From the Desk of:
Dr. Pat Creed - Caribbean Director

June and I would like to wish each of you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year! May you have a wonderful holiday season! We just returned home from the mid-year meeting at BIMI and are happy to report that we have a new couple approved for the Dominican Republic. Eric Johnson and Holly Ferguson will be married this month and have plans to head for the D.R. In September, we were able to spend a few days with the missionaries in the Dominican Republic and had a wonderful time together. We also made plans for the field conference in the Dominican for January 1-5, 2007.

We’ve had a lot of exciting things happen throughout the islands with our missionaries, but one sad note is that Chris and Dawn Phillips and their family had to return to the States because of Dawn’s medical problems. Please pray for this family as they now live in Charleston, South Carolina, with plans to start a Hispanic church. I would like to also ask you to pray for Howard and Joyce Chappell. About a year ago, they turned their church in St. Kitts over to a national pastor with plans to go to Aruba after their furlough. They are now ready to head in that direction, but there has been some difficulty in getting their papers processed. Swante and Linda Lindquist left Grand Cayman with plans to go to Guadaloupe, after a few months in the States, to be involved in teaching the French nationals in the Bible school. Ken and June Love have accepted the call to pastor Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Cayman. Please pray for this couple as they begin their new ministry.

We recently finished a presentation on Jamaica. The thrust of this is to encourage folks who are being called to missions to consider this part of the West Indies. Please pray that God will use this DVD to influence many, not only for Jamaica, but throughout the islands.

June and I have had an exciting fall. I have preached missions’ conferences in North Carolina, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey, Georgia, and New York. It has been exciting to see the response to missions and the increase in faith promise giving.

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By Gary Sprunger — Assistant Caribbean Director

Can you believe, another hurricane? It seems like everywhere Joy and I have been this past year, a hurricane has followed. Wilma has just passed Grand Cayman where we have been the past month. With attention focused on the hurricane’s development, we tied things down and hid loose items in storage areas in preparation for the storm. Since Joy and I are veteran "Hurricane survivors," it was just the norm. This certainly has been the punctuation to a great month on the island of Grand Cayman filling in for Swante and Linda Linquist. Joy and I have made some wonderful friends, and we have enjoyed serving the Lord at Calvary Baptist Church. Many decisions were made this month, and we rejoice in what the Lord is doing on this unique island.

Last month we were in the Dominican Republic for a week. We were able to spend the weekend with Steve and Julia Brockell. The Lord is blessing the two churches that Steve has started. With a vision of expansion, they are laboring to train and develop leadership in the churches. It was our privilege to preach and share in their services. The Lord is doing some wonderful things in La Vega.

After being with the Brockells, we met together with those who came together for the BIMI Field Conference. Pastor and Mrs. Tim Butler and his daughter came and ministered to the group. The time spent together was refreshing and refocusing. All of the BIMI missionaries in the Dominican Republic worked hard to organize and provide for this wonderful time. All of us appreciated the good spirit in which everything was done. When we left, there was a family- like atmosphere that we hated to leave. The photos of the occasion will be a reminder of the wonderful time that we had.

Upon arriving back in the States, Gary’s suitcase only was emptied and reorganized for the trip to Jamaica. Several days were devoted to finalizing the video presentation of Jamaica. Dr. Creed and two other men, videographers, met Gary in Kingston. The time in Jamaica was well spent getting the final clips and rewriting some of the script for our BIMI presentation. Richy and Fran Young treated us as royalty, and we enjoyed being in Palmers Cross Baptist Church on Sunday. Dr. Creed preached, and God blessed with a good response. Several responded to accept Christ as their Savior.

Two days later Gary arrived in Puerto Rico to meet a CLAIM team. Much work was completed during the month of November, and the project end is in sight. Joy was able to come for Thanksgiving after a delay caused by an ear infection, and we enjoyed the pasteles and turkey together. As the tradition is, we started the Thanksgiving service at Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida at 6:00 am. The sun had just begun to peep over the horizon. After the message and testimonies, we had a simple island breakfast with some good Puerto Rican coffee. Missionary Joan Whiteheart invited us to her house for the Thanksgiving meal, which she had personally prepared. She really provided us a wonderful meal.

We appreciate your prayers for us as we serve the Lord and our BIMI missionaries. It is a joy for us to see what the Lord is doing throughout the Caribbean. Although the hurricanes of life may come, let’s be reminded that we can find refuge in the "Rock of our Salvation," Jesus Christ.

