June 24, 2009

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Three of the Kinney "kids" hanging out at John & Carol's.


Carol is sitting right behind me--on the right side.

Working on the float... Ice fishing... ...and frying fish!

Noah studying at the kitchen table in the camper.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
(1Co 1:18)

Dear Friends,
Greetings from rainy Massachusetts! The seeds that Noah helped plant in Pastor Kinney’s garden have not lacked for moisture to help them grow! God promises that in the same way the rain does its work to cause seeds to sprout, His Word will accomplish what He sends it out to do in people’s lives (Isa. 55:10-11). This is an encouragement to us as we communicate God’s Word to people here—it is Scripture that has the power to convert souls and to mature souls!

The Kinney family returned safely home last Friday from their missions conference in Maine. They had an enjoyable and profitable time, and when they returned, we “traded spaces” with them, moving into their cozy camper, parked across the street, beside the church. We still enjoy accompanying them & helping with ministry to various people during the day, and visiting with them in the evenings, playing guitar and singing with the kids, talking, and eating ice cream!

Thank you for praying for Noah’s sermon preparation for last Sunday evening. The Lord enabled him to preach from 1 Corinthians 1:1-8, about our position in Christ. Today as I type, he is diagramming the sentences from verses 18-25 for next Sunday evening. There is a handful of unsaved people who have been attending services at Hampton St. Baptist Church, and we pray that God would enable Pastor Kinney and Noah to clearly present the gospel as they preach.

You may remember the lady we mentioned last week with whom I (Lois) was going to visit. Carol was raised Catholic, but her children have been attending Hampton St.’s after-school “Joy Club” for several years, and recently she and her husband, John, have been coming to church services here. On Sunday, Pastor Kinney said that John was “on the edge of his seat” during the entire sermon! Oh, may the interest of this couple be a sign that God is working in their hearts!

Not only are we burdened for the unsaved people here, but there are also quite a few new Christians in the church who have many needs. It has been fun to get to know these people, and it is evident that God’s grace is working in them, too. The Kinneys have many opportunities to counsel with them, and so do we, as we interact with them this summer on a more informal basis. One dynamic that I need to learn how to handle is how to provide counsel or an example to women who are older than I, but younger in the Lord.

Prayer Points:
Noah & Pastor Kinney’s sermon preparation & delivery
Salvation of John & Carol, and others attending the church
Salvation of Effi, a lady in the community we are getting to know
Growth of the believers at Hampton St. Baptist Church
Growth in our ability to minister one-on-one
Good weather on Saturday for the parade float advertising our VBS

Thank you once again for your prayers!