Maranatha Baptist Church in Puerto Rico is going through a very difficult time. They need about $45,000 to complete their new building enough for an occupancy permit. Missionary Billy Aulds has been the principal of the school for a number of years but recently has had to handle the duties of both the school and the church, as interim pastor. Brother Aulds was walking from his home to the church when a 60 ton crane tire rolled off the back of a truck and struck him pushing him into a 3-foot cement barrier. He broke 3 ribs (one of which punctured his lung) and had 7 stitches in the back of his head and 3 stitches above his right eye. There were also a lot of cuts and bruises. The worst injury is to his head where he sustained several contusions on and in his brain. He was in a coma for some weeks and had to be in ICU for about 6 weeks.

As of Nov. 23, he improved to the place where he was able to recognize his wife and family. It will probably be a long, slow road to complete recovery and much prayer is still needed.

Last year a Puerto Rican family had their daughter in Maranatha Baptist Academy and all seemed to be going well. This year the parents withdrew their daughter from the school although as far as the school knew there was no real problem with the student. However this past September the school received a lawsuit subpoena for $300,000 for expelling the girl unjustly (though the girl was not expelled). The court cost will be $1,000s.

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Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa has been enjoying the use of their new, beautiful church facilities since August. On September 7 they had a combined dedication and 35th anniversary of the church service. The auditorium was packed and there were six people saved Sunday morning and one person saved Sunday night. They are excited about the great opportunities which lie ahead for the church and are making plans for their future ministry.

On Friday, September 12, the church closed on the old building which they had used for many years. They are praising the Lord this transaction.

For more information and pictures, see article in BIMI Magazine:

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The establishment of three new churches is being undertaken by military missionaries. Two of these churches will be overseas and one will be stateside.

Brother Al Sligh will be going to Guam to start the church that he and his wife intended to start before she went to be with the Lord. Brother Sligh feels that God would have him go ahead and do the work that he and Norma had felt led to do. Brother Sligh is 73 years old and will be alone as he starts this new church in Guam. He has been used of God to start other churches in the past; a military church in Puerto Rico and one in Panama where he pastored for many years.

Chuck Sligh (Al Sligh’s son) and his wife Susan are starting a church in Grafenwoerhr, Germany. They started with Thursday evening Bible studies which were preceeded by knocking on every door of off post housing in and around Grafenwoehr passing out fliers about the new church and the Thursday evening Bible studies.

Dr. Kennard mentioned in a prayer letter that a BIMI military missionary is planning to start a new church outside Mayport Naval Air station in Florida. There is a real need of a good Bible preaching church reaching the military in that area where some 16,000 sailors are stationed. A BIMI missionary is considering going to establish this work. Do pray about all three of these churches as they are in the planning and infant stages of their ministry.

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“I was saved in a military church in England. If it wasn’t for the support that I received from that church and Pastor, it’s a strong possibility I would never have gotten saved. It was at that church I learned the basics of the Christian life and I realized how important it is to have a good Bible believing and teaching church wherever God would send us.” Mr. Howard

“ When we first arrived in Okinawa in January 2001, we were not Christians. After six months of being on the island we decided to attend a local church to provide our family with a Christian environment and church support. We attended Maranatha Baptist Church and found everyone was very welcoming and friendly. With in a week we were visited from members of the church. We were saved in February 2002 and have been learning more than we could ever have imagined.”

The Schroeders

Some Salvation Stories

Many of our military missionaries mention precious souls being saved in their churches. The following are just a few of the many such stories.

Missionary Mark Sage ministering in Puerto Rico met Herminio Merminio, a retired Recon-Marine, when he was out soul winning. Merminio had very hard feelings against God for the things that he had seen and how his life was going. Brother Sage encouraged Merminio to hear Brother Bob Smith (a retired Marine Major) preach during the church’s first anniversary services. After one service Mr. Miranda accepted Christ as his Saviour. His countenance was transformed, whereas he never smiled before, he is smiling all the time now and is in church as often as possible.

Missionary John Hornbeck said that at his church in Germany eight persons were saved and one baptized on “Friend’s Day”. The auditorium was packed and the Pastor had to ask members to sit in the empty choir seats and on the overflow chairs that had to be added.

