You Never Know

You Never Know! Last week I attended a pastors’ conference in Montrose, CO. As I walked in, a man introduced himself and said he had been a part of our ministry over 30 yrs ago. He had become a pastor and shared how the Lord had been working in his life ever since. Another man introduced himself and said he had lived in Crested Butte and been impacted by a church we had helped. You never know, do you?

In John 15:16 Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

When Melva and I started in ministry over 55 years ago, we had no idea what God had in mind. His grace has led us each step of the way. Almost every month we hear a report of how He has used your prayers and our efforts to produce fruit that endures. Each of us never knows how God is working through every word we say, every action we take, every time we reach out. Our prayer is that He will continue to use us and each of you to bear godly fruit that remains. Because you never know!

What a wonderful September! Here’s a quick update. The Lord Jesus has been moving in powerful ways!

1. Just when we thought we had finished our summer speaking schedule. OK, CA, MS, TX, Pitkin (2x), Tin Cup (2x), Livermore, and Ridgeway CO, we’re blessed to have invitations to return to OK as well as Delta and Cripple Creek CO. Please pray the Lord will guide us.
2. Our Saturday Night Worship group is growing, up to 40 attending. All the Saturday Night offering goes to missionaries, missionary widows, and small church pastors in need. Half of that giving comes from folks who have moved but send back support!
3. We’ve started a “Senior Service Team” with Hope Baldrica, the daughter of a pastor friend, contacting our seniors with the goal of helping utilize their wisdom and gifts as well as offer assistance when needed.
4. Our Philippians 4:19 fund will be helping a faithful couple fix the inside of their trailer which has a ceiling falling apart.
   
5. On September 20 we held our first official “Missions Emphasis Night”. We heard reports from 7 locals and “alumni” from 3 churches on recent missions trips you and we helped support.
   
   We also heard from a student we’ve given scholarships to which helped her attend a Christian college*. She finished her nursing degree and is working as a nurse in preparation for medical missions. The older missionaries rejoiced to see the new folks heading out! (*We give scholarships to local students who want to attend Christian colleges.)
   
6. In September, we sent out hundreds more fire and police New Testaments and devotionals around the country. We just received a report from “All First Responders Matter” in Florida. Milton Smith reports they’ve given out over 1,000 firefighter and 500 police New Testaments as well as 1,300 fire and police devotionals you’ve helped provide. They’ve run out and need more! You have helped us send these at no charge to these courageous men and women. They say, “Thank you”!
   
7. Family: Two of our grandchildren in CA, Samuel and Elizabeth, have recently professed faith in Jesus and are growing in the Lord! Yay Jesus!! Our two sons and I took a four-day trip to the Grand Canyon. We had a great time and were able to minister to a local businesswoman while there.
   
8. Finances: We are so encouraged that as ministry opportunities multiply, opportunities to supply 1st Responder New Testaments, daily devotionals, missionary support and more, the Lord continues to raise up new supporters to help us provide the resources. We are soooo grateful to each of you!
   

We’re almost finished with setting up a PayPal/Venmo account for those who requested online giving. I’m kind of stuck, have to reach out for advice. My oriental name is “Lo Tech” 😊.

Prayer Requests:

1. For the anointing of the Holy Spirit as we share locally and out of town.
2. For wisdom on scheduling out of town speaking. We want to do God’s will, His way, in the power of His Holy Spirit, and to His glory!
3. For our “Senior Service Team” led by Hope Baldrica to be established and used of the Lord.
4. For all our family to continue to grow closer to Jesus.
5. For Melva to continue to adapt to her CPAP and my plantar fasciitis to heal.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

​Rick and Melva