NEWSLETTER
AUGUST 2009

     August is a very exciting month for us at the World Baptist Fellowship Mission Agency.  This year we will hold our 44^th annual Missionary Candidate Seminar in which we spend 10 days with our prospective new missionaries and do all that we can to help orient  them for deputation and field ministry.  We try to give them as much information as possible during this short period of time and sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming for them, but it is valuable preparation for their future ministry.  Following the seminar each year we host our Missionary Family Retreat where the deputation and furloughing missionaries can be encouraged through the teaching and preaching of the Word of God and spend a few days just resting.  This is a time when they can also meet and fellowship with our Mission Committee members, who will be available for counsel and encouragement.   We here at the Mission Office have found that at the end of the seminar and retreat it is possible to be both exhausted and refreshed, which is quite a contrast!

     Please make your plans to attend the World Baptist Fellowship Fall Meeting, October 12-14, 2009 at the First Baptist Church in Canton, Michigan.  The church is located at 44500 Cherry Hill Road, Canton, MI 48187.  Pastor Ray Haselhuhn has put together a great lineup of speakers for the meeting and I know it will be a blessing and encouragement to all who attend.  Special lodging rates are available at the following hotels:

     Please pray for the Special Mission Offering that is received each year at the Fall Meeting.  Our goal this year is $50,000 and this amount is needed to help with the costs of operation of the Mission Office, the maintenance and insurance for the office building, the mission houses, and the two loaner vehicles that are available for the missionaries’  short –term use when they arrive from the field.   This offering bridges the gap between our costs of operation and the support for the General Fund.  Pray that we will meet our offering goal again this year.   Thank you for your part in this Special Mission Offering.

     Please pray for our missionaries who are battling illness:  Eliana Densmore is still a very sick little girl and is in need of your intercessory prayers.  She has had two more trips to the hospital during this past month.   Elaine Hawkins is doing well in recovery from knee replacement surgery and Joe Hawkins is recovering from cataract surgery.   Debi Harris is battling complications of MS and is facing major surgery in the near future.   Mike Lane is improving in his battle with prostate cancer and he and Debbie will return to Honduras this month.   Juanita Bowen is doing well in recovery from back surgery.  Doyle Whaley continues his battle with Alzheimer’s and hearing loss.    Others who need your prayers in ongoing physical battles are:  Rebecca Hawkins, Mary Gagnon, Gloria Higgins, Monnie Bacon, Dale Brown, Dana McCutchen, Charlene Neill, Darla Brim, Linda Carruth, and Sandy Janky.  Thank you for your prayers for these faithful servants.

     We greatly appreciate your faithfulness in prayer and in financial support in spite of the difficult economic situation.  God is good to provide and you are being faithful.

 Tommy Raley