Anchor Fall 2022

The BAPTIST ANCHOR ON THE COVER: A Quarterly Publication of: \"The Three Soldiers,\" a bronze statue by Frederick Hart, is displayed as part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Emmaus Baptist College Washington, D.C. The statue was officially unveiled on Veteran's 706 Dew Bloom Rd, Day, November 11, 1984 on the National Mall. Brandon, FL 33511 Print Subscription Rate: $10 Annually. The Baptist Anchor, published Financial supporters of Emmaus will continue to by Emmaus Baptist College of Brandon, is the periodical of note receive a free subscription. among the Missionary Baptist The Baptist Anchor is also available for free online at: churches of Florida, publishing articles, news, and missionary emmausbaptistcollege.org/baptist-anchor reports. This Fall edition of the For the mailed, print subscription, please contact: Baptist Anchor in a new, full-color magazine format will allow extra 706 Dew Bloom Rd, space for church and ministry Brandon, FL 33511 promotions. Phone: (813) 684-1389 To include your content in the next edition of the Baptist Anchor, please contact the EBC Administrative Dean, Bro. Temple Meek at: meeklings@ yahoo.com. Unsolicited articles, advertisements, and news releases are welcome, however publication cannot be guaranteed. The Baptist Anchor and Emmaus Baptist College neither endorses nor is responsible for the contents of articles, advertisements, reports, or other published content, including any opinions stated therein, and the accuracy of the data provided by contributors. Both churches and individuals are encouraged to subscribe to the Baptist Anchor for insightful articles, church and school news, missionary reports, and ministry opportunities. Copyright © 2022, Emmaus Baptist College, Inc. All rights reserved

Inside This Issue of THE BAPTIST ANCHOR: CONTENTS: Emmaus Financial Report..........................................4 College News............................................................5 Life Principles for God's People ................................6 Following Christ Through Difficulties.........................7 Freed from a Viet Cong POW Pit...............................8 The Crisis of Midlife ..................................................9 Learning the Land, Loving the Lord.........................10 Aging Gracefully......................................................12 Florida Baptist Youth Camp.....................................13 Hurricane Ian: How You Can Help...........................14 FL State Baptist Assn. Report..................................16 Missionary Reports.................................................17 Announcements.....................................................19 3

EMMAUS BAPTIST COLLEGE Report of Income March - August 2022 Baptist Anchor WE NEED YOUR HELP, Capital Heights, Tallahassee........ 60.00 Eastside, Mulberry....................... 75.00 First, Silver Springs...................... 90.00 AND WE NEED YOU! First Miss., Auburndale.............. 210.00 First Miss., Thonotosassa.......... 120.00 The college is in need of replacing 3 air conditioning units: one in the Gant Lake, Webster................... 150.00 school building, and two units in the dormitories. We will purchase the Glenwood, Jacksonville............. 220.00 units and A/C technicians in our fellowship have offered to install the Northside, Ocala.......................... 90.00 units for free. Please consider helping us meet this financial need. Tuscanooga BC, Groveland........ 100.00 Mr. & Mrs. A. G. Stepp................. 50.00 Emmaus Baptist College exists to help local churches train their people in the Word of God. The College is a huge endeavor that cannot be Churches done alone. We must work together as fellowshipping churches and brothers and sisters in Christ to accomplish this tremendous task. If Bay Lake, Groveland.................... 4,300 you have a special ability or skill that you believe would be of benefit Beulah, Lithia............................. 350.00 to the college, please contact Bro. Temple Meek, Academic Dean of Calvary, Ft. Meade..................... 340.00 Emmaus today. (352) 973-8957 [email protected] Calvary, Orlando........................ 250.00 Capital Heights, Tallahassee...... 900.00 We are looking for: Central, Lithia............................ 702.12 East Central Ladies Auxiliary...... 141.00 • Classroom Instructors East Somerset, KY...................... 600.00 • Maintenance and repairmen Eastern Ave, St. Cloud............ 1,800.00 Eastside, Mulberry.................. 2,925.00 • Audio/Visual technicians Emmanuel, Kissimmee........... 1,200.00 • Graphic design/Digital publishing editors First East Bay, Riverview............ 600.00 • Prayer Warriors First IRC, Titusville..................... 600.00 • Financial Supporters First, Silver Spring...................... 300.00 - Monthly Support for College (Emmaus has had an annual First Coast, Jacksonville............. 200.00 First MBC, Eustis........................ 475.11 deficit for 18 of the past 20 years. We desperately need our First MBC, Auburndale........... 2,150.00 churches to help financially! First MBC, Fort Myers................ 300.00 - Baptist Anchor Support The new full color Anchor in magazine First MBC, Thonotosassa........... 925.00 format is more costly to print. Please consider giving to the Galatian, Orlando...................... 450.00 Anchor to continue this publication Gant Lake, Webster................ 1,900.00 - Pantry / Student Scholarships Many students are leaving homes Glenwood, Jacksonville............. 600.00 and jobs behind to prepare for ministry. Consider helping with food Goodnews, Grand Cayman........ 350.00 for the Pantry and tuition to ease the burden of these students Grace BC, Lake Wales................ 300.00 Withlacoochee, Dade City...... 1,580.00 Capital Heights, Tallahassee...... 150.00 Zion MBC, Winfield, AL................ 66.50 Eastside, Mulberry..................... 200.00 Pantry OfferingsLakeview, Corinth, MS............... 360.00 Highlands MBC, Gainesville....... 250.00 Anchored Support Anonymous............................... 480.00 Landmark, Madison................... 750.00 North Central Ladies Auxiliary... 165.00 Leesburg Baptist, Leesburg........ 900.00 Okeechobee, Okeechobee........ 100.00 IndividualsLockwood, Orlando................... 750.00 60TH St. (needy students)............ 2,500.00 Eastside, Mulberry (dryers)............. 400.00 Lone Oak, Plant City............... 3,400.00 FL. State Ladies Aux (repairs)........ 2,545.12 New Home, Wetumpka, AL....... 900.00 New Home, Wetumpka (A/C)....... 2,950.00 Northside, Ocala........................ 600.00 O’Leno (student aid)........................ 600.00 O’Leno , High Springs................ 600.00 Okeechobee, Okeechobee..... 1,266.65 Special OfferingsParkway, Hollywood.................. 450.00 Pine Grove, Christmas............ 2,100.00 Pleasant Way Naylor, GA........ 1,050.00 Riverview Heights, Wauchula.... 900.00 Thirtieth Ave. St.Pete................. 450.00 Tifton MBC, GA.......................... 600.00 Towne East, Tallahassee............ 100.00 Welcome, Lithia...................... 2,400.00 Westwood, Winter Haven...... 1,900.00 Foundation........................... 12,000.00 Adams, Elizabeth......................... 17.00 Garner, George.......................... 100.00 Schelling, Melinda..................... 107.50 Stepp, Mr. & Mrs. A.G................ 200.00 Lowery, Mrs. Edna Lee................. 25.00 McAlister, Ray & Barbara........... 220.00 Deardorff, Ray & Sandra............ 250.00 Nesmith, Ronald & Linda........... 150.00 White, Robbie & Wendy.............. 75.00 Statewide Fellowship................. 260.00 Odom, Carolyn.......................... 210.00 Crouse, William Jr........................ 50.00 4

