2000 March

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Our hearts have been blessed so much over the past month, with all the words of encouragement. And God just keeps on bringing people into our lives that are not only excited about the ministry to the Amish but want to know how they can be a part of it.

Some examples:

• Several weeks ago while I (Joe) was eating lunch in the cafeteria at work a man came over and sat down beside me and said, “I heard about your ministry.” As we discussed MAP, I found out that this man grew up around the Amish and now lived in Nashville but never the less has a tremendous burden to see Amish people coming to Christ. He is now one of our prayer partner’s and wanted to be on the updated news letter list.
• March 3— I was part of a missions conference at First Baptist Church in Elyria, Ohio. Had one sweet lady come up to me in tears because she was so excited about MAP.

We are invited to share MAP with the following churches:

1. March 11—First Baptist Church in Attica, Ohio.
2. March 16—First Christian Church in Ashland, Ohio
3. March 29—Bethel Baptist Church update (home church)
4. April 5—New Life Church of Christ in Bellville, Ohio
5. April 26—Community Bible Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio

And there are several other churches that have expressed their desire to become a part of this outreach but dates are pending as to when we will share M.A.P. with them.

• We had several calls from people that we have never met that just called because they found out about the ministry and wanted to let us know they were behind it and wanted to support it prayerfully and financially. One such call came from Jim Foster out of Shipshewana IN who has been working with the Amish. Jim and his wife Eileen have been witnessing to the Amish and just have a tremendous burden to reach them for Christ.

We have been meeting weekly with our pastor, John Bouquet. He has been a real encouragement and also a great help in putting MAP together.

One of the things we are working on is to put together an Advisory Team that will meet several times a year that will help make decisions concerning the MAP ministry.

Proverbs 11:14, Where no counsel is the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors, there is safety.

An account for the M.A.P. ministry has been opened at Bethel from gifts & offerings that were received through individuals and church offerings. Several individuals have been building it up faithfully. We’re looking forward to leaving job responsibilities behind and focus primarily on ministry opportunities as soon as funds are established.

Some expenses as of right now are, ministry brochure, postage, ministry display table etc.

For balanced time, job responsibilities, unified family life, ministry opportunities, personal development, education, discernment, wisdom.

We started the home bible study from Liberty Home Bible Institute, in October of ‘99 We are currently studying the book of Joshua [The Conquest stage]. We have studied and taken tests on the Creation , Patriarchal, and Exodus stages. We try to squeeze in an hour or two before Joe leaves for work each morning and are greatly enjoying every minute of it. We continue to praise God for providing this program through one of our church members.

EVANGELIZE: Reaching people for Christ

ESTABLISH: Introduce individuals to a local bible believing church, bible studies, personal encouragement, etc.

ENCOURAGE: Hurting people; jail, hospital, abuse etc.

EQUIP: To share with others their knew found faith in Christ. By supplying resource materials.