Began the year working with five churches preparing them to travel to an international setting.
Two of those churches traveled to Guatemala.
There were four houses built for widowed and abandoned mothers and their children.
Bible Storying was done each afternoon with 25-40 children in attendance.
It was a privilege in June to visit the first village we worked in around Lake Antilan. We hosted a 2 hour children’s ministry and had mothers, grandmothers and a few men PARTICIPATE in the activities. What a blessing!
A special opportunity happened during the trip in June and saw fruit produced in July.
In June after ministering on Sunday night in a men’s drug and alcohol rehab center two of the men preparing to leave the facility joined us during the rest of the week as interpreters on the job sites and in translating the Bible Stories.
When we returned in July one of these men worked with us again while the other recovered from sickness. During this trip we ministered in the rehab center on Thursday evening. When the service was over the two interpreters and 18 other men surrendered their lives to Christ.
For a couple of years, we have been building a relationship and encouraging a pastor of a small church in the village of Chitulul. During June we were able to worship in this church and had opportunity to preach. We also discovered a house church and met the pastor and now have this second evangelical contact to develop.
God continues to allow us entry in to Chitulul and deeper relationships and sharing of the Gospel of Jesus through Bible Storying is growing.
Support was raised to supply education for 63 students in Guatemala. We celebrated with six of these students and their families as they graduated this past November.
This year in Haiti.
We have been praying and working to raise the funds to expand the school in the village of Drouin. The funds have been slowly coming in and the course is set to begin the work in March of 2018. We will continue to pray for and seek the future financial needs to complete this project.
There are 350 students in the six room school. Can you say overcrowded!
For the first time, in the life of Stepstones, support for eight teacher salaries was fully funded and needed no support from the general budget. We praise God for this provision! We will need new partners to achieve this goal in 2018.
Domestic Ministry
Met with three new churches and began a missional journey to one day lead them outside the walls of their building all the way to international settings.
Preached Sunday through Wednesday Revival Services for FBC Broaddus. FYI, the five sermons are posted on YouTube under FBC Broaddus.
Sorrowfully have preached two funerals. One for a teenage girl and the other for one of my former youth ministry members.
Responded in Disaster Relief by taking a trailer load of supplies gathered from Center, Henderson and Hawkins to Rockport the Friday following Hurricane Harvey.
Delivered a load of water to Cuero Fire and Sheriff's Departments. After unloading at the Sheriff's Department had opportunity to speak a word of encouragement and pray with two deputies and six trustees. They were very attentive and appreciative!
Responded with supplies, a shower trailer, laborers, two cook teams and a refrigerated trailer filled with meat, ice and water to Sweeny, Texas.
In two weeks we assisted in cleanout of 20 houses, provided a meal for the community, delivered 110 meals to refugees in an RV Park near the church. Since this time other meals have been distributed in this RV Park and the church has committed to continue outreach into this area of hurting people.
Delivered 1300 pounds of frozen chicken to Rockport for use in feeding teams entering the area to assist in recovery.
Assisted a church in Emory, Texas to make contact and arrangements to travel to Rockport to help in Disaster Relief.
Before, during and after responding to these needs we moved offices. We are now located at 101 Hurst Street Suite 300 in Center.
Local ministry continues to happen.
Coaches Outreach Bible Study had 10 coaches participating in two separate groups. Four of those coaches moved to different schools during the Summer and we prayed for them and encouraged them to go as missionaries to these new fields white unto harvest.
This Fall we had three coaches participate in the study of David, God’s Champion.
Uncommon, a Monday night mentoring ministry for Center High School Students continues with the students becoming more trusting and willing to share thoughts and needs. There are eight men from three churches committed to investing in the lives of the students who attend Uncommon. There are other groups and businesses who provide meals.
As only God can orchestrate, I was asked by the athletic director to coach the Varsity 7 on 7 summer football team. The dates of games and tournaments did not conflict with any trips so I accepted and had the opportunity to deepen the relationships with coaches and athletes.
It continues to be a blessing to serve as chaplain for the varsity football, basketball and baseball teams.