Excitement in the Cowperthwaite home

I am so excited as I write this email. We were blessed in our time in McDonough, Georgia a few weeks back, seeing the Scarbrough and John-Baptiste families, to labor in the Gospel, and to be built up and encouraged in the Lord. It was hard to leave when the time came, but we were excited to go to Tampa, so we hit the road. 

Tampa was a blessed time, between conference with the saints at Carrollwood Bible Chapel and many others from many parts of Florida, and even a few from other places. Brother Joe Reese shared all weekend from God's Word concerning evangelism in the light of the coming of the Lord Jesus. Quite challenging messages delivered with love and a spirit of gentleness were the hallmark of the weekend. Meeting new families and experiencing Florida hospitality (including Cuban and Brazilian cuisine) were just a few of the precious moments while there.

Mark's brother and his family live in Tampa and we got to spend time each day with them, catching up on old times, but also encouraging one another in God's Word. We did not get to visit their church home, but hope to next time we come to Tampa area, if the Lord wills us to visit again. We look forward to coming back, that's for sure. We already miss our dear friends and family, but are excited about what the Lord is leading us into in the next few months. 

We also visited with a small group of Christians in Tallahassee for the weekend, and had a great time hearing from Jesse Gentile Sunday morning. Jesse, Mike (his dad) and Dan(Jesse's father in law) all came up for the weekend on other business and to encourage this church body, we got to meet many more of our brothers and sisters in Christ and partake of the Lord's Supper with them. After services, we had lunch and then even got to meet the Christians at Grace Covenant Church just across the way. It seems no matter where we go we meet Christians and are encouraged in the Lord.

That all brings me to the reason why I am excited. We just came home from the third consecutive night back in Georgia studying God's Word at the Scarbrough home. We were blessed to present the Gospel to a couple men today as we went out door to door, then came back for supper and Bible study. We left on cloud nine from the presence of our "Georgia church family", headed for the campground where we are parked for the week. Upon arriving, we saw a group gathered in the recreation hall. Sara put the kids to bed, and I headed out the door with Gospel CDs and Gospel tracts. 

I guess I just about missed the whole group in a few minutes time, but there were two couples still walking toward their motor homes. I approached them, wanting to share the good news of Jesus Christ, and was greeted by brothers and sisters in Christ. Their group will be here all weekend, and plans to hold church services at the campground Sunday morning, and after talking for a while about the Lord, they asked me to speak to their group. This just reminds me that there are always opportunities to speak for the Lord. Sometimes, we will meet Christians and hopefully be an encouragement to them, and other times will meet those who have not yet heard of the greatest gift of all, salvation through Jesus Christ and His reconciling work on the cross for us. 

We plan, Lord willing, to leave McDonough, GA this coming Wednesday, April 28 headed ultimately for Ottowa, KS to help with the final outreach  of GNOM 5 (www.goodnewsnow.info) with stops to visit the saints in Hinton, WV, Richmond, KY, and Belleville, IL along the way. We heard great and mighty ways the Lord is providing for the needs of this "surge" of Gospel work in Kansas. We have also been blessed to hear of news of God's provision and blessing in Brookings, SD, here in McDonough, and many other places this past few weeks. We serve a living God who cares for His sheep. Praise God for His merciful and loving work in our lives. I am just bubbling over tonight, and had to share with you all. 

Thank you for praying for us, you are a critical part of the ministry the Lord allows us to do. All glory to God!

All glory to God- Maine, Ohio, Kentucky, Georgia and beyond

What a blessed and beautiful sunny day here in McDonough, Georgia! We had a great trip and praise God for His safe keeping and guiding hand along the way these last 11 days since we left Maine.

