Responses from Tract Outreach

Here is a one of the first responses from the Missing Answer Tract Outreach:

Brothers,

The first person to reply to the tract outreach in our area is named M————–.
She called the Lifegate phone number Saturday and She came to church Sunday.
She has been to several groups over the years we believe she needs to be saved.
She is very kind person she is in her 50’s.

LORD Bless,

Jerome Pittman
Lighthouse Baptist – Swords

Don’t Forget to Sing and Praise God

Psalm 98:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

I believe that one evidence of a person who is really walking closely with God is a heart that is continually praising and thanking God.  David was a man after God’s own heart.  He was greatly used, and we see that he was many times praises and thanks God for his goodness.  The Psalms are praises to God.

I am so convicted over my complaining and lack of gratitude toward God.  Often, I ask and pray for God to do things, and then when he does I forget to thank Him and praise Him!  Do you do the same?

Here God’s Word says, “O sing unto the LORD a new song”.  Our song is new because we are new creatures in Christ.  We are not singing what we used to sing; we are singing praises to our God Who has “done marvellous things.”  God has done some amazing things for us.  I was so encouraged by the good spirit, the good attendances, and the good responses in the services on yesterday.

The verse above says, “his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.”  It is his battle.  He has won it.  And we should sing and worship Him.

Today, think about what God has done for You!  If you are breathing that is a blessing.  If you are saved, you have enough to rejoice for all eternity.  Don’t forget to praise and sing to Him today.  He is worthy of our praise.

Tract Outreach Prayer Chain

I want to ask you to be in prayer over the next five weeks for a special outreach in the Republic of Ireland.  A gospel tract is being mailed to every in the Republic.  16 different Independent Baptist churches are participating in the project.  We are trying to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in praying for the outreach.

For the entire month of April we will be having a 24hr prayer chain (broken up into 15-minute segments). Our goal is to have several people praying specifically for this outreach every moment of every day for the entire time from the 29th of March until the 2nd of May (5 weeks).

We would love to have your prayer support. If you would like to join with us in prayer, please do so by signing up for a 15-minute segment of any day. If you are interested in seeing what time slots are still open, comment on this blog or email me at snode@intoalltheworld.net and I can email you the chart for you to look over.

For the prayer chain, you can:

1. Commit to pray each day at the same time for the entire 5 weeks.
2. Commit to pray during specific time slots.
3. Please feel free to commit to more than one time slot each day.

Also, if you sign up for the prayer chain, I can send you a specific list of request and promies that Bro. Gene McKinley has put together specifically for this project.

Thank You to Elementary Children of Temple Christian School

I wanted to say a special “Thank You” to the elementary children of Temple Christian School who raised $1100 for us to be able to buy a van for transporting people to church that need a lift.

I was privileged to attend Temple Christian School for two years in high school.  This is the school at the church (Mansfield Baptist Temple) were I grew up.  It was while attending the Mansfield Baptist Temple that I got saved, baptised, called to be a missionary, taught the Bible, and had many of the foundations for ministry laid in my life.

I owe a great debt of gratitude to Pastor Emeritus Richard Folder, Pastor Dale Adkins, Bro. Al Humble, Bro. Curt Smith, my Sunday school teachers, and all the folks there, and I wanted to say a word of thanks to them for their continual prayers and support for us and the ministry here.

Pray for Harley Snode & North Pointe Baptist Church

Today is the opening day for North Pointe Baptist Church in Wooster, Ohio.  North Pointe Baptist Church is a compassionate, conservative, independent Baptist church for the entire family.  Their services could be described as “traditional,” though not stiff or formal.  You are encouraged you to join with their church family in experiencing the absolute truth and love in Jesus Christ.

This church is being started by my brother Harley.  This past week they had “Getting Acquainted” services with Pastor Dale Adkins from the Mansfield Baptist Church preaching.  I am told that they have a good core group of 25-30 and maybe 30-40 other visitors from the community who attended the meetings this past week.

Please pray for them that God would really bless and do great things today and through this new church plant.

