Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,             May 20, 2020

What an amazing time to be alive! Covid 19 is upon us. The media has been feeding us surreal stories of governments shutting borders, food and tissue paper shortages and unbelievable counts of infected people.  We have also seen images of people wearing masks, empty city streets and exhausted medical workers.  Federal and State offices are closed. Multi-billion dollar businesses around the world are shutting their doors and sending people home. Finally, churches have been advised, and in some cases, mandated to shut their doors. All of these events sound like something out of a dramatic movie.

In spite of all the craziness around us, our church and family are doing well.  In Arkansas we have seen minimal affects of the virus.  My employer has not sent anyone home as my job, a grocery store employee, makes me an essential worker.  Our children are homeschooled, so the only change in their schedule has been no weekly library trips because the library is closed. 

Our Governor has only issued recommendations to churches, not mandates. We have not had to cancel any morning services, but many other churches around us have chosen to close their doors and hold services online or in their parking lots.  A few families of like faith have joined our Sunday morning services until their churches resume their services.  

The other day I was preparing for our midweek Bible study. We are currently studying the book of First Peter.  As Peter opened the letter I was amazed at how fitting his introduction is to the times that we are living in now.  He writes, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout…”  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” 1 Peter 1:1a, 5, 6.  This passage makes reference to the church being scattered due to persecution. Today many believers are without a church due to concerns of infection and government direction.  For the first time, as I read this passage, I can empathize a little more the uncertainty and stress the early scattered believers must have experienced back then because of our uncertain times now.  Peter took on the role of an encourager.  Our people need to be encouraged during these uncertain times, but not in the politically correct way of, “be safe” or “we can do it .” But rather exercise wisdom in our daily encounters. We should also remember the sure salvation that we have and the sovereignty and faithfulness of the God we serve. 

• Please pray that our church would seek God for comfort and growth.  
• My wife is expecting a baby girl in September.  Please join us in prayer for a safe pregnancy and delivery.  

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

June Letter

June 24, 2019

Hello Pastors and Praying Friends, 

 This Sunday God gave me liberty to speak on a subject that I know is right,
but few want to talk about.  The whole service was quiet until I came to my
closing points.
There were times during the message that you could hear a pin drop. 
On occasion, one of our men in church gave several distinct “Amens” which,
in a way, gave permission for others to give some holy grunts. 
What was the subject that I preached so passionately about ?
- The Dangers of Homosexuality. My goal was to show that God is
as opposed to the sin of Homosexuality in the New Testament as He was
in the Old Testament.  In light of Gay Pride month, I wanted to remind our
people that God has not changed his mind on this topic; and neither should we. 

These past several months we have celebrated several holidays
that have been a blessing to our church.   In our Church we have a
high number of single mothers. Highlighting the parts of God’s word on
biblical fatherhood and motherhood have been good for us. 
We compared our society’s view verses God’s view. We encouraged our
members to trust God by faith and to do His will. Finally, we honored the mothers
and fathers in our services.  Our people were blessed as we witnessed visitors,
expressions of joy, love and fellowship.

Family News

Our family is doing well.  We have been enjoying this wonderful spring weather.

We even started a garden. 

My daughters both celebrated their birthdays.

Aaliyah is now 10 and Cassidy is now 8 years old.  As you may remember ,

we have been watching my wife’s nieces and nephew for the past year.

Well, the nieces and nephew have gone back to live with their mother in Oklahoma. 

We pray that God would continue to keep them in church and that they would

grow in their knowledge of Christ. 

We are so grateful to have a part in God’s work. 

God has been faithful in his protection, provision and care of us. 

Thank you for your prayers, support and love. God bless and take care!

In His Service, 

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas

2018 - A Year in Review

BLESSED!

"O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him". Psalm 34:8

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,

The definition of the word "blessed", according to Webster, is to be held in reverence; honored in worship; of or enjoying happiness; or as bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune.

If I were to sum up our year in one word, it would be the word "blessed".  Not because we experienced more good than anyone else; but because we are grateful for what we did receive in the year 2018.

We saw many new faces in church.  Many decisions were made by those among us to live for God. It appears that our influence in Newport is growing.  In this year alone, six of my associates at Walmart have frequented our services.

One of our members in still with us...and is now cancer free.  Many of the children who were preschoolers when we first arrived are now teenagers.

