To the saints of Bluegrass Bible Fellowship, 12/02/09
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. What a blessing your
prayer and encouragement has been as we have been privileged to serve the Lord this past
year. Though we have family in the Lord across the world, we have such a special place
in our hearts for you all. Our time in Richmond was a major milestone in our lives as a
family. We aren't leaving just yet(December 26 should be our departure date), but wanted
you to know that we were blessed to labor with you all and see how the Lord is working in
Richmond through the saints at Bluegrass Bible Fellowship.
This past year on the road has brought many blessings, along with trials and
struggles. Surely, when we left Maine we had no idea the depths of what the Lord would
show us of His heart. As a couple, Sara and I have grown much in the Lord together,
spending time studying God's Word, praying, and seeing God provide Christians in our
path to demonstate the character traits that the Lord desires us to have. Many believers
throughout our journeys have modeled Christ-like behavior for us. This one- anothering
spirit of the universal body of Christ has encouraged us and challenged us to continue to
strive for our lives to be "holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service"
The hard times during the last pregnancy, and the loss of our beloved son Joshua,
are not the only trials we have endured, but surely stand out in our mind when we look
back to see what the Lord's strength, provision, and comfort have meant to us. The Lord
has blessed us from His Word, with comforting words from Job, Psalms, and many other
passages that have become dear to us as the Lord reveals Himself in His Word day by day.
There are many times when we can look back at this past year and see that His mighty
hand is always holding us. We know that if we seek first His kingdom and His
righteousness, we have no need to worry, no need for anxiety, but in all things must rely
on His hand to guide and comfort us. Jesus truly is the Great Shepherd, caring for His
sheep.
The good times have included seeing folks receive the Gospel message, sinners that
were dead in their trespasses brought to life in the Spirit. Christians have taken up the
cause to reach the lost they meet at work, school, and on the streets, along with many
other venues. We pray that the local body here has been blessed in the Lord as you reach
out with the love of the Lord through Jesus Christ. What a blessing to see the Gospel
proclaimed, and Christian testimonies that prove the desire to serve the Lord in all areas of
our lives.
We have seen miraculous providence in our lives more often than we could count.
God has made Himself so perfectly clear in leading our family to serve in these local
assemblies, opening door after door for us to serve in the Gospel, helping equip the saints
in multiple areas, and blessing our hearts with families and individuals to serve alongside.
We have been blessed to make new friends, and see local churches grow both numerically
and spiritually. What a privilege to share the wonderful words of life and have even a
small part in building up the body of Christ.
Of course, one of the most wonderful blessings to us personally in the last year was
when we found out that the Lord had blessed us with another child. With Baby
Cowperthwaite due to arrive around mid February, 2010, it is our desire, in the will of the
Lord, to be gathering with the saints in Union, Maine(our home assembly) in the next few
months.
On a related note, please pray for the Scarbrough family; Gerald, Pamela, and their
3 young children. This is the family we are working with in McDonough, Georgia. They
are passionate about reaching the lost in that area and starting a meeting where Christians
gather unto the Lord Jesus. The GNOM team plans to return for a second trip this year to
McDonough for 2 weeks directly after we leave. The Gospel has been proclaimed at many
doors, sharing the message of reconciliation to God and eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Because of His mercy and grace,
Mark and Sara Cowperthwaite
