by Pat Creed

The article in this issue is going to be a little more personal than normal. I would like to bring you up to date on some of the things that are taking place in our lives and ministry at this time. June and I are certainly enjoying the opportunity God is giving us to serve Him and the blessing of being able to travel and be together just about all of the time. We are in our 53rd year of marriage and count it a real privilege to be able to serve together.

Our December meeting at Baptist International Missions was a tremendous blessing this year. We had 23 missionaries approved, which is the largest group in many years for this mid-year approval time. We had one new couple for the Islands: Tim and Sharon Fluegge, going to the Dominican Republic. This young couple is planning to begin working with Erik and Holly Johnson in the city of San Francisco. It is really exciting to see what is happening through BIMI and how God is blessing with many new missionary candidates.

One of the responsibilities I have at our home church, Independent Baptist Church in Clinton, MD, is to oversee the missions program. Our conference is in January each year and I am able to be home for that special occasion. This year we had a great conference with Dr. Jim Townsley as our special speaker and five missionary families: four of them new that we were able to begin supporting and one family that we were already supporting and were able to increase their support. This is one of the most exciting times of the year for our church. It is really a revival time. This year was no exception with many decisions made, a great Faith Promise commitment, and one young couple surrendering their lives to go to the mission field.

This winter has been unusual for us in the D.C. area. We have had an exceptional amount of snowfall. June and I have been able to enjoy some of it. In December we had a 24-inch snowstorm. We were in Florida at the time, but when we got home the ground was covered and we were able to enjoy the scenery. In February, while we were at a missions conference, we had another 24 inches over a weekend. We were able to fly home on Monday and get home just before another 8 inches fell. Needless to say, we had plenty of snow and are finally getting dug out so that we can move around a little bit more freely.

We have had some wonderful missions conferences from Montana to Virginia. God has certainly blessed in a tremendous way with many personal decisions being made and many surrendering their lives to the Lord and some great Faith Promise Commitments. We have a very busy winter and spring ahead of us with missions conferences throughout the East Coast. What a privilege it is to be able to challenge individuals and churches in the matter of world evangelism.

In January, Bro. Gary Sprunger and I were able to attend the West Indies Baptist Fellowship in Nassau, Bahamas. This is always a tremendous time of great preaching by the national pastors throughout the Caribbean and this year was no exception. Gary and I will be taking a group of pastors to the Dominican Republic at the end of February. We are certainly looking forward to seeing our missionaries in this part of the world. We have some tremendous families in the DR doing a wonderful job of reaching those people with the gospel and starting churches throughout the country.

We are certainly looking forward to our field conference, June 14-18, in the Dominican Republic. We want to encourage all of our missionaries throughout the Islands to plan to be a part of this special occasion. It will be a tremendous time of fellowship and preaching.

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by Mrs. June Creed

Dear Noteworthy Friends,

Our hearts and thoughts have been with the people of Haiti every day since the tragic earthquake just a few weeks ago. We have been praying daily that those lost will be found and those who have lost loved ones, homes, and health, will find shelter, healing, and comfort. I am so thankful for our missionaries in Haiti. Praise the Lord that they are all safe and uninjured! Please join with me as we pray that God will give them strength for the difficult task of recovery and aid ahead of them. Thank you to all of those who have donated money to the BIMI fund that is given directly to these missionaries and is used in helping those that are hurting. We are very thankful that our missionaries in the Dominican were not affected with the destruction. I know their hearts are heavy as they try to assist the relief effort in anyway they can.

Here on the East Coast we have been having a record amount of snowfall. A blizzard of 24 inches of snow just last weekend brought the D.C. area to almost a complete standstill for a week. The snow removal was slow going because of a second snowfall of 8 inches mid-week. The neighborhood roads are still very bad in some areas. Grocery shopping is certainly an experience as it is difficult to find staples such as bread and milk. People have been literally cleaning off the store shelves any chance they get. I heard of one hardware store that ordered 900 snow shovels and sold every single one of them in just a few days. I am now prepared for any other storms. I have stocked up the freezer and am ready if we get stuck again.