The Lord Our Refuge

Psalm 91:9-16

 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

As I was reading my Bible this morning, I received a real blessing from this passage.  We see from Matthew 4:6 that this refers directly to the Father’s love for the Son, but it can also be applied to believers, but a believer is in Christ.  A believer has done what verse nine says: make the Lord his refuge and habitation. 

When we make the Lord our refuge and habitation:

• 91:10 No evil will befall us
• 91:10 No plague shall come nigh our dwelling
• 91:11 Angels will keep us in all our ways
• 91:12 Angels will bear us up in their hands lest we dash our foot against a stone
• 91:13 We shall be able to tread upon the lion and the adder (poisonous snake)
• 91:13 We shall be able to trample under our feet the lion and the dragon
• 91:14 We will be delivered and set on high
• 91:15 He will answer us when we call
• 91:15 He will be with us in trouble
• 91:15 He will deliver and honour us
• 91:16 He will satisfy us with long life and show us His salvation

What an amazing Saviour and God!  God is our refuge.  Trust in Him.  He will bring you through trouble and make us victorious over all things.  He is protecting us, and nothing happens to us that is not part of His plan and purpose in this world.

Our Attitude in Trials

Some people asked for the notes of today’s message to be published on my blog, so here they are.  I hope they are a blessing.

Our Attitude in Trials

1 Peter 4:12-19

 

 

1-Attitude of Acceptance (Not Surprised) (4:12)

Trails and suffering are normal for believers.

• The first 300 years of the church were years of torture, death, hiding, pain, suffering, and trials.
• A life and death struggle with pagan society.

Don’t think it strange (foreign, weird, out of the normal) when you go through a fiery trial.

• Not just an ordinary trial but a fiery (burning) one
• Most of the things we classify as trials are just inconveniences: sickness, financial problems, criticism.
• They had death, torture, fed to wild animals, burned at the stake, etc.

Reasons we should not be surprised:

• Because Jesus was tried.
• Because God wants to try us.
  • Try = put to the proof
  • Job 23:10
  • James 1:2-4
• Because God’s Word over and over again tells us that trails will come:
• Jesus told the disciples that since the world hated Him they would hate us. (John 15:18)
• Paul told Timothy that all that live godly will suffer persecution. (II Timothy 3:12)
  • John told the early Christians not to be surprised if the world hated us. (I John 3:13)
  • Paul warned that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of Heaven. (Acts 14:22)
  • We are to endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 2 Tim 2:3.

Don’t be shocked or surprised when trials come!

2-Attitude of Joy (4:13-14)

Rejoice (v.13) = cheerful

Happy (v.14) = blessed, fortunate, well off

Why we should rejoice in trials?

• Because you are a partaker of Christ’s sufferings.
• He suffered for us; what a privilege to suffer for Him.
• Ac 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
• Because the glory of God will be revealed.
  • When Jesus Christ returns and we stand before Him, we will be so thankful for the privilege to suffer for Him (“exceeding joy”).
  • Those who suffer and die for their faith will receive a crown of life. (James 1:12, Romans 2:10)
• Because when you are reproached, it is because of the presence of God in your life.
  • They speak evil because of God in our life.
  • We glorify God for His goodness.

If you are suffering, rejoice and be happy!

3-Attitude of Humility (4:15)

•  We should be humble enough to examine ourselves to make sure that we not suffering for the wrong reasons.
• We may bring our suffering on ourselves by being:
  • A murderer
    • Not just taking someone’s life but also having hatred and bitterness in our heart.
    • Resentment can bring health, social, and other problems.
  • A thief
    • Not working at 100%
    • Arriving late, leaving early, not paying our taxes, taking shortcuts may come back to haunt you
  • An evildoer
    • All sorts of wrong
    • Things that could harm your testimony
  • A busybody in other man’s matters
    • Gossip, critical, speaking evil
    • Getting involved in something that does not concern us

Have you done something to bring your suffering on you?

