Updates

Dear Brothers: As I write, I am very grateful to the Lord for the great privilege of being His son and because in His mercy He saw fit to call us to the ministry. I am also grateful for and to others who have decided to support us. We are preparing a Medical and Dental campaign in our… Continue Reading

Dear Friends of Zion: Gratitude fills our hearts for your faithful prayers and offerings that help make our work possible. A fall that broke my left arm on Friday, April 27, just as Brazil was beginning a long holiday weekend, has changed my lifestyle for a few weeks!  Multiple fragmentation of the bones in my… Continue Reading

Dear Brethren, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21). Truly, the Lord is able to do above and… Continue Reading

Dear Praying Friends: One of the most important habits I learned from my parents was the discipline of daily Bible reading.  Every time I face an important challenge, God has guided me through His Word.  Because I love the Bible, I desire to see the Scriptures translated into every language.  Would you pray with me… Continue Reading

My suitcase is sitting next to me, and other than packing up this laptop, I am ready to leave for the airport.  My family and I have enjoyed a last hug, and I will be leaving in just a few minutes.  They know why I must go … the Lord has given me another open… Continue Reading

Dear Pastor and Brethren: “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” (Psalm 126:6)  Twenty-seven people made a Profession of Faith during the three-day Prophetic Conference we held at the first church we established.  Dr. Roger Peterson preached while I translated simultaneously.  As… Continue Reading

Dear Praying Friends, I first of all, I would like to greatly thank you all so very much for your prayer support towards my eye surgery.  Since April 22, I had been struck down with malaria, but just managing it till in the evening when I had to go and see a doctor.  I thought… Continue Reading

Dear Pastor and Friends, The spring has come quickly here in Texas and the school year is coming to a close just as quickly.  The boys and I are looking forward to the summer, so that we can return to Mexico during the months of June and July.  My immigration status was completed and the… Continue Reading

Dear Praying Friends and Family, I am sitting here on Easter Sunday praising the Lord for the chance to worship with our fellow believers on this special day. I am sitting in the midst of a disorganized living space… we have been packing our suitcases for our trip to Peru, sorting and packing for storage as well.  We… Continue Reading

Dear Friends of Zion: Your continued support in prayers and offerings, we received with gratitude–to you for your sacrifice and to the Lord for His provision. Thank you for praying with us about our car last month.  The old Monza was finally approved and passed the city pollution inspection, praise the Lord.  For this we… Continue Reading

Dear Friends, Even when traveling, I open my computer daily to read emails from all over the world.  At no time could we have dreamed of all the Lord would do through the partnership we forged with you years ago.  You have been a central part of every miracle. We Began the Month of March… Continue Reading

Dear Friends, I bring you greetings from Techiman, Ghana.  I trust that by His marvelous grace towards us, you are all doing fine.  We are also doing great with many ministry opportunities to serve Him.   Between the visits of both Pastor Tim Matthews, TN, USA and Pastor Max Fernandez; Middletown, OH, we have seen… Continue Reading

Dear Pastor and Brethren: … I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) The fourth church we established at the end of October in Aparecida de Goiânia held its first Evangelistic Conference in March.  Eighty-seven people visited the church for the first time and 15… Continue Reading

Dear Prayer Partners, We praise the Lord for bringing us this far in the year.  Indeed, He has been good unto us on this side of the globe. Our family is doing well by His bountiful grace, although we had a few health challenges.  I had malaria two weeks ago along with our younger girl,… Continue Reading

Greeting from America! Many are probably wondering about Dona’s condition.  Dona had surgery on February 22nd at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, MA.  The operation took 2 ¾ hours to complete.  Dr. Coe came out to inform me that the operation went well and that all four parathyroid glands were bad and he had to… Continue Reading

  Dear Friends: When God’s power is at work in the lives of His people, our hearts are filled with joy.  During our ten days in Mexico, the Lord allowed us to witness a moving of His Spirit, a time of repentance and reconciliation, a revival.  Some came to church who had not been there… Continue Reading

Dear Brethren, Believers of God:                                                                                                                                                 March, 2012  “…The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make.” Exodus 36:5 Thank God, we are, once again, in communication with you in this month that is full of activities.  It is a blessing to be a servant in… Continue Reading

