Drew Preaching

[Caretaker]

Hi Precious ones. Kathy and I are attending the Torn Veil Church in Wilsey, KS. I have been in fellowship with so many in the church from when it was the Wilsey United Methodist Church, which had to fold, and it was sold to Joey and Hazel Orebaugh who had built a fellowship hall downtown, and their cornerhouse ministry has done monthly food distributions for several years. Anyhow I fellowshipped with so many of them for several decades, helped pass out food, and even filled in for a UMC pastor at Christmas.

It was hectic for the pastors and they called me and asked if I could bring a message on a Sunday. If it is of God I always say yes, but would sure rather sit at the back, praying for folks and serving coffee.

Thought I would share the video of my message which they broadcast. This is from several weeks ago. Joey just called me to day and wondered if I could bring another message as they are really snowed under by life. I told them I could sure throw something together, and how precious is our church family.

This big ugly feller comes on about the 8 minute mark in the video. I thought maybe Y'all might like to hear what I sound like, like a frog in a barrel and just a big old greybearded country boy.

God bless you my precious Brothers and Sisters in Christ.


fb.watch/jjaRgCzimY/

[Murph]

Thank you Drew for sharing the church service with us...you are a good preacher...preaching the true word of God!!!

[Caretaker]

Thank you Sis. Preaching is thankfully few and far between, as I do this when asked/needed, but it is sure not what I want to do. I have my list of prayers which I pray for daily, attend weekly midweek prayer sessions, and am able to gather with other believers. A local pastor from the Council Grove Church of Christ hosts a men of iron fellowship each Thursday. He and his wife were part of the 80 missions group which traveled to Brownsville,TX, last Friday and have been ministering in Matamoros, Mexico, just days after the shootings. I have had them at the top of my prayer list and a large number praying. Got John's midweek letter from Brownsville and God has sure answered "yes".

Servants of God,

I write from South Texas. A few miles to the east the ocean laps at the earth. To the west the produce rich Rio Grande Valley is beginning to awaken with the plants that will feed millions. To the south, just a stone’s throw lies the city of Matamoros, Mexico. Today is the fourth day of our mission trip. We will again cross the border into a different world. Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros each touch the border and look at one another across the river. In many ways they are a universe apart. Texas is productive and thriving with its low taxes and entrepreneurial spirit—much of it because of the energy that Mexican Americans bring with them when they cross over the border and become American citizens. They are industrious and practical. They show what immigration is supposed to look like.

In a few minutes 80 of us will mount buses and head south to conduct the second day of “Copa Mundial Matamoros” (Matamoros World Cup) a VBS/soccer camp event. We will be sharing the gospel with children and teens and with men and women. Each mission team has an assignment. There will be chaos and order involved. Like every VBS, just about the time it is over the workers and teachers reach their stride and wish it could continue! It will be a short but sweet outreach. We will sow the gospel seed and pray it finds good soil in the hearts of many.

The streets of Matamoros are dirty and cluttered and smelly. The people are wonderful and friendly. We “gringos” are out of place. Few of us speak the language well. We do what we do in faith. Our hard-working interpreters labor alongside us. Many miss a portion of their work day or come directly from work to help us teach and sing and herd the cloud of children who joyfully come to play and learn.

As you know, there was a recent violent incident in Matamoros that made national news. One of the interpreters summed up what many of our Mexican brothers and sisters were thinking. “I was afraid that we would have to cancel this outreach because you would be afraid to come” she said. Of course, we tried to assess the risks. Like most big cities in the world, Matamoros has a lot of crime. The United in Christ Ministries leaders believed we could do the outreach safely. So, fortified by the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Kansas (and elsewhere) we came. We came in faith on the wings of the prayers of the saints.

No one can look into the beautiful brown eyes of a Mexican child and see the joy in their behavior and the intensity they show when the Bible lessons are being taught without thanking God for the opportunity to come to Matamoros and share the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our theme verse will surprise no one: John 3:16. This good news of God’s love is fresh and vigorous in the misty rain of a Mexican afternoon. We come here in hope, trusting God and endeavoring to be obedient. We bring our five loaves and two fishes—not nearly enough to feed the souls of our hundreds of participants. If Jesus does not act as Messiah and multiply our small offering it will be for naught. But if Jesus blesses our feeble tokens of love, perhaps some day an old man will tell the story of how some gringos came, preaching Jesus and how as a result, he believed and was saved. Maybe he will pause and say…it was amazing what Jesus did through those people who were not too afraid to come.

Blessings,

Pastor John

Coram Deo

[Murph]

I will pray for them...Mexico is not a safe place for Americans lately...

[Caretaker]

Mar 18, 2023 8:16:54 GMT -6 Murph said:

I will pray for them...Mexico is not a safe place for Americans lately...

I know Sis and I was sure keeping the 80 in heart and most fervent prayers, and the prayers of all I gather with. That's why Pastor John's letter from Brownsville, TX, after 4 days of ministering was such warmth for my heart and tears for my eyes, answer to prayers.

The group is now on their way back.

Thank You Lord!!!

[Murph]

So glad and thankful that they are all safe! Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammo!