March- April 2014

Dear Pastor and Praying friends,

“…Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in…”

Luke 14:23

 We would like to invite you to attend Lighthouse Baptist Church this Sunday. 

…I am not in church right now; but when I do go, I only attend the Church of Christ.

May I take the Word of God right now and show you how you can know Jesus as your Savior?

...Actually, I am kind of busy.  Bye.

We continue to be amazed on visitation by the responses we get from people.  I am sure this scenario is one you have experienced before if you invite others to church on a regular basis.   Be it the Church of Christ, or some other false religion that has infested your area; people know just enough to keep them from hearing the truth.  That being said… We continue to praise God.  Souls are still being saved and added to the church here in Newport, Arkansas!  Since our last prayer letter we have seen two young men and one lady in her mid- thirties pray to receive the Lord while we were out soulwinning.  Also, one single lady who has been visiting with us for the past month or so has asked to join the church next Sunday.

We were seeing about thirty to forty souls every Sunday morning a couple of months ago. Since our last prayer letter our church has gone through a time of pruning.   It is a little discouraging for a church planter whose goal is to build a church  to see those you care about move on; but it just goes to show that God is not only concerned about numbers.  He is also concerned about spiritual fruit. 

Another noteworthy topic is the storms that recently hit our area.  One particular Sunday evening the tornado sirens were sounding about every ten minutes for hours it seemed.  We were in our home praying and prepared to go to the basement. Many in our town were bunkered down in the community storm shelter down the road.  Thankfully the tornados did not hit Newport; but a few neighboring towns lost loved ones and property.

Slammed doors and dis-interested people, times of pruning and discouragement, and horrible storms show us how much we need the Lord to intervene on our behalf.  Thank you for your prayers and financial support which enable us to continue to spread the gospel in Jackson County of Arkansas.

Please pray with us about:

1.  Our family’s health and wellbeing.  Praise the Lord that everyone is doing well.

2.  Praise the Lord for the church’s parsonage- our home; but it does have some serious plumbing problems.

3.  ‘Tis the season to be mowing!  I spend a good amount of time mowing grass every week.  Please pray with us about a tractor.

4. Souls, souls, souls!  Please pray with us that we will see more souls saved and active in church.

In His Service,

 

Pastor Raymond Beckles