Archive for April, 2010
Why the Change?
For those who have visited our site in the past you may be wondering why we had the design recently changed. Although we were happy with the look of our previous site there were some issues with the efficiency in creating the journal entries. A new page needed to be manually created for every month a new journal was to be posted. As we added months of entries, which will turn into years of entries, the amount of time spent creating and linking new pages grew exponentially.
One of our desires for the website is for the people who visit to find some connection with our family on a personal level. Since the journal entries (which have become blogs on our current site) are used as a means to this end we had our site redesigned using WordPress, which is very user friendly and easy to update with blogs.
Another advantage with the switch is that now visitors can comment on the blog posts. We look forward to your thoughts on future blogs as well as those in the past you might have found of interest.
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” – Proverbs 25:11
Feb/Mar 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 nine meetings in February and the 11 meetings in March that the Lord blessed us with in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, New York, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. We praise the Lord for the continued increase in support. We are now receiving 42% of our needed support to enable us to move to Italy and preach the gospel to those that are at Rome. Please continue to pray that the Lord would guide us to churches that would share our burden for Italy and that would partner with us in reaching Italian souls for Christ. Please pray for lodging for our family during summer meetings in Missouri, Colorado, Nevada, Southern California, Arizona, and Oklahoma. Also pray for us as we minister while on deputation.
Last Friday I went to downtown Dayton to pass out tracts and witness to people on the street. I began a conversation with three teenagers about their souls. Each of them became aware of their lost condition and were visibly concerned about standing before God at judgment. As we stood in a circle around an open Bible, two black Muslims interrupted our conversation and demanded to know what we were talking about. Their tone became more menacing as I declared that I was explaining to the young men the gospel and how they could have eternal life through Jesus Christ. I figured the only way I could diffuse a situation that was becoming increasingly more threatening was by asking the young men if they were interested in continuing our discussion. Their affirmation proved to be a good test of their sincerity and courage. I looked at the more vocal of our two adversaries and said, “They want to hear what I have to say.” The Muslims then blasphemed Jesus Christ and muttered something that I assumed was Arabic and crossed the street. Praise the Lord for His protection and for opening these young men’s eyes to their spiritual need. Roosevelt, Damon, and Tyrone each bowed their heads in turn and received Jesus Christ as their Saviour on the corner of Third and Main. Please pray for their spiritual growth as I follow up with them.
I had the opportunity to witness to a young woman named Christi that was working the front desk at a hotel in Opelika, Alabama. It turned out she was in need of assurance of salvation. She seemed unable to forgive herself over something in her past. I gave her contact information to our supporting church in the area. Please pray she’ll begin attending this church and know the love of Christ. Recently while knocking on doors I was struck how men love darkness rather than light. There were five or six people I was able to talk to about spiritual things that showed no concern whatsoever about their souls. Perhaps it was a foretaste of what we will find in Italy as I have been told by some about the spiritual indifference among Italians. Please pray now that the Lord will prepare the hearts of many people in Italy and that we will have open doors to minister and effectively communicate the gospel that we might win Italian souls for Christ.
On the home front, Pearl will turn one year old at the end of the month. She is saying about a dozen words and has started taking a few steps. Her condition of bleeding in her bowels has improved greatly through prayer and the use of probiotics. Her pediatrician continues to recommend that we be cautious in exposing her to nurseries in churches, other young children or sick adults, especially until her second birthday when her immune system should be strong. Isaiah has recently started taking guitar lessons. Please pray this will develop into an ability he can use to glorify and praise the Lord. Please continue to pray for Sandy, Isaiah, and me as we study the Italian language. Pray we will be able to arrive in Italy with a good working knowledge of Italian.
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