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by Mrs. June Creed

Dear Noteworthy Friends,

Looking out my window, I see snow all over the ground, and the sun is making beautiful sparkles on the snow. I love to decorate, but the best decorator of all is the Lord. We live in a beautiful but sinful world. This Christmas season is different in that many people are saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." How this must sadden the Lord. We are learning in the U.S. that our message of salvation thru Jesus Christ isn’t very popular, but we must press on by giving out tracts and witnessing to those around us. The Lord has been so good to us and we are very thankful, and I know you are too.

Recently, we were at Reggie and Kim’s deaf church and school in Ringgold, Georgia. (Kim is our daughter.) They have a drama each year and the deaf make the props and do all the acting through sign language - for the hearing everything is voiced and there is music. This year, Kim wrote a drama about an orphan girl named "Megan Star." I was able to see the dress rehearsal and it was very heart-rendering with the gospel presented throughout. We who have voices do not use them as we often should to share with lost family members the message of Christ.

I would appreciate your prayers for our great granddaughter "Megan" who will be arriving in February.

May the Lord richly bless you! Merry Christmas! Luke 2:11
Love and prayers,
June

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Crème Puff Dessert

1 8 oz crème cheese
1 4 oz. instant pudding, vanilla or coconut
1 stick Oleo (margarine)
1 cup flour
2 ½ cups milk
1 8 oz. cool whip
4 eggs
1 cup water

Bring water and Oleo to a boil. Gradually stir in 1 cup of flour. Remove from heat. Add eggs one at a time (eggs should be room temperature), beat well after each egg. Place in greased 9" x 13" pan. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool. Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add milk and pudding. Spread on top of cooled crust. Spread cool whip on top of pudding and chill. Drizzle with chocolate syrup.

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(Antigua) Jerry Baker reports from Caribbean Radio Lighthouse this need: "We desire your prayers for this ministry over the next few months. Not only will one of us be on furlough for the next 12 months, but Wixi Duran, our Spanish programmer, will be leaving to get married in April, if all goes as planned. We need a replacement for her here at the station, and a man to heed the call as the pastor to start a Spanish work here on the island of Antigua. With nearly 10,000 Hispanics, the harvest is very white and ready to be harvested."

(Haiti) Don Dryden shares this up-date: "...Men who work beside us who as our dear Haitian folk say, "Cut the grass from under your feet," accused me of things and tried it as a lever to push me out of the church. Our hearts have been heavy, so heavy, to see church attendance slide down, and during the last month, the Holy Spirit so grieved that no souls have been saved in our services. Church members whose habit it was to evangelize/win souls were ashamed to say that they were from our church because of the grievous things said.... (After a church business meeting), to make a long meeting short in resume, let me say this: the church members (those who voted) were unanimous in their decision that I have been falsely accused. This will incense these men and no doubt have repercussions as when any bomb goes off. One of the men already asked me, "Do you know that I have the ability to make you see the bones of your grandmother?" Translated, "I can kill you, you know." – The Drydens, (Don and Benji) request our prayers for the this sensitive situation in Haiti.

(Ceiba, Puerto Rico) Since the Rossevelt Roads Naval Base has been closed, the BIMI missionaries, Al and Elizabeth Hamilton and Billy and Linda Aulds, have been transferred from military missions to Caribbean missions. We welcome them, and we trust that we will be a blessing to them. Pray for these fine missionaries as they adjust to the changes on the island of Puerto Rico.

(Cayman Islands) Swante and Linda Linquist have transferred to the island of Guadaloupe. The Linquists will soon be working with Kedesh Jerome, a national pastor, and assisting in building a French Bible Institute on the island. Swante reports that there are four national French speaking married men that desire to begin their Biblical preparation as soon as possible. The Linquists have served at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Cayman for the past six years. We welcome on board Missionary Ken Love and his wife, June. This fine couple have replaced the Linquists at Calvary. Pray for each of these missionaries as they settle into their new places of service.

(Trinidad) Mike and Phyllis Hader report 44 decisions were recorded during the two week VBS program.

(Dominican Republic) Chris Phillips shared this report: "The last night of the camp, we had a special service with special music and a movie about standing up for Christ. There were 240 present that night and we praise the Lord for a total of 19 saved for the week." The Phillips have since moved back to Charleston, South Carolina. Dawn’s health required them to make this move. It is their desire to start a Spanish speaking church in the Charleston area. Please pray for them as they make this move. This was a very difficult decision for them. They love the people of the Dominican Republic, but God’s timing is perfect. The Michael Doering family has come to the DR to replace the Phillips. Pray for them as they continue in this ministry.