COLLEGE NEWS Founder’s Day at Emmaus Baptist College was held on September 12, 2022 with over a hundred in attendance, including 20 pastors. Several reports were given for the school, its activities, academics, and history. Brother David Gurgel was the special speaker of the day and music was brought by the Jones Family, Wiersema/ Lanier Family and the Meek/Tabler music ministry. It was wonderful to see so many churches gathering together, fellowshipping, worshiping, and showing their support for Emmaus. The school was buzzing with excitement to see many new students who have enrolled in degree programs at the college as well as some new faculty members who are teaching classes this semester. Here are some of the exciting things happening at Emmaus Baptist College: • Campus improvements are being made at Emmaus. New computers were purchased and installed in the administration building. Bro. and Sis. Meek have worked hard on new landscaping around the educational building. 65\" TV screens were donated and installed in classrooms for instructional presentations. • A responsive, user-friendly, new website is now available online at emmausbaptistcollege.org • A State-of-the-Art online program is being developed that will eventually have all courses available online. Students are already taking advantage of the program and taking classes online this semester. • A new Student Council was formed in September to organize student activities, fellowship, and ministry opportunities. • A mission trip in November to the jungles of Colombia for 12 students and faculty will give students a chance to experience the mission field first hand. • Degree programs are being revamped, and the Seminary (graduate studies) of Emmaus Baptist College is being reopened to offer Master's and Doctorate level degrees. • The Christmas Banquet featuring Pastor Eric Sutton, President of the American Baptist Association, will be held December 2 at 7:00 PM. Dr. David Gurgel preaching a powerful message for Founder's Day at Emmaus Baptist College CHURCHES SEEKING PASTOR Wayside Missionary Baptist Hillside Baptist Church Pine Grove Missionary First Missionary Baptist Church in Tifton GA is in in Knoxville, Tennessee Baptist Church in Church of Eustis, FL is need of Pastor. We have is seeking a pastor Christmas, FL, established searching for a pastor. We been without pastor for 11 with ABA doctrine in 1868, is seeking a pastor are a small ABA church months and we have also and KJV adherence. for our congregation of that adheres to the KJV reached out to local sources Submit resumes and faithful believers. This Bible. We have a faithful in our area but we have not letters to stearnesb@ is a great opportunity congregation seeking found a pastor yet. Please aol.com. For questions for someone with vision the leadership of a God contact Donald Tawzer Jr., please contact Bob and energy to minister called man. If Interested, pastor search committee Stearnes at the above to a small community, please contact one of our member, at telephone email address or call: KJV church. Contact deacons; brother Eulice number (229)388-3716 or (434) 251-9252. Bro. Clarance Canada at Anderson (352)818-1862 email to dana@dosstawzer. pinegrovembcfl@gmail. OR brother Cody Wade. net. com. (352)321-7784 5

Life Principles For God’s People Many people make emotion-based decisions. with that for which you have been designed. The world This is choosing by preference, not principle. advertises itself as the ultimate destination. Do not be A preference is a personal choice or decision deceived by that campaign! Stay on course. from among competing alternatives. A principle is law or rule based on God’s character by which we govern 3. The proof of desire is pursuit our lives. Principles do not change because God does How do you know lions like gazelles? How do you know fish not change. Preferences can change as we grow older. like worms? It’s what they chase. They pursue what they A life built upon the foundation of the very character of desire. The same is true with people. Watch what people God is a life that is built on the solid rock of the person pursue. Listen to what they talk about. Observe what they of God. A life built upon emotion and preference is listen to, watch, and have a desire for. Their pursuit will tell a life that is built upon sand. Sand shifts. The winds you what they love. Pursue the right things. Pursue God’s and waves of the years can cause a person to alter his purpose for your life. Pursue truth in His Word. If we do this, beliefs to avoid the damage. Living by principle is the all that which we need will be given to us. sure way to be happy and secure in the very person of Jesus Christ. 4. Anger will never create permanent cooperation from anyone Solomon wrote and edited the book of Proverbs. He says People who control others with their temper and anger at the beginning of the book the purpose of the work will have to do it all over again tomorrow. Anger will was to give the reader understanding of complex issues, intimidate others temporarily. It does not produce difficult situations, and the ability to know right from permanent cooperation from anyone. People need to wrong. It is a life manual. I have encouraged people learn how to be a gracious leader. Others will follow that through the years to read the chapter of Proverbs that person gladly. corresponds to the day of the month. On the 3rd, read chapter three and so on. I would like to share some life 5. Failure cannot happen without your permission principles with you in this article. Failure is not an event. Failure is a decision. Choose not 1. Your daily schedule should be built around to fail. Failure comes into our lives when we invite it, and your life’s assignment God has a purpose for everyone. Our purpose is not our decision. It is our discovery. You were designed to solve problems. Dentists solve dental problems. What do you solve? Discover your passion and you discover your purpose. 2. The only reason people fail is because of broken focus People are so easily distracted in life. We get drawn off the path of our purpose by so many things. Stay on course. Keep your focus tuned in daily. Stay in touch 6