Our son Brayden went to be with the Lord.  My nieces and nephew joined my children in our homeschool.  Last, but not least, all of our children are growing n their knowledge and understanding of the Lord...I could go on.

Yes. I would sum up our year with this one word.  BLESSED!

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas 

July 2018

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  - Matthew 5:14-16

We are having a wonderful Summer!  I hope you are as well.  A few of the highlights that I would like to share with you are 1.)  We FINALLY  were able to replace our church sign that blew away in a storm last year.  We mentioned the need to a group of friends and the Arkansas fellowship of pastors took care of it.  Praise the Lord!!!  2.)Three new families have been faithfully attending our services...two of which are my fellow employees at Wal-mart.  I pray daily for the Lord to use me to glorify him while I am working.  I have mentioned before that I know God uses my position there as a ministering tool.  Folks may not come to my church, but everyone in Newport goes by the meat wall at Wal-mart!  Many have promised to attend, a few have kept those promises.  I am really glad to see the families of my employees grow in the Lord as they attend our services.  They have begun to invite others from work to attend, and some of their friends and family have since visited. 

 3.) We recently celebrated two birthdays in our family. My daughters were born one day short of two years  apart.  My oldest girl turned 9 and our second born turned 7 on June 17th and 18th.  We enjoyed having the cousins here to join in celebrating with us.  Which brings me to the next point.   4.)  We are enjoying an extended visit from my nieces and nephew from Oklahoma. I have included a picture of our church sign just to the right.  My nieces and nephew were so kind to pose for the photo.  You can see the personality just bursting forth in the photo.  Pray for us and them! 

We are thankful for every day that the Lord allows us to try and make a positive impact on their lives.  Last Summer two of the three trusted the Lord.  We will see what the Lord will do this year.

 5.) Last of all, my wife and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! Eleven years have flown by.  We have had challenges and such, but apart from salvation, my wife is the best gift I have received from the Lord. I am truly blessed!  Thank you for your continued financial and prayer support!

In His service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport Arkansas

April Prayer Letter

April 23, 2018

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. – Romans 14:8

     In our previous letter we asked for prayer regarding our son, Brayden.  He was diagnosed with Trisomy 18.  On Thursday, March 7^th, we went for his 36 week checkup, and found out that he had passed sometime that morning.  We know it had to have happened that morning because he was such an active little fella and that morning was no different.  Even the ultrasound tech thought he was sound asleep upon first glance because he had not yet begun to show any signs of death. You can imagine how shocked we were when we found no heartbeat.

     The doctors recommended that my wife try and go into labor naturally for the sake of her health, so she did.  March 11, 2018, Spring forward Sunday, she began to have contractions as she was preparing for church.  Once we were sure it was real labor we headed for the hospital just down the street.  He was delivered that afternoon at  just after 1:00.  We had a small memorial service on the following Thursday.  I am thankful for those who attended, two of which raised their hand for salvation.  As was  mentioned in the verse above, Brayden was the Lord’s while he lived in the womb; and Brayden is definitely the Lord’s now.  We are thankful for the opportunity to have been his family for the brief time that he was with us.  Of course, we would have preferred to have him with us now; but we trust our heavenly Father, who loves us more than we could ever imagine, to know what is best for Brayden and us.

Thank you for your continued prayer and support for our family and our church.  May the Lord continue His work in us.

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

February News

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Church News

1 Peter 4:10 " As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

Once again, I have much to share with you as it has been a while since our last letter.  I want to begin by thanking all of you who support us faithfully with your prayers, as well as financially. We do continue to see both spiritual and numerical growth in the church and are happy to be able to not only "trust" that God is working; but to "see" His work.  As the verse above states, we are commanded to minister to others in the church with the gifts that God gives to us when we are saved.  I am always happy when visitors show up, in fact, we have had a steady stream of visitors every Sunday for months.  I am especially excited to report that two people from my job have been faithfully attending for months now as well; but I am rejoicing today because I have seen our faithful people demonstrating the gifts that they have before, during, and after the services.  
     This is a very important aspect of "building" a church.  My family can do everything in our power to keep people in church; but when the members take it upon themselves to not only invite others to church, but to also show hospitality, encourage, and minister to each other; it is then that people start to stick around.

