April marks the 20-year anniversary of the start of this ministry of missionary evangelism. We praise the Lord for His providing the funds through supporting churches so that I could help missionaries and national pastors reach their areas with the Gospel. In order to continue this ministry, I must continue to raise needed support. So this year, Linda and I will be traveling to many churches with that goal in mind. We are also reporting back to some of the churches that support us. Since most of the pastors we have visited so far this year have known me for years, I have been returning to their churches to let them know we are still serving the Lord in this ministry. Thus far this year, we have visited the following churches:
Calvary Baptist Church, Charles City, Iowa—Pastor Tim Robbins
Calvary Baptist Church, Waterloo, Iowa—Pastor Keeton Wainscott
Faith Baptist Church, Bourbonnais, Illinois—Pastor Terry Anglea
First Baptist Church, Iron Mountain, Michigan—Pastor Aaron Miller
First Baptist Church, Mediapolis, Iowa—Pastor Dan Baker
Grace Baptist Church, Marion, Iowa—Pastor Cecil Ballard
Heritage Baptist Church, Burlington, Iowa—Pastor Brad Cranston
Liberty Faith Church, Norwood, Missouri—Pastor Reggie Kelly
Liberty Baptist Church, Marion, Iowa—Pastor Darren Whiting
Mason City Baptist Church, Mason City, Iowa—Pastor Jim Meyer
Ottumwa Baptist Church, Ottumwa, Iowa—Pastor Travis Decker
Round Prairie Baptist Church, Lockridge, Iowa—Pastor Kevin Dice
Soul’s Harbor Baptist Church, Mexico, Missouri—Pastor Rusty Crutchfield
Suburban Heights Baptist Church, Fairfield, Iowa—Pastor Ed Parker
Sycamore Baptist Church, Muscatine, Iowa—Pastor Dan Robbs
Twin Pines Baptist Church, Robins, Iowa—Pastor Ken Koske
Victory Baptist Church, Columbia, Missouri—Pastor Gary Crumly (We met for lunch while in the area.)
It has been a blessing to be with these fine pastors and to see what God is doing in their midst. These pastors continue to preach about soul winning and the love of God for the world. They continue to preach against sin and emphasize how God’s people should be separated from the world. What a joy it has been to hear from three pastors how God provided new (to them) church buildings. AMEN! And we give a big “Thank you!” to Pastor Dice for leading his people to start supporting us and inviting me back to preach in his missions conference this April.
When home, I try to visit periodically on a bus route with my friend Rick Capps. Earlier this year while visiting one family whose children ride his bus, I was able to witness to the mother. She is originally from Liberia, and since I have been to that country, I was able to strike up a conversation with her. What a blessing it was to see the understanding come to her of the difference between religion and salvation. Praise the Lord she got saved! Please pray for us as we continue to visit churches and plan my meetings overseas.
James Belisle
