On Our Way

Daylight saving time has come and gone and we are just a few days away from Spring in the cold Northwoods, although it is hard to believe that Spring is near with 16+ inches of snow still on the ground and the 30° weather. Though the current landscape is cold and snow covered, the fulfilling of God’s purpose and plan here warms and excites our hearts. We are excited about what the warmer months of late spring and early summer will bring for God’s work in the near future.

Near Future

During the month of February and now March, we have been actively praying about and planning for the 2018 goals that have been set in January. We are in the planning stages for the removal of carpet and an interior load-bearing wall to open the building for expansion which will be done sometime in May. Our son, Seth, will be coming home from college the second week of May and will serve as an intern at the church while working to earn more money for college, he will be a tremendous help this Summer. He has three more semesters left in Bible college and is praying for God’s continued direction.

With Seth’s help and the help of our church folks, we are excited about the months of May through September, as this is a busy season for this recreational area. Many “snowbirds” return to their vacation homes and others visit the area for the beautiful lakes and forests. The previously mentioned modifications will allow for extra space to accommodate this growth during the busy season and will give us room for another 20+ people. Of course, we are also praying for additional seating to fill this need.

With Easter just around the corner, we are prayerful about visitors. Thankfully, we are on a busy stretch of highway and we will display an Easter flag to attract attention to our services. It is our goal to prayerfully reach folks with multiple approaches so that we can give the true meaning of this important day. I am thankful for Christ’s resurrection and his blood that washed away my sins. Psalms 100:5 “For the Lord is good: his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Praise God for His truth that saved my soul almost twenty-five years ago!

Additionally, we are preparing a mail-out for this largely rural area, our goal is to reach up to 5,000 homes. It is our goal to include the Gospel on a postcard that will reach these homes. A mail-out in this area is an effective tool, because of the distance between and seclusion of these homes. Although we will have a Spring soul-winning kick-off in April for personal invitations, more homes can be effectively reached through this mail-out. It is our goal to accomplish this before September, please pray for the funding for these projects listed. A high estimate for the mail-out will be around $2,000.

 Blessings

In February we held our first Prayer Breakfast. We had biscuits, gravy, sausage, eggs, and fruit. There was a great turn-out and we held our second breakfast this past week. It is a great way to encourage folks to attend our bi-weekly prayer service in which we pray together as a church family, take prayer requests, pray over our prayer list and I teach a lesson on prayer. We have held this breakfast once a month thirty minutes before the prayer service begins. I enjoy the spiritual growth that occurs as folks become faithful, simply because an incentive is offered. Also, we are thankful for the faithful people that attend each service. The winter months here can be difficult to venture from the comforts of a safe and warm home, but God has blessed the faithfulness of those who do it.

Thank You

As always, my family and I would like to thank each of you for your prayers and support. It is comforting to know that God’s people are praying for one another as laborers together with God and it is important that we lift one another up in prayer, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b

May the Lord Bless,

Pastor Shawn Suri and family