it will stay as long as we allow it. Choose not to fail. 7. Whatever God has given you will create anything In Proverbs 24.16, Solomon said that a just man falls else He has promised you down seven times and rises up. How much additional DNA material does an acorn require 6. Your provisions are wherever you have been in order to become a 60’ oak tree? None. It does require time and environment. When we got saved God gave us assigned the person of the Holy Spirit. All we need He has already Let’s say a cowboy works on a huge ranch. The ramrod given us. We simply need time and environment. We need comes into the bunkhouse one morning and tells this to grow in grace and knowledge of who we are and what cowboy to ride to the south fence line to repair some we have been assigned to do in life. ■ busted fence. One the south fence line is a line shack with enough provisions for two weeks. He saddles up and rides to the north fence line. There are no Jim Harris provisions in the line shack there. He gets angry at the ramrod because there is nothing to eat. Why would Faculty, Emmaus Baptist College he get angry when he went to the wrong place? Our Pastor, Riverview Heights Missionary Baptist Church provisions in life are wherever God has assigned us. Following Christ Through Difficulties Many times, following Christ can be difficult and display of power that would prove beyond a doubt that confusing. Why did God lead me here? Why does God He is the master of all things. allow us to suffer? Why, if I am following Christ, do things go from bad to worse? We must remember that The Israelites knew nothing of God’s plan. They only we view our lives through a very narrow field of view. saw an impossible situation brought about by what We often only think of how events in our life affect us. appeared to be bad leadership. Their lives were in If we have surrendered our lives to Him, then we need jeopardy because Moses led them into a trap. From a to widen our view. Our lives are not lived in a vacuum. human standpoint they were faced with disaster. The Others see our experiences and either see Christ in us or euphoria of their deliverance was quickly replaced see us struggling to make sense of life, just like most of with the despair of impending loss of life. In verses the world. 11 and 12 they accuse Moses of dragging them into the wilderness to die. They did not understand that he In Exodus 14 we read that God led the people of Israel brought them there to be participants in one of the most into a trap. Instead of leading them by the well-traveled momentous events in human history. highways, God brought them to the shores of the Red Sea. Verse two tells us where they camped, “…before When we are struggling with the difficulties of life, we Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against need to remember how great God is. Only by seeing Baalzephon….” Migdol means watchtower. This was through the eyes of faith are we able to boldly go an outpost that would be used to warn the Egyptians of forward with confidence in God’s leadership. It is in an impending invasion. In this case, it was used to tell the most hopeless situations that we see the greatest Pharaoh where the Israelites were. moving of God in our lives. Others see it too and God is honored and glorified through those situations. ■ Verses 3 and 4 tell us why God led them there. Exodus Temple Meek 14:4 in part says “…and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon his host; that the Egyptians may know that I Administrative Dean, am the LORD….” God was not just delivering Israel. He was also giving a display of His power that would Emmaus Baptist College still be talked about 3500 years later. Even though He had brought ten plagues on Egypt, He had one more 7

Freed from a Viet Cong POW Pit Psalm 40:2 Have you ever been rescued out of a horrible in a footlocker, managed to smuggle him into the freedom Pit? I have been privileged to know some of West Germany. famous men of history. I was honored to share a one-on-one lunch with Major General George Several year later, Hagemann made it to America and S. Patton, the son of the famous WWII General, and eventually became a U.S. citizen and enlisted in the U.S. later invited to a one-on-one supper at his home. I later Army as a medic. On October 2, 1969, his helicopter, met his close friend, Manfred Rommel, the son of the Dustoff 88, was shot down near the Cambodian border, and famous WWII German General Rommel. The sons, he was captured by the Viet Cong. He was taken to a POW Patton and Rommel, over the years grew to develop a camp where he was put deep in a hole that was too narrow sincere and life-long closeness. As project officer for to even stretch out his legs. Over him was a bamboo lid and a POW survival program, I came to know the then- guards. Here he remained for several weeks. During those retirees Chaplain (Major General) Robert Taylor and days, his mind constantly remembered Psalm 40:1-2, which BG Robinson Risner. Taylor was one of the only three, he had learned years before. Daily he remembered the more among fifteen chaplains, who survived the infamous than 24 hours he spent crunched inside the footlocker, not WWII Bataan Death March. Risner was a fighter pilot knowing if he would live to see the next day. shot down over Hanoi and brutally held captive and tortured for 7 ½ years by the North Vietnamese. These God Sent Hagemann Montagnard Angels men were striking figures, and several were dedicated, One moonless night, as he sat with his head against his humble Christians and true heroes (for those who have knees in prayer, God brought angels to Hagemann, also a problem with me calling them heroes, it just has to be known as Montagnard guerilla fighters. Vietnam vets know your problem). Among them is one man I will always them well. They were a Vietnamese indigenous people that remember when I look at Psalm 40:2. lived primarily in the Central Highlands. They were skilled with the silent crossbow and able to live off the land. They SSGT Ray Hagemann also had become strong allies of the U.S. Military. Hagemann’s story is a powerful testimony to God’s faithful purpose and care. Ray Hagemann was born in In the midst of silent darkness, Hagemann heard the faint The German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the “foomp” of a crossbow. Then the lid of his grave was so-called Cold War. During that time, those over the age opened and he could faintly see a Montagnard, along with of 65 years (too old to be a threat to the Soviet Union, several others, reaching down to bring him up “also out of USSR) were permitted to travel between the East and an horrible pit.” West by train to visit family. Hagemann’s grandmother plotted with several elderly friends and, by putting him The Great Joy to Meet Him and His Widow As I was on a military flight years later, I had the honor of meeting SSGT Hagemann and hearing him, with tears in U.S. Green Beret Commander with New Montagnard Recruit. Vietnam Press Photo CC BY-SA 2.0 Credit: Manhhai, 15 May 1966 8

his eyes, quote Psalm 40:1,2: “To the chief Musician, A many who even today are held in bamboo, mental, or spiritual Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and pits. When it happens, may we rush to Psalm 40 and let Him he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me bring us out of the dark night of any pit, so that we can be an up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and encouragement to others and a witness of His grace saying set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” along with David, Psalm 40:2b,3: Sometime later, I rehearsed Hagemann’s journey with “He . . . set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. my wife, Carolyn, and we together were honored to And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto speak with his widow, Jenney, by then living in Decatur, our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Alabama. She was overwhelmed that someone would LORD.” ■ remember and proudly said, “Yes, that was my Ray and Dr. George Garner Chaplain (Lt. Colonel) US Army, Retired what a joy it is to know that I will one day see him Director, Blessed Hope Foundation again.” Is Life Just a Series of Deep Pits to You? Very few go through life without sometimes singing, “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” I have. When I do, I am reminded of Hageman, Taylor, Risner and The Crisis of Mid-Life Psalm 18:25 – “With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.” Just as he reached mid-life, Jim Conway fell into vicious depression. Repeatedly, he had fantasies of getting on a sailboat and sailing off to some unknown destination. He was a pastor, a husband, a father, and an author. But he wanted to run away like a modern-day prodigal and start a new life. He later wrote: \"The mid-life crisis is a time of high risk for marriages. It’s a time of possible career disruption and extramarital affairs. There is depression, anger, frustration, and rebellion. At mid-life, a man realizes his body is not as strong as it once was. He often feels like a failure at work because his accomplishments fall short of previous expectations. He is caught between generations, often having to care for his aged parents, just as his children are lurching through the teen years. The kids soon graduate and fly the coop, and when they do, the change often hits the father harder than the mother. Then come the college bills. All of these hit Conway like a sucker punch. \"I had literally come to the end of my rope. I was ready to leave everything and run away. I crawled into bed that November night and hardly slept as I was making my plans. I was awake through most of the night, detailing the specific steps that I would take as I left my present life and ran away to start another one...\" But the next morning, as Conway started reading his Bible where he had left off the day before, in Psalm 18, he found these words (or they found him): “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple…he drew me out of many waters….for thou wilt light my candle: the Lord will enlighten my darkness.” Conway closed his Bible and the healing had begun. May we always remember that the answers to life’s many complexities are still found in the Holy Word of God. WE MIGHT NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND JEHOVAH’S HELPING HAND IN OUR TIMES OF TROUBLE…ONLY THAT HE MEETS US WHERE WE ARE BUT DOES NOT LEAVE US WHERE HE FOUND US. ■ Kerry Beaty Dean of Students, Emmaus Baptist College Pastor, Lone Oak Baptist Church, Plant City, FL 9

