NEWSLETTER
JULY 2009

As we begin the month of July, we are busily preparing for this year’s Annual Candidate Seminar where we will work with our prospective missionaries in helping them prepare for their deputation and field ministries.  We have some very good candidates for this year’s seminar and we are excited about them joining the WBF Mission Family.  Pray for them as they come to the seminar and pray for us as we teach them that they will be well informed and well prepared for their future ministry.  Following the seminar, we will hold our Annual Missionary Family Retreat at the Minnetonka Christian Camp in Clayton, Oklahoma.  We appreciate Tom and Bernice Crites for allowing us to come each summer and for being such wonderful hosts.  The retreat is a time for our deputation and furlough missionaries to have a few days of spiritual and physical refreshment.  We will have as special speakers this year, Dr. Howard Dean and Dr. W. C. Vansant.  Mrs. Mary Lou Dean will speak to our missionary ladies.  Please be in prayer for this year’s retreat that each missionary family will be blessed by attending.

Please make your plans for this year’s WBF Fall Meeting that will take place October 12-14, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Canton, Michigan.  This will be a wonderful time of fellowship with some great preaching and singing.   There will be special emphasis on the mission work of our fellowship and we will hear from a number of our missionaries during the meeting.  The theme of the meeting will be, “Remembering God”, and Pastor Ray Haselhuhn, the church staff and membership are working hard to make this a great meeting.  There are special hotel rates at the FAIRFIELD INN, 5700 Haggerty Road, Canton, MI 48187.   The phone number is 734-981-2440, and you must mention that you will be with the World Baptist Fellowship meeting at the First Baptist Church in Canton.  The special rate is $64.00 per night, but reservations must be made by September 21, 2009.  Following that date, the rate will be $119.00 per night.  We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Fall Meeting!  (Click on this link to register for fall meeting.)

We realize that many churches are facing financial struggles right now due to the faltering economy.  This is affecting missionary giving and as a result, a number of our missionaries are also struggling financially.   Please remember them in your prayers that the Lord will provide what is needed on a month by month basis to meet their needs.  Our deputation missionaries are especially finding it difficult right now in making appointments and adding to their support.  Churches are being faithful to support their missionaries, but are having difficulty in adding new missionaries for support and this makes it tough on these new missionaries.  They need your prayers.

Please pray for our missionaries who have health needs:  Doyle Whaley has been hospitalized with kidney failure, but is now at home.  He continues to struggle with Alzheimer’s and with hearing loss.  Eliana Densmore has been hospitalized again with pancreatitis and a blood infection.  Debi Harris is recovering from surgery and will probably have to undergo another surgery in the near future.  Juanita Bowen is recovering from back surgery.   Joe and Elaine Hawkins will both possibly need surgery soon.  The following need your prayers for ongoing physical needs:  Rebecca Hawkins, Mary Gagnon, Monnie Bacon, Gloria Higgins, Sandy Janky, Charlene Neill, Darla Brim, Linda Carruth, Dana McCutchen, Marty Starling, Dale Brown, Mike Lane.  Prayer is still the best medicine and we appreciate your prayers for these faithful servants of God.

Thank you for your ongoing faithfulness in prayer and financial support for our missionary families and also for the General Fund.  We could not continue without you and we appreciate you very much.