CHURCH PLANTING IN AUSTRALIA
FEBRUARY, 2001
Dear Prayer Partners,
Psalm 19:1 "The heavens
declare the glory of God." Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD'S, and
the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Psalm 14:1 "The fool hath
said in his heart, There is no God."
Enough
said!
January 15 was Gilgandra Baptist
Fellowship's Kid's Club held at the Country Women's Hall, Gilgandra. We had
twelve children attend the first club for which we praise the Lord! The
temperature was well over 100 degrees and the children drank over 14 liers of
cordial. IT WAS HOT! The building did not have air-conditioning but did have
ceiling fans in one section, which was good. This kid's club day opened the door
to homes to which we had no entry earlier. Most of the children come from
unchurched homes and many are aboriginal. The day after the club David sent a
letter to the homes thanking the parents for sending their children to the club
and enclosed an Eternity tract. Pray the Lord will use this outreach to bring
some to a saving knowledge of Christ as their Saviour. We are planning another
club this winter. We were glad Phyllis Morgan helped even though the doctor had
told her that morning her mother could pass away at anytime. She was a
tremendous help.
Last year (2000) David reported to
one-half of our supporting churches. We are now planning to report to the other
half February 27 - April 10, 2002. PLEASE TAKE NOTE THIS MINI-FURLOUGH IS IN
2002! We have compiled the schedule a year in advance so each church is aware
and can schedule accordingly. Phone numbers are given if you need to change
dates with another church. Please let us know if any change is made. The 2002
schedule is as follows.
FURLOUGH 2002
February
Wednesday 27 - Crossroad Baptist,
Pensacola, FL 850-944-3544
March
Sunday 3 - Evangel Baptist, Dale
City, VA 703-670-5152 (Our home church)
Thursday 7 - Bible For Today
Baptist, Collingswood, NJ 856-854-4747
Sunday 10 - Columbus Road Baptist,
Quincy, IL 217-222-5891
Wednesday 13 - Bethany Baptist,
Galesburg, IL 309-342-3132
Sunday 17 - Stony Point Baptist,
Kansas City, KS 913-299-4774
Wednesday 20 - First Baptist,
Grafton, IL 618-786-3379
Sunday 24 - Ottumwa Baptist Temple,
Ottumwa, IA 641-682-4836
Wednesday 27 - Bible Baptist,
Ottumwa, IA 641-682-9609
Thursday 28 - Grace Baptist,
Cherokee, IA 712-225-4533
Sunday 31 - Tomah Baptist, Tomah,
WI 608-372-2071
April
Wednesday 3 - Woodcrest Baptist,
Fridley, MN 763-571-6409
Sunday 7 - Galilee Baptist, Kent,
WA 253-854-5828
Wednesday 10 - First Baptist,
Windsor, CA 707-838-6694
We know most churches would desire
a Sunday meeting but time is the mini-furlough master.
Please remember to pray for the
following.
1.
Olga Nadan (Phyllis Morgan's
mother) passed away 21 January in the Gilgandra hospital. Mrs. Nadan was an
aboriginal believer whose husband was pastor of the Australian Indigenous
Mission church in Gilgandra until his death two years ago. Olga would have been
80 this September and was a special lady who deeply loved the Lord. David had
the privilege of preaching the graveside committal service. There were over 500
people in attendance.
2. In January we began a Bible
study with Andy and Ellen Thompson. Andy had open-heart surgery 22 January and
at this writing is recovering in Sydney. Now that Andy has had the surgery pray
they will begin to attend the Sunday service when they return to Dubbo from
Sydney. They both profess to know the Lord with their church background varying
from Pentecostal to Presbyterian.
3.
Even though the 2002
mini-furlough is a year away begin asking God to give us His preacher for the
time we are gone. At the present we do not have a great number attending either
fellowship but those folk God has given us need a preacher of the Word in our
absence.
4.
Pray the finances for the 2002
mini-furlough will be available as we approach our departure in February 2002.
Furlough has many costs, which includes return airline tickets, rental car,
petrol, meals and lodging between churches. We praise the Lord that His people
have always been generous and we have never yet been in the red.
5.
Pastor and Mrs. Van Kleeck are
planning a trip to Australia sometime in October this year. Pastor Van Kleeck is
our new pastor at Evangel since the retirement of Pastor Keep.
6.
Jonathan (our third child and
eldest son) and Lynne Mercer's wedding will be 15 September 2001. They are an
encouragement in their faithfulness to the fellowship meetings.
7. Becky, our second child and
youngest daughter, is due 10 June with her third child. She and her family live
in Acworth, GA a suburb of Atlanta.
8.
We have submitted the forms for
the re-application of Ross and Carolyn Trumbles visas to government immigration.
There shouldn't be any problem but one never knows for sure. They will finish
their first two years in Australia in April. The Lord has been good and given
them a small group of people to begin a fellowship in Parkes, NSW.
If you would like to receive our
prayer letter via email please send us your email address and we will put you on
the list. Computers are so much fun! David had to run recovery disk last month
to help clean up the hard drive and re-entering everything was a real joy! This
is all said with a taste of sarcasm of course. The computer is operating faster
now and without so many cliches, for which we are thankful.
In closing we would once again like
to thank each of you for your part in helping us live and serve the Lord in
Australia. As we view the world situation we are reminded in the Word of God to
look "for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God
and our Saviour Jesus Christ." Maranatha!
Your Missionaries,
David and Pam Bennett 
