Ministry Update - November 16, 2011

Kevin witnessing to a soldier on Fort Hood!

It’s been a great time here on the west coast!  We continue to go to bases here, seeing what’s being done to reach the military.  Right now we’re close to Edwards AFB, which is huge land-wise, but has a very small military population.  One of our goals here is to see what is going on to reach the base.  It’s been our blessing to know that Lancaster Baptist Church is doing a tremendous job helping the airmen and women there.

Most people who are missionaries to the military either seek to start a church near a military base, pastor a church near a military base, or help a church near a base.  These folks go to the field and do the work the Lord has for them in their particular sphere of influence. 

The Lord has chosen a bit of a different route for us.  Our desire is to start churches near military bases that need a church, and to help people in existing churches reach their local bases if there is not outreach.  We have started three churches so far, two of them “military” churches – churches by a military base.  Seeing the need to help already existing churches develop effective outreaches to their local military bases, we felt the Lord tapping us for Operation Naaman: Navy, Army, Air Force Marines Action Network.

In Operation Naaman, we use our credentials in working with the military for the past 19 years and endorse Biblically sound individuals located by military bases and help them establish ministries on the base.  My husband has developed a network of connections with commanders, chaplains, and officers who are willing to help us be a blessing to our nation’s military.   

Soon we’ll be heading to Fallbrook, CA, where we will be conducting Operation Naaman by invitation, to help some folks develop an outreach to the Marines.  We were there about eight years ago and had four Bible studies on the base.  Of course, a lot has changed since then, and now there’s a whole new crop of Marines who need the Lord.  Pray that the Lord will open doors for us and our workers to establish a ministry there.

My husband’s health seems to be getting to be more of an issue.  Please keep him in prayer as we enter the winter – and illness – season.  Thank you all for your prayers!

Ministry Update

It's been three rainy, dismal weeks up here in the northwest.  Unfortunately, the humidity is not good for my husband's Lyme disease symptoms; arthritis and pain is his constant companion.  Thank you all for praying for him and his health, though we continue to seek God for strength.

The military projects here are stymied by difficulty in securing a chaplain that will work with us.  We haven't been given a "no," but we haven't been given a "yes," either.  Perhaps it's just the weather, but perhaps there's spiritual opposition.

There are plenty of workers who are willing to minister on base, if only we can gain permission.  To this end, my husband has been developing another outreach tool, a seminar on Biblical Resolution of Worry and Stress, which we feel will be very applicable to the military in their current deployment and battle status.

And continue to pray that we will be effective while we go on base and try to talk to folks about the Lord.  The vast majority of people have a tremendous need and don't even know it.

Thank you!

Rolling on...

Looking into the sunshine!

It's been a long and busy week, full of good fellowship and many opportunities.  And since I'm standing on the eve of another busy week, I'm going to fill you in on things and move on.

The weekend before last we were at Mountain Home, Idaho, home of the Mountain Home Air Force Base.  We were able to make some good contacts, some folks who would like us to come back to help them reach onto the base.  We also handed out some Military Editions of John/Romans at a huge fair!

During that weekend, I was also able to get another survey for my upcoming book, for which I am very thankful!

Last week, we stopped by The Dalles, Oregon, and had a meeting at a church there, and I picked up a few more surveys.  The Lord has blessed, and I have about 52 in all now.

I also had a wonderful opportunity to speak to a Ladies' Group on Thursday night, as well as to another ladies' group just this past Sunday morning!  For both, I spoke on the same topic, one of the patterns I see emerging as a result of my survey.  It is a blessing to me to see God working, and I think it was a blessing to the ladies, as well.

Soon the Rolling Raub Ranch will be moving on, headed toward a military project in Canada!  Please pray for continued safety, and especially that we will be used of the Lord to accomplish His purpose.

A cute little friend came to visit us!

Stopping for a little break