February 10, 2012
Dear Pastors, Supporters, Prayer Warriors, and AFBM Friends,
All of us at AFBM would like to thank you for your prayers and support. The Lord uses all of you to reach our mission field for Christ.
In this prayer letter we would like to highlight three church plants that are at different stages. In our next letter, we will concentrate on a few of our servicemen centers. Feel free to contact us at anytime with any questions you may have.
On behalf of our AFBM family, we remain your servants for Christ,
Brother Doug Carragher
The Gorman Family
Missionary/Church Planters
One year on deputation
afbmissions.org/gorman
Our faith has grown by leaps and bounds since we have started deputation. On February 11th, it will be one year since we left our home and started traveling full-time on deputation. We have been strengthened and encouraged by witnessing what God is doing for us.
When I resigned from my position as assistant pastor to begin traveling fulltime, I had no idea how our family’s needs would be met. It was a true step of faith. Since that time, God has wonderfully provided for our day to day needs as well as for our traveling expenses through His people. God has proved His faithfulness to us in many ways.
He has blessed us with 52 percent of our support! We have received valuable advice and hands-on experience from seasoned pastors at over 90 churches which God is using to prepare us for our church plant at Fort Dix. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness! Psalm 89:1 “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.”
The Marshall Family
Missionary/Church Planters
Two year plus church plant
NorthPointBC.org
It has been a wonderfully challenging time planting North Point Baptist Church in a time of war and financial downturns. We are again rediscovering that God is still on the throne even with hard areas of military church planting near training bases.
Great Lakes is the only basic training camp for the Navy. It is called the “Quarterdeck of the Navy” as this is where entry or access to the Navy life begins. Recruits are off limits for off base ministries like ours. These sailors then are easier to access after they graduate and are attending “A” school. For their safety off base they are required to travel in groups. When our people meet them and invite them to church ones who are interested cannot leave the group making it somewhat difficult to get them there. We are working on a way to schedule with them ahead of time.
We share a building with a Messianic Jewish Synagogue. They use it Saturdays and Thursdays and we use it Sundays, Wednesdays and every other Monday for a women’s Bible study.
The key, we have learned, is patience and persistence to establish this church in such a challenging area. We believe we are well on our way. Col. 1:18
The Cooke Family
Missionary/Church Planters
Three years in April church plant
EIBCWidefield.org
Since we opened our doors, we have grown to 11 families. We meet in a storefront in Colorado Springs. It is our sincere prayer that we find a building to house the service center and the church very soon. We know that GOD has the perfect place for us. Each year, we have an appreciation picnic for our military which is growing in popularity. Also, we have a Valentine Banquet for the adults with the church providing child care. Every month we have family game night. The families meet to play games and have good Christian fellowship. In the next two months, we will baptize two and have a baby dedication.
We have Sunday school for all ages and a Children’s Bible Club at our midweek service. We are excited about what GOD is doing here in Colorado Springs.
We have said goodbye to two families. One family is now stationed at Fort Lee and the other at Fort Stewart.
This is one part of the military ministry we do not like! Matthew 1:23
