly in the lives of the people of Faith Journey mission.
“We are so thankful for God’s guidance, for the people who make this ministry possible and the BMA for supporting Faith Journey Mission so we can spread the gospel of Christ to so many. How great is our God!”
Once she met Christ, she began to look for her mother. She asked for forgiveness, and the Lord restored that broken relationship. Seeing how they celebrated Mother’s Day after so many years was beautiful.
“It was a very active week in preparation for our mothers’ event. Patty, Iris, Ángeles, Mayerlin, Ashley and Angela made a very good work team. The men of the church came together to cook for them on their day. We arrived early on Sunday to prepare everything, and at the end of the service, we grilled some delicious hamburgers for them. In the end, Alberto, Nolberto, Frank, Yohan, Víctor and Ángelo left everything clean.
Epic Life, Pea Ridge: Jake McCandless writes “This week, both of our active Connection Groups met (these are small communities designed for outreach, spiritual growth and authentic relationships). Our Garfield group continued journeying through the Gospel of John, while our Woodbridge group launched a new study focused on returning to the basics of faith.
“On Mother’s Day, we had three visitors to whom we were able to share the gospel, and we are praying to see the fruits.”
“What happened Wednesday night may sound casual from a distance, but it was deeply meaningful. After over 90 minutes of rich discussion and prayer (our groups often go over two hours), we wrapped early for a spontaneous trip to the new 7 Brew in town. It was “Buy One, Get One Free” night, and a family from the group wanted to bless my wife for Teacher Appreciation Week. The coffee was great, but what followed was even better. The group ended up back at our home, laughing, sharing and continuing the conversation late into the evening. It reminded me of our earliest days at Epic Life when Celebrate Recovery leaders helped us cultivate a culture of honesty and vulnerability. That DNA still shapes us. And moments like these prove that mission isn’t always formal, it’s often lived out through late-night conversations, shared cups of coffee and lives knit together in Christ.
“God is moving. And we’re grateful to witness it.”