Learning the Land, Loving the Lord BEIT SHEAN REBUILD THE RUINS What do you do when your life crumbles? You Manasseh failed to drive out the Canaanites who lived there had plans, dreams, goals, and ambitions, yet because they possessed “chariots of iron.” they now stand in ruins. What do you do? Do you walk away, or do you rebuild? In AD 749, an During the reign of King Saul, the Philistines controlled earthquake struck the Promised Land and the massive Beit Shean. In fact, after Saul’s death on nearby Mount city of Beit Shean/Scythopolis was toppled, leaving Gilboa, the Philistines fastened the decapitated bodies of the city in ruins. The people moved on and today, all Saul and his sons to the wall of Beit Shean. The city was that remains is the broken testimony of a prosperous a thorn in the side of Israel until the time of David and bygone era. Solomon. Throughout the centuries, many people fortified Beit Shean sits 15 miles south of the Sea of Galilee the city until the Assyrians destroyed it in 732 BC. in the fertile region of the Jordan Valley, just four miles west of the Jordan River. Today, there are two In the 4th century BC, the city gained a new name when the historical Beit Sheans. The archaeological mound (tell) army of Alexander the Great swept across the Middle East. is the Old Testament city which towers 250 feet above He named the city Scythopolis (“City of the Scythians”), the “modern” ruins from the New Testament city. The and it became a prosperous Greek city. Once Rome gained strategic location of the city made it an important and control of Israel in the first century BC, Scythopolis became powerful player in the history of the land. For thousands one of the cities of the Decapolis, which in Greek means, of years, Beit Shean stood as Canaan’s front door to “ten cities.” It was the only one of the cities of the Decapolis on the west side of the Jordan River. traffic traveling from the Jordan Valley to the strategic We do not know if Jesus ever visited Beit Shean, however, Jezreel Valley and the Mediterranean Sea. we do know that he was in the region of the Decapolis (Mark Just prior to the Exodus in 1446 BC, Egypt dominated 7:31). We also know that when the madman of Gadara the land of Canaan, and Beit Shean served as the was healed, he went and published the news through the primary city of the region. In fact, on top of the tell, Decapolis. Could it be his testimony that evangelized this evidence of the years of Egyptian domination still otherwise pagan region? stands in the ruins, best seen with the so-called House As mentioned before, Beit Shean was destroyed by an of the Egyptian Governor. Egypt controlled the area for earthquake in AD 749 and remained largely undisturbed centuries prior to Israel’s kings. until the archeologist’s spade began to dig. Today, very After Israel conquered the land, Joshua allotted Beit few climb the steep hill to visit the Old Testament Beit Shean to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:11). But Shean, however the views are spectacular from the top. Roman street in Bet She'an National Park, Israel. CC BY-SA 3.0 Credit: Wikimedia Commons, 24 May 2010; by: Mark 10:43. 10

Most tourists visit the New Testament city just below I have often thought about Beit Shean and considered the the tell. Beit Shean boasts the most impressive ruins lessons we can learn for our own lives. From time to time, from the Roman and Byzantine times in all of Israel. we all go through times for disaster. Some unexpected Archaeologists have discovered, among many finds, a earthquake comes and shakes our lives to the core. The theater, public bathhouses and an agora or marketplace. structures that we have built our lives around crumble. The colonnade is nothing short of spectacular at almost The beautiful mosaics of our lives become covered in 500 feet long. Shops and beautiful mosaics lined the rubble. Listen carefully: bad days will come. Just because street. The theater has been marvelously restored and we know the Lord, it does not mean that we are exempt still serves as a venue for modern performances and from problems. Our sin cursed world still produces natural concerts. The original theater was much larger than disasters and sinful men still do evil things. The question today’s restoration and could seat between 6,500 and becomes, “What will we do in days of difficulty?” We can 7,000 people. Nearby the theater is the public latrine. either quit or we can rebuild. One look at the latrine and you will appreciate our modern commitment to privacy. They had no stalls, just Let me encourage you: do not quit! Call on the mercy and a seat with water running below the seats to keep the grace of God and start living again. Remember: when life place clean. is not good, God still is. When people are not kind, God still is! ■ Beit Shean has much to offer the eager tourist desiring Eric Sutton to see beautiful ruins. However, one fact remains, the city lays in ruins. When the city crumbled under the President, American Baptist Association devastating disaster, no one rebuilt it. The massive Pastor, New Home Baptist Church, columns laid where they fell. The only rebuilding that has Wetumpka, AL taken place has been at the hands of the archaeologists who have partially reconstructed it in order to show what the city would have looked like. 11

GRAACGEINFUGLLY How I respond to changes and activities over which I have no control reveals my character and who I have become. Everything old is not bad, neither is new all bad. Bumps on the road of life are easier to overcome where grace abounds. Graceful living involves more than life’s changes. No one likes to be around a grumpy or cranky old person. The truth of the matter is those who appear most arrogant and demanding have always had those tendencies; they just controlled it well. No doubt, it started as childhood temper tantrums without consequences. Learning to live gracefully is habit forming with acts of kindness, a thankful spirit, and a grateful heart. Aging is inevitable. Aging gracefully is optional. The road to graceful living begins in childhood and plays out in adulthood. A graceful person is a joy to society. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law. - Galatians 5:22,23 ■ Lois Crittenden Abeautiful sight when demonstrated by those The Country Preacher's Almanac by George Garner. Available who practice graceful living. How, what, where on Amazon. Also available is the Garner-Howes Commentary and by whom are questions worthy of answers. of the Whole Bible for e-Sword (Mac, PC, Android, and Never intended to be a series on aging, however this iPhone). Download for free at: baptisttrainingcenter.org third article follows a theme. Acting My Age and Living My Age written several months ago stemmed from personal experiences. Aging is on my mind and seems logical to look at life through another lens. Aging gracefully is a virtue developed and practiced during a lifetime. A recent encounter opened my eyes to this aspect of aging. Observing a very angry senior citizen lose control in a minor situation reminded me to evaluate my own attitude. Most seniors don’t like changes and for legitimate reasons. It has taken a lifetime of experiences to reach this stage in life where comfort and routine habits become automatic. Don’t upset my routine, make me wait in line, or ask me to go digital. A recent birthday reminded me I am in that number and looking in the mirror asked myself a question. Am I aging gracefully? Do I accept life’s changes and disappointments easily and the answer was no. Contrary to popular opinion, advanced years do not allow us to be unkind and obnoxious. 12

VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE: emmausbaptistcollege.org • Learn about Emmaus • Read News about the College • Read the Baptist Anchor for free online • Apply to the College • Contact us for information Florida Baptist Youth Camp 4645 Baptist Island Rd. Groveland, Florida 34736 Greetings from the Florida Baptist Youth Camp! Regular camp season is over for 2022, but we still have several retreats scheduled throughout the rest of the year. We are so blessed to be allowed to be here on property. This year, 100 souls have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, two young men surrendered to the ministry and one lady to the Missionary field. There were also many rededications. We have purchased the new pool screen. We would encourage you and your church to help out with this expense. We are waiting and praying for the installation. Lightning hit the well pump, and we were without water for three days, but we are now back up and running. I’m so Thankful for your Love and prayers. Looking forward to seeing y’all soon. Bo Johnson CAMP RECEIPTS JUNE - AUGUST 2022 Camp Manager Anonymous Donation............. 3,000.00 First, White City......................... 500.00 Paul & Priscilla Karow.................. 50.00 Barbara & James Beaty.............. 200.00 Forrest Avenue, Apopka.............. 75.00 Peggy A. Sloan........................... 200.00 Bay Lake, Groveland............... 4,000.00 Ft. Cooper, Inverness................. 240.00 Pleasant Grove, Oxford........... 2,827.00 Beulah, Lithia............................. 200.00 Galatian Baptist Church............. 150.00 Robert & Judith Griffith............. 100.00 Calvary, Orlando........................ 800.00 Gant Lake, Webster................ 1,000.00 Riverview Heights...................... 600.00 Capital Heights.......................... 600.00 Glenwood, Jacksonville............. 200.00 Ronald & Rebekah Knight.......... 656.00 Central, Lithia............................ 276.35 Grace, Lake Wales..................... 125.00 Ruth & William Stoll.................... 50.00 David Wallace.............................. 30.00 H./N. Wissinger......................... 100.00 S. E. FL Youth Rally..................... 581.75 Debra Fagan............................... 400.00 Highland MBC............................ 300.00 Shirley McFarland...................... 100.00 Eastside, Mulberry.................. 1,890.20 Hillcrest Baptist Church............. 200.00 Sixtieth Street............................ 400.00 Emmanuel.............................. 1,700.00 Landmark, Madison................... 100.00 St. Cloud, St.Cloud.................. 6,400.00 Evergreen.................................. 400.00 Larry Fosson.............................. 600.00 Guardian Foundation Inc........... 130.00 Fifth Saturday Meeting.............. 510.00 Leesburg Baptist Church............ 400.00 Overcomer COG ..................... 5,193.31 First Coast, Jacksonville............. 100.00 Lockwood, Orlando................... 520.00 Todd & Jamie Ward................... 100.00 First of IRC, Titusville................. 200.00 Lone Oak, Plant City............... 2,960.00 Tuscanooga, Groveland............. 250.00 First, Auburndale....................... 300.00 Michael & Nancy Huffine.......... 250.00 Walker Williams......................... 300.00 First, Eustis................................ 283.56 Midway Baptist Church............. 300.00 Welcome, Lithia......................... 400.00 First, Kenansville........................ 842.23 Northside, Ocala........................ 370.00 Westside, Auburndale................. 30.00 First, Mascotte........................ 2,447.73 Okeechobee MBC...................... 648.39 Westwood, Winter Haven......... 400.00 First, Silver Springs.................... 400.00 Oleno Baptist Church................. 400.00 Withlacoochee MBC............... 1,100.00 First, Thonotosassa.................... 575.00 Parkway, Hollywood.................. 375.00 TOTAL.................................... 48,836.52 13

The State of Florida is no stranger to natural disasters. Ian was the 121st hurricane to hit Florida since the US began keeping records in 1851. Coming ashore as a category four hurricane, Ian barreled through the state bringing extreme wind and flood damage throughout the peninsula. The toll of the storm's destruction may not be known in its entirety for weeks or even months. However, as of this writing, dozens of people have lost their lives due to Hurricane Ian, towns and communities have been destroyed, and many local churches and their members have suffered a frightening amount of Pastor Alan Christopherson cutting a large oak tree blown over by Hurricane Ian on a roof of one of the dormitories at Emmaus Baptist damage. During times like these, the Lord's people come College in Brandon, Florida. together to help one another. At Emmaus Baptist College, large oak trees and limbs were scattered over the ten-acre cutting trees, and fixing storm damage in churches campus. Yet, the students and faculty of the school banded and homes. The hurricane relief requires a large together to clean up the campus, removing a tree from a roof amount of resources, and it cannot be done without of one of the dormitories and picking up storm debris. Several your help. Please consider contributing to the relief of the students traveled for hours to deliver goods and help effort in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian. If you those who were most affected by the storm. would like to give to this urgent need, send your tax- The ABA Disaster Relief Ministry, based out of Westwood deductible contributions to: Missionary Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida is coordinating the relief effort throughout the state. They have provided supplies, generators, and help to the most needy in the aftermath of the hurricane. Teams are repairing roofs, (Hurricane Ian Relief Fund) 3210 Ave G NW Winter Haven, FL 33880 or Give Online at: https://donorbox.org/abadrm Scan this QR code with your mobile phone to donate online to ABA Disaster Relief: Pastor Quintin Story using his tractor to help remove a large tree which was blown onto a roof at Emmaus Baptist College. 14

FLOODED BY HURRICANE IAN Riverview Heights Missionary Baptist Church in Air and Marine Operations air crews respond to affected areas along Florida's coast Wauchula, Florida was inundated by the flooding after Hurricane Ian made landfall, September 30, 2022. Portions of Interstate 75 were flooded. Photo: Public Domain; taken by US Customs and Border Protection. of the Peace River after Hurricane Ian dumped between 15 and 20 inches of rain on the already saturated area. Many parts of the town were submerged and roads washed away. The church insurance does not cover flood damage, and though many from all over Florida have rushed to help, the church is in need of funds to rebuild and repair their flooded buildings. Would you please consider giving a one-time donation to help with the cost of restoration? Currently, mailing a check to them may not make it due to a large part of the county still being under water. Donations are being received by New Home Baptist Church who will forward your contributions to the church in Wauchula. They are in need of our prayers and support. This church has sent men to build A large part of Wauchula, which lies in central peninsular Florida was overwhelmed buildings and pews all over the world. It's now with rising flood waters from the Peace River during the torrential rains of time for us to help them. Send checks to: Hurricane Ian. Above is an aerial view of Riverview Heights Missionary Baptist Church after the storm. New Home Baptist Church (Riverview Heights MBC Relief Fund) 5130 Elmore Rd Wetumpka, AL 36092 or Give Online at: https://waygiver.com/campaigns/2058 Scan this QR code with your mobile phone to donate online to Riverview Heights MBC: Above: Muddy flood water from the overflowing Peace River fill the auditorium of the Riverview Heights Missionary Baptist Church. 15