(Dominican Republic) Jeff Garrison and family have begun a new work in the middle of the DR. Templo Bautista is located on the main street in Jarabacoa. Dr. Creed and I had the joy of visiting Jeff in September. Jeff and Traci were excited about what the Lord is doing. He shared this: "The Domincan Republic celebrates Father’s Day on July 31, so we had a special day to recognize all the fathers. It was truly a great day. There were 84 people in attendance, 45 were adults and 15 were fathers." Jeff also told us that a group came from Ohio. During their stay they passed out over 2,000 tracts and 3,500 church invitations in four different neighborhoods. Pray for the Garrisons as they are looking for property to be used for the church.

(Puerto Rico) Joan Whiteheart is praising the Lord for 35 years of service as a missionary. She also shares that over 135 decisions for salvation were made this summer. Many more have responded to the gospel since this time. The Lord is blessing Iglesia Bautista Nueva Vida through their visitation outreach and their AWANA youth program.

(Spanish Literature Ministry) Jerry Reece reported that he has been busy preaching and holding campaigns in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and elsewhere. He has sent out 350 books and many tracts to missionaries and national pastors. Brother Reece has been involved with translation work and helping provide printed materials for Spanish speaking countries. Brother Reece states, "October and November have been very busy. I have preached meetings and services in two Hispanic and one English speaking church in the U.S., in three churches in Puerto Rico, and one church in the Dominican Republic, so far. There have been 28 professions of faith in Christ, one young man called to preach, and many decisions have been made by Christians. I have three more campaigns in the Dominican Republic before returning to the States." Brother Reece has a wonderful presentation/defense of Biblical creation, which would be a blessing to your church. If you are in need of good material for your ministry or you would like to schedule him for a meeting, please contact Dr. Jerry Reece.

(Dominican Republic) Luke and Hannah Townsley took a survey trip to the northern part of the Dominican Republic. Luke reported, "In the whole region, we have been unable to locate a single independent Baptist church among a population that may well exceed one million people." It is estimated that there may well be over 2 million folks living on the northern coastal area of the Dominican Republic without a good fundamental Bible preaching church." Pray for this area of need.

(Puerto Rico) Jim and Kelly Shelton have been able to procure a store-front on a main road in Aguada, Puerto Rico. Jim has prepared the facility and is waiting for government permits to use the facility. The Sheltons plan to start services there shortly after the beginning of the year. Pray for the Sheltons as they target this area with the gospel. There are about 45,000 people within a short distance of this location.

(Puerto Rico) Jerry Harmon tells of a mission group that came from Buckley Road Baptist Church to help them. They distributed over 7,000 gospels of John and Romans along with church pamphlets. He shares that not even the rain stopped their enthusiasm. They are praising the Lord for the help of these faithful folks.

(Barbados) Robert and Rhoda Smith share a ministry report that attendance has been down recently. Many of their families have experienced spiritual warfare. They are thrilled that several new families have been coming. Rhoda has started a ladies soul winning time. They also share that 14 made professions of faith during their Vacation Bible School that was scheduled in the evenings. They have a special prayer request, their landlady would like the church out of their house. Pray with Robert and Rhoda that the Lord would provide another place for the church to meet. They have not been able to find any commercial property to rent.

(Dominican Republic) Steve Sidler reports that during the fall anniversary campaign the attendance hit an all time high of 1,275 on Sunday evening. They witnessed 233 decisions for Christ. Steve also shares a story about Marcelo, the neighborhood guard or protector. Marcelo was known to be the roughest and toughest fellow around. He was known to have killed in the past. Sidler said, "For five years I have been praying for Marcelo’s salvation. This Sunday, Marcelo and around 50 of his family members visited our church for the first time, and Marcelo got saved! Praise the Lord! Marcelo said that he would be coming to church every Sunday." Put Marcelo on your prayer list that he will allow the Lord to use him in a great way in the area of Quitaswena.

(Jamaica) Richey and Fran Young share that Hurricane Wilma brought much flooding and devastation to the island. Many communities were totally cut off as bridges and roadways collapsed. Food had to airlifted to these areas. They shared that some church services and activities had to be cancelled since the roads were impassable. Although there were physical problems, they are rejoicing that two young ladies have surrendered to go to Bible College. They also share that they have had 16 in their new converts class. On one Sunday, two were saved, three baptized, and two joined the church.

