As you will see from the recap video and from the next couple of pages, it was a good week last week. We had two main prayer requests in going to Oklahoma to present our REACH CALIFORNIA conference:
1. Laborers. We preached, had meetings, ate lunches with students, and spoke in Bible college classes about our burden for the state of California, and we are now praying that God calls more laborers to come to California one day. We may not see fruit for several more years, but we are praying that more churches will be planted here, and that the existing churches will continue with the next generation.
2. Liberal or Lost? Our theme for the week was “Liberal or lost,” and we tried to help people see the world like Jesus sees them: as souls destined for an eternity in either heaven or hell.
The week was wonderful. Last Wednesday through Sunday, our family represented California in the Missions Revival of Bible Baptist Church of Stillwater, OK, and every service we focused on a new mission field (Brazil, Kenya, Oregon, Heartland, and California). We had not been there as a family since 2014, so it was a joy to see old friends and make new ones.
Then, last Monday we went to Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City and met with all the California students we could round up. Tuesday through Thursday felt like nonstop conversations with students trying to discern the difference between a call and a burden.
We want what God wants. If God calls laborers to shine the light in the dark corners of California, we want that. If God calls laborers to go to their home towns and shine the light there, we want that.
For example, a student told me, “I’m seeing all this about California, but it’s making me more burdened about my home city of Houston.” We want what God wants, and we are not in competition with Houston! No doubt, there’s a need there.
Another student told me, “There are 40 independent Baptist churches in my little home town in Indiana, but a couple of towns over is a university town, and I could only find ONE independent Baptist church.” He is burdened about being a light in the dark pockets of his church-saturated state.
Thank you, church, for praying for the week last week. I missed being here, but I understand the preaching here was powerful! Your giving has allowed seeds to be planted last week that will grow into MANY souls in God’s kingdom.
“…many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:11
—Pastor Ryan