Florida State Baptist Association Report Edwin Button, Secretary-Treasurer The amounts reported below are only the monies sent through the Florida State Secretary-Treasurer of Missions and do not necessarily reflect the total missions giving of the church. Mission Offerings for June - August 2022 First MBC, Auburndale Youth Camp .......................... $300.00 Emmaus ................................ $150.00 Interstate............................... $300.00 M. Jones ............................... $300.00 Foreign...................................... 70.00 M. Thornton ......................... $300.00 I. lmseeh.................................. 200.00 Grace, Lake Wales: Youth Camp .......................... $300.00 Interstate................................... 60.00 R. Burdette ............................ $600.00 L. Malonzo............................... 100.00 Youth Camp ............................ $75.00 Texas Baptist Inst. ................. $225.00 Philippines............................... 300.00 G. Ramos Jr.............................. 200.00 Leesburg Baptist, Leesburg: Capital Heights, Tallahassee State........................................ 140.00 State ..................................... $300.00 Anchor .................................... $30.00 Bay Lake, Groveland Youth Camp .......................... $450.00 Central, Lithia K. Sibley ................................ $300.00 State.................................. $2,050.00 T. Barker ................................ $300.00 K. Foster ................................ $750.00 Youth Camp .......................... $208.29 T.Cribbs ................................. $300.00 Macedonian Miss. Serv......... $750.00 J. Gonzalez............................ $208.29 D.White ................................. $300.00 J. Gonzalez ............................ $750.00 State ..................................... $150.00 State Ladies Aux ................... $750.00 Welcome, Lithia P. Armstrong ......................... $300.00 ABA Travel............................ $750.00 Emmaus ................................ $450.00 Interstate............................ $1,170.00 Youth Camp .......................... $200.00 J. Quito ................................. $300.00 F. Crook............................... $2,550.00 T. Molden .............................. $750.00 Kendrick Baptist, Ocala Gant Lake, Webster W.R. Goulding ....................... $750.00 FL Miss Dev ........................ $1,350.00 Romanian Missions ........... $1,800.00 Anchor .................................... $75.00 D. Jones ................................ $750.00 Youth Camp .......................... $750.00 G.R. Ward ............................. $750.00 Pleasant Grove, Milton FL Miss Dev ........................ $1,500.00 B. Johnson............................ $750.00 D. White ................................ $750.00 Mattingly family.................... $750.00 State ..................................... $225.00 Emmaus ............................. $1,000.00 ABA Disaster ......................... $750.00 State ..................................... $150.00 J. Meredith ........................... $750.00 Calvary Baptist Orlando ABA Travel ............................. $150.00 T. Meek ................................. $750.00 J. Gage .................................. $750.00 K. Sibley ................................ $750.00 Emmaus ................................ $100.00 Interstate .............................. $300.00 C. Fernandez ......................... $750.00 FL Mission Dev ...................... $120.00 D. Lovett ............................... $750.00 E. Brown ............................... $750.00 Youth Camp .......................... $400.00 A. Phillips .............................. $750.00 B. Betts................................. $750.00 Cornerstone Ministries......... $100.00 J. Gonzalez ............................ $750.00 T. Tirse.................................. $750.00 Miss Training Ministry .......... $100.00 Willie Davenport ................... $750.00 B. Lane .................................. $750.00 D. Rohr .................................. $200.00 B. Rutherford ........................ $750.00 D. Lovett ............................... $750.00 J. Ellerbe ............................... $100.00 D. Vestal ................................ $750.00 G. Knight ............................... $750.00 ABA Disaster ........................... $50.00 ABA Chaplaincy Comm ......... $500.00 K. Amburgey ......................... $750.00 J. Ellerbe ............................... $500.00 B. Jones ................................. $750.00 Legacy Baptist, Sarasota R. Boyle ................................. $750.00 Westwood, Winter Haven K. Hutcheson ........................ $750.00 G.R. Ward ............................. $300.00 Mongolian Missions ............. $750.00 FL Miss Dev ........................... $150.00 C. Angulo .............................. $200.00 D. Rohr.................................. $750.00 K. Foster ................................ $300.00 P. Lamb ................................. $750.00 FL Messenger Assembly First Baptist, Silver Springs Parkway, Hollywood: Interstate.............................. $609.75 Interstate .............................. $300.00 State ..................................... $609.75 Emmaus ................................ $300.00 FL Miss Dev ........................... $150.00 State ..................................... $300.00 State ....................................... $30.00 West Fl Ladies Aux T. Cribbs ................................ $300.00 Anchor .................................... $45.00 J. Gonzalez ............................ $450.00 State ..................................... $201.00 16

