On August 14, our family celebrated three years of being in Australia as missionaries. It has been quite the journey, but through it all, we’ve seen the hand of the Lord continue to work. Isla and I have spent our childhood in Australia, but for my wife and older children, this has been a huge change, having been born and raised in America. I praise God for giving them the strength to reach this huge milestone. Please continue to pray for my family.
In August, we had the honour to be with Living Hope Baptist Church in Taree for their Missions Conference. It was a joy to see some old friends and meet some new ones. I challenged the church about giving to the work of the Lord. We were excited to hear that one of the single men who leads in the church got engaged! Praise the Lord! Please pray for the church, as they are seeking a new pastor at the moment.
At the end of September, we got an encouraging visit from a supporter from West Virginia, Pastor Daniel Dent. It was a senior/missions trip for his son James. Also visiting with him was his wife Christy and a family friend, Miss Scansen. It was such a joy to be able to show them the beauty of Australia. There are too many things to name that they were able to see and do, but one thing they probably didn’t expect to do is ride a camel. What a surprise for them! They also helped us with soul winning and setting up for church, and Pastor Dent also preached for us. One thing we take for granted is the fellowship of co-labourers and the encouragement to keep on keeping on! It was so encouraging to see the Dents, and we don’t take lightly these wonderful visits from our supporters. They were also able to be a blessing and to minister to several other churches in Australia.
Our church in Port Macquarie has continued to push forward with the work of the Lord. We have faithful people working in various aspects of the ministry, and I praise the Lord for all He is doing in our midst. We had a big day in August, with almost 40 in attendance and 13 first-time visitors. We were also privileged to have Pastor Kevin, who has been a church planter in Australia for many years. He was an encouragement to me and to our church. He has expressed his interest in assisting in the work here at Port Macquarie. Please pray for him for guidance and leading from the Lord.
I am truly blessed to see God continue to work in a marvellous way, and we are truly blessed to have you praying for us and supporting us as we continue to do the Lord’s work here in Australia!
Your servant in Christ,
Garry Tingson