Our very first Missions Conference! What a way to start deputation. Madison Avenue Baptist Church has treated us much better than we deserve. This sacrificial church in the inner city of Paterson, NJ has gone out of their way to treat their missionaries like special guests.As missionaries newly on deputation it has been our goal and expectation to go to churches and try to be a blessing. Through ministry and service we have planned to go and work in any way we can. This week however, we were pleasantly surprised by the reversal of this expectation.
The kick-off of the conference on Wednesday night set the tone for an exciting week learning about missions. We were extremely blessed! Then on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday the pastors and members of the church continued to bless us with fellowship, food (and lots of it!) and fun!
The warm brothers and sisters in Christ at MABC went above and beyond to bless us. MABC put us up in a beautiful hotel and took us out to amazing restaurants. At the end of the final service the pastor announced that they had a special gift for us. He handed us a basket filled with hundreds of dollars in gift cards for such things as gas, food, and much to Erika’s joy - Target.
It has really been an amazing testimony to us of a congregation that God has used to support over 70 missionaries. We have ended up having our cup filled abundantly! What could we have possibly done for them compared to the endless ways they have blessed and given to us. We are so thankful for that church family and feel that our church family has grown in this short time here.
Did we work hard? Yes. Did Michael get to preach/teach eight times? Yes. Did our children get to make new friends? Oh, yes!
We praise God for such a great conference. We are overwhelmed by the love we were shown and are beyond thankful for each person at Madison Avenue who have so graciously welcomed us into their missions family.
6 comments:
Praise the Lord! I'm glad all went well.
Amen and Praise the Lord!
Hopefully all of your meetings won't be like that... you wouldn't want to be spoiled before getting on the field! Actually, I supposed you probably woud :)
It's awesome hearing about another church that loves missionaries.
Praise the Lord for that church encouraging you in such a way!!!! The pics are ADORABLE!
Praise the Lord for the great time. What a privilege that they would give you opportunity to preach/teach so much in during the week. It is a blessing to hear of these churches that want to bless their missionaries as well as learn and be encouraged and challenged by them. This amount of exposure would let a church really get to know something about you - I trust that they saw a little of you but a lot of Jesus!
PRAISE GOD FOR MABC! That they would be open to be used of God to bless and help our good friends on their way to the land that God has called them too! So great to see Natalia making new friends! Love you all....Louise
Natalia is so beautiful, she looks like she is enjoying meeting new people. I pray that she continues to adjust well being on the road a lot. I will pray for you guys too of course, but it's hard for her to fully understand what is going on, so a lot of my prayers are with your children. Thanks for the blessing you are to our family, you are always an encouragement. Even when Andy and Michael go out for coffee. Iron sharpeneth Iron, right? God Bless and you are in my prayers- - -Sarah Hinds
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