Dear Friends of Zion: Thank you for praying and giving for another month.  We are deeply grateful.  Praise the Lord for 15 that professed Christ—salvation stories that are interesting but will probably only be told to you in heaven! ISRAEL:  Two young ladies, who participate in the music program of our weekly Friends of Zion… Continue Reading

Dear Family in the Faith, We send you warm greetings from Africa.  We hope you and your family are enjoying the rich blessings from our great God. God has been good to our family.  He has given us the strength to go through sickness and trials during the first part of the year.  Some of… Continue Reading

Dear Pastor and Brethren: “And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” (Acts 5:14) Nothing makes us happier than to see new people being added to the church.  Last month, Rom began two classes designed for newcomers: an eight-week Discipleship program and the New Life Sunday school class.  The… Continue Reading

On February, we made a trip to Mexico. It was like Heaven to be among the people we love in Mexico and the staff of the Bethesda Children’s Homes

Nikki and I have a pretty good idea where we will minister next, but we want to pray about it for several days more. When we make a firm decision we will share it with you.

Latest update from the Hodsdons with prayer request for housing situation in Venezuela.

Please, be in prayer with me for the Lords will to be done, and also for the Lord to provide the finances that may be needed.

I write to you this month after talking to our national pastors in Mexico. They continue to work diligently for the Lord so that souls can be saved. Below are notes from two of our pastors currently serving.

Besides numerical growth, we are also emphasizing spiritual growth in 2012. After teaching on the importance of prayer for three months on Wednesday evenings, Rom is now teaching couples on the importance of the family.

Dr. Tom Gilmer shares the latest updates from the Zion Ministries.

Thank you so much for your gift that was just received. We just completed our annual conference in Fort Worth. It was a blessedmeeting.

Thank you for your gift that was received for the Bethesda homes in Tlapa. We were able to fly the directors in for the January Conference.

The Hodsdons, Christian missionaries in Venezuela, share with the latest updates from their ministry.

Bill Patterson, shares the latest updates of his Bible translation ministry and his furlough.

We have peace about my wife’s surgery and are just waiting to return to the work in Ghana. Thank you for your concern for Dona’s health.

Thank you so much for the support you are sending to us, in spite of a tough economy. Your love and generosity will last for all eternity.

Dear friend: In just thirty minutes, I will be driving to Cuernavaca, Mexico.  This trip will be historic – it will be the first time in over thirteen years that all five of my brothers and sisters will be with my parents in Mexico!  Also during this time, I will be speaking with my Dad… Continue Reading

The Lord has been so good to us. We had two people receive Christ recently in the morning service and four at our Christian Day School.

My health is improving and I should be released by the foot surgeon for normal activities this week. The year just past was difficult in many ways and blessed beyond measure in others. Our meetings in Spain last month were just marvelous.

We have continued by faith with the remodeling, refurbishing and rebuilding in the Homes. Each year I think we will finally complete everything only to find several projects waiting in the wings.

Thank you so much for your gift that we received for the homes in Tlapa. We will try to use it in such a way that you will have great joy at the Judgment Seat of Christ because of your sacrifice.

The year of 2011 was a testimony of the Lord’s goodness and mercy. In spite of us, God allowed us to establish our fourth church in the country of Brazil, and He continues to bless the other three churches, Jimmy Rose Christian School, and the Maranatha Bible Institute. Dear to our hearts are our own daughters, and the Lord is blessing them (Rachel, my beloved wife as well). Thank you so much for praying for our needs and for God’s protection over our family.

Praise the Lord for your prayers and offerings that saw us through another month! Our long years of working on the restoration of Templo Batista de Indianópolis (T.B.I.) are paying off.

Thank you so much for your gift that we just received. For over forty-two years we have lived by faith. Our faith is admitedly weak but our God is amazing. Thank you for allowing Him to use you mightily.

Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate the presence of Christ in us, and the change He brings to all who know Him. As we give “thanks to God for His unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15), we deem it appropriate to look back to say “THANKS” to all of our partners in the ministry who are helping us, prayerfully and materially, in reaching the unreached on this part of the globe. May the good Lord equally and richly bless you, your churches and families. Our Ministries have been great and challenging. His promised presence cheers us up and calms all ministry storms, “God is good and faithful.” Our family is doing good physically and spiritually and are all serving the Lord with their families and blesses our heart

As we are at the end of 2011, and our time here in the States, we are very thankful for family and the time we have had here. Carl’s dad is improving each day, gaining strength and stamina, but far from where he was before he was so sick this Spring. The doctors tell him that they will rid his body of 99% of the cancers, which means there is still 1% this new medicine will not cure. He is also getting bone repair treatments as this cancer spread to his bones. This is a miraculous new medicine that repairs the bones for only those who have this type of cancer. Amazing! We thank the Lord for each day we have with him and for his improvements thus far, and Praise the Lord for the time we had at Thanksgiving and Christmas – all of Carl‘s family together; memories we will always cherish.

By the grace of our loving Heavenly Father, we have seen the powerful and protective hand of our great God in all the roads where we have travelled and through which He has taken us during this time. We are encouraged to see the faithfulness of our loving Savior. Please receive our greetings from beautiful Mexico City.

We arrived in Ghana in late August 2011. Because of our son’s hospitality, our transition into life and ministry was only days in length. We have the most blessed and efficient situation here in Ghana; housing, a car, and the special privilege of being with Steve, Michelle and the children is all sweetly provided for us.

In less than ten hours, I will be boarding a plane for Mongolia. The Lord has graciously provided for me to return for a one-week visit. Lord willing, I will be preaching twice, working with Dashka and Oyumaa on the translation of the New Testament, and trying to locate a place for us to live upon our return to Mongolia. Please pray that God’s purposes for this trip will be accomplished!

For the first time in several years, we were with my parents for Christmas and New Year’s Day. On New Year’s Eve, we enjoyed a time of reading God’s Word, sharing praises, and praying together. All of us agreed in thanking God for the many people who sacrificially give to make it possible for us to serve as missionaries. Thank you for being a part of our team!

Our Heavenly Father has been good to us and He cheers us every moment of the day and we are amazed by the way He works in our lives. He has given us tremendous peace by telling us that HE is in complete control of everything and that He works with a divine and perfect purpose.

Thank you so much for your prayers and continued financial support for the Indian people and for our family. So much has taken place since the burial of my husband, Lyle.

Thank you so much for your interest, prayers, and financial support. You are enabling us to serve the Lord on this very receptive Mission Field. We have loved the Ghanian people since our first visit to Ghana in 1998. They are a spiritually receptive people with some very winsome customs and behaviors.

Since we inaugurated the sanctuary of the fourth church at the end of October, 90 people have visited our services. Forty people received Jesus during church services and 20 others were saved through home visits. Praise the Lord! The church building enhanced our testimony and effectives for the Lord. We are still trying to raise funds for the flooring of this building and for the pews.

Thank you for your sacrifice Gifts. Much has been accomplished in the homes this year. Our staff is so active in teaching and training with the Word of God. It has been a difficult year especially with the death of Dr. Lyle McCoy.

We have continued by faith with the remodeling, refurbishing and rebuilding in the Homes. Each year I think we will finally complete everything only to find several projects waiting in the wings.

Thank you so much for your gifts. We are so aware of how important you are to us. By joining our team you have ensured fruit to your account from all over the world.

As we were unpacking bags and trying to catch up after our trip to the USA, the Lord packed last month with blessings of ministry! We made a long-promised trip to Pastor José Nogueira’s church in Fortaleza in northern Brazil to celebrate the second anniversary of their Friends of Zion meeting.

We have received your gifts and are truly grateful. Thank you so very much for your sacrifice for the cause of Christ. We pray that God would richly reward you.

