Deputation Notes
July
– September 2004
“Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord
Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together
with me in your prayers to God for me.” Romans 15:30
Dear Praying Friends,
This past quarter has been one of
much traveling for the Smith family. We
ended the second quarter in the state of New Jersey. Since then we have had meetings in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Illinois, and South Carolina. As we
have traversed over 6,000 miles, we have become even more aware of our need for
your prayers. It is so comforting to know
that you pray for us and the ministry that God has given to us while on
deputation. We know that your prayers
will become even more precious to us when we get to Kenya.
It has been exciting to be in so many good churches. We are praying that the Lord would guide
many of them to join with us in ministry and further the spread of the gospel
to Kenya. Earlier this month it was
special privilege for us to be in a church and meet a family who was from
Kenya. What a joy it was to talk with
them about Kenya. We gleaned from them insights about their countrymen, the
varying traditional tribal beliefs and the need of the work of God in the
hearts of men throughout Kenya.
Last quarter we asked for prayer about scheduling meetings. The Lord
has been answering your prayers! More than a dozen meetings have been
scheduled, some clear into July of next year.
There are also several more contacts that seem very promising. We continue to trust that the Lord will open
and close doors for meetings as He sees fit.
It is also our prayer, that if the Lord would be honored that He
would allow us to get to Kenya by this time next year. There is much to be accomplished for that to
happen, but nothing is too great for God!
Our current support level is 42.17% and we must also consider “outfit
and passage”. Our God owns the cattle
on a thousand hills, and He will supply our needs in His timing. Sometimes we grow impatient, and would like
to be serving in Kenya - RIGHT NOW! Yet
we must continue to trust the Lord because He knows when He wants us to be in
Kenya. We will get there right on time,
if we leave it in His hands. Our
deputation theme verse (1 Thessalonians 5:24) constantly reminds us that it is
He that has called us and He will do it.
What a wonderful and faithful God we have the privilege to serve!
We would also like to announce
that our web site is now up and running (although still a work in
process). You can visit our site
through the link at www.KenyaMissions.org. There you can find our testimonies, call to ministry, itinerary,
and much more about our ministry. In
fact, soon you will be able to read this letter along with our past prayer
letters on our site. We pray that it
will be a help for pastors and churches to find out more about us as we
continue to contact them.
Prayer Requests:
- Our teammates: The Hafler family in Kenya serving at
Emmanuel Baptist Church.
The Knipe family will be starting
full-time deputation this next month.
- Our meetings: This next
quarter in Maine, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
- Our spiritual health: That we
would remain close to God, faithful to Him and His service.
- Our physical health: Joshua
has had some minor flare-ups with his asthma recently; and
the whole family as we begin the fall
and winter months.
- Our safety:
Especially across the many miles.
Your
missionaries to Kenya,