We just received a fresh 32 inches of snow on top of the two feet we had, but like they say up here, It's winter!

I have been travelling some since fall trying to get folks interested in coming to these areas as missionaries. Not many folks get excited about cold weather.

The church in Woodstock is doing very well. Visitation goes on even in below "0" weather, the Sunday afternoon Sunday School is on the rebound again with about 20 to 25 in attendance. Nursing home ministry is well attended. However there are a number of churches in the north, that are in need of a pastor.

I feel compelled to write a little something that is on my heart as a missionary. I am 67 years old and have been in the Lords work since the Lord called me back in the middle 70"s. My wife and I have always held to strong Biblical convictions concerning dress, marriage, the home, and the church, Salvation, Separation and Service and so forth.

In Luke's Gospel chapter 8 we read in verse 5 where a sower went out to sow his seed. Here is where most of us start when we preach this parable.  However, being born and raised on a farm I realize there is a lot of preparation before there is a planting.

During my younger years with my dad on the farm, growing 100's and 100's of acres of corn,  I was taught valuable lessons.

My dad loved to plant the corn, that was his part, I would have the truck at the edge of the field loaded with fertilizer, seed corn, insecticide and so forth. Dad would back the big planter up to the truck and I would "load the planter".  After it was all loaded, dad would start planting. My work was virtually finished. You see, after the seed was in the ground, there was nothing more I could do,  as in I Cor. 3:6,7. 

To prepare ground for planting requires a lot of work. Plowing the ground, working it down to have a seed bed to plant in, picking rocks and so forth. Then the time comes when you have to go to the bank and make preparations to buy seed, fertilizer, fuel for equipment and parts that may be needed for the planting.  All this has to be accomplished before you "sow the seed".

Money is a constant concern of most missionary pastors up in this country. Most I know are living on a shoe string financially.

I realize much of what we do in the period of preparation is manifested in the portions produced., however one needs to realize the amount of work that goes into preparation doesn't always manifest itself outwardly for many years. Perhaps not even in ones lifetime!

I guess, what I'm trying to say in a nice way is that when you "preach the Word" as Paul admonished young Timothy in II Timothy 4:2 and rebuke, reprove and exhort, that it doesn't always result in large crowds.  One preacher that came up from NC. after he was here for a number of years said, "I thought I would be running 400 by this time". He took a small church when he came here around 10 years ago, and praise the Lord he still has most of the people he had when he came.

Our son Andrew is the pastor of River Valley Baptist Church in Woodstock New Brunswick Canada. The population of Woodstock is 5,254. Andy is running a fairly consistent 35 in attendance all day Sunday. This comes through a consistent visitation program, no matter how cold it gets and pampering some of the folks to keep them faithful. When you compare the church with the towns population, the River Valley Baptist Church isn't doing too bad.

There is a small group meeting in Jackman Maine. The population of Jackman is 862. One fellow came to Jackman recently with his family, from a fairly large church down south and stayed almost a year. One reason I believe is that there was no shouting like they were used to, no large congregation and little money. In fact one chandelier in their home church cost more then the whole garage re-modeling project to make a church building in Maine. Bottom line is, it is easy for these young fellows to get discouraged.

Our son in law and daughter have been in Greenland for 10 years. Three or four of those years they lived in a one room house with no bathroom. They used a 5 gallon bucket for a toilet. Through hard work and visits and encouraging times as well as discouraging times they are now averaging in the 20's. Pretty good for a town of 5000 people who never the Gospel until ten years ago.

In the 25 years I have lived in Northern Maine, I have seen many preachers come and go. Please pray with us that the Lord will send laborers to this field that will be encouraged to stay. There is a desperate need right now for a pastor in Limestone Maine. There is a church in Rivier-du-Loup Quebec Canada seeking a good man, as well as Topsfield Maine. These churches had good solid men that preached fearlessly, and are looking for the same thing now.

Prayer Request: 

1. Laborers to Maine, the Canadian Maritime and Greenland.

2. Money for my ticket to get to Ilulissat Greenland in May and for expenses this summer. Some have given toward this need and it is so appreciated.

3. The finances to purchase a new building for the River Valley Baptist Church.

4. Andrew Nissley, pastor of the River Valley Baptist is in desperate need of a van. Andy and Josie have five children and the van they have is in really bad condition. Pray God does a miracle here and provides a newer van for this preacher.

Thank you so much for your financial support and prayers for this preacher!