Family news

John 9:1-3 "And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

In our last letter we rejoiced over the fact that #5 is on the way.  Shortly after that letter, we received news that Brayden (#5) is faced with many challenges.  The doctors believe he has trisomy 18 which is a chromosomal disorder.  Our first visit to the geneticist after the diagnosis left us with very little hope.  The ultrasound showed that he had issues from the top of his head to the bottom of his little feet.  We set up an appointment for the next visit; but did not believe he would be with us that long...but he was and still is!  The second visit showed problems, but they were fewer.  The third visit showed fewer still.  Of course, the doctors are still giving us no hope of his survival or living a "normal" life; but we are asking God to do a mighty work in this "impossible" situation.  Regardless, we know with Christ there is always hope!  This is the difference between the saved and the lost.  We are blessed to be able to approach the throne of grace on our son's behalf because of the work of Christ.  The lost have to accept what the professionals tell them.  Would you join us in prayer about our precious son?  Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support!

Prayer requests:

1.  Our church to continue to experience spiritual and numerical growth.

2.  Favor in our community.

3.  Wisdom and finances to pay off the churches Mortgage supernaturally.

4.  Continued health and safety for our family.

5. Baby Brayden's miracle

6. Several others in our church who are facing health issues (cancer, kidney problems, lung/heart problems). I would love to share these situations with you in future updates as we are seeing the Lord work here as well.

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

June - August Prayer Letter

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.   Acts 2:47

I have much to share with you as it has been a while since our last letter.  I want to begin by thanking all of you who support us faithfully with your prayers, as well as financially! We  always ask for your prayers regarding our church's spiritual and numerical growth. We are happy to report that we are seeing both happen. 

In the middle of July,  our family went on vacation to California to visit family.  I never realize how much I need a vacation until I am leaving for vacation! We had a wonderful time of rest, relaxation, and renewal.  It was the first time for some of our family to meet our little Rayanna.  You can believe that the grandparents and grandkids thoroughly enjoyed one another; but their parents enjoyed having time alone together even more!

Once we returned home to Newport, we were greatly encouraged by how things went in the church while we were away.  Our people handled every aspect of the services themselves.  We even received reports from people in town who visited  that the service was a blessing to them.  We continue to see the hand of God in our services in a unique way since our return.  The first Thursday evening service we held in August we had about 15 visitors!  Most of whom have since returned.  Several of them have made professions of faith after our Sunday morning services.  We are scheduled to have a baptismal service next Sunday. What a blessing! PLEASE, keep these new believers lifted up in prayer! We can really see a hunger and thirst for righteousness in some of them.

Family news

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

                                                  Psalm 127:3

We have had an exciting year; but these past few months have been packed with events -  vacation, three birthdays, our wedding anniversary, stomach viruses, and  the news that we are to expect baby #5 sometime around March 24th!  God truly has been good to us.

Prayer requests:

1.  Our church to continue to experience spiritual and numerical growth.

2.  Favor in our community.

3.  Wisdom and finances to pay off the churches Mortgage supernaturally.

4.  Continued health and safety for our family.

Thanks again for your faithful prayers and support!

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

March-April Prayer Letter

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.            -Romans 1:17

We are thankful for the change in seasons once again, but we have reason to be more thankful this season especially.  Recently, severe storms ( complete with tornados, hail, flooding, and winds blowing up to 60 mph) have swept through our area.  Several buildings were damaged.  A few had their roofs blown off their apartments.  Telephone poles were snapped in two along our street.  Several neighborhoods were without power for up to five days. One gentleman just down the road from our church and home experienced a huge tree branch...and I do mean HUGE, fall onto and completely total his truck.  We praise the Lord that other than a few panels of siding being blown off, three days without power, and the loss of our church sign; we suffered minimal damage.

Our Church Family

Some of our members have been going through storms of their own.  Please join me in praying that these storms will be a source of growth for them.  One of our members, in particular, recently took in his aging mother.  She lived with him for about two months or so and came to church with him regularly.  She passed away in her bed on a Thursday morning. He thoroughly enjoyed caring for her and we enjoyed her presence in the services. She will be sorely missed.

