My wife, Elaine, and I were members at County Line MBC
in 1999, at England, AR. During our revival we decided to fast and pray for God's will to be done in our lives. After about 4 years of a "pastoring sabattical", I knew God wasn't through with me yet. There was more to do.
During this time of prayer it was evident that God wanted
us to do mission work. It isn't a small thing for God to put a burden on both husband and wife for the work he has for them to do. We didn't know exactly where God wanted us to be or when, just that the Holy Spirit led our thoughts and hearts to the west. We both had very good jobs, 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and a place on a beautiful lake at Scott, Ar. Somehow this didn't even play a small factor in the big picture, as we whole-heartedly prepared for our journey out west to start a mission work.....somewhere, we did not know the how or where, but only the why.
We were in touch with Bro. Dennis Lowery, then pastor of Bradley Rd. MBC in Colorado Springs, CO. When we told him our burden, he encouraged us because of the lack of ABA churches out west and sent us a newspaper to look for housing. After searching the paper and the internet for an apartment, we located one in our price range to rent. The man who answerd the phone was a christian, but after hearing our plans, waived the $500 deposit he required and
held the apartment for us until our arrival.
We loaded up a small u-haul trailer with just bare essentials for apartment living. At that time, little did we know that God had a mission work already in mind for us. We were just following his plan by faith and not by sight. It is amazing how God works in our lives directing every step even when we don't know where we are going. Moving in to our little one bedroom apartment, we discovered that cardboard boxes does suffice for dresser drawers and that blue fish covering the bathroom walls is bearable for a little while. We started attending Bradley Rd. MBC right away, and the first service there, the pastor asked for prayer for a small group of people in Farmington, NM, who didn't have a pastor for their mission. Bradley Rd. was the sponsoring church for this mission. After repeatedly hearing these prayer requests, we decided that God was directing us to these people in New
Mexico.
On May 21, 2000, we met with four adults and three children of the mission to discuss their needs and ours. Their need for a missionary has been ongoing for sometime. We shared with each other our testimonies,hopes and dreams for the Lords' work. This little group has a compelling
desire to build this little mission work into a church that would honor the Lord. As we sat and heard their testimony, which was washed in tears, we knew then that certainly our needs would be met just as well as theirs. After a seven hour trip back to Colorado Springs, with much discussion and prayer, we decided that this was certainly where God wanted us to be.
During the next two weeks we prepared for another move. Again God was with us and renewed our faith that great things will happen in this work. Then in July we went back to Arkansas to load up the rest of our belongings
for the final move to New Mexico, the land of enchantment. We returned on July 16th and held services in our home with 6 in attendance, including my wife and I. Within a couple of more weeks, God had provided a place of worship and a source of income for us. Since July, we have had 29 Sunday
Services with an average of 20 in attendance, two professions of faith, two Baptisms, and four by letter. We have regained a few of the membership and have had many visitors along the way.
Bro. R.W. (Buddy) Keesee of Benton, AR. came to hold revival the fourth week of October of this year. Tuesday night of that revival week, we had a high attendance of 38. We received some good contacts out of the revival and with a renewed faith of many of the mission members. We know that God doesn't do anything by accident, and we KNOW that this is where he wants and needs for us to be. It was truly no accident that we met the people of Bradley Rd.
MBC, and no accident that He directed us to the High Desert of New Mexico to do His work for these wonderful people who so desperately want a church built for the honor and glory of God.
We are presently meeting in the San Juan Southern Baptist Office Building and have been since the 1st part of June. But God has opened another door for us to move around the 15th of January 2001 to the Ryder Chapel on the
premises of the Navajo Preparatory School. It's a beautiful old chapel, and one can feel the presence of God there. The rent on the Chapel will be half the cost of where we are meeting now, and will be a Church atmosphere rather than an office setting. God is good!
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