Saturday, July 23, 2011

Humes family update


Don't forget to pray for, support, and encourage pioneer workers in the Gospel! Some have given up everything this world has to offer to serve the Lord. This letter shares a bit of daily life adjusting to new climate, culture, and the struggles of Gospel work while learning a new language and raising 6 children. It also shares the blessings of serving the Lord and seeing God open doors for His Word to go forth.
~Mark 



 Humes Family Newsletter ~ July 2011
Lots of New Things

We mentioned in our last newsletter that there was a church, Iglesia Gethsemani, less than a block from our house. We have been visiting this church often since our arrival. The Lord has really blessed us through the saints there, learning lots of Spanish and making many new friends with these brothers and sisters in Christ.

Gethsemani has a food ministry that reaches hundreds of people – there are many poor people on both sides of the border in this area, and unemployment is very high. In San Luis, Mexico, (just across the border from us) those who can find work often receive only 70 to 100 pesos a day (that's $6.40 to $9.10 for a full day's work). Although a few things are cheaper, the prices for things like food and clothing are about the same as here in the US. This food ministry has been a great blessing

Sunday, July 10, 2011

A time to move.... fast approaching!

We recently sent along an email that shocked some folks. I am sorry if changes have come unexpectedly, but we have been praying for some time about whether we could continue on with the work at Gospel Chapel in Key West. We have been sharing in these emails the encouragements in our work for the Lord since arriving in Key West. We have had hard times, but we are not discouraged. We are seeing more clearly now that while God clearly led us to Key West for a time, that time has ended. Our recent email spoke of getting back to the Gospel outreach that we first came to do, and we have been and continue to take every available opportunity to speak in the name of our glorious Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I don't suppose any place we ever stay will ever stop that from being the hallmark of our family. We are in love with the Lord Jesus and have met many precious brothers and sisters in Christ in our time here. We have also had opportunity often to clarify the truth of God's Word, which is often changed into a man-centered Gospel in churches and among "religious" folks.  We will miss the saints here, and we have been told by many that they don't want us to go, but "not my will, but thine be done..." is our prayer. We want to be in God's will, not relying on our own thoughts and plans. 

We have been praying at length concerning when we might leave, and it seems at this time that our scheduled trip to Maine August 15 will be the departure date from the Keys. We are trying to find a renter to take over the 3 months left on the lease of our house on Cudjoe Key. With that in mind, it is entirely possible that someone will want the house before that. We have scheduled ministry only as far as this Lord's Day when Mark will preach the AM and PM services at First Baptist Church of Big Pine Key. Their pastor is on a mission trip to Guatemala and we have been blessed to have fellowship with these dear saints many times, with some of these folks attending our home fellowship nights. We have had a dozen or so the last few weeks of meeting together, sharing a meal, talking about what the Lord is teaching us in our personal walk, encouraging ideas of outreach, praying together, and singing songs of praise and worship to the Lord together. We hope this new tradition keep on after we leave, with local Christians getting together to bless and encourage one another not only on Sundays, but throughout the week. We know this happens in some churches, among some groups, but not very often with the majority of Christians. We hope to see folks stepping out and making themselves available for this essential work of the church. 

We are praying also about where we might be called to serve the Lord after our month long trip to Maine ends on September 15. We are scheduled to arrive in Miami that day, but if we leave the Keys sooner might catch the Amtrak in Atlanta area where we would visit our friends, the Scarbrough family. Gerald and Pamela left their full time position in youth ministry about 3 years ago, seeking more intimate and genuine fellowship with Christians. They have been meeting in their home, and we have been through there a few times to help in the Gospel outreach, to encourage and be encouraged, and we always enjoy their fellowship. On our way out, we will stay with the Fritchey family near Miami/Fort Lauderdale  for a few days and visiting Bible Truth and Boulevard Bible Chapel as the Lord allows us opportunity. The Christians of many churches in Florida have been so helpful in the work in Key West. We are sad to be leaving many dear friends in Key West, but we are also excited to see what God has in store for us in the future. 

We understand that many will have questions regarding the ending of our work in the Keys and what lies ahead. We have many opportunities available to us as we look ahead. We have things we would love to do, places we would love to go, but more than anything we want to glorify God and give our lives for His service and the glory He so richly deserves. Please pray that we will know God's will and walk in it. We desire to be obedient to His call, to stay or to go, and we ask for your prayers. Feel free to call, email, FB message, or any other means of communication.

Our mailing address for the time being will revert back to 12 Emery Avenue, Thomaston, Maine 04861.
Mark's cell phone number is 207-542-8916. Please update your information with this in mind.

We no longer have a camper, so we will be staying with local Christians as we travel. We will let everyone know if our stay in the Keys is shortened any further, as dates of visits may change with not much notice.  We hope to have a chance to minister to the saints in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, and a few other places that  have requested us to visit as time permits. Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. Let us know also how we can pray for you. 


Serving a risen Savior,

Mark and Sara Cowperthwaite
Nathaniel, Virginia, Naomi, and Samuel


"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,
especially unto them who are of the household of faith. " Galatians 6:9-10

Friday, July 1, 2011

Changes in ministry focus


Brothers and sisters in Christ,

Our family has been in Key West a little over half a year now. We remain confident of the Lord's initial call to labor at the Gospel Chapel, to preach the Gospel and labor in the name of Christ at the Gospel Chapel. The last few months have brought many changes to our family ministry. We have moved farther from Key West to Cudjoe Key. The nearest church to our house of any sort is 6 miles or more away, and we have already begun door-to-door outreach on our island along with starting a weekly fellowship night in our home for local Christians and outreach contacts. At the Gospel Chapel, Mark has been called upon for teaching most every week at the chapel along with leading all the meetings of the church, and other things have kept us more occupied than we planned beyond the scope of the Gospel work. 

The bigger picture is that the longer we have continued, the more we see that it is not our calling to continue on trying to fulfill all the roles that we are in at this time. We are not leaving town at this time, nor are we leaving the chapel completely, but after much prayer and counsel, we will be stepping out of the role of leadership at Gospel Chapel. I cannot promise how long we will stay in the long term, but most of you know we are heading to Maine for a month August 16-Sept 15 for a time of visiting with family, ministry, and prayer regarding the Lord's leading for our family in the future. 

Our lease will end October 31, and we will make a decision regarding staying in the Keys at that point. It is the Lord who has called us, the Lord who led us here, and we trust in Him for the direction of our future ministry. We appreciate your continued prayer for our family and the work of the Lord in the Florida Keys. We thank the Lord for all He is doing in our lives, and look forward to having more time to dedicate to the work of the Gospel. Feel free to call us if you have questions regarding this decision.