One highlight I want to share with you is the success of our Ressurection service.  Several new families and many children were present.  Two visitors in particular met me at Wal-mart during the week and told me they were coming to my church for Easter.  Well, I've heard that before, and we live in a small town with many large churches where people usually attend where their families attend.  I was tremendously blessed when they both showed up with their relatives in tow!  Every Easter we do a pinata instead of an egg hunt to conclude our services.  Everybody loves it! We have my nieces and nephew here with us and we could tell they had hit a few pinatas during their short lifetimes; but my oldest girl, Aaliyah, had the pleasure of bursting one open this year. She was SO excited! I have decided that next year we will have three pinatas instead of two.  One for the little ones, one for the older kids, and one for the adults!  I heard some faint murmuring from the "grown kids" about not having an opportunity to try and burst a pinata.

I trust that you had a wonderful Ressurection Sunday as well. Praise the Lord that we serve a risen Savior!!!

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17

In His service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

October - December Prayer Letter

The New Year is fast approaching! As we close out this year, we are encouraged to reflect on the past and set new goals for the future.

Highlights 2016

The year 2016 was a year of growth for us personally as well as our church, spiritually and numerically.  

We were especially blessed with the addition of little Rayanna on February 11^th. She brings joy and delight to our family everyday.

Another of our main highlights was our trip to our home church, Bethel Baptist Church, in North Carolina.  It was a celebration of their 19^th year and I was invited to preach during the service. My goal in preaching was to encourage them, but they encouraged me! Seeing so many of the people that attended there during my nine years as assistant pastor, as well as the many new faces, TRULY blessed my soul! The Bible says in Galatians 6:9 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.  What a beautiful manifestation of that verse. Please continue to pray for us in the New Year as we aim to continue serving the Lord. My heart’s desire is to continue doing well that we all may rejoice in what the Lord has done here in Newport, Arkansas. Thank you for your prayers and faithful support during 2016! 

Pastor Fontenot (the current pastor), myself, Pastor Leon Lucas (founding pastor of Bethel Baptist Church in Wilson, North Carolina)

Mrs. Lucas (founding pastor's wife) my wife-Tinyla, and Mrs. Fontenot (the current pastor's wife)

Your servant in Christ,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist church

Newport, Arkansas

June - September Prayer Letter

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,

Church News

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. - Acts 2:41

 The event we are most excited to share with you is the baptism of my second daughter, Cassidy. We mentioned her salvation and enthusiasm about baptism in our last prayer letter.  She never lost that enthusiasm...until the night before when I was filling the baptistery.  The next morning she entered the waters with much fear and trepidation and a "little" prodding from my wife. I ask her the usual questions - Are you saved? Do you understand that baptism doesn't save you, but rather it's and outward expression of what has taken place in your heart. - To which she whispered her answer, "Yes".  I dunked her and raised her up.  She had a look of horror on her face.  Afterward as the church came forward to congratulate her I heard her tell one of the ladies,  "It wasn't scary at all!"  We will have to work on the lesson of honesty pronto!

We have been having a steady stream of visitors including one gentleman whom I first invited almost four years ago showed up in church last week.  I visited him, encouraged him, and did some Bible study with him in his home until he moved and we lost contact.  A few weeks back I ran into his wife and kids at Wal-Mart.  She asked about the times of the services. I told her. I was totally shocked when I saw him instead of her and the kids in church Sunday.   She didn't come because she was ill.  We are praying that we will see the whole family next week.

Last of all I will share with you that we had an unofficial work day on the grounds.  A brother from another independent Baptist church in a neighboring town called and said he and "a few" fellows would be over to help me with some work that needed to be done on the property.  I guess that by the time it was over 40 folks showed up! I guess because I stopped counting at about 25.  They helped us cut down a fallen tree, fix our garage door,  clean out the barn and fix a portion of its roof, and some ladies helped my wife clean the church.  What a blessing! We are so thankful for wonderful friends in the ministry.

Prayer requests

1. Our family's good health and wellness to continue.  My wife did have a severe sinus infection recently.  Please keep her (and us all) in your prayers during this harvest season.  The farmers have been hard at work which raises a lot of dust and allergens into the air.

2. Our church family to grow spiritually and numerically.

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support!

In His Service,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport,  Arkansas

March - May Prayer Letter

May 26, 2016

Dear Pastor and praying friends,

Things continue to go well at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Newport.  For the sake of brevity I will share a  few of the highlights with you.