At times our circumstances in life can bring us down. We feel that if only things were different, we would be happier or more content. I have come to realize that this philosophy is neither biblical nor effective. God wants us to be content with and thankful for our life situation as it is right now. I try to "practice what I preach," so the other day when I was tempted to feel down about my situation (being cooped up in the house for several days), I decided to make the best of it. I had several ripe bananas in the freezer, so I decided to make banana bread – lots of it. I didn't want to just make it for me – I wanted to be able to share it with others.

With God's help and grace, we can make the best of each situation every day. Ask God how He wants you to grow from your situation and what He wants you to learn. God provides for every one of our needs and cares for us in the most loving way. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful Heavenly Father!

The Lord has been very good to my family. I especially praise Him for the improved health of my great-granddaughter, Megan, who was in the hospital for several days due to an upper respiratory infection. She finally improved enough to be allowed to return home. She turned four while she was in the hospital. I truly thank God for the health of my family.

We are continuing to pray for you and trust that you are doing well.

Love and Prayers,
June
II Thessalonians 5:17-18

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Banana Bread

1 cup sugar
1 cup plain flour
3 large ripe bananas
2 eggs
1 tsp soda
3/4 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
Mix all ingredients and pour into loaf pan. Bake 15 minutes at 325 degrees then 45-50 minutes at 300 degrees. Test with toothpick.

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by Swante Lindquist

When God called us to Jamaica, we had been BIMI missionaries for 35 years. He had completely changed our direction in January 2000, from the African continent to the Caribbean, to serve in the Cayman Islands and on the island of Guadeloupe, French West Indies. These years have helped prepare us for this ministry and have also created awareness that each country has its unique culture and challenges.

We arrived in Jamaica on June 8, 2008, to assist a BIMI couple who were establishing a church in the city of Portmore on the outskirts of Kingston. It wasn't long before some obstacles began to arise in trying to establish Victory Baptist Church as independent and fundamental. Perhaps one of the most obvious was the great number of churches and many religiously-motivated people, including Pentecostals, Mormons, Adventists, and Jehovah Witnesses. The result has been widespread biblical confusion. Furthermore, there is a saying here that "If you want to get rich, be a pastor!" This attitude, which in some cases is very true, has led to the distrust of religious leaders. When combined with an increasing disgust of rising hypocrisy in the church and a growing drug-gang involvement, many don't want to hear the Gospel at all. The area around Victory Baptist Church has approximately 300,000 people and is divided into two drug-gang "districts" aligning with either of two opposing political groups. This combination promotes terrible violence when any major controversy arises. This means one must approach the locality with prayer and a sensible caution, while seeking to present the Gospel house-to-house.

Presenting the Good News is often hindered by the local tenacity to remain within traditional family churches, even when they realize their church is doctrinally unsound. This is also relevant either to a specific denomination, nationality or race. Because our church neighborhood is 99% Jamaican, I am sometimes regarded with dislike and/or suspicion. Also, I have to go alone because couples are considered to be Jehovah Witnesses and are shunned, plus there is a danger of physical attack should my wife be with me.

Regardless of the circumstances, God does not call someone to an area without purpose. Because we did not exactly fit into the "general" society, something had to be done to make a difference. Our fellow missionaries needed to leave the field due to health problems, so we are now working alone. Consequently, teamwork was out and a new strategy had to be developed. After consulting with a local Independent Baptist pastor, present and previous missionaries to the field, praying much, and looking at our Lord's life, it became obvious that the focus should be on becoming a "friend of the community," while building a trustworthy identity. Early in this ministry, I was able to lead some people to the Lord, only to see them hide from me a few days later when trying to make a return visit. "How to become a friend" was the question. First, opening the church (located in a strip mall) Tuesdays through Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for prayer requests and for biblical questions offered more exposure to those in the immediate area. Next, I began walking the streets in the neighborhood for about an hour a day to witness and pass out church invitations, tracts, and Gospels of John-Romans. Now, people are beginning to open up to me in stores and on the street, asking for prayer, and listening to the Gospel. There have been very few salvation decisions till now, but we are beginning to be accepted as part of their community. God is helping establish a foundation that we trust will continue to grow and make an eternal difference for many.

