Field Address: P.O. Box 461
Essendon, Victoria 3040
Australia

Sending Church: Rodgers Baptist Church
P.O. Box 460639
Garland Texas 75046

July - September 2008 Report

Dear Friends:

I want to begin by thanking you for your prayers and for your sacrificial and faithful financial support, even in a time of hardship. Your involvement has not been in vain because the Lord is doing a great work among us. It has been an extremely busy yet productive time. This verse of scripture has made a significant impact on our ministry during the past few months, "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not." (2 Corinthians 4:1)

Little Big Day Out (our children's holiday program):

We had over 120 children show up to our annual holiday program. We ran the activities for three days, from morning to evening, using the high school facilities which we normally occupy for our church services. The "fantastic" news, the gospel, was presented every day through bible teaching. Songs, crafts, sports, lots of food, and interaction with the children were part of the program each day. We had almost half the church involved in this costly, yet worthwhile outreach.

Most of the children who attended do not attend our church, but they came to LBDO because their parents trust our program. LBDO has become quite well known in our community. In Melbourne, people will not send their kids to a Christian event unless it has been proven reliable and they have received advertisement that shows the professionalism of the program.

I thank God for all those who planned diligently for months, especially Ritta (volunteer Children's Director who was saved, baptized and trained through this ministry) and Amanda (my wife). Many children responded to the gospel and we have made several positive contacts with their families. Pray for the investment that was made in the lives of many and for future contacts.

Youth Training:

While our youth ministry is still growing, most of the teens were being trained as leaders at this event (some of them are pictured on the left above). We had people take time off work, university students found a way to make time, and teens were willing to be used of the Lord giving up their school holidays to help however needed.

Pray for all those who lead, teach, and are being trained that their heart will be protected from discouragement. Apathy is our greatest battle. Personally, discouragement is my number one enemy, and it is only the wonderful grace of our God that drives me forward.

Please continue to lift us up in prayer for:

1. Silas and Amanda (according to 2 Peter 3:18)
2. The ministry here (according to 2 Corinthians 4:2 and 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)
3. The people who are being trained according to (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
4. The people who are hearing the gospel (according to John 17:20-21)

Silas & Amanda