 We always enjoy Resurrection Sunday with our people and this year was no different.  We had a youth activity that was very successful.   Some young people we had not seen for almost a year attended, heard the message of salvation once again, and  were warned about the dangers of negative peer pressure.  We also had a movie night at our house with some of the ladies from church.  I had been preaching about the fundamentals of Christianity, including prayer when someone gave us the movie, "War Room".  My family watched it and felt challenged, so we decided to share it with our people.  They seemed to be challenged about prayer as well.

We continue to see visitors nearly every week. Including a man that I led to the Lord last Summer.   I have mentioned him before in a previous letter because he volunteered to cut the church lawn for free.  He did so faithfully for two years; but never would come to a church service.  Every time  I approached him about attending church, or tried to witness to him he would suddenly have something else pressing to do.  One particular Thursday evening, I was on my way into church for the evening service and he was finishing the lawn.  We struck up a conversation, I began to ask again about him coming to church, then I asked him about salvation.  To my surprise,  we stood there on the lawn and he listened and even prayed to receive the Lord! I was very late for church, but it was worth it.  The folks understood and rejoiced with us.  Well, a year later, he finally came to church with his girlfriend and son! He has come for two weeks. Please pray for  him to allow the Lord to do a work in his life.

^" But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." -  Matthew 19:14

I am extremely excited to report that another one of our children is "in the boat"! Our second daughter, Cassidy, has been asking since her sisters salvation last year if she could get saved as well. Since she was only three at the time so we told her to wait until she turned five like her sister, Aaliyah.  She is only four now, but during the invitation on Sunday, March 27th; I asked all who would like to be saved to raise their hand.  She was 1 of 2 who raised their hand.  After the service, my wife took her into the nursery and asked why she raised her hand in church. She said because she wanted to go to heaven with Jesus too.  Tinyla showed her a few verses and asked her many questions.  She answered them all correctly so my wife prayed the sinners prayer with her! Cassidy is so happy about being saved and is now begging me to baptize her.   I told her she should wait until the weather warms up...about June, so that the baptistery waters won't be freezing cold.  Praise the Lord for the faith and excitement for the things of the Lord in children!

Cassidy and Aaliyah

Prayer requests:

1. Good health and safety for our family.

2. More laborers in the church.  I have been trying to encourage our people to move past the basics of Christianity on to service for the Lord.  So many think that there is one type of Christianity for the Pastor and his family and a different type for everyone else.  We are praying that the Lord will help them to see that all of us should walk by faith in love and obedience to the Lord...where ever it may lead us. 

3. Spiritual and numerical growth in our church.

Until next time,

Pastor Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas

January - February Prayer Letter

Dear Pastor and Praying Friends,                                                                     February 26, 2016

            It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.         They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  - Lamentations 3:22-25

The Lord certainly is Good and Faithful!  We continue to see the Lord's hand in our ministry and in our lives and we are so thankful for his blessings!  The Church is doing well.  Of Course, we  would love to have every seat full  and the alter overflowing; but we are grateful for those who attend faithfully and for the visitors we continue to see every week.  Our attendance is up and, as I mentioned, we have had visitors every week except one for the last two months.  We have also been blessed to have a missionary and his wife visit as they were passing through as well as a dear brother in the Lord and his family as they were in town on family business.

I am also thankful to report that I have had two unique experiences in the past month.  Two people have come up to me and asked me to come and get them for church.  One was a grandmother of three preteens who had been attending our church.  She told me to, " Come and get them!".  I went to pick them up and two of the three were ready. 

Also a gentleman who used to attend faithfully met me at work.  I sat and talked with him on my break and he asked me to come by and get him on Sunday.  I pray he attends this Sunday

           

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation:  the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.   - Matthew 26:41

           

Family News

The year ended with the disappointing experience of the transmission going out on our old trusty van.  We are thankful for how the Lord has provided a newer vehicle for us just in time for our newest arrival.  Introducing... Rayanna Lynell Beckles.  Born Thursday, February 11, 2016 at 4:10a.m. She is our smallest baby weighing in at 5lbs. 13 oz.  and 19 inches long. Both my wife and Rayanna are doing very well.

Prayer Requests:

1.  Our family's continued good health and safety.

2.  One of our members who is really struggling with a big decision.

3. Our Church's spiritual and numerical growth.

Wishing you God's Best,

Pastor Raymond Beckles

Lighthouse Baptist Church

Newport, Arkansas