Prayer Letter – Summer 2019
Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ
This is my first prayer letter since announcing my calling into evangelism. After relinquishing the pastorate at New Beginnings Baptist Church in April 2018 to my son Luke, I have sought the Lord’s will for the path He would have me continue my race on. It was easier to leave the pastorate than I thought since my son Luke, no doubt, got a double portion of the Lord’s spirit (if not more). The church was in great hands with a shepherd that would watch over them, feed them, and guide them. Even though in my eyes, and through the eyes of many others, evangelism made sense, I wanted to be absolutely clear that it was what the Lord wanted. After a year of waiting on the Lord, and after I was sure that my newly acquired truck, trailer, and 22 years in the pastorate were not just a coincidence, I confirmed it with the Lord and officially announced my calling into evangelism in the Spring of 2019. Now it was my turn to reach out to the Independent, fundamental, Bible-believing pastors across America, the same way so many evangelists had done to me for 22 years. Thank the Lord for my helpmeet Jennifer, that prayed for me, and encouraged me all along the way, that God was not done with me yet. Now it was time to do some old-fashioned door knocking to the pastors across America.
It was no shock to anyone that my very first meeting in June of 2019 was to my dear pastor friend of over 15 years, Brother Greg Rhinehart of Bible Believers Baptist Church of Parker Florida. Amidst the devastation of Hurricane Michael, the Lord used my wife Jennifer and I to do nothing more than encourage the saints of BBBC. Rolling up our sleeves to dig, build, cut, and sweat, made us worthy to eat very well in Miss Debbie’s Diner (best food in town). The fellowship was sweet, and the spirit in the church was amazing. Though they had been through a category 5 hurricane and seen many of their people leave due to lack of housing or employment, their joy was that of the Macedonians. In July, we were invited to New Heights Baptist Church in Aurora Colorado, pastored by our dear friend Adrian Dominguez. I had the privilege of sending Adrian out from NBBC over 9 years ago. He has done a phenomenal job for the Lord in Colorado, and has a very thriving, zealous church. We knew it would be a good meeting when my wife Jennifer and I took an Uber one evening to dinner and had the privilege of leading the female driver to the Lord. As she dropped us off at the restaurant she prayed right there in her car, with tears streaming down her face, and afterwards giggling with joy over what she realized just happened. She became a child of God, forever sealed by the blood of Christ. The meeting went very well at NHBC and many of the saints were encouraged to continue pressing towards the mark. The Lord must have used us because we were invited back for a Valentines banquet in February and to preach their 10-year anniversary next Summer. From there I traveled to Rochester, NY to spend time with my father whose health was failing with cancer. While in NY I was able to preach at my sending church, Calvary Bible Baptist Church, pastored by Brother Hector Sotomayor. It was so good to be reunited with many of my friends and encouraging to see that they were still holding the fort down some 26 years later. During my travels back to Tennessee, another dear friend named Vance Willett, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in La Grange, KY asked me to preach. I was truly blessed by their love of the Lord, their generosity, and the hospitality they showed to us. Upon arriving back in Tennessee, I received a call from my sister that I should head back to NY because my Dad was fading quickly. By the time I arrived he had passed away and gone home to be with his Lord. I had the privilege of preaching my Dad’s memorial service in a Catholic church. Though I was not given much time, the Gospel went out loud and clear for 11 minutes (though they asked me to try and keep it to 5). That was the second time my entire family on both sides got to hear the Gospel since I preached my Mom’s service as well in 2012. To God be the glory because many (some Believers) said they were blessed by the eulogy and preaching of God’s word.
Evangelism has been such a blessing in that it has enabled me to see that there truly are still people around America that love the Lord, are occupying, pressing towards the mark, and are looking for His appearing. I’ll be preaching again at NHBC in Colorado on November 17 and pray that the Lord will continue to use us according to His will. Please pray for us that doors of utterance will be opened unto us, and for the strength against the many adversaries that await us on the other side. Thank you very much for your prayers. I cannot imagine life in the ministry without the power of prayer behind us. To God be the glory, great things He hath done!