Highlights from Our Week

• Last Sunday, Feb. 3, we were in two of our supporting churches- New Life Baptist Church in Columbia, SC, and Sumter Baptist Temple in Sumter, SC.

• We are having a blast being able to see friends from our supporting churches. The relationships a missionary builds on deputation are priceless.

• On Wednesday, Feb. 6, we were in a supporting church, Forrest Hills @ Mountain View Baptist Church in Snellville, GA. Was able to give a report as well as preach. 

• Was blessed to see missionary to Cambodia, Matthew Brown and his family at Forrest Hills. We met them in Cambodia when they were on their survey trip, and they just happened to drop in on the night we were at Forrest Hills. We're excited for them- they're at 55% after 10 months of deputation!

• We just finished up a missions conference at a supporting church, Bible Baptist Church in Jacksonville, AR. What a great conference it was. Was able to teach Sunday school and give a report, and spend time with many precious friends. The church substantially increased its missions giving for this year and took on two new missionaries.

• Enjoyed the preaching of Dr. Ed Thierbach. First time to hear him preach, and was blessed by his extremely biblical and practical preaching.

• Yesterday was a bittersweet day at our "second" home church, First Baptist Church of Long Beach, CA. They said goodbye to their beloved pastor, John Wilkerson, and his precious family by having a send-off service as he begins his responsibilities as pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN next Sunday. 

• Pastor Wilkerson is Linda's first pastor. She was saved under his ministry when she was 19 years old. We also lived our first two years of marriage under Pastor Wilkerson's pastoral leadership when I was on staff at FBCLB from 2007 to 2009. It sure is going to be strange going to FBCLB without seeing the Wilkersons, but we know that God has a wonderful plan for this special church, and for the Wilkersons as well.