Sunday, March 21 we left early in the morning and met at Spring Hill Gospel Hall in Westbrook, Maine. It was great to meet with the folks there, and they provided a lovely meal afterward.  Mark spoke during the Bible hour about enduring suffering for the cause of Christ. We looked at Daniel 3, 1 Peter 2, and the account of Stephen from the book  of Acts.  That afternoon, we met with some old friends and were blessed as we discussed all the Lord is showing  us and doing in our lives. What a blessing to share God's love and leading, to pray and encourage one another.

We left Maine late Sunday afternoon, traveling toward Toledo, Ohio to visit with Sara's family on her father's side. After a nice meal, we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning talking about the Lord with Sara's aunt, uncle, and cousins. It is a blessing to see our family, and even more so to spend our time pouring over God's Word and building each other up in our walk with God. The next morning, after a visit with Sara's paternal grandmother,  we headed south about an hour on I-75 to Bluffton, Ohio.

In Bluffton, we stayed with Sara's maternal grandmother, and visited with other family members, including the Bixel family. We had a great time there, staying from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday morning. We attended a show choir and band performance, and spent our time visiting, working on puzzles, and trying to catch up on sleep. It is always a blessing to spend time with our family, and we miss them when we are gone. This year we have been privileged to be able to spend quite a bit of time in Ohio with our family and friends.

Saturday morning, it was 250 miles south on I-75 to Richmond, Kentucky. We arrived at the Harmon farm early in the afternoon and enjoyed some time working on the farm and soaking up the spring sun. Sunday morning, Mark spoke at Bluegrass Bible Fellowship and shared about the blessed hope of Christians, and the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. We then had lunch with the brothers  and sisters at the chapel, and then back to the Harmons for a time of encouragement, studying God's Word, praying together, and got to visit the Everling family Sunday evening.

Monday morning, we said good-bye to the Harmon clan(plus a Morrison here and there) and our new found friend Ethan Jones. Heading for Georgia, again we headed south on I-75, arriving at 415 PM in McDonough, Georgia. We were  greeted by the John-Baptiste and Scarbrough families. The John-Baptiste's have been working in spreading the Gospel, follow up, and discipleship here since December, alongside Gerald and Pamela  Scarbrough. What a blessing to find our camper, freshly cleaned and ready for us  to move back in to. We realized that Samuel was 7 weeks old and this was his first time seeing our "home".

Since arriving, we have talked much about the love of God for His people,  about how we ought to show the love of God unselfishly, and the great need to invest in people's lives in discipleship. The Christians here, meeting Sunday afternoons,  and Tuesday,  Wednesday, and Thursday evenings each week are seeing the great benefit of gathering often. I am encouraged to see the love of Christ shown,  and the desire to be together so often. Truly, this is the family of God.

This group is a greatly enthusiastic collection of Christians from different areas of the country, different social constructs, and different economic backgrounds,  yet they come together and leave the differences at the door and love one another. Gathering for a meal before each meeting, and then around the table for Bible study and prayer. The children play outside, with some of the youngest sitting in with the adults as we meet. I am happy to see that God is blessing the labor here, and look forward to what God will do in this new local meeting for His glory.

Here with this group  of brothers and sisters,  we talk often about what it means to be a disciple of Christ, about dying to ourselves, and living for Christ. Only when our eyes are focused on the Lord, without selfish  desires in the way,  will we truly walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For  me, this has been a new, fresh look at the local church. There  are many things yet to learn, but with the Lord's help, trusting and looking to Him for our guidance, our sustenance, and all that we are and have, God will be glorified. I pray that all we do and say is never in pride or the work of the flesh, but that God will get the glory for all He is doing here in McDonough, Georgia.

As we look forward,  we plan to be in Florida in the next few weeks, praying about how  long we will visit, and what God will prepare for us to do in His service. We come again today, humbled that God would ever use such weak vessels for His work. We are amazed  and the grace and mercy that God has shown us, and the blessings that He has poured down on our lives. We do  not deserve them, but we will be careful to give honor  and praise to He who is worthy.

In the love of Christ,
Mark, for the Cowperthwaite family