Iron Sharpeneth Iron

While at the church planting conference in Okla. City, we were privileged to be around some of God's choice servants. One of those was Col. Tyler Ryberg, a man dedicated to helping reach America's service men and women. What a ripe mission field! He promotes church plants near military bases and can direct service people to a sound work in their area. Col. Ryberg is a retired Marine that flew attack helicopters and also spent some time in the Pentagon. Semper Fi! (We were able to have him spend a week end with us when we were in Hanover, IN.)

Here is a partial list of some of the other preachers I got to meet for the first time or renew old acquaintances with: Sam Davidson (President of Heartland), Matt Wilkerson (Medicine Lodge, KS), Dean Herring (Kuna, Idaho), Adam Zamora (Buckeye, AZ) and Larry Clayton. Bro. Clayton has started or helped start churches all around the world. He is a remarkable worker for Christ and a treasure trove of info. on how to get things done in church planting.

Let me encourage those that are in church planting to visit this conference at least once. You won't regret it. It is strange how meeting one person, or hearing one message or even one phrase can have a profound impact on your ministry. Use these tools to keep your heart on fire for reaching America and the world. The USA needs more churches as we face some challenging days ahead. God bless.

Oklahoma Report

Donna and I got to spend two days at the Heartland Church Planting Conference. This is a one of a kind event where there is preaching, encouragement and giving in an incredible way. Sounds like your run of the mill conference I can hear you say. Not so! Pastor Davidson calls church planters to the platform each session and they can give their testimony, explain their ministry goals and also lay out the needs they have. (Ministry related and personal.) Then in an enthusiastic way people begin to give. Hands across the audience begin to go up. $100 here. $200 there. This goes on until a specific or maybe all of their need is met. Praise the Lord. Probably the most exciting is seeing the students get involved in the giving. Numerous times these Bible college students gave, some $20, $50 or even $100.

We were challenged about church planting again. It is plain to see that God is calling families to raise up old fashioned Bible preaching churches all across our Nation. There truly is a need every where. When we saw how God was still on the move we both were stirred and encouraged.

When we got to Oklahoma City, our church and family had several needs. We had to leave a day early and missed out on getting to the platform. God worked in different ways and provided for the last of Jeremy's school bill. Our church does not have a sound system yet but is trusting that this will be taken caare of also. Our Savior has never let us down.

HEARTLAND Church Planting Conference...

Donna & I just got back in from 2 days at the Church planting conference in Okla. City. 14 hour drive back. After a nights sleep I will give a report. Thanks for all the prayers for our traveling safety & for a challenging meeting.

Even though we are church planting in the deep south, in the Bible Belt, it does not mean every church is preaching the gospel. There is still an offense connected to the message of the Savior. If the gospel is presented, you can be sure that some reproach is certain to follow. (No doubt, there are here many that do know the Lord yet do not live for Him. Door knocking, some people can give the plan of salvation better than you can.)

In every state, there is a need for a renewed effort to plant new churches & to revive those that are just hanging on. Unfortunatley, people are not just offended by the gospel. We must fight against some that are territorial in their thinking & others that are fine with a resurrected church as long as they do not have to change.

The picture is one that I took of an old textile mill in Columbus, GA. All that stands today are some of the walls & some ruins inside. There is no work force anymore. No machinery. No products. No bosses. No company picnics. No paydays. No life at all. The day I was there they were tearing the place down. One man told me the place used to be some where between a 1/4 to 1/2 mile long. In some places, all that is left of the church is four walls and a roof. There is no life inside. No work force being trained & utilized. The machinery of a thriving church has been dismantled & replaced with pettiness, division & carnality. May God help us & others to do the work of Christ with our best energies.

This picture was taken over Christmas. From left to right: me, my brother Greg, youngest son Brett, my Dad Ted & oldest son Jeremy. What a good looking group of guys. 3 generations here.