Dear Praying Friends: What a wonderful Savior is Jesus our Lord!  For the past four days, we have been blessed to hear some really great preaching at a Bible Conference at our home church.  He is worthy of our praise! News from Mongolia:  Thank you for praying for Oyumaa, who is now out of the… Continue Reading

Happy Thanksgiving from Ghana! Praise God for the victories, blessings, and challenges that we face as servants of the Lord here in Ghana.   On November 2nd, at 10:48am, in the Lord’s perfect timing, our newest granddaughter Eden Paige Kingston graced us with her presence.  Rachel and Tom are the proud parents of this precious gift… Continue Reading

Dear Ones: Last year was a blessed ordeal.  The heart attack was devastating in so many ways but God granted grace.   Apart from the physical pain and suffering we have the added burden of medical expense.  Still, we have found that His grace really is sufficient. Rehab was a daily grind but seems to have… Continue Reading

Dear Friends: Much has been accomplished in the homes this year.  Our staff is so active in teaching and training with the Word of God.  It has been a difficult year especially with the death of Dr. Lyle McCoy. We have continued by faith with the remodeling, refurbishing and rebuilding in the Homes.  Each year… Continue Reading

Dear Friends, Praise be to our Almighty God for the ministry opportunities He gives us here in Africa! By His grace we have been able to start the Hope Int. Senior High School.  All glory to God.  Thank you so very much for your prayer support.  We strongly believe that this will be a strong… Continue Reading

Queridos hermanos, Por Su gracia a nuestra llegada pudimos reunirnos una vez más con nuestros hermanos en Cape Coast. El Señor nos dio unos excelentes servicios y pudimos conocer algunas personas que llegaron a nuestra iglesia durante nuestra ausencia. Que gozo fue verles otra vez y poder animarles con la Palabra de Dios a terminar… Continue Reading

Dear Praying Friends: One of the blessings of being on furlough is the opportunity to reconnect with friends.  We are so grateful for you . . . your prayers are the lifeline of our ministry!  God has blessed us in many ways, but our friends are one of God’s special gifts.  We love you and… Continue Reading

Dear Friends: Five mountain evangelists-church planters were supported through Lyle McCoy’s work fund.  They each serve multiple congregations that will one day call national pastors from within their ranks.  The missionaries move to the next village when that happens.  About twenty tribal congregations are being started at this writing.  (Local churches dot the tribal region… Continue Reading

Dear Friends of Zion: Thank you for your prayers and offerings while we were in the USA for seven weeks.  We are now back in Brazil and thrilled with our little Gilmer grandson, born during our absence.  Praise the Lord for the good reports of God’s blessings on the work during the weeks we were… Continue Reading

Dear brethren, Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. – Col. 3:24 We dearly greet you from this part of the world…Africa, with the desire that God’s blessings keep flowing in every area of your lives, allowing you to partake in the evangelization of… Continue Reading

Dear Pastor and Church, Our Heavenly Father has been good to us and he cheers us up every moment and he has amazed us by the way he works in our lives. He has given us tremendous peace by telling us that HE is in completely control of everything and that He works with a… Continue Reading

Dear Brethren, In one of his stanzas, the hymn writer, Daniel March says “With your gifts and intercessions you can do as the Lord commands, joining with all faithful spokesmen serving Him in distant lands.”  Indeed, that is what the Lord is using you to do with us in ministry.  We are grateful and may… Continue Reading

Dear friends, Missionaries will tell you that furlough is not a vacation.  During this last month, the Lord has led me to four continents as I traveled to preach and teach God’s amazing Word.  Along the way, He gave me the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel.  It is amazing how many people all around are… Continue Reading

Dear Praying Friends, We have been back in Ghana now for just over two months.  We are enjoying many blessings as we meet new believers in the church and see the growth of older ones.  Of course, we also have the sorrow of seeing some go astray or relocate for work.  All and all, the… Continue Reading

What joy we have at the end of the month to see what our God has done in His work, and thanking you for the part you have had through your prayers and financial support.  We hope to continue working shoulder to shoulder to spread the gospel in this part of the world.  Our prayer… Continue Reading

Dear Pastors and Friends, The following letter was written by my father the day before he began his chemotherapy treatments. He anticipated that he may have difficulty adjusting and wanted to make sure his next letter was written.  By now you are aware of his home going and are probably wondering what’s next? His widow,… Continue Reading

We praise the Lord for what He has been doing here in Ghana.  Since our August update there is much to report.  We have had some challenging things happen here… Tuobodom: We have only one deacon in our church, and we had to ask him to resign.  This has been discouraging to us, but a… Continue Reading