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By Jeff Garrison

We arrived in Aguadilla in 1993 to begin the work to which the Lord had called us. It is in a city of about 65,000 people where we knew no one. But the Bible says that the Lord has His people everywhere. This proved to be true.

The Lord then laid on our heart to name our church Berea as mentioned in Acts 17:10-12. Many of these people had never studied their own Bible. They just relied on a priest to tell them what to believe. We wanted to encourage them to "study to show themselves approved unto God" (2 Timothy 2:15).

After much prayer, preparation and visitation, we had our first service on Good Friday. The six of us were truly blessed, and I preached my first message at Berea Baptist Church. One of the visitors was Don Lolo He was a precious saint of God. He had been a spiritualist for fifty years before he was saved in another Independent Baptist Church that had since been closed. He prayed that God would send another Independent Baptist missionary to preach the Word. God brought us together. He faithfully served the Lord until his home-going at the age of 84. Don Lolo’s testimony served as a validation that God did indeed have His people in all places. His desire to serve the Lord gave us assurance that this was indeed the place that God had for us.

Shortly after the beginning of the church, we had to move our residence. God provided a house with a metal roofed carport not far from our original location. Little did we know how the Lord would use our new landlady to provide for the church. It was in this location that we saw the ministry take a new direction. The old Ramey Air Force Base nearby provided facilities for the Coast Guard and Border Patrol. God sent us some very good families from these services that were English speaking. We adopted the policy that we would minister to whoever the Lord sent to us. That was when we began English services alongside our Spanish services.

The church began to grow and we were soon forced to abandon the carport. Our Christian landlady offered us a storefront in a small strip mall. She gave us six months rent free. The move provided a place that would be air conditioned and more comfortable. It was in this phase that the church was constituted and officially organized. The Lord blessed and we saw many come to know Christ as their Savior. The Lord gave us a world wide ministry that placed people around the world. We not only were supporting missionaries, but we were also sending out lay missionaries around the world.

We began to outgrow the storefront, and we asked God to provide us a place of our own. Up to this point we had been renting. God showed us a church building that had been abandoned. Our people prayed for God’s will. In His time, God allowed us to purchase this facility in 2003.

In recent months, the Lord has provide the means and help to improve the facilities. This coming year we hope to begin a Bible Institute to train our leaders, teachers and the ones that God may call in to His service. We pray that though this ministry, we can equip our people to better reach their people for Christ.

We thank God for family, friends and supporters that have prayed and supported our ministry through the years. It is because of your faithfulness that we have been able to reach lost souls here in Puerto Rico.

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by Rob Westlake
BIMI Missionary Candidate to Jamaica

What is deputation? I believe I can summarize deputation into two statements. It is the trying of your faith and the trusting of a great God. After the two plus years of deputation we have found our faith in God stretched to new heights. As Christy and I began to pray about going to the mission field, we found that we would have to be debt free. With a large school loan to pay, the testing of our faith began. Thinking about the task of paying off our school debt, I am reminded about a phone call I received on December 18, 2002. The person on the other end told me that some one had just given us $16,500 to pay off our school loans. What a mighty God we serve!

Staying in prophet’s chambers all over the country certainly at times tested our faith. While sleeping at night in an unknown place, being awaken to a knock on the door, answering that door, and finding a flashlight and a gun pointed at our head certainly tested our faith. We often think of that shocking night when we were in front of a pistol in southern Georgia. It turned out to be a police officer; he was simply doing his rounds and found a truck parked off in the dark with out-of-state plates. God said he would never leave us nor forsake us.

As we began to make a long distance trip with $25 in our account and gas at 2.60 a gallon, our faith was again tested. There are many things that happen while traveling to and from churches and raising support that makes us think it is an impossible task. I am reminded of the verse which says with men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Christy, Elijah and I left Charleston, South Carolina and headed to Cleveland, Ohio, with a stop in South Carolina. We needed to make it on a tank of gas and $25 in our account. We arrived at our first church by Sunday afternoon. We presented our ministry and were given a check for our love offering. We had no way to cash the check and less than 24 hours to get to Cleveland, Ohio. "Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" As we began to pack up our things in our truck a man came up and tapped me on the shoulder. He informed me that he had forgotten his money in his car for the offering, and he wondered if I could accept cash. With his love gift we had enough money for gas and food to get to Cleveland. We even had $5 left over. "Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." I was once told that there are no great men of God, there are only men of a great God. Deputation alone proves we serve a great God.