Recently, I have been making coffee and tea available at the church during the week. It is similar to making bandages available to people with cuts–they are very happy to show up for treatment! A good opportunity to share the truths of God's word in a casual and friendly atmosphere has begun. This was done effectively when working with Muslims in Africa, and it appears to be helpful here also.

Another serious obstacle hindering our growth is the inability to have evening services. Our area has become plagued with dreadful violence, burglary, rape, and murder. The gravity of this situation has prompted the Prime Minister, the Mayor of Portmore, and the local police force to ask for public meetings seeking solutions. This total area is no more than about a half-mile square with a number of vacant lots, mostly covered with dense shrubbery where thieves, rapists, and murderers hide out. It is our prayer that these difficulties will come under control soon and allow us to move forward with greater effectiveness. For now, prayer is before the Lord about relocating the church to a more secure area in a new plaza nearby.

Victory Baptist Church, opened in May 2008, showed very little growth for many months. Attendance was often 0 with a high of 5. On Palm Sunday in April 2009, we had 8 and reached a high of 20 by November. A core of 14 Jamaicans who are regular attendees, along with others who come occasionally, plus a few visitors make up the present congregation. The majority are ladies, a few men, 4 children, and a few youth. During the Sunday School hour, Linda teaches the younger children and I have the adult class. Following the morning service, I meet with the youth, ages 12-18.

JAMAICA needs dedicated missionaries who are prepared for the long haul to win and train nationals to take their place in God's service. This country has been called "the graveyard for missionaries," meaning that they don't stay long. We are not fighting flesh-and-blood but satanic powers. Praise be to God, He is bigger than the enemy and the obstacles that are thrown before us. The Lord will build His church, and we are privileged to be laborers together with Him. We thank our Heavenly Father for the victories He has given and trust Him for the future in expanding HIS CHURCH in Jamaica.

Some of the folks on a Sunday morning at Victory Baptist Church

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by Don and Benji Dryden

In the late afternoon of January 12, our associate pastorand I had just walked up the hill to a member's house for a visit. As we were talking, the house began to sway slightly. I jumped off the porch as if in danger and so did everyone else.

That evening upon returning from our weekly church prayer meeting, I got the news via internet that 150 miles away, the capitol of Haiti and portions of the South had been hit by a 7.0+ magnitude earthquake. Staying up late we were able to assure our families we were safe. BUT, that was not the case for thousands multiplied.

In a matter of minutes, children became orphans as both mother and father were crushed to death. Husbands and wives lost their companions under piles of rubble. Homes that took a long time to build were reduced to debris, often with entire families entombed. All through the night, the cries of those suffering could be heard over a much darkened city. Using only flashlights, family and friends tried to dig under the mounds of broken homes, businesses and places of work to reach the muffled sounds of those buried alive.

In the days following the earthquake, mixed among the loud cries of anguish were audible prayers and singing of hymns. This public display of faith is a result of the efforts of national believers and foreign missionaries of the past decades in Haiti. I was encouraged as I listened to interviews of Haitians by TV news journalists. Many of their responses drew upon their faith in the Lord, a testimony to the effects of the Good News of Jesus and the Hope of the Gospel.

There has been a tremendous response to the great need. Doctors, nurses, rescue teams, soldiers and thousands who have wanted to help anyway they can have been inserted into this tiny country, about one fifth the size of Florida. The conscience of man has been tempered by the Word of God and has to react to tragedy as we have seen on a massive scale. Yet, it is sad to know that many who benefit from the social effects of the Gospel preached during the last couple of centuries have yet to accept the Lord Jesus. We missionaries still have a job to do!

