Monday 26 February 2018

Mississippi

On February 10th I flew out to Mississippi with my wife Georgie, daughter Gemma and a church member Jess.

We went to spend time with a partner church, Cleary Baptist Church and to encourage them and network. The Pastor and his wife, plus two teams have visited us and helped us with mission and a bit of local community social action. We went to serve them and came back overwhelmed by their grace to us.

I learned a lot from there Pastor Kevin, more than anything from his faithfulness to God's word, and his humility and servant-heartedness. It was humbling to hear church members speak so highly of him in terms of their appreciation. With reference to our church, their church members often used the phrase, "we wanna love on y'all". I could tell that this is what Kevin has done in that church along with his wife and family.

During my time there I preached five times, two on a Sunday morning and the rest in the midweek evenings. Here I was again humbled by the turnout. Almost all the church turned out. Couples with children took turns to come along and from conversations I had it was clear the half that came relayed with the other half the messages I'd preached the night before.

We (the team from New Life) were also humbled to learn the church had effectively saved for our visit, so that they covered all the costs of our stay with them.

We visited a local school where my wife George spoke to about eighty 6-11 year olds about Jesus while I addressed a gymnasium of about one hundred 12-18 yr olds, speaking to them about Paul's mission in Lystra.

I met with Mike Ray the Southern Baptist Missions Director for Mississippi. He listened with keen interest to the vision for Brighton I shared, and was very supportive. He encouraged Kevin to send long term workers and assured him of the support of the BU where possible.

I met with a handful of like minded Pastors from the region. We talked about church membership, its importance and some of the challenges they face. We prayed together and they again took keen interest in the work here in Brighton. I was again struck by their warm welcome ad hospitality.

We visited a couple of Day Care centres for children where we shared testimonies and they asked many questions about the life in the UK and why we were visiting.

We spent some time with one young woman - Erin - and her family. Erin (22) is considering working with us long term as a missionary. She is a conscientious and godly young woman, clearly gifted and able with a heart to give her life to serve Jesus. Please ask the Lord to guide her in this, and that we will be able, between us to raise all the necessary funds should she come.

We also had free time, on one occasion they took us to New Orleans and introduced us to Bubba-Gump restaurant, the home of the shrimp 'Bubba' fisherman from Forest Gump. There I also got to taste alligator sausage! We visited the Civil Rights and the Agricultural Museums in Jackson. Kevin took us on a tour of some of the most dangerous places in Jackson where he dreams of doing mission in the future. The highlight in terms of experiencing their culture was a day shooting targets and eating crawfish.

However, the best part of the whole experience was the sense of love and acceptance, the feeling that we really are family. We did some great things, had a lot of fun together, but at the end of the day it was the people who made it great. Precious people who love the Lord Jesus.

Our mission I believe was fully accomplished in laying down a foundation, built on God's word and a commitment to love and support one another for the sake of the gospel.

I look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to use this partnership for their good and ours!



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