MISSION REPORTS AROUND THE WORLD AFRICA you for praying for us. We have enjoyed being ROMANIA back on the field. KENYA Kolt Mackrill Brasov Danny Jones  Udon Thani/US Sponsoring Church C. Fernandez Kenya/Uganda/US Langdon Street BC Sponsoring Church PO Box 33 Somerset KY 42502 Sponsoring Church Last month Amy and I celebrated our 12 Westwood MBC year wedding anniversary! We continue to First BC of East Bay have wonderful services, studying Acts on 3210 Ave G NW Sunday evenings and Genesis on Wednesday 10102 Old Big Bend Road evenings in Zărnești. We held a church camp Winter Haven FL 33880 attending our services in Zarnesti. We had Riverview FL 33569 Thank you all for your prayers as I have an amazing time and while there were able Since our last report we held a special building recovered from thyroid surgery. The tumors to witness to other families who were staying dedication service to praise God for His were benign. However, I had complications at the same location of the camp. Because of provision. We baptized 16 souls within this past (internal bleeding/hematoma) and was down your generous offerings, we had the privilege two months and the church plant continues for almost two months. My incision has not of blessing another special Ukrainian family to grow. We are so thankful for the sacrificial healed properly, and I may have to undergo with new furniture for their apartment, and giving of so many individuals and churches corrective surgery. In the mean time, I am helped relocate Ukrainian families from the and the FMD for all your support. Thank you working on the Anchor and several other east to the western side of Ukraine in Ciudei. for holding the rope! publication projects, teaching a mission class, and plan on leading a student trip to ASIA Colombia in November. I am coming along in my study of Sumerian cuneiform and Egyptian JAPAN hieroglyphics, and have several seminars Jonathan Morgan Ghimbav planned as well as the Shiloh dig and Israel Sponsoring Church Shin Kamoda Tokyo tour next Spring. Over $30,000 has been Landmark MBC raised for the building in Udon Thani. Because Sponsoring Church of my surgery, the Thailand building project has 202 NW 1st St, Mt Enterprise, TX 75681 been postponed until at least December. Calvary Baptist Church I have been working in country for about EUROPE 410 N Marshall St three years, with two years in the Bucharest FRANCE Henderson TX 75662 area with another missionary while learning Anthony Phillips Carcassonne This summer we held our annual youth the language and customs. The last six summer camp in limited capacity due to Sponsoring Church Covid restrictions and it was successful. In the Calvary BC months prior to our first furlough, we covered 4606 Lake Margaret Dr. a new church plant for another missionary month of August, we attended two JBA camps Orlando FL 32812 who was on furlough. The Morgan family and there was one that got saved and two rededications as believers. Despite covid, we On our last report I mentioned that Niki and will be returning to Romania in December. Joshua returned to the US for the summer to Their goal in Romania is discipleship and held a VBS with restrictions. The adult camp care for Niki's parents & grandparents, but they church planting which will be their focus upon was successful despite lower attendance. are back now. Before they left, we baptized Taylor. She was saved in January, but we returning to Romania. couldn’t baptize her due to the cold weather as THAILAND we don't have an indoor baptistry. I spent July SPAIN at the language school. I struggle with praying Rusty Teer Chiang Mai aloud and expressing spiritual things in French, Daniel Estrada Malaga so the language school is very beneficial. Pray Sponsoring Church for me as I continue working on these weak Sponsoring Church spots in the language to be better at sharing Victory BC Jesus. Pray for my family and pray for France. First BC PO Box 1955 Madison MS 39130 17 PO Box 8 Sullivan MO 63080 BACK TO SCHOOL! The kindergarten closed We have been through some illnesses and April 2021 and we finally had our first full classes today. This is an answer to prayers. tests, and the Lord has given us victory. He has done some amazing things here in Spain. Understandably, some parents took their kids We have seen an increase of visitors in our to other schools because the government would not allow our school to open due to services. During our recent trip to Mexico, a lady named Angeles got saved. Pray for us covid. In regards to our “New Truck Fund”, we as we are planning to visit more churches in still didn’t reach to the goal ($35-37K).Thank Mexico teaching and preaching.

MISSION NEWS (continued) UKRAINE North America Rodney Burdette Rouzerville, PA Sponsoring Church: Damien Austin Zhytomyr U.S.A. Lighthouse BC Sponsoring Church: 21 E Frederick St, Westwood MBC Jack Brown Mead, CO Walkersville, MD 21793 3210 Avenue G NW We have been seeing the most growth since Winter Haven FL 33880 Sponsoring Church: 2012. Liberty's spiritual foundation is the Eastside MBC 1201 Park Hwy, Minden, LA 71055 strongest it has been as well. Our next building War is still going on in Ukraine and it is still not safe for us to go back. While we are here in the “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” inspection is the final inspection. We will be US, we were able to travel to Massachusetts Mark 12:31. The longer I am in the ministry, working through these next few months to get and visit with a few churches and share the more I’m convinced of the importance the building open and useable before cold the Word and bring awareness of what is of this passage. We have gotten to know all happening in Ukraine. We continue to send our neighbors since moving here. We have weather sets in. At this point we are still debt funds to help several churches in our area, neighbors that are believers but have not been free and have raised nearly $190,000! We and they in turn are helping several churches in church for quite some time. Also, there is are going to stay the course and trust God to closer to the front lines. a large Hispanic family across the street. I provide the rest of the finances we will need to If you would like to send contribution to learned that they are devout Catholic and open the doors. We have met many key people help please send to: speak little English, but they are very receptive. in the area that have helped us open the social doors and set up booths at the local markets Ukrainian Relief Fund Westwood Missionary Baptist Church Mark Thornton Peny, GA and events which have yielded fruit and great Ave. G NW, Winter Haven, FL 33880 results. Sponsoring Church: Tifton MBC Central America 177 Zion Hope Road, Tifton, GA 31794 Toby Cribbs Prison Ministries Two groups visited with us this summer. Pastor Kerry Beaty and youth from Lone Oak BC in Sponsoring Church: Plant City, Florida did an outreach and VBS MEXICO Hillside BC P.O. Box 32706 Knoxville, TN 37932 A. Gonzalez  Leon with us. Pastor Underwood & youth group from We’ve received and sent out lots of literature Emmanuel in Bogalusa, Louisiana helped us and Bibles to different jails & prisons. We have Sponsoring Church: with community outreach. Our attendance has now reached into 839 jails and prison including Northern Hills BC 6000 Sammy Lane been up to an average of 15 in the morning the latest - Maury Correctional Ins., Maury, services. Texarkana, AR 71854 NC. Our Landmark Bible Institute course had Blessings to you all from Leon, Mexico. We have seen an increase in attendance Scott Bourland Hope, IN 106 and one just finished the course this past Sponsoring Church: month. We need help for the postage to send lately and praise the Lord for that. We must Calvary BC out more Bibles and literature to four prisons rearrange the set up to make more space for which is $1,005.73. Thank you to all supporting church gatherings. This is a good problem to PO Box 929 Mongolia, AR 71754 churches. The new work In Hope, Indiana started two have! We will have to move to two services or years ago and we have experienced amazing Oceania start looking for another place. We love this blessings. Over 200 first time visitors, 14 place that we are renting but soon this would not be enough for us. Every Tuesday night, we Professions of faith, 18 Baptisms, and 32 gather for Bible study. total additions. Attendance is in the 30s. PHILIPPINES Juan Gonzalez Tantoyuca While some have fallen by the wayside, we Wayne Stringer  PMD have seen some incredible growth in those that have remained faithful. One of the most Sponsoring Church: Sponsoring Church: exciting things that has happened recently is White Rock MBC 30th Ave BC PO Box 60066 that we were able to purchase the building that we had been leasing. This purchase gives us 12545 Hwy 7 W St. Pete, FL 33784 We had the joy of visiting churches in Florida plenty of room to grow with our current needs Center TX 75935 and the ability to expand for future needs. and attending the Florida ABA meeting. We are We had a privilege to attend the ABA National averaging 48 and we are planning to organize meeting and visit churches. The construction of the church in Tantoyuca on December 10 of Jason Hebert Lafayette, LA project #16 in Escalante City in the Philippines Sponsoring Church: is moving fast. They had 204 volunteers this year. Concerning our building fund, we are still short $10,500 for our goal. In Lindero Calvary MBC working alongside with the skilled workers. 1400 Homer Road Minden, LA 71055 mission, they are averaging 28 people. We We rejoiced that five more souls have been PMD now only helps churches purchase the need a metal roof for their meeting place with added to the kingdom and four of them materials, they are responsible for everything a cost of $600. In La Esperanza, they are have followed the Lord’s example and been else. For the month, we received $6,554.66 averaging 22. We also need to help them with scripturally baptized. We had a high of 36 for the project fund for project #16 & 17 and their roof approximately $300. Please pray for on Sunday morning and 24 on midweek and $2,281.95 toward project #18. There is a these needs and for our health. Cindy is having continue to have visitors in most services. possibility we will have three buildings going on a knee problem and I’m still having problems with my right foot. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. at the same time. Praise the Lord! 18