 

4-Attitude of Praise (4:16)

•  Don’t be ashamed (embarrassed) by suffering.
• Glorify God – praise, honour, magnify
• Use your suffering as an opportunity to praise the Lord.
• Anybody can be happy, rejoice, and praise the Lord when things are going well, but your praise is more meaningful when you are still praising him in the midst of trails. (Example: Job)

When you going through a trail do you complain or praise God?

 

5-Attitude of Compassion (4:17-18)

• Judgment must begin at the house of God first.  God will try us to find out if we really mean business.
• If believers must be judged, what will happen to those who do not believe.
• May our light affliction that at times seems very grevious cause us to have compassion for lost and what it will be like to fall into the hands for any angry God.

If you think your suffering is bad, what about the lost who die without Christ?

 

6-Attitude of Trust (4:19)

•   Suffering is part of God’s will.
  • It should not shock us.
  • Our prosperity should shock us.
  • Out of 7 churches in Revelation 2-3, only one was rich – the Laodicean church which was lukewarm and made God nauseous. (3:14-20).
•   When we suffer as part of His plan for our life, we should commit the keeping of our souls to Him.
  • Rest in Him, to give as a trus
  • A long time ago I gave my life to Him; it is His to do with as He pleases.
•   He created me and I am designed for His purpose.
  • I trust Him and believe that He will is best to glorify God and make me most happy.
  • Do I really think that I can do a better job running my life than the One who created me?
  • Do you really think you know more about a car than the one who created the car?

It comes down to, Will you commit the keeping of your soul to Him?  You have trust your eternity to Him, why will you not trust your life on this earth to Him?

Conclusion

• Trials do not make us fall away, they only reveal that there was not much depth to our Christian life.
• Trails show how much we really value what God values.
• Our attitude shows whether we are really walking with God and have His perspective on things.
• Our focus in trails should be more on how we should act in the trials rather than way they are happening.  We will find that out later.

Republic of Ireland Tract Outreach Overview

OVERVIEW

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

Baptist Churches to get the gospel message into every home.

 

Dublin, Ireland. 30th March 2009. Every home in the Republic of Ireland will receive a leaflet containing a message of hope from the Bible during the month of April 2009.

 

Sixteen Independent Baptist churches are working together on a project to put a gospel leaflet into every home in the Republic. This co-operative effort is called “Missing Answer.” The leaflet distribution will start on April 6, and will continue for 4 weeks. A national TV publicity campaign will be conducted in conjunction with this distribution. A dedicated web site will also be launched on the same date (http://www.missinganswer.org/).

 

Notes to editor

- Pastor David O’Gorman, spokesman for the project (and minister of Lifegate Bible Baptist Church), is available for interview and further comment on 087 918 6874. Alternatively contact Pastor Lionel Smith on 021 470 1675 (landline), and 087 918 9989 (mobile).

- High resolution images of the leaflet and Pastor David O’Gorman are available.

 

DATE OF MAILOUT: April 2009

 

The tract distribution starts on April 6^th and goes for about four weeks. There is no actual final date but the companies are supposed to be finished distributing them by four weeks.

 

FINANCING OF THE PROJECT

 

Several pastors and missionaries in the south of Ireland began making plans for the outreach about four years ago.  So far over €150,000 has been raised to fund the project.  €9,000 is still lacking.

 

The leaflet is being printed by the Revival Movement Association, who are not charging for the printing.  The money will go to pay AnPost and Door-to-Door distribution to deliver the leaflets.  Also, some of the funds will go to advertise the campaign on radio and television (RTE).

FOLLOW UP

 

Each of the 16 churches that are participating in the outreach are responsible to follow up with people who contact “Missing Answer” in a particular area.

 

Northwest Baptist Church and Roe Valley Baptist Church are responsible to follow up with anyone who contacts “Missing Answer” from Co. Donegal.

 

CO. DONEGAL

 

Area: 4,841 km²

 

Population (2006): 146,956

 

County Seat: Lifford

 

County Donegal is the most northern county in all of Ireland, and is part of the Republic of Ireland. County Donegal is the fourth largest county in Ireland and the largest county in Ulster.     

