We continue to send out regular reports as Bahama Updates on e-mail. These are also available on the Web Page. If you are not receiving these and would like to, just drop us an e-mail. We are doing this to reduce postage costs and provide better more frequent news.
The past few weeks have been filled with exciting opportunities and unexpected incidents. The work is progressing well and we are reaching out in a number of new ways. The loss of the engine on the aircraft in flight gave us an adrenalin rush, and some time for sober evaluation. We are thankful for our safety and the fact that the plane was not seriously damaged. We face the inconvenience and expense of a new engine about two years earlier than we expected, but have faith that we will soon pass this milestone and move forward. For those of you who did not know, we lost the engine in flight from Rock Port, Texas after a speaking appointment and landed in a field near Port Lavaca. We were safe and the plane was intact. It took some time to get a cherry picker and truck to move it to the airport where the engine can be rebuilt. We are facing about $20,000 in expense that comes about two years earlier than we had planned. Still we are thankful that it was over farm land and not the ocean. A number of individuals and several congregations have already responded to this urgent need. We have faith that the money will be provided.
We have a new program of handing out World Bible School lessons in our various Islands, picking them up personally to grade and issue a certificate. This is giving us an opportunity to set personal studies. We have just begun but have already had 3 baptisms, and many more are doing the lessons. We have been able to make this adjustment in the normal way that WBS is mailed out due to the interest of Sandy Haney of Lewisville, Texas and the generosity of a number of individual brethren there.
Another change we have made is being able to buy a better grade of Bibles to give with the WBS and personal Bible studies. This has allowed us to reach government officials, School administrators, teachers and business people in the communities. Several individuals have given generous amounts for Bible purchases, and the Young People at the Longmire Road Church in Conroe, Texas are selling soda cans for 47 cents a pound and have set a goal of giving $5000 for Bibles. The first check for $1000 has already been presented. We will continue to buy paperback Bibles for the schools, but now can get some $40 Bibles at a cost of $9.89 each and give them with comfort to those other than students. I recently presented Bibles to the highest government officials in Exuma where Steve McQueen is the preacher.
The steel for the classroom building in Marsh Harbour arrived, and the building permit has been granted. This 40 ft. by 50 ft. building will be a great asset in the growth of this Church. They continue to be very active in personal evangelism. The Frank Sarver family completed there 12th year of spending 10 weeks with the Church teaching. There were several baptisms during that time and Jason Quashie informed us of another just last week, and a study set with the woman’s husband. The Church in Marsh Harbour has also recently painted their building inside and out and added Air Conditioning. We have another retired family who hopes next year to overlap the Sarvers and provide a longer support time in personal evangelism and teaching. John and Gay Muery made a survey trip with us earlier.
Lincoln Young is making progress in Rock Sound, Eleuthera. An Island wide Bible Knowledge Contest is being conducted at our building and we have been able to furnish the nice Bibles for awards for the winners in the various age groups. Lincoln is also active in the community in having a program for Drug and Alcohol Abuse Recovery. This program is up and down as most are, but progress is being made.
We have a very busy summer planned with groups coming to several Islands for Vacation Bible Schools and Evangelistic efforts. We are thankful for these individuals who sacrifice time and money to lend a helping hand to the smaller congregations in the family Islands. Our city congregations continue to grow and reach out in evangelistic fervor to the out lying areas.
We are thankful for your support and prayers and welcome the open doors of opportunity that are provided by your generosity. We pray that we will soon have the plane going again and get back to full strength in our efforts. Checks can be made out to: Bahama Mission Church of Christ and mailed to David Caskey –Missions, Gulf Coast Church of Christ, 3825 McGregor Blvd. Ft Myers, Florida 33901.
May the Lord guide and bless us all as we strive to be a part of the growth and expansion of the Kingdom where we live, and to the, “Uttermost parts of the earth…”
David Caskey
Bahama Mission Home Page
http://www.flyingpreacher.com/
Mission Contact
David Caskey
Webmaster
Jerry Pickup
http://www.jpickup.com/
