Help Build Hope

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, we were able to help during two different Help Build Hope events – one at a church here in our own community of Fern Creek and another at a church in Mason, Ohio (north of Cincinnati).  Both events were very successful!  The Mason event had about 350 volunteers working very, very hard to panelize three houses.  The panelized walls were donated to the Habitat in Springfield, Ohio.

Here in Fern Creek one house was panelized and donated to the Louisville Habitat.  The church plans to follow the house to completion!  It’s neat when a church follows the house through as it gives them extra opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ in the community.  In this case, not only to the many Habitat volunteers, but also to the family that will receive the house.  That family will be putting in around 400 hours of labor on the house right along side of the church family that has helped provide it.  Talk about a great way to live out Jesus before people and a way to share that Christ is the reason we do what we do!

Web Site Update

Jim has been able to complete two web sites this month. One for a ministry in Texas named Biker Chaplain (www.bikerchaplain.com).  This ministry is a unique ministry reaching out to folks all around the country.  Included on their web site are some one-of-a-kind training resources that help equip folks for ministry.

The other web site is for a small new ministry in Frankenmuth, Michigan named Christian Music Ministries (www.christianmusicministries.com).  These folks bring a variety of Christian music concerts to their community.   The proceeds from these concerts are donated to various ministries.

We find ourselves amazed and joyful in knowing that the work we are able to do through web site help reaches out to people all over the world to help enable the cause of sharing Christ and equipping His church.

Mission Financial Update

Our director recently reported that we have made significant improvement in reducing our debt load (see last month’s newsletter for details).  We are currently have a debt figure of about $108,000 – PTL – through the gifts of generous churches and individuals, and along with our ongoing cost cutting efforts the debt has been reduced from around $200,000 to approximately $108,000.  God is showing himself huge!  Continue to pray with us, and share this need with whomever God brings into your path.

Please also pray for our ministry in Piedras Negras, Mexico.  We have had many volunteers cancel trips to this field because of fears brought about by the news concerning border issues between the United States and Mexico.  Our field in Piedras continues to be a safe field free of any border issues, but, nonetheless, folks are reacting in fear and not going.  We have many projects where we are need helpful hands.

Pray With Us

Pray with us concerning these following items ….

• Please pray for Kevin and Karen, and their family.  We met Kevin at the Mason Help Build Hope where he assisted in driving a CDL truck.   When we dropped him off at his house his wife, Karen, received news that her sister had just died.
• Please pray for Bob, the father of one of our web site partners, who is suffering from cancer.
• Please pray for Keith, our brother-in-law, who is struggling with some health issues.
• Please pray for Rick Starr, a local pastor and staff member, who has recurring brain tumors.
• Please pray for Rod’s mother, Rod is another of our web site partners and his mother is dealing with some health issues.
• Please pray for the expansion of the ministry of CrossRoads Missions!

Thank you for your ongoing partnership with us.  We count it a special blessing that you are engaged  in our lives and our ministry!

HE IS RISEN!

Jim and Phyllis

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Jim and Phyllis are faith-based independent missionaries commissioned by Faith Bible Church, Cincinnati, OH who serve with CrossRoads Missions, 3231 Ruckreigel Parkway, Suite 111, Louisville, KY, 40229.