It’s been another packed winter during the months of June and July! They were months of celebration. Our youngest daughter Isla is now two years old. We enjoyed just a quiet celebration with family. Gwen turned eight on the Fourth of July. No fireworks here, but she was able to have a party with a lot of friends. My wife and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary. We enjoyed a day locally to celebrate this momentous occasion. Thank you to those who greeted us and sent cards and gifts to help celebrate these important dates!
In July, we got to spend some time with many other churches at a Leadership Conference hosted by one of our supporting churches, Good Shepherd Baptist Church. I was given the honour to speak to the young adults. They are a great group of young adults who are on fire for the Lord. We got to see other fellow American missionaries: the Bruners, the Heberles, the Marshalls, and the Carvers. Also, an opportunity has opened up with their printing press ministry, Southland Baptist Press. They are the only independent Baptist press ministry in Australia, printing tracts and materials for many countries in the Eastern Hemisphere. I am now collaborating with them to do some graphic designing to help propagate the Gospel not only in Australia but also in other countries in the Eastern Hemisphere. This is work I am able to do from home in Port Macquarie. What an honour!
Our church has continued to gain momentum even through these winter months. We have three ladies in our church who have volunteered to be children’s Sunday school teachers. We conducted our first men’s meeting. We continue to see regular visitors. A dad and his son continue to distribute tracts in letterboxes every week. I’ve started training two men for the ministry. One of our men has gone door knocking for the first time. In fact, this man Sam has been going door knocking ever since. He is also starting to preach at the church once a month along with another man, Jordon. Jordon is regularly seen talking to our visitors and witnessing to them. Yesterday, I caught both of them witnessing to one of Jordon’s employees, who claims to be an atheist. These men have addicted themselves to the ministry! Please pray for the many men and women we speak to during door knocking, tract distribution, and in everyday life. The glory goes to God!
We’re overwhelmed by how good God is! Australia is a challenging field, and the Lord has chosen to bless this “little” church of ours. Of course, all this is possible through our Lord and Saviour and through your continued prayers and support!
Your servant in Christ,
Garry Tingson