January - February 2007
Dear Supporting Churches and Praying Friends,
I am writing this letter on a Wednesday night after returning home from the mid-week service. We had twenty-four people at church tonight. The largest crowd we have had on a Wednesday night in a long time. This past Sunday night was a better than average turnout also. I know it is not about numbers coming to church, but it is encouraging. What would really fire up my soul is to see people get saved. In order to see this we are sowing seed. If we sow and water, God will give the increase. Seeing men and women saved is the fruit from the seed. What can you expect from sowing seed? You can expect fruit. If it were predictable as an apple seed it would not involve faith. I ask the Lord to give me faith, give me patience, and give me fruit.
We had a good Christmas here in Northern Ireland. Our church had a Christmas play involving our attending youth. I made personalized invitations and took them to people's homes whom I have known for years but have never came to church. They have been invited in the past but always had an excuse why they couldn't come or why they didn't make it after promising to come. This time, praise God we had a good turnout with several first time visitors. We had a great opportunity to give them a clear-cut presentation of the Gospel and good Christian fellowship.
Please continue to pray for the work here in Limavady. I am being a witness in this part of the county, trying to disciple those who have gotten saved, and watching the Lord bring people in to establish a solid local Independent Baptist Church that can be self-financing, self-propagating, and self-governing. It is an exciting work. Very slow at times, but exciting. I am not running a bed and breakfast over here, however, if you feel that God would have you visit this country for a mission trip, please contact me. It would be an honor to have you visit our work, our country, and our family. We will work with you as best we can. Our children get so excited when we have visitors from the states. They know they are going to get some junk food.
A little tid-bit: When we went home for our first furlough my youngest son had not been home since he was one year old. There are no snakes in Ireland and we had taught him there were snakes in America. One night before we were ready to leave for the USA he asked, "When we get off the plane will there be snakes there?" I assured him they wouldn't be crawling around the airport. The saying in Ireland is, "We don't have any snakes that crawl on their belly, but we have many that walk on two feet." I know that has nothing to do with the work here, but perhaps it put a smile on someone's face.
I made the theme for our church this year, "Pray to the Lord for Open Doors." (Col. 4:3) This is what we need; open doors to evangelize and open doors to encourage.
Thanks for reading this letter. Please pray for our work and our family. I look forward to having great news to bring to you this year full of God's blessings.
Ronnie Smith and Family in Northern Ireland