Archive for February, 2010
Dec/Jan Prayer Letter
Dear Brethren,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. We are thankful for the three meetings in December and the 11 meetings in January that the Lord blessed us with in Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. We praise the Lord for the seven new churches that have started supporting us financially since our last prayer letter in December. Please pray for us as we continue to schedule for 2010-11, that the Lord would guide us to churches that would share our burden for Italy and that they would partner with us in reaching Italian souls for Christ. Also, pray for us as we minister while on deputation.
Recently while Isaiah and I were passing out tracts in Ormond Beach, Florida, we approached a young Hispanic woman that was walking towards the bus stop. I began a conversation with her about the Lord and asked if she had given any thought about where she would spend eternity. She expressed concern for her soul and was eager to hear the gospel. As I reasoned with her from the scriptures I prayed inwardly that her bus would be late so I would have time to share the gospel. Praise the Lord this young woman’s Saviour showed up right on time as she bowed her head and called upon the name of the Lord for salvation after a 15-minute conversation. I just had time to gather her contact information when her bus pulled up, later than usual. I found a local Baptist church on the internet and provided them with her contact information. The young woman’s name is JoAnn, please pray for her spiritual growth. Also, in the course of our conversation she seemed somewhat dejected and at one point mentioned being lonely. Please pray she will find some godly friends and be encouraged in the Lord.
Last week I was interviewed by the morning show at WBLW, a fundamental Christian radio station and ministry of Grace Baptist Church in Gaylord, Michigan. The 25 minute interview included questions regarding my testimony, my family, the call of God, and ministering in Italy. The broadcast was in a local area of over 100,000 people as well as those listening over the internet. It was a wonderful opportunity to not only share our ministry but give the gospel to a large listening audience. You can find a link to listen to the interview at our blog posted February 16th.
Ye also helping together by prayer for us with the following requests…
- Please pray the dozens of churches that have expressed their intentions of financially supporting our ministry would remember the Planck family and begin supporting us soon
- Pray that we will continue to book a full schedule for 2010 and for health and safety while we travel
- Pray for the spiritual growth of JoAnn as well as for her to meet godly friends
- Pray for Sandy, Isaiah, Pearl and me with the challenges that life on the road brings
- Pray for lodging for our family during summer meetings in Missouri, Colorado, Nevada, Southern California, Arizona, and Oklahoma
- Pray we will learn the Italian language as we study while on deputation
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.
Yours in Christ,
Stetson, Sandy, Isaiah, and Pearl
Not Just a Number
I had some time to kill recently before an evening service. I skimmed through a mission agency’s magazine that was a lying on a table near our missions display. There was a brief article on deputation with the following statistics…
- 1 out of 100 men who surrender to missions ever makes it to the field
- In setting up meetings a missionary will make around 4,000 phone calls
- Out of those 4,000 phone calls he may talk to 1,000 pastors
- Out of those 1,000 pastors, he may set up 300 meetings
- Out of those 300 meetings, he may get 125 supporting churches
- Out of these churches he will have 3 to 5 very likely drop his support before he finishes deputation
- Of churches that “take him on right there in the service” only 50% will actually follow through with support
- He will travel approximately 100,000 miles to get to his meetings
- The average amount of time on deputation for missionaries is 3 to 4 years
My heart sank as I read these statistics. I am saddened when I hear that missionaries come off the field or quit before they ever make it to the field because of reasons other than the Lord’s leading. Each number in the statistics above represents a life. I realize this includes those who only want to mooch off the sacrificial giving of others as well as those who have mistaken zeal to serve the Lord for the leading of the Spirit, but it also includes those who have a genuine call of God and have set aside their “normal” life in the pursuit of this call.
I believe the main reason a missionary quits is discouragement. The source of discouragement comes packaged in different forms and is often an aggregate of reasons rather than a single thing. These would include sickness, expenses, road weariness, lack of privacy, instability of life on the road, its affect on the family (especially kids), unfulfilled promises from churches, and many more. These problems are compounded and can become increasingly stressful as the time of deputation is protracted.
I’m certainly not an expert on deputation nor am I immune to discouragement. Although we have experienced some hardships on deputation the biggest source of disappointment for me personally has been the promise of support from churches that we have yet to receive. In spite of this hope deferred, we will not quit. We encourage ourselves in the Lord (1 Sam. 30:6). He is worthy and His will our desire, and His will is that we might reach Italian souls for Christ.
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12
Rise and Shine
Last Monday I was interviewed by the talk show hosts of the Rise and Shine morning show on WBLW, a fundamental Christian radio station and ministry of Grace Baptist Church in Gaylord, MI. To listen to the interview click here.
The 25 minute interview included questions regarding my testimony, my family, the call of God, and ministering in Italy. It was a wonderful opportunity to not only share our ministry but give the gospel to a large listening audience.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” – 1 Peter 3:15