NEW AND IMPROVED WEBSITE: www.baptistfaithmissions.org
If you haven’t been to our website lately, you need to go back, bookmark it, and go back often. It has been in a neglected and inactive condition for some time, and we apologize for that. But, it is being renovated and re-launched as we speak.
I am still making updates on this blog but I will move our FaithWorks updates to the new website shortly. It is still under construction, so bear with us while we ‘revive’ it – but we want our website to become our Information Exchange Central.
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SPRING CONFERENCE REPORT
The Lord blessed our Spring Conference services with good fellowship, challenging messages from God’s Word, and a continually increasing interest in the ministries of Baptist Faith Missions. Pastors and members have gone back to their churches and either started supporting Baptist Faith Missions for the first time – or increased their giving, especially for our much-needed GENERAL FUND.
We heard these preachers faithfully proclaim ‘FILLING THE EARTH WITH GOD’S GLORY’ messages: David Pitman, Kenny Hurst, Doug King, Larry Wilson, Edward Overbey, Wayne Brickner, Terry Adkins, Ben Glover, and Bobby Creiglow. All of these brethren and all their messages had the Glory of God burning in their hearts and glowing on their lips as they called us all to partner together to take and send the Good News of God’s Glory to everybody in the world.
There were 45 pastors/preachers who attended our services over the course of the Conference. We want to thank everyone who attended – and we continue to pray that God will inspire us all together to FILL THE EARTH WITH GOD’S GLORY.
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SPRING CONFERENCE OFFERING
We designated the Spring Conference Offering to help Louie and Mary Carver with extraordinary medical expenses they have incurred especially since January. Brother and Sister Carver are veteran missionaries in partnership with Baptist Faith Missions. They served the Lord in Korea and Philippine Islands. Brother Carver also served as BFM’s Field Representative and liaison between the missionaries and the churches for several years.
They relocated to South Carolina during 2009, and then on January 15, Brother Carver suffered a massive heart attack. He underwent a 5-bypass surgery, and then suffered pulmonary complications during his recovery. He spent several days in the ICU – and three weeks in the hospital. Then on the Friday [5 February] after being discharged home on the previous Tuesday, he suffered a stroke and was re-hospitalized. He is still rehabilitating from the effects of the stroke.
So, we wanted to help them with the mounting medical expenses they were incurring. The total Conference offering was $3,030.54. Brother Carver has responded in an email: ‘Dear Bro. Dave, Thank you so much for the generous offering. You truly have no idea at what a time it has come. God is so good.’ Of course, he is thanking all of you who gave the offering.
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PASTOR EDWARD OVERBEY RESIGNS AS DIRECTOR
Brother Overbey has served as a Director of Baptist Faith Missions for probably 43 years or more. Even he doesn’t remember the year he became a Director. But, as the son of our founder [Hafford Overbey], Brother Ed has supported BFM from its inception. Brother Overbey contributed to the very first offering given to support Brother Brandon back in 1942. Brother Overbey doesn’t remember whether he gave 50 cents or $1 – but the total offering was around $15.00. He has been a true GIVING FRIEND ever since – from day one. He also served as our Executive Secretary from 1981-1995, after succeeding his father into that service. We wish to thank and commend Brother Edward Overbey for his lifetime of service to Gospel missions – and his 40+ years serving Baptist Faith Missions.
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LABOR DAY CONFERENCE
The East Keys Baptist Church in Springfield IL has hosted the Labor Day Missions Conference in the interests of Baptist Faith Missions for several years. They are planning their 2010 Labor Day Conference for Labor Day Weekend. We hope you will make plans to attend.
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GENERAL FUND MONTHLY SOLVENCY
WE CONTINUE TO NEED IMMEDIATE INCREASED OFFERINGS FOR OUR GENERAL FUND. We really need to receive $50,000 per month FOR THE GENERAL FUND in order to maintain our monthly commitments and other disbursements we make to our missionaries as they come up over the course of the year.
For example: FURLOUGH EXPENSES
We have 4 missionary families due for furloughs during 2010 and they are requesting transportation funds. Airfare expenses for furlough transportation could be as much as $16,000+ before the year is over – and most of this will be one-way fares because it is next to impossible to purchase round-trip tickets when they can’t set a precise date for their return next year.
Also: HOSPITALIZATION PREMIUMS INCREASES
We have received notice that beginning in June, our missionaries’ hospitalization premiums will increase by 13%. We will be disbursing $9500 per month for their hospitalization premiums.
$43,000 per month needed for their Essential Maintenance Transactions
There are four disbursements we make each month to our missionaries just to maintain their essential support: [1] Salaries [2] Standard Monthly Expense Allowances [3] Hospitalization premiums [4] Mission Sheets printing and mailing. THESE ESSENTIAL MAINTENANCE TRANSACTIONS TOTAL MORE THAN $43,000 EVERY MONTH.
Then, there are the OTHER monthly General Fund disbursements to maintain the support services we provide for them.
First 5 months 2010 average GF Offerings
During April, we gave $30,438 to the GENERAL FUND. Over the first 5 months of this year, we have averaged $34,738 per month to the GENERAL FUND.
BE A ‘GIVING FRIEND’!
If we don’t increase our monthly offerings for the GENERAL FUND, we will necessarily have to begin reductions from our missionaries’ monthly deposits in order to make the remaining 2009 Thanksgiving Offering last until the end of 2010.