Thankfully, the cause of World Missions weighs on the hearts of God's children. We began to receive phone calls, e-mails and Face Book enquiries concerning our welfare and of those whom we serve. People assured us of their prayers and support during this most difficult time. BIMI's website received 1/4 of a million hits following the earthquake.

Thank God for those who have sent relief funds that we may be able to help in such a time as this. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the living began to group into open-air camps. Going back into buildings became very dangerous because of the continuous aftershocks, some up to near 6.0 in strength. Even a month later, most in Port-au-Prince are living outside and many churches are having their services out in the open until repairs can make their buildings safe to meet in. Relief monies have helped purchase and haul rice/cooking oil for scores of families, along with mattresses, tarpaulins and sheets for people sleeping in the open air. Several thousand dollars of medical supplies have been purchased for the injured both in Port-au-Prince and others who have made their way back to Port-de-Paix seeking medical attention for their injuries. Some funds helped transport a critically injured woman to neighboring Dominican Republic as well as transporting people of our area who were in Port-au-Prince back here to Port-de-Paix.

In visiting the injured in the hospital, we were able to give money so that they could buy toiletry articles/clothing; some came up here only with the torn clothing they had on their backs. Among those to whom we ministered were broken/crushed limbs, hands, feet, fingers, amputees, broken ribs, back injuries–one person was paralyzed from the waist down, one with a hole in the head, others that had been operated on to remove embedded gravel and debris. Each person received a personal witness of the gift of salvation in Jesus. We are hearing many testimonies of salvation among the survivors. People put off salvation thinking that they will make a last minute decision for Christ.

A lady who is sister to one of our church members arrived up here a few days after the earthquake; she was in Port-au-Prince and lost everything but her life and her daughter. She came to church on January 17 and received the Lord during the invitation.

We are working closely with people from our church's extended families who were in Port-au-Prince and suffered loss. A member's son who lived in PAP had a 5-month-old baby who was crushed to death and the wife suffered severely broken arms. Sadly too, they lost their home and belongings. We have sent funds to help Eduard and his wife until she can travel up here. The other two children are safe here with family now. Relief funds are helping the grandmother with present needs for the children.

Our assistant pastor (a Bible School student) travelled 30 miles from Port-de-Paix to a state hospital to visit several members of an affiliated church who were injured. He carried relief money for the patients, some medical supplies for the hospital and a Gospel witness. It has been a blessing to see local churches here in Port-de-Paix take up cash offerings and receive things that would be of help to the victims. We cannot properly thank all those who gave, but God will!

As the weeks become months and then years, we ask the Lord for guidance in helping the victims in their recovery. We want to be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us as we help the people regain their health, relocate or rebuild their homes and for many who will restart their lives. This is going to be a long-term adjustment and an opportunity for ministry for us.

Thousands died immediately and many more of the injured in following days. We ask, "I wonder if someone I failed to witness to is now among those eternally damned?" It has pressed upon our hearts the urgency of our times. We are not guaranteed another chance to share Christ with the lost. By the grace of God, we will remember this event and it will help keep us on the "firing line," witnessing to lost souls faithfully and praying for fruit while we still have the opportunity.

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We arrived in Aruba at the end of January to serve temporarily at Good News Baptist Church in Oranjestad. The people have welcomed us warmly and we have been impressed by how they are working together in unity, serving in the church ministries. Last week, we rejoiced when Zion Paalman (10 yr.) trusted Christ as His Savior. We look forward to baptizing 10 - 12 people soon, most of whom are adults.

A few days ago, we were privileged to be able to visit the only Deaf school on the island. We hope to be able to invite the headmaster along with some of the students to attend when we show captioned movies. The need of the Deaf here is tremendous, as it seems that many if not most of them have had no gospel teaching. Please, be in prayer for this minority population here.

