Austin Gardner

Commercial for Vision Baptist Church from Andrew Pearson on Vimeo.

We have wanted a bus to use to pick up children for a long time. The other day Mark Tolson was in the office and mentioned that Natasha’s former pastor would give us a bus if we wanted one. I found that hard to believe and so I told Mark to see if he really meant it. He did.

Pastor Tom Hatley, Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee gave us a bus. The bus is by no means new but it is in good shape.

Then David Williams and Chris Fies went to Tennessee to pick up the bus. They drove it down on Thursday. David Williams has been doing quite a bit of work on the bus.

We have men now that are working on getting the appropriate license to drive the bus. I am excited about the possibilities of people being saved and lives changed because of a new outreach ministry.

If you are not currently helping by bringing people to church I hope you will get started this week.

Thank you very much Pastor Hatley. Thank you very much David Williams and Chris Fies. Thank you for all that have helped us get ready to start using a bus.

Renzo is a missionary with Vision Baptist Missions International to North Africa. I wanted to ask you to pray for him especially today since it is his birthday.

God bless you Renzo. We are praying for you and pray that God will give you a great birthday.

Happy Birthday. Feliz Cumpleaños y Que Dios te bendiga.

The world in our backyard is the title of a post by Mark Tolson. It has an unbelieveable video. You are not going to want to miss this post.

Here the chants of men worshipping a false god. Let it break your heart.

Did God place a “necessity” on you? Did you feel the “woe”?

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 1Corinthians 9:16.

I don’t know what happens, but it seems that one day we are happy in our lives and churches and then something just happens. It may have started with a message from our pastor or a Sunday School lesson. It could have started in a missions conference or reading a book. It may have been something that someone said but it happened. It doesn’t happen to most folks but it did to you. All of a sudden you felt like you couldn’t get away. It may have started as only a passing thought. It was kind of romantic. It was neat to think about but it didn’t go away. Almost everyone has thought about being a missionary, but they get over it. You didn’t because you are different. You are called of God.

This Monday, February 1st, the Howeths will take Camryn to Egleston at 6:00 a.m. for a flexible bronchoscopy. This is outpatient and will entail a tube going down her throat and seeing what is going on with her lungs. Her lung function has been down the last several months.

Please also continue to pray for all the financial pressure this good family is under due to the accident with Ethan. God is going to have to work some miracles for them.

1. Did you have an intense all consuming desire for the work of God?

This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. I Timothy 3:1.

It is not natural to want to be a missionary. The thought may cross many people’s minds but the truth is that it is only a fleeting thought quickly and easily dismissed by most. It is God who has worked in us both to will (or to put a desire in us that is not natural to us) and do his good pleasure. God placed something in our heart that we could not get away from.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

Many of us were afraid. Many of us doubted but He did something in us. Don’t you dare doubt that when the trouble comes. Don’t you doubt in the night what God gave you in the light. This desire was so great we couldn’t get it out of our hearts and minds.

By Charles Brock

Indigenous Church Planting A Practical Journey p. 20

1. The greatest joy and contentment are found in the center of God’s will.

2. The safest place on earth is the center of God’s will.

3. Our children will always be under God’s watch care if we, the parents, are in His will.

4. God will not call us to do anything for which He will not give sufficient strength.

5. Life is too short and eternity too long to live for self

6. My wife realized a joy from sharing in our sons’ education that she would never have known had we stayed in the States. In the task God made her more than able, even to the point of enjoying it.

7. Only the continuing, clear call of God would keep us on the mission field.

1. I seek to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in a given matter. When you’re ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be, nine-tenths of the difficulties are overcome.

2. Having done this, I don’t leave the result to feeling or simply impression. If I do so, I leave myself liable to great delusion.

3. I seek the will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, God’s Word. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Spirit guides us, He’ll do it according to the Scriptures, not contrary to them.

4. Next, I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God’s will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5. I ask God in prayer to reveal His will to me.

6. Thus, through prayer, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment, according to the best of my ability and knowledge.

If my mind is thus at peace, and continues after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly.

I have found this method always effective in trivial or important issues.

Today is Lelia’s birthday. She turned 5 years old. She is a great joy to her grandparents!

Hey little Lelia, we just wanted to tell you that we love you very much and hope that you have a very special day. I just wish there was a way that we could spend the day with you.

You remind me so much of your grandmother. I love you. I sure wish that we had more pictures of you but you are so far away.

January 5th was Jacob Gardner’s birthday. He turned 7 years old on his birthday.

Jacob, words do not describe how much we love you and miss you. I wish there was a way that we could see more of you. Maybe one day all of you can come for the summer and stay with us.

Know for sure that we love you both very much.