May and June were quite busy with much training taking place, both here in the United States and overseas in Nigeria. I work with FBMI, the mission agency of First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. We have a Candidate School each year for those interested in being missionaries with the agency. I had the privilege of teaching in that school this year. We had families attending the school who feel God wants them to go to Japan, Brazil, Nigeria, and Ghana. I thank God that there are still young families who are surrendering to go to the mission field and that I have a small part in training them.
The Lord allowed me to preach in two Missions Conferences since my last letter. I thank God that in both conferences, there was an increase in the promised giving for missions. Praise the Lord! People are still listening to the Holy Spirit in the area of giving to missions!
Both Leadership and Soul-Winning Conferences in Nigeria were a great success. I taught and preached for 12 hours in the national conference held at Truth Baptist Church in Abuja. Missionary Mark Holmes is the host for this conference. We had 35 churches represented at the conference. I was also able to preach in two different churches while in Abuja. During one service, I mentioned the problem of suicide in our day and age, not knowing there was a man in the service who was contemplating suicide. After the service, I had the privilege of leading that man to Christ. Thank God for the Holy Spirit Who leads as we preach!
The next conference was held in the city of Aba. This was a new regional conference, with three churches working together to make the conference a reality. Ten churches were represented during the conference, and each night the church was packed out. I preached in two of the churches and taught sessions during the conference. It was a blessing to see many pastors I had met in previous years. While preaching at Bethel Baptist Church, I saw 5 saved. Dr. Mike Cox, who was also teaching at the conference, was able to go to a school and preach the Gospel. Hundreds heard the Gospel and got saved. Praise the Lord! I finished my time in Nigeria by preaching for Missionary Dave Maskey in Port Harcourt. He and his wife and family have been faithfully serving the Lord in Nigeria for 25 years. What an honor it was to preach for him, and what a blessing it was to see souls saved in the service.
Please pray for me, as I will be going to Egypt with a group of men from our church. The trip will be from July 8-17. We covet your prayers for our safety, for God’s power, and for us to be a blessing to the pastors attending the conference.
Your servant,
Missionary Evangelist James Belisle