Missionary Bill Hewitt ministering to the men stationed at Ft. Stewart in Georgia mentioned that many men have no interest in hearing the Gospel. But he praises the Lord that in October Joe Carson, Jeffery Titus and Jimmy Sanders, all felt the convicting power of the Holy Spirit and some with tears in their eyes asked Christ to save them.

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The church in Ketsch, Germany moved into their new building this past summer. The new building is within walking distance to many soldiers stationed there. The second week after they moved into their new building a mother and her adult daughter were saved. Then during their Vacation Bible School they rejoiced in the salvation of seven children despite temperatures in the 100’s every day.

The military church in Schweinfurt, Germany was in need of a pastor and they asked Roy Smith to come and minister to them. Roy accepted the call and left on the 6th of November. His wife, Ellen stayed behind in the States to pack boxes and take care of last minute details. Ellen planed to join her husband around December 1st.

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One disadvantage the military missionary pastor has is that he is unable to accompany the troops of his congregation into the war zones. Therefore, his ability to minister to them is limited to tapes, emails and occasional letters.

The mission and one of the goals of the military pastor is to properly equip the troops in the work of the Lord through local church training. If a military man/woman has been trained right then they will be prepared for the service of the Lord wherever God may send them next. There have been a number of times the military person when transferred found there was no good church to attend. Because of their spiritual training they were instrumental in helping to get a church started in their new area.

Since the war began in Iraq many of the troops from the overseas churches have been deployed to the war zones. Reports are that they continue to be a fervent witness for the Lord and have been privileged to lead a number of their fellow soldiers to Christ. In the picture is Brother Mike Towery, a member of the First Missionary Baptist Church in Hanau, Germany. Mike surrendered to preach last year before his deployment to Iraq. These are our newest military missionaries going into places where we cannot. We hope you will pray for them as they not only serve our country but are also serving our Christ in these troubled spots of the world. It is our prayer that God will use them mightily there for His glory.

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Missionary Larry Simensen received a phone call from a pastor in Minnesota whose daughter is an exchange student at the university in Mannheim, Germany. He indicated that she was going through a difficult time adjusting to the new culture and having no Christian fellowship. Larry contacted her, picked her up for the Wednesday night service. She is now coming to the church services, the singles Bible studies and other activities where she has plenty of Christian fellowship.

Missionary Dave Mros has asked for prayer for a German young lady out of his church. Stefanie Chandler has been a very faithful member of the church. She would like to attend a Christian College in the States but needs help with her tuition.

Please pray for these two young ladies as they pursue God’s will for their lives.

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Health Needs

Susan Sligh has had 11 instances of iritis in a 14 months period in her “good eye” (she is legally blind in her “bad eye”). After many tests it was determined that the cause of her repeated iritis were two: fibromyalgia and a lung condition called sarcoidosis. The treatment for sarcoidosis is steroids, which would damage Susan’s already impaired liver. Please pray with the Slighs that the doctors will have wisdom to know how to treat Mrs. Sligh.

Missionary Chris Davidson of Meridian, Mississippi has two spinal discs that are causing him much pain. One is pressing on a nerve and the other is pressing on his spinal cord. This problem has caused him to have some seizure like blackouts. They have determined that they were not seizures but do not know what is causing the blackouts. Chris has suffered for weeks with severe migraine headaches.

Gwen Griffin has been to several doctors and is trying to get some of her health problems taken care of. The biggest problem right now is her back. She had an MRI to determine what needed to be done. Her back problem has caused her much pain.

Jenny Alverson underwent major surgery on November 12. Her cancer had spread into her liver and diaphragm. The surgery was successful and she will now have eight more months of chemotherapy treatments. Please continue to pray for her.

Other Urgent Prayer Needs

1. For Billy Aulds complete recovery from head injuries. (see pg. 1)
2. For Mrs. Aulds and and the children during this time of un certainty and duress.
3. For Gwen Griffin’s back problems.
4. For Mrs. Alverson as she battles cancer that she will have wisdom as to the treatment that is best for her. Also for strength and encouragement for Jeff.
5. For Maranatha Baptist Church and academy in P.R. as they face a lawsuit and need to finish their building project.

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

James A & Kelly Jean Shelton -  PUERTO RICO
Chester & Violet Sheren -  HONDURAS
Andrew & Michelle Shinabery -  COSTA RICA