Fall is upon us and it is evident through the changing of leaves. For some of us, this is earlier than hoped for and for others, we look forward to the possibility of a slower schedule that Fall and Winter brings. With that said, God’s work continues and He is always faithful to sustain us and to never give us more than we can handle.

Progress

Over the last eight services we have seen 26 visitors come and have averaged 13.5 in attendance each week. To some that may not sound like much, but to the Lord, these are precious lives and souls that have been reached. Since our last newsletter, we have been able to run a weekly ad in the Border Bulletin to promote our location and services along with our soul-winning efforts. Also, fourteen folks from Lighthouse Baptist Church under Pastor Sass drove nearly two hours from Antigo to help us with our big soul-winning push. We have been able to knock or canvas over 206 doors in this rural area. Please pray for us as we try to effectively reach people through many methods in an area where homes are more rural.

Camp

I was graciously asked to speak at New Hope Baptist Church’s youth camp in Kennan at the beginning of this month. We had a great time in through fun-filled activities, delicious meals prepared and the preaching of God’s word. Recently, I was encouraged to hear about a precious soul coming to know the Lord as a result of this meeting.

Help

As noted before, we had the privilege of hosting Lighthouse BC for our soul-winning push, but some of their men were gracious enough to help move a heavy piano into the building for us. This is such a blessing due to the fact that my wife and five daughters can only help so much.

Also, some of these same men hope to help Labor Day week with our newest plans to expand the chapel area by knocking down three walls, moving the electrical, patching, painting and putting down new flooring. This will allow us to have room for future growth and give it more of a “church feel”. Please pray that this project goes along smoothly with no hiccups and we are able to finish completely before the September 10^th services.

Beyond the physical labor, we are thankful for Harbor Lights BC in Ashland, under Pastor Randall Hoffman, who donated this piano (pictured above) and other needed items such as: copier, American and Christian flags with poles, kitchen supplies, chairs, shelves and many other items.

Missions

On August 20, we hosted veteran pastor and missionary, Zsolt Kovacs, who is a native of Hungary, but was saved at Hopewell Baptist Church in Napa, CA nineteen years ago as a foreign exchange student. I met Brother Kovacs this many years ago as I was stationed there during my time in the Air Force. We both were reached and grew together in the Lord under this ministry. It was a privilege to hear and see what God has done in his life and to know that he has not changed, but has stayed faithful to the Lord. He has been pastoring for thirteen years and has a tremendous burden for souls. Please pray for him as he continues to reach the lost in the Hungarian prisons through the Rock of Ages Ministry among the other duties he fulfills as a pastor. Although, we are a young church, I could not pass up the opportunity to meet an old friend and co-laborer in Christ and to help a missionary along the way.

The Need & Prayer Requests

We are thankful for all of you who have generously helped and supported us through prayers, finances, materials, and soul-winning. Many of you have been sending monthly financial giving, soul-winning and much needed supplies. As you know, we are trying our best to get this church off to a good start, but as we approach our ninth service, we are praying for more laborers, the opportunity to reach families from the surrounding areas and for them to join themselves unto the church. Please pray that we will not waste God’s time, that He will give us wisdom and that we will reach those who are in search and need of Him.

Thank you

As always, my family and I would like to thank each of you for your prayers and support. It is always a joy to serve the Lord with each of you in our different fields of ministry! May the Lord bless your year of 2017 as we labor together for the Lord.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

I Thessalonians 1:2-3

May the Lord Bless,

Pastor Shawn Suri and family