Greetings from sunny Richmond, Virginia! I will never cease to be amazed by God’s continued blessings on our lives as we travel on deputation. Thank you so much for your faithful prayer and support. I promise you, your prayers really do make a tremendous difference. God’s hand of protection and provision has been very obvious, and I know that much of that has to do with the prayers of God’s people.
The Big News
Ruth and I are pleased to announce that we are expecting our third child! We don’t know yet whether it will be a boy or a girl, but I can already tell that he will be a very inconsiderate child. Ruth is due to give birth in late August, and we are scheduled to be in California in the second week of September. If he comes late, he’s getting spanked on arrival.
Soul Winning
Even during the winter months, God has continued to bless our soul-winning efforts on the deputation trail. On Saturday, January 30, Ruth had the privilege of leading a young man to Christ by the name of Frank. The following day, Ruth and I picked Frank up on our way to the morning service at Freedom Baptist Church in Jefferson, Pennsylvania. Frank enjoyed the service so much that he not only came back for the evening service, but he also went soul winning with the church teenagers that afternoon! Please pray with us that Frank will grow in the Lord and become a faithful member of Freedom Baptist Church.
Soul Winning Still Works!
I believe with all my heart that personal soul winning is still the solution to our world’s problems. As Ruth and I travel, one of my biggest goals is to promote soul winning and be an encouragement to soul winners. With that goal in mind, I have written a book entitled Soul Winning Still Works. It is a compilation of soul-winning stories that I hope and pray will be an encouragement to many soul winners as we travel. All proceeds from the book will be used to help with our airfare when we return to the Philippines. If you would like to order a copy, please email me at mikemorrissey@www.fbmi.org.
Dividends on Your Investment
It was Saturday evening, February 20, and I was sitting in the breakfast area at a hotel in Altoona, Pennsylvania, working desperately to finish my message for the following morning. Around 7 p.m., I was distracted from my studies by the sound of surprisingly loud music coming from the hotel lobby. I grabbed my New Testament off the table, stuck it in my back pocket, and walked into the lobby. As I rounded the corner, I saw a man, who appeared to be in his mid-twenties, sitting in a chair next to the fireplace. His cell phone was lying on a table next to him, blaring its obnoxious sounds for the entire hotel to “enjoy.”
Pretending to be a good Christian, I smiled and introduced myself. I learned that his name was Ricky and that he was a working on a construction site not far from the hotel. I gave him a tract and asked him if he was sure that he was on his way to Heaven. His response surprised me; he said that he was 100% sure that he would go to Heaven—no doubts. He was very open to talk, but he was absolutely certain that he was a good person and that God would never deny him access to Heaven.
Ricky eventually turned off his music, and over the next 30 or 40 minutes, I gently but bluntly explained to him that his good works would never be enough to get him to Heaven. Once he realized that he actually deserved to go to Hell, the rest of the plan of salvation was easy! As I explained that Jesus already fully paid for all his sin, I saw the light come on for Ricky. A few minutes later, Ricky bowed his head and accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
After Ricky got saved, I invited him to church, and he began telling me about a friend of his named Thomas who was also staying at the hotel that night. Ricky told me that Thomas was “very religious” and that he was certain that Thomas would like to go to church with him the next day. A few minutes later, the elevator doors opened, and Thomas walked out. As soon as Ricky saw Thomas, he blurted out for the entire hotel to hear, “I JUST GOT SAVED!” I don’t know if Thomas is saved; I didn’t get a chance to witness to him. However, he and everyone else within ear shot know that Ricky is saved!
Prayer Request
Please continue to pray for Ruth’s mom who is fighting Stage IV cancer in the Philippines. In recent weeks she has taken a turn for the worse, and barring a miracle of God, she probably won’t be with us for more than a few months. It is difficult being so far from them during this time, but God’s grace is sufficient. Both of Ruth’s parents have been an icon of stability and faith in God throughout the entire ordeal. Their unwavering trust in God’s sovereignty and wisdom has been an inspiration to many. All I can say is, “Thank God for a place called Heaven!”
Yours for souls,
Mike Morrissey
