Tim and Missy Shook Prayer Letter: Short Visit Stateside

Soul-Winning & Salvation Stories

We have had many opportunities to go door-to-door soul winning and also pass out tracts while we have been back in the States during this visit. One Saturday, we joined our home church, Midwestern Baptist Church, for their Saturday outreach ministry. Missy and I went out with Mom and Dad Dragon. As we canvassed a few blocks in Omaha, Nebraska, we were able to share the Gospel briefly with two construction workers. They listened well and took the tracts we gave them.

There was an Ethiopian coffee shop at the end of the section we were canvassing. We walked to the shop, and standing in the parking lot were two African Muslim men talking. I approached them and asked them about the coffee shop. After we spoke for a while, I gave them both Gospel tracts and began sharing the Good News of salvation with them. Both men professed Islam and had many things to say about their religion. They were kind and listened, but they agreed to disagree. They shared their hardships growing up in Sudan and the lives they lived before moving to America. I’m thankful for the freedoms we still have in America to share the Gospel openly. In our great country, there are many lost souls who desperately need the Lord.

Family News

At the end of July, we traveled from Thailand to America to take our daughter Lauren to college. Missy had been quite sick with pneumonia the last two weeks before we left Thailand; she flew while still recovering. On the flight over, Lauren and Mark both started to feel unwell. A couple of days after we arrived in America, both Lauren and Mark had to be taken to urgent care due to severe symptoms that would not subside. Lauren had pneumonia, and Mark had an upper-respiratory and ear infection. We were thankful to be at our Stateside home base, Missy’s parents’ home, where we could recuperate and heal.

God blessed and gave us safe travels as we drove from Nebraska to California. God answered many prayers of provision along the way. We had a week in Santa Clara as we helped Lauren move into the dorms at Golden State Baptist College and helped get her settled. We enjoyed fellowship with many wonderful friends there at North Valley Baptist Church. We are so grateful for Pastor and Mrs. Trieber’s friendship and kindness to our family. We are also thankful for the incredible staff and faculty at the college. Many have helped Lauren adjust and feel more at home. God supplied a job for Lauren as well, and we want to thank you for praying for her. It was extremely difficult to say goodbye, but we have such peace knowing that this is God’s will for Lauren’s life.

We have several conferences and meetings in the following weeks. Please pray for safety as we travel.

Update on Churches

Both churches, International Baptist Church of Hua Hin and International Baptist Church of Nong Phlap, are doing well. God continues to grow and strengthen both locations.

We have our annual Village Bible Clubs coming up in October, and many of our church members, along with the staff, are planning and preparing for that. Last year, we saw hundreds saved during this exciting week of outreach.

We are also gearing up for our Christmas Public School Programs, which will start in the month of November and continue through the middle of December.

Land-Development Update

God continues to bless as we move forward, little by little, with the building and land development. The electric poles and wires have been installed. The next step will be to have the Provincial Electric Authority come and connect the meter so power can finally be supplied to the houses on the land.

The next phase will be to build an educational, all-purpose building that will be used for the language school, Sunday school classes, offices, and church services (until the main auditorium can be built). We are praying for the needed funds to start building the educational building. Once this building is complete, we will be able to let go of the rental buildings we currently use for church services and offices. We look forward to the day that the church can meet on the land permanently. We greatly appreciate your support and giving to these special projects.

Thank you for laboring with us through prayers and monthly giving. We pray for each of our supporting pastors, churches, and individual supporters regularly.

For Him,

Timothy, Melissa, Lauren, and Mark Shook