May and June 2007
I asked everyone in our last prayer letter to pray for an upcoming
meeting that we were going to have. Praise the Lord for all your prayers. The
Lord brought in many visitors, delivered a man from alcohol, and added a family
to our church, and by no means is the Lord finished working.
While knocking on doors, inviting people to the meeting, we met a
woman who asked that we pray for her son, John Craig, who had been drunk for
years. I asked where he lived, but she told me not to go to his house because he
would only turn me away. I felt the very opposite, and persuaded her to give me
his address. She gave me the street and house number and I worked my way to his
house.
At first he said he didn't want to talk. I then called him by his name
and said, "I know your drunk, I know you're depressed, and I would love to
help."
From there God took over. He used the people of our church to reach out
to him in a way that we have never done before, but in a way that must be
repeated in the future.
We stayed with him through his mornings and evenings of sweating,
shaking, and sickness with much support.
This was during the first week of our meeting which at the same time we were
praying every day with different men fasting on different days. During the
second week we started meeting at the church every morning at 6:00 a.m. for
prayer as well as an hour early for the evening service. Men showed up and
prayed aloud that had never done so before.
John Craig was sober on the second Sunday of our meeting and began coming
to the nightly church meetings. His wife and daughter, Mary and Lisa Marie, came
as well. His wife had been through much over the past years, watching her
husband lie drunk. His daughter had been missing a sober daddy and really didn't
know what was going on with him.
On the second night of that week their little girl came after the
invitation and asked to get saved. On the third night John and Mary asked if I
would show them how to pray for God to forgive them of their sin and give their
lives to Christ.
What a blessing it was, and what a blessing it has been.
John and Mary, since then, have been exhibiting the fruits of that
"New Life." They are bubbling over. I have visited them daily with my
Bible, answering questions, and reading scriptures while giving small devotions.
I don't know who is enjoying it more, them or me?
Overall there have been four saved this year so far and two saved in
the past that have never been baptized. We have seven in total to baptize and
have arranged a baptismal service on the 10th of June. My Pastor, Bro. Floyd
Perry is with us during this time. He will be able to witness how the church has
grown over the past couple years since he has been here, and prayerfully be able
to encourage us, along with the congregation with preaching while he is with us
for two weeks.
We had Bro. Mike Sutphin from Faith Baptist in Vesta, Virginian with us
last month. He has been with us over here a total of five times. Every time he
comes he always preaches messages that the Holy Ghost uses to encourage us
greatly in our work here in Limavady.
Please continue to pray for the salvation of souls in Limavady,
Northern Ireland.
Thank you for your prayers and your support.
Ronnie Smith and Family in Limavady, Northern Ireland.