Italian Souls for Christ

The desire of our heart is that the Italian people might know Christ and the power of His resurrection. After 100,000 miles, 27 States, 261 churches, 54 mission conferences, 15,000 prayer cards, 151 different beds, we are ready to begin our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ in the land of Italy.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Thank you for partnering with us to reach Italian souls for Christ! We are so thankful for the supporting churches the Lord has blessed us with that makes it financially possible for us to minister in Italy. We only lack 8% of our needed support but trust the remainder will come in from churches who have expressed their intentions to partner with us as well as others we have visited in the past that are unknown to us as part of God’s plan for provision.

Today was a happy day for Sandy and me as we received our visas in the mail from the Detroit consulate! We praise the Lord all the paperwork was processed without difficulty and we received our visas within a week after we first submitted the required documents. There is conflicting information of what is required for our kids. It seems the “worst case” scenario is that we would eventually have to fly back to the States after receiving the appropriate certificates for them in Italy to submit them in person to the consulate in Detroit. After speaking with other missionaries in Italy we’re not too worried about it. Our next step will be to apply for our “Permit to Stay” (Permesso di Soggiorno) in Italy within a week of our arrival. Please pray we all receive this very important document without any difficulty.

Two weeks ago I flew to Italy to secure an apartment for my family. Our future co-laborer in Rome drove me around to the twenty-plus appointments he had set up. We are so thankful for the Homan family and especially the hard work Brother Jamie put in on our behalf in order to help us obtain an apartment. Thank you so much for your prayers in this matter. God provided wonderfully with a beautiful apartment! It is in a great location and we are all very excited to move into our new home. We are looking forward to the opportunity of ministering in our neighborhood which is only a 10-minute ride from the church that Brother Homan has started.

On the first leg of my flight to Rome from Cincinnati to Charlotte I had the opportunity to witness to a Chinese graduate student seated next to me named Fei. Not long into our flight we began discussing the meaning of life. In spite of the ancestral worship of his youth he was open to the existence of a God but was not sold on the “escapism” he saw among Christianity. We began at creation and ultimately examined through the scriptures how God has reconciled sinful man to Himself by Jesus Christ. It was apparent that I wasn’t going to change Fei’s philosophy of life in an hour conversation; however, his parting words did encourage me. He said, “I search for peace. Maybe someday I can have what you have. I need to buy me a Bible and study this further.” Amen. Please pray for Fei’s salvation.

Our departure date of December 28th is fast approaching and we still lack $21,825 of our start-up fund. This money has been set-aside for things such as deposits, shipping a container, furniture, a vehicle, expenses for the apartment search, etc. If you feel impressed to help, please send your love offering to Mount Abarim Baptist Mission with the note “Planck Start-up Fund.” We are so thankful for those that have already given.

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 Planck

Deputation draws to a close for our family in October. We have shared our call and desire of reaching Italian souls for Christ to churches in 27 States. A new chapter in our lives begins on December 28th when we fly to Rome to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

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 praise the Lord for all of our supporting churches that make it possible for us to minister in Italy… thank you for partnering with us in order to reach Italian souls for Christ. Please pray earnestly that the nearly 10% of monthly financial support we lack will be met before we leave for Rome in December.

On the last Sunday evening in August I had the privilege of baptizing my son Isaiah at our home church. It was a special experience for me as a father. Sandy and I have no greater joy than to know that our son desires to walk in truth and has taken this first step towards spiritual maturity after his salvation several years ago.

Recently while passing out gospel tracts in my neighborhood I had the opportunity to speak with a seventeen-year old named Devin and two fourteen-year olds named Elizabeth and Jacob. After hearing the gospel for about 30 minutes Devin and Elizabeth called upon the name of the Lord to be saved. Jacob however refused. The following week I called to encourage each of them concerning the Lord. When I spoke with Jacob’s mother she informed me that she drove around the neighborhood for nearly an hour trying to find me in order to thank me for preaching the gospel to her boy. Jacob told his mom he was under such conviction on his way home that he found the nearest park bench and asked Christ to save him. Praise the Lord. Please pray for the spiritual growth of Devin, Elizabeth, and Jacob.