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By Alan Robinson,
Missioanry Services Coordinator

This is a great time to be in the Caribbean. It is supposed to be in the frigid 20’s tonight in Chattanooga. I well remember my days as a missionary on the islands of The Bahamas. Our first Christmas was very typical with candles melting and perspiration rolling! The entrance and hallways of the WMC are beautifully decorated, making the cold all quite bearable.

Last August Ann Anderson left BIMI to spend some time in Israel serving with International Board of Jewish Missions. Janet Hall came on board to replace her. She gives the following testimony:

"After twenty-five years of being a wife and mother, and eighteen years of home-schooling three wonderful sons, I have returned to full time work in accounts payable at BIMI. Computers have certainly changed the way things are done since I did payroll and accounts payable for Bradley County School System in Cleveland, Tennessee in the 70’s, but change is nothing new to me. Though I was born and raised in Ohio, I’ve lived in Indiana, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, and Georgia. Though I was born into a family that knew nothing of Jesus Christ, I have a dad that is pastor, a husband that is a godly man, and three boys that have all surrendered to preach the gospel. Change is good, and I am thankful that this new change in my life has brought me to BIMI."

About the same time Dean and Shirley Watters left for Italy to fill in for Matt and Diane Olsen for a short furlough. Shirley had planned to retire (for the second or third time!) upon her return. So, Virginia Johnson was hired to assume her responsibilities.

Virginia’s parents, Marlin and Joyce Johnson, served as BIMI missionaries in Jamaica and are currently serving in an inner city work in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Virginia lived in China for 21 months ministering to the people while teaching English as a second language. Her secretarial services at BIMI include: CLAIM, Pre-Field (candidate school and deputation) and administration. If you need assistance in these areas you may E-Mail Virginia or call her at 423-344-5050 ext.2502.

We are very pleased to have these ladies on the home team. They have added a valuable presence to our labors in servicing missionaries.

Our December Candidate Class consisted of nine missionaries, four couples and one individual marrying a current missionary. Jonathan and April Flowers are heading to China, Jon and Nisha Harris are going to Venezuela, Erik and Holly Johnson to Dominican Republic, Joshua and Julie Mean feel called to Senegal, and Jorge Rodriquez has married missionary Aimee Roser and will serve in Mexico.

Terry and Kaye Jones, missionaries in Costa Rica for over 20 years, have moved back to Chattanooga, Tennessee, to assist Dr. Bob Dayton with the responsibilities of Latin America. They are quickly readjusting to the "American way of life." Terry is available for meetings.

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by Gary Sprunger

A little over two years ago, Billy Aulds, interim pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church, Ceiba, Puerto Rico, was walking from their second floor apartment home to church early one morning. It was a holiday, and Billy desired to catch up on some office work. Since Linda needed the car, he thought that he would walk and get some exercise that morning. Little did he expect what would take place. As Billy crossed a small concrete bridge over a creek, an 80 ton crane passed him by on the other side of the two lane roadway. According to witnesses, one of the mounted tires came off the rig and hit Billy with such a force that his shirt was torn off of his body. The force of the impact threw Billy to the ground with multiple serious injuries. Billy was soon evaluated by local emergency medical staff and rushed to Central Medical in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico. Many of the members of Maranatha Baptist Church followed the ambulance and united their hearts in prayer outside of the Emergency Trauma Care unit. Little hope was given by the medical staff that Billy would survive this tragic injury. Day after day, Billy laid in the hands of the Lord. For over ten weeks, Billy was in a coma. He became known as the American missionary miracle.

Talk circulated around the hospital about this unusual trauma case. God was intervening where man was helpless. Linda and the children were used as a wonderful testimony of God’s sustaining grace. During the past two years, the Aulds have influence many for Christ. The days have not been easy, but the Lord has been good. He has supplied their needs. Linda has continued to teach at Maranatha Christian Academy. Presently, Billy has begun to lead music for Brother Hamilton at Maranatha. Last week, Joy and I met Billy, Linda, and Micah , their son, for Kentucky Fried Chicken. This is Billy’s favorite food. Although he has many restrictions and limitations, Billy is a visual testimony of God’s miracle working ability. Our time together was sweet and encouraging. Billy took time to show us some pictures that he had saved on the computer of our ministry together nearly 15 years ago. His past memory of events and people are better than mine; of course I am about ten years older than he, and I have a reason to be forgetful - :). Keep praying for the Aulds as they face many current decisions.

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Monday, March 15, 2010

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.

KEITH & MARLA HERNDON -  MOLDOVA
ANTHONY R & DAWN HESS -  UKRAINE
KEVIN & MARY BETH HICKOK -  BRAZIL