 

County Donegal has always had a very strong and close relationship with the City of Derry. Both Donegal County Council and Derry City Council co-operate closely with each other on many projects and initiatives.

 

 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR INVOLVEMENT

 

PRAYER

 

            Prayer Coordinator: Gene McKinley – Mullingar (gcmckinley@gmail.com)

 

Prayer Chain: For the entire month of April we will be having a 24hr prayer chain (broken up into 15-minute segments). Our goal is to have several people praying specifically for this outreach every moment of every day for the entire time from the 29th of March until the 2nd of May (5 weeks).

 

We would love to have your prayer support. If you would like to join with us in prayer, please do so by signing up for a 15-minute segment of any day. Please look over the schedule of days, and determine what times you would like to commit to prayer for this project.

 

You can:

1.      Commit to pray each day at the same time for the entire 5 weeks.

2.      Commit to pray during specific time slots.

3.      Please feel free to commit to more than one time slot each day.

 

What to Pray for:  We have put together a specific list of request and promises that we would like you to pray for.

 

FOLLOW UP

 

When people from Co. Donegal contact the “Missing Answer” office at Lifegate Baptist Church in Dublin, their information will be passed immediately to us to follow up with. Roe Valley Baptist Church and Northwest Baptist Church are also listed on the “Missing Answer” website, so we could get contacts from our websites as well.

           

We want to do our best to follow up with every person who contacts us because one is a soul for whom Christ died.

                                                       

Administration Work

 

Preparation

·        Put together packets for follow up teams, which will include:

o       DONE Book

o       1^st Lesson of a five lesson correspondence Bible study on Salvation

o       CD with two Gospel sermons

o       John and Romans

o       Church brochure and literature

·        Make copies of the CD with the two gospel sermons on it.

 

Record-Keeping

·        Forward completed follow-up forms to Lifegate Baptist Church each Monday.

·        Enter addresses and names into database for newsletter and further follow-up purposes.

 

Research

·        Look up addresses and group the contacts together so that a team can make a couple of stops that are close together.

·        Print out or email directions and all details to the appropriate follow up team.

 

Posting

·        Send out packets to those people who contact us and do not want us to visit with them or we are unable to visit.

·        Look over correspondence Bible studies and post out the next lesson and other materials that they may require.

 

Phone Calls

·        Make phone calls to those that we are able to visit or get a hold of right away.

·        Arrange a time for a team to go by and deliver the follow up material.

 

 Follow Up Teams

 

Requirements

·        Be familiar with how to share the gospel with someone.

·        Be able to answer some basic Bible questions or at least make a note of their question and we can get the answer and information for them.

·        Some will want to navigate or drive, be a talking or a silent praying partner.

Responsibilities

·        Make initial contact the person within 24 hours and arrange a time to visit and deliver follow up material

·        Strive to visit their contacts within 72 hours (3 days) or as soon as possible.

·        Fill out a follow up form and give to the outreach secretary.

·        Stay in contact with the ones who do the correspondence Bible study.

 

Requirements for Contact Follow Up

 

The contacts are of the utmost importance and it essential that the contacts be followed up in a proper manner. With that in mind here are some rules for follow up.

 

·        Every contact must be followed up!

·        If at all possible make a personal visit to leave the material, arrange a Bible study, arrange further contact, invite to church, and witness to, if possible.

·        Be personable and polite during conversation.

·        Find out if they are saved or lost.

·        Make sure that your leave the appropriate material for the lost and saved

·        Pray for each contact

·        Keep your church informed daily so they can pray effectually.

·        Initial contact must be made within 24 hrs.

·        If you can not make a personal call make a telephone call.

·        It is important to work while their heart is tender and open.

·        Try to arrange for a time to make a personal call.

·        If you do not do the initial contact within 24 hrs the work will just pile up on you.

·        Every contact must be reported upon.