Good News Baptist Church is now meeting in a rented room at Fantastic Gardens for the Sunday morning services. For all the other meetings, we meet in the homes of the church people. The average attendance has been 25 - 35. The church was constituted in May 2009 and is now recognized by the Aruban government. Please, be in prayer that we will be able to secure one location for all the church services and ministries. We look forward to what God will do on the island of Aruba in the coming weeks.
Dennis & Frances Bellew - Aruba

Preparations are now being made for the arrival of our next work team to resume work on the walls of our cistern project. This is a real answer to prayer as we have been watching and praying for someone to help us get this project out of the ground. It was started over two years ago but wet weather and lack of help delayed it until now. The weather is real dry right now and many days the water pipes are as well. It will be a great blessing to have a water supply other than the utility supply which is corrosive, low in pressure, or non-existent much of the time. A CLAIM work team will follow in a few weeks to hopefully finish up the next phase of the construction. Pray for these folks as they prepare to come and for the funds to be available when we need them for this project.

The Waites returned to the field on January 28 and the Kirklands left for a four-month furlough on February 10. Role change time is here so we would appreciate your prayers for the ministry as we rearrange responsibilities for the next six months or so. Our CRL 35th Anniversary is the first week of September and please don't forget that. We are anticipating a great time as we have special meetings in English and Spanish during that week.
Jerry & Linda Baker - Caribbean Radio Lighthouse - Antigua

Grace Baptist Bible School is growing, with another extension that was added in November. Two students from our first Desroulins graduation class are the teachers. This puts our total of students at 113. Lord willing, 21 will graduate in June of this year.

Kerri, my wonderful and beautiful wife, stays busy teaching our three children in school, assisting in junior church, sharing the teaching responsibility for the ladies group and keeping me in line. I was privileged to preach part of a conference on "building the Lord's house together." Haggai does a really great job of teaching us about putting God first in our lives. Two young people did just that!
Benji & Kerri Dryden – Haiti

Traci and I will be completing our 6th year here in the Dominican Republic on the first day of April, and it has been a growing experience. We have had to learn how to deal effectively with the distinctively different cultures of the "campesinos," the people in the country side, and those that live in the metropolitan areas. We also have learned the difference in the Haitian culture and the Dominican culture; we have a Haitian Baptist church and a Dominican Baptist church. It seems that every week we learn something new. All this has led us to one glaring conclusion: we need more missionaries here in the Dominican Republic! I especially think that we are missing a great, great opportunity to reach more souls for the Lord because we have NO Creole speaking missionaries with BIMI on the Dominican side of the boarder. In my little town of Jarabacoa it has been estimated that we have over 10,000 Haitians! I am trying to reach those that I can but I do not speak their language and they are trying to learn Spanish. Every Baptist missionary that I know says that they need a missionary to work with Haitians in their own language. With the recent earthquake in Port-au-Prince the number of Haitians in the Dominican will definitely grow!

On a personal note, Traci and I have had to adjust to the "empty nest syndrome." Both of our children, Josh, 21 years old and Elisabeth, now 18 years old, are studying in the States. This last year has been especially hard on Traci. It was so difficult to take Lis to the States and leave her there. We stay in touch by phone, but that is not the same. We have tried to stay busy in the work to keep our mind off missing the kids, but I must say, it sure is quite in the house in the evenings. Please pray for us, our children and the people in both of our ministries.
Jeff & Traci Garrison – Dominican Republic

Our ministry in Trinidad brings new challenges our way every year. I may be preaching for a national pastor on occasion or filling in for a missionary when they go on furlough. We have been able to help several churches in these ways in the time we have been here. We are looking forward to this summer as we will have 3 of our grand kids coming to spend some time with us. This has been a great way to get to know some of them better as well as letting them experience mission work in Trinidad. We enjoy taking advantage of such opportunities and thank the Lord for making it possible. Ken & Nancy Guth - Trinidad

Our support level is now at 87% and we believe churches we have already been in will soon take us on, as others are doing. While on deputation, we continue giving out the Gospel in the U.S. In one of our local nursing homes, I preached a sermon entitled "Who is Jesus?" After I finished preaching, a lady named Audrey came to me and said, "I have gone to church all my life, but I am confused about how to go to Heaven." I showed her from the Bible and she trusted Jesus as her only way to Heaven. There are many "confused" people, including many church members, who just need a soul winner to explain salvation from the Bible.
David & Terri Long - Trinidad

At church, we enjoyed a special Christmas service with a meal afterward in which we were blessed by the preaching of Santiago Peralta and, most of all, seeing our neighbor come to church with her son. Please continue with us in prayer for the salvation of our neighbors.
Luke & Hannah Townsley - Dominican Republic

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast,unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord" I Corinthians 15:58.