MISSION NEWS (continued) SOLOMON ISLANDS homeschool co-op. I teach a chess class, and have building projects planned for Thailand with my wife teaches sewing. I wrote and printed Danny Jones and Africa with Eddie Williams. a new gospel tract, encouraging skeptics to Doug Clements  Honiara know the God of the Bible. Stacie and five Bill Johnson ICP ladies attended a ladies retreat with Templo Sponsoring Church: Sponsoring Church: Bautista. The theme was Hebrews 12:1-3, Calvary Baptist Church First MBC Butterfield Putting Our Eyes on Jesus. The children had a PO Box 128 PO Box 174 Malvern , AR 72104 band recital, and we were invited to participate Hamburg AR 71646 in song services at Templo Bautista. In the month of July, we attended the Gospel I have again the privilege to go back to Movers Conference in the Philippines and we Solomon Islands with Pastor Jerry Grimes. We International distributed VBS materials, hymnals, Bibles, and visited seven remote churches and pastors children’s clothing. Over 200 pastors attended and made plans for the future of Solomon Phil Gavila the conference from all over the Philippines. Island ministries. We distributed more than The pastors also took time to participate in the 1,000 books to those who have involved Sponsoring Church: dedication of the property for the new home with SIMBSS churches and pastors. We try First BC of East Bay of the ICP ministry through which we hope to to establish a system where we can print 10102 Old Big Bend Road reach the Philippines and Southeast Asia. teaching materials on the field to eliminate the Riverview, FL 33569 need to carry or ship them. Announcements The Lord really used our ministry trip in Peru to South America get the burden for these dear people. Had the LADIES AUXILIARY REMINDER privilege to preach at Pastor Hurtados church. This is a reminder to our ladies COLOMBIA During my visit I was informed that Peru has auxiliary to send your support to a communist president who the congress is Emmaus Baptist College as our State Gilberto Pinzon Bogota trying to impeach. Pray for this country also ABA ladies Auxiliary goal 2022-23. If Sponsoring Church: pray for our health. In the month of August, you have any questions, please contact First BC Christina Park BC in Lakeland, Florida took us Sandra Hancock at (863)677-1622 PO Box 398 Port Salero FL 34992 on for support. Praise the Lord! After waiting, praying and asking financial BOGARD PRESS help for more than three years for a more Chase Reynolds Make plans to join our 2023 VBS dependable vehicle, we finally bought it. God seminar from 8 AM to 12 PM on continues blessing us with good services and Sponsoring Church: February 25th at Northern Hills Baptist three professions of faith. This past month I lost Sublett Road BC Church in Texarkana. The event will my brother after being sick & having stomach PO Box 172076 also be live-streamed on our Facebook surgery. We want to buy a property for the new Arlington TX 76003 page. mission (5th church mission). They are asking $155,000. 680 square ft, with 2-story building. July took me back to Indonesia for three weeks IN SEARCH OF PIANIST We have until December to purchase it. As of jammed pack with incredible opportunities. First Thonotosassa Missionary Baptist now, we only have $9,700 on hand. Please Though this time Kelli and the boys were Church in Thonotosassa, Florida. Is in keep that in prayer. not with me. I had an amazing week working need of a pianist. If God leads you to with Papuan Malay (PM) translation team help the church as pianist, please email James Gage Villavicencio translating the book of Mark. I spent most of them at [email protected] or Sponsoring Church: my two weeks in a one story workshop with call (813)473-2194 Westwood Missionary Baptist Church teams from six different languages in Papua. 3210 Ave G NW We are all working in translating a set of SENIORS DAY REPORT Winter Haven, FL 33880 chronological oral bible stories into their own We just celebrated 50 years of the initiation language. None of the six languages currently Seniors day was held at the Florida of the work here in Colombia. The result has have any Scripture in their own language so Baptist Encampment on May 10, 2022. extended throughout other South American these are the first taste of God’s Word for 17 churches were present with over 85 countries with many of the Lord's churches them. I also brought nearly 100 copies of the in attendance. Brother Tim Thompson established, pastors and deacons ordained, gospel of Luke in Yefta, so please pray for this from 60th street Baptist Church in but more than anything, precious souls have project. Pinellas Park brought a great challenge been saved. El Sembrador Missionary Baptist for the “Golden Agers” from God’s Church baptized Jose Faustino Silva and his Doug Wiersema Word. Next Seniors Day meeting will wife, Aurora Cardinas. Gilberto and Xiomara be in May 9, 2023. Special thanks to Bautista have begun helping at the Jungle Sponsoring Church: Brother Bo and sister Linda Johnson Bible School, where we will host a group from Westwood MBC for all that they do. Remember: “You Emmaus Baptist College in November. 3210 Avenue G NW don’t stop laughing when you grow Winter Haven FL 33880 old, you grow old when you stop Scott Maness  Cordoba laughing.” Sponsoring Church: I am praising the Lord that the pandemic Nevil’s Chapel Baptist Church is officially over and countries are opening PO Box 1334 Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455 up again for foreigners. Dianna and I spent We made contact with a new family that the month of July in Romania preaching and desires to have a church in a city called teaching at the church we planted in Otopeni! I Malvinas Argentinas, with a population of also had the privilege of traveling to Colombia 12-15,000 people. We started back the in August for the 50th anniversary celebration of the ministry of James Gage. I preached at that service and then at the church in Pompeya! God is blessing in both places. We 19

THE BAPTIST ANCHOR FALL 2022 Consider Giving to the Hurricane Ian Relief Effort PO BOX 2758 Non-Profit Org BRANDON, FL 33509-2758 US Postage Address Service Requested PAID Permit 6726 Tampa, FL ADDRESS LABEL HERE