God continues to bless your State Missions work. The stranglehold of COVID is loosening and things are beginning to return to normal, although I doubt it will ever be the same. Some are seeing a surge in first-time visitors, while others are developing ways to better minister to those in their areas.
New Kid on the Block
Bryan and Kelley Clay have begun to make contacts in the Benton/Saline County area and are currently in negotiations about renting a meeting place. Please pray that God will open doors for this couple.
Answered Prayer
The Ozark Association and our department have been praying for the last several years that God would send a Hispanic Missionary to work in that part of the state. The Missionary Committee elected Roberto and Patty Marcelletti at a called meeting to serve there as a state missionary. They have secured a home in northwest Arkansas and are in the process of relocating to the Rogers area from Texas. They should be on the field by April 1. They will be working with their mother church (Epic Church) and pastor Jake McCandless.
From Our Missionaries
Misión Creciendo en Cristo (Growing in Christ), North Little Rock: Juan Carlos Posadas writes, “On Saturday, March 19, at 4 p.m. we held a meeting with all the volunteer leaders for Contracorriente (Countercurrent), the 2022 Spring Youth Camp, which will be March 24-26 at Stoneridge Baptist Camp in
Smithville. The youth of the Hispanic churches of our Central Arkansas Association will be participating, and everything is ready for this new great adventure. Some of them will be participating for the first time since the pandemic had prevented us from holding the camp for two years. We ask for your prayers that God will impact the lives of each participant and protect us from any accidents.
“We would also appreciate your prayers for the playground construction project for our children. Half of our congregation is made up of children, and we do not have a space where they can play safely without interfering with the meetings of adults. In the case of Hispanic families, mothers usually take their children to their meetings since they are not used to leaving them with babysitters. Please pray that God will provide the money we need to purchase equipment and supplies. If any church or individual wishes to contribute financially to the project, please contact us at (501) 712-8752.
“God bless your families and ministry!”
Ebenezer, West Little Rock: Ruben Isturiz writes, “We had a very inspiring Celebration Service. It gives me joy when I see everyone singing and thirsting for the Word of God.
“At Ebenezer, although we organize ourselves and have a program order for each Sunday, we do not consider it to be a
straitjacket (problem) when God guides us in another direction. Last Sunday in our preaching time people had so many questions regarding the gospeland salvation that we dedicated ourselves to answering questions. He gave me so much joy that there were so many questions from the congregation and that they had a thirst for His Word.
“Our young people are on their spring break this week. Pray that we can continue working and ministering during this special week. Thanks for your support. To God be the glory!”
Faith Chapel, Flippin: Johnny Shew writes, “We had another great week at Faith Chapel. We had a family of five join us Sunday morning, and we will be baptizing the father and mother next Sunday at our mother church, The Bridge. We first met them at our outreach event last July 4, and they have been coming sporadically
since then. COVID protocols kept them away part of the time, and the father wanted to go to a different church than the mother. Lots of things kept them away, but we have been praying for this family since we met them. Last week they came again, and we all just loved on them, their kids made friends with the kids here and this week they came back and said they wanted to be a part of Faith Chapel. They said they have never felt this kind of love in a church. It just reminds me that love is a verb — it is something we do, consciously, purposefully and sincerely, and people know if it’s real or not. We must be committed to never losing that.
“Sunday evening, we had the best attendance ever for a Sunday evening service, with another family of five visiting for the second week in a row.
“We thank you all for your prayers and support for us, Faith Chapel, Flippin and our community. We ask that you please continue. God is answering them!”
The Table, Springdale: Clinton Morris writes, “Spring break has made church planting more complicated. Many of the people we have been in conversation with or ministering to have left for the week and the next two weekends. We had 12 people at our Sunday night service. We also had many good discipleship moments this last week. I am very excited to see Drew’s enthusiasm. We also had a new music leader since our other one was on vacation.”
Faith Journey, Benton/Saline County: Bryan Clay writes, “This week at Faith Journey has been a week of spreading the vision we have for this mission. That vision includes establishing a presence in the Benton/Saline County area, planting the seeds of faith to people we meet and sharing the gospel of Christ, and I was able to do that this week.
“We have a promising lead on a space to rent to begin meeting on Sundays in the Benton area. We will be meeting the owner and his wife about what we are trying to do with this church plant and how they could be a help in this area in the rental of their facility. Please pray that their hearts are open to what the Lord is doing with this mission, and that it is in God’s will to move forward if this is the right spot for Faith Journey.
“I also have been making contacts face-to-face and with phone calls. We will have business cards soon to let folks know who we are and that we would love to have them be a part of a growing mission in Saline County.
“My wife, Kelley and I were blessed to spend a couple of days with our daughter in the Jonesboro area during her spring break and took advantage of being in that area to stop in to see what God has done at Connection Point in Brookland. Chad White and his team have an amazing facility! Bro. Chad graciously gave us a tour of the building, and we were so inspired to see what God has done there. We are encouraged and ready to begin to see where hard work and God’s leading will take Faith Journey! Praise God!”
