Dear Friends,

We have had an incredible summer and fall!  A number of people were saved; 12 have followed the Lord in baptism. God is so good to us and I believe it is because folks like you are praying for us.  In the 14 years we have been working on the reservation, people usually go away for vacations and other trips leaving the church virtually empty during the summer.  Not this year.  Our attendance held steady and even showed some growth. We have had an attendance on Sunday morning of over 100 three times since Easter.

 

Two youth groups came to help us with VBS this year.  One was a Navajo group from a church in Arizona. The other was from Sonshine Baptist Church in Port Charlotte, Florida.  We had about 60 people come every night, including children and adults.  The young people helped with singing, skits, and leading children to the Lord. The Navajo group especially helped with the crafts.  Our hope is that next year our own young people will be able to help do most of these things.  Pray as we begin to train them for this ministry.

 

As people are being saved and wanting to serve the Lord, new ministries are being started.  One of these I have prayed for often.  As you know, alcohol and drug addiction are serious problems on Indian Reservations all over the country.  This situation is also true here among the Seminoles.  Recently we were able to start a Recovery ministry that advocates freedom in Christ.  We believe that God can heal all addictions.  Each Saturday evening about a dozen or so meet to learn how the Son of God can set them free.  It is exciting to see these young people grow and get excited about the Word of God. Please pray for this new ministry and the young people who are seeking to be set free.

 

Another exciting ministry is our new radio ministry.  We are now broadcasting through short-wave radio (WWRB 5050) and over the internet (www.whitedoveradio.com on Thursdays at 4:00 PM CST).  Our broadcast is called “Consider His Word.”  We broadcast music by Native American Gospel singers, testimonies, interviews and a short Gospel message.  If you have