THE ONLY WAY TO STABILIZE OUR BUDGETING TO ALLOW FOR ANY KIND OF GROWTH OR INCREASES FOR OUR MISSIONARIES’ ESSENTIAL NEEDS IS TO INCREASE OUR MONTHLY GIVING TO OUR GENERAL FUND.
WILL YOU ASK THE LORD OF THE HARVEST WHAT YOU CAN DO –
AND WHAT HE WILL ENABLE YOU TO DO?
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Thursday, May 6, 2010
PRAYER REQUEST FOR HAROLD DRAPER
6 May 2010
FROM: Dave Parks
RE: Prayer Request
HAROLD DRAPER / hmdubdbr@yahoo.com
Brother Draper suffered some kind of mild heart attack early Wednesday morning [around 4am]. He was driving back home – after already driving all night – and suffered chest tightness and pains. Drove himself to Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. They have already conducted stress tests and other exams and tell him that his heart is sound – but that he has suffered arrhythmia, but doctors think it is from prolonged stress and exhaustion. He hadn’t slept much for the previous two nights and had been driving most of that time. They have told him he needs to rest for the next 2-3 weeks. I talked with him around 11am this morning and he is very weak, but thinks he is OK and stable. They are planning to discharge him home this afternoon. Please commit them to the Lord in prayer.
FROM: Dave Parks
RE: Prayer Request
HAROLD DRAPER / hmdubdbr@yahoo.com
Brother Draper suffered some kind of mild heart attack early Wednesday morning [around 4am]. He was driving back home – after already driving all night – and suffered chest tightness and pains. Drove himself to Western Baptist Hospital in Paducah. They have already conducted stress tests and other exams and tell him that his heart is sound – but that he has suffered arrhythmia, but doctors think it is from prolonged stress and exhaustion. He hadn’t slept much for the previous two nights and had been driving most of that time. They have told him he needs to rest for the next 2-3 weeks. I talked with him around 11am this morning and he is very weak, but thinks he is OK and stable. They are planning to discharge him home this afternoon. Please commit them to the Lord in prayer.
PRAYER REQUEST FOR MARY CARVER
6 May 2010
FROM: Dave Parks
RE: Prayer Request
MARY CARVER / wlc1939@att.net
Brother Carver called me yesterday [Wednesday] to tell me that Mary was involved in a one-car accident on Tuesday afternoon. She apparently passed out for some reason. According to a witness who was behind her, she suddenly veered out of her lane, crossed the other lane, and off the road. From what I understand from Brother Carver, she may have overturned the vehicle. He said she was hanging upside down by her shoulder straps and had to be cut out of the vehicle. She was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital. He didn’t know at that time how extensive the injuries are. He did send me a brief email last night: “God is so good. I...appreciate all the prayers for Mary in the trauma that she has suffered. God performed a miracle now we wait to see if her back elbow and leg are broken. Continue to keep us in your prayers.” The ‘miracle’ to which he refers is the protection the Lord gave her from any more serious injury than she has suffered. Please continue praying to God for their many needs from the several adversities they have suffered, especially since January with his own heart attack and stroke.
UPDATE: Friday evening / 7 May
Brother Parks,
Good evening. First, the Carver family appreciates all the continued prayers that have been lifted on our behalf. It has truly been a roller coaster, but through it all, our family has drawn closer and closer. Mom came home from the hospital this afternoon with no broken bones, no fractures, sprains, etc. She is getting along pretty well. Dad is hanging in there; however, he did state this evening that the physical therapist told him, either today or yesterday, that if he doesn't slow down and stop doing so much that he is going to suffer another heart attack. Please pray that he slows down.
Again, we all appreciate your prayers.
Sincerely, The Carver Family
FROM: Dave Parks
RE: Prayer Request
MARY CARVER / wlc1939@att.net
Brother Carver called me yesterday [Wednesday] to tell me that Mary was involved in a one-car accident on Tuesday afternoon. She apparently passed out for some reason. According to a witness who was behind her, she suddenly veered out of her lane, crossed the other lane, and off the road. From what I understand from Brother Carver, she may have overturned the vehicle. He said she was hanging upside down by her shoulder straps and had to be cut out of the vehicle. She was taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital. He didn’t know at that time how extensive the injuries are. He did send me a brief email last night: “God is so good. I...appreciate all the prayers for Mary in the trauma that she has suffered. God performed a miracle now we wait to see if her back elbow and leg are broken. Continue to keep us in your prayers.” The ‘miracle’ to which he refers is the protection the Lord gave her from any more serious injury than she has suffered. Please continue praying to God for their many needs from the several adversities they have suffered, especially since January with his own heart attack and stroke.
UPDATE: Friday evening / 7 May
Brother Parks,
Good evening. First, the Carver family appreciates all the continued prayers that have been lifted on our behalf. It has truly been a roller coaster, but through it all, our family has drawn closer and closer. Mom came home from the hospital this afternoon with no broken bones, no fractures, sprains, etc. She is getting along pretty well. Dad is hanging in there; however, he did state this evening that the physical therapist told him, either today or yesterday, that if he doesn't slow down and stop doing so much that he is going to suffer another heart attack. Please pray that he slows down.
Again, we all appreciate your prayers.
Sincerely, The Carver Family
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