This year as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of BIMI, I am proud the Lord has allowed me to be a part of the BIMI family for 40 years. During the past 40 years there have been many times that I have become weary in the work but never weary of the work.

This year the city of Mayaguez will sponsor the Central American games. There will be 32 countries involved in the games and there will thousands of visitors here of which many only speak English. We are excited about the games because it gives us a great opportunity to witness. At present Brother Reese is preparing a special tract for the events. There is a church group coming to help in this evangelistic effort. However, we can use more help.Consider coming during the month of July and the beginning of August to help us. In closing, I want to encourage all of you when you become weary in your work to be stedfast and unmoveable because your work is not in vain.
Joan Whiteheart - Puerto Rico

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By Gary Sprunger

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (II Corithians 9:6).

What in common do these two words have? With all the snow and cold weather that we have had in the United States, it is still a little hard to think about springtime. Joy and I just returned home from Indiana where we missed getting 10 inches of snow in Louisville. Although the roads were treacherous enough with 6 inches of snow, we were thankful to make it back to sunny Southern Alabama for a couple days before flying to the Dominican Republic. But, even when we got home, the temperature dipped into the freezing range. No one seems to be talking about planting their gardens yet. But, with a new year before us, we need to inventory our seed count and plan for the opportunities to get a harvest.

Three hundred thousand copies of Romans that have a very clear presentation of the gospel in the forward are being printed at this time. Approximately 12 pallets of these should be ready for shipment in May. These seeds of the Gospel will be sown during the second half of 2010. It is our prayer that many will come to know Christ as their personal Saviour from reading these. It is estimated that $5000 will be needed to pay the freight charges and the ocean shipping fees. If anyone desires to help with this project, they may specifically mark their donation for the Dominican Romans Project – Acct. 878 – BIMI.

This year we also have an opportunity that rarely comes along. The Central American Games will be played in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. There has been much preparation for these events. It is estimated that over 100,000 visitors will visit there during a two week period. Over 5000 athletes and more than 1000 trainers and coaches will be involved. Jerry Reece and I are working together to secure 250,000 tracts for these games. A number of good churches have signed on board to help distribute gospel tracts to those who will be there for the games. What better time to plant gospel seed than while the spectators are waiting for the next sporting event. Please pray that the Lord will enable us to see much fruit from the sowing of this Gospel seed.

Without sowers, the work cannot be done. We praise the Lord that we have added another couple to our BIMI Caribbean Missionary family. In December, Timothy and Sharon Fluegge were approved for the Dominican Republic. They are being sent out by Temple Baptist Church of Herndon, Virginia. We praise the Lord for these young and vibrant missionaries.

Springtime is a wonderful time of the year. As blossoms begin to open, and the aroma in the air gives testimony to the growth, it also reminds one that our God is in control. Every good thing comes from Him. During the third week of January, Dr. Creed and I had the joy of attending the West Indies Baptist Fellowship. It was a blessing to see and hear from many national pastors that are faithfully serving the Lord throughout the Carribean. We were reminded that if there are to be future laborers, we need to be faithful to plant the seed of the Gospel today.

Let us pray together, labor together, and seek the harvest together for the Glory of God. Remember "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully" (II Corithians 9:6) is still in the Bible. Would you pray and give to sow the Gospel seed that will lay up an eternal harvest in heaven?

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Tuesday, March 16, 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.

KIRK & KATHY HICKOK -  BRAZIL
CHRIS & CHRISTINE HILMER -  CANADA
HAROLD M & BRIDGETTE HOLDBROOK -  GHANA