November is a very busy transition month for us. Within a week of us returning to Ohio from meetings in California I will fly to Italy to secure an apartment for our family. Please be much in prayer that I will find an appropriate home in Rome that will be both safe and convenient at an affordable rent. Two days after I return from Italy, Sandy and I will apply for our visas at the Italian consulate in Detroit. We covet your prayers that there will be no difficulties in obtaining our visas in a timely manner.

Last year we sought counsel from our pastor, our mission agency, as well as several pastors who are former missionaries, to determine the appropriate amount needed for our start-up fund, of which we still lack a significant amount. This money will be used for things such as deposits including rent for December, shipping a container, furniture, a vehicle, expenses for the apartment search, visas, etc. If you feel impressed to help, please send your love offering to Mount Abarim Baptist Mission with the note “Planck Start-up Fund.”

For over a year Sandy and I have studied the Italian language using Rosetta Stone. Three weeks ago we started taking language lessons with an Italian professor through Skype to help prepare us for the untold hours of study in Italy to learn Italian. Please pray for us in acquiring our new language.

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 Planck

Italy Start-up Fund Summary

Outfit: $13,000
Passage: $4,000
Shipping Container: $4,500
Vehicle: $15,000
Misc.: $3,000

Amount Needed: $39,500
Amount Received: $11,350

Praise the Lord!

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 appreciate all the encouraging cards as well as the birthday cards for Isaiah and me that we have received from our friends and supporting churches. We are thankful for the meetings in June and July that the Lord blessed us with in Florida, Alabama, Michigan, Ohio, and New York. We also praise the Lord for the three new churches that have started supporting us financially since our last prayer letter in June.

Last week I attended junior church camp with Isaiah. I praise God for the special time I was able to share with my son. Isaiah had the opportunity to preach his first sermon at camp. My heart rejoiced to see my son do his best to proclaim God’s word in front of his peers. It was a wonderful week spiritually and the Lord moved greatly in the midst of the camp. After the evening preaching I had the privilege to lead three boys to Christ whose names are Anthony, Mitchell, and Dakota. Please pray for their spiritual growth.

I read a passage recently in a book titled Repentance by J. Thornton that describes what I have experienced in sharing the gospel from “house to house” as well as in personal witnessing. He writes, “Though we warn them, admonish them, entreat them, and thunder aloud in their ears the threatenings of the law; though we show them the nearness of death, the certainty and solemnity of the last judgment, the transporting happiness of heaven, and the endless, unutterable misery of hell, they remain unaffected and unconcerned!” I’m ever reminded how much I need the power of God in dealing with men about their souls! Please pray that I would be effective in communicating the gospel and find people that are seeking truth, that are affected by the gospel, and that show concern for their souls, both now as we conclude deputation as well as when we reach Italy.

You can help us by praying for the following requests…
- Pray Sandy and I will get our visas approved when we apply with the Italian consulate in Detroit this November
- Pray I will find the right apartment for my family when I fly to Rome on November 12th
- Pray we will receive the remainder of our financial support as well as our start-up fund by the time we leave for Italy on December 28th
- Pray for our health and safety while we travel on deputation as well as for the upcoming flights to Italy
- Pray we will continue to learn the Italian language as we study on deputation and that we will find a good language school in Rome

On August 14th Sandy and I will celebrate our twelfth wedding anniversary. I am so thankful for a helpmeet that loves the Lord and her husband. We will be celebrating our Isaiah’s ninth birthday on August 23rd. He is such a happy little boy that has a tender heart to the things of God. We praise the Lord for entrusting us with him and Pearl. We have been blessed.

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 Planck

Italy Start-up Fund

Outfit: $13,000
Passage: $4,000
Shipping Container: $4,500
Vehicle: $15,000
Misc.: $3,000

Total Amount Needed: $39,500
Amount Received: $11,050

Praise the Lord!