·        If two contacts are very close together they can be combined to help save

 

Name: _______________________________________________

 

Areas You Are Willing To Help With (Please tick all that apply)

 

       Prayer

       Preparation of Copying Sermon CDs

       Preparation of Follow Up Packets

       Record Keeping

       Researching Addresses & Directions

       Posting Packets

       Posting Correspondence Bible Study Lessons (could involve some work for the next 6 months)

       Making phone calls to those who contact us

       Follow Up Visit – silent partner

       Follow Up Visit – talking partner

       Follow Up Visit – driving car

       Follow Up Visit – navigating

       Any of the Above

       Other _________________________

Video Update

Here is a video update on the ministry that we filmed for Mansfield Baptist Temple, but we thought maybe others would be interested in seeing a short video about our family and ministry.

March Prayer Letter

Dear Pastors and Praying Friends,

The last several months have been a real whirlwind of activity for us.  Ever since we took on the leadership of the church in Limavady along with the church in Derry as well, we have been extremely busy. 

On Sundays, we leave the house at 9.30 AM, drive 30 minutes to Limavady for the 10.30 AM service, drive back to Derry for the 12.30 PM service, and get home by about 2.30 PM.  After lunch and a short nap for the kids, we leave the house at 4.30 PM for the 5.00 PM Sunday school in Derry and 6.00 PM service.  After the service, we drive another 30 minutes to Limavady for the 8.00 PM service, and get back to our home in Derry at about 10.30 PM.

Monday is usually our day off as a family.  We have a prayer meeting and Bible study on Tuesday evening in Derry and on Wednesday evening in Limavady.  On Thursdays, I try to visit one week in Derry and the next week in Limavady.  Friday nights are usually taken up with either entertaining a family at our house, a youth meeting, or some special church function.  Saturday mornings, we go out soul-winning, and most Saturday evenings we try to leave free to prepare for Sunday. 

Our schedule keeps us busy, but we would not really have it any other way.  We love doing what we are doing.  We love seeing God work in the lives of people.  We love seeing Him answer prayer.  We love being able to do it all as a family.  I am so thankful for my wife Teri and how she is so supportive in all of this.  She and the children are faithful to go to all the services, and Teri does her best to visit, disciple, and lead the ladies in both churches.

In January, we started a training course called “Sharing Your Faith” written by a missionary to China (www.projectchina.org) out of our sending church.  We have been going through this during our midweek Bible studies with the goal of preparing our people for our special door-knocking and soul-winning emphasis this summer.  Please pray that God will give our people boldness to share their faith.

In February, we were blessed to have several visitors from America.  Micah Buck and Donald Rush from South Haven Baptist Church in Springfield, TN came over for about 8 days to help us do some work on the church buildings.  They were a tremendous blessing and helped us with a bunch of things including painting walls, putting up chair rail, and building and carpeting two platforms.  Also, it was encouraging to have Anne Lunde and Jennifer Armstrong here for a few days from Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA.  If you are interested in coming on a mission trip, please let us know at snode@intoalltheworld.net.

In March, we had special services with Bro. Tony Howeth, who is a good friend of ours and deputation director with Macedonia World Baptist Missions.  He preached Tuesday through Friday night, a youth meeting on Saturday night, and five times on Sunday.  Mrs. Stacey spoke to the ladies at a Mother/Daughter Tea on Saturday.  God really moved through the meetings.  We had 8 first-time visitors come to the meetings and a high of 39 people in attendance.  Bro. Tony was a huge blessing to us.  If you are looking for a man of God to come preach for you who has a burden for souls, love for people, and passion for God, then let me encourage you to get ahold of Bro. Tony Howeth.

Please pray for the Irish Tract Outreach coming up in April, when a gospel tract will be mailed to every home in Ireland.  Thanks to those who already gave for the outreach.  There is still a need of €8000 ($11,000) to finish paying for the outreach.  If you would like to have a part, please mail your check to ”Macedonia World Baptist Missions” and designate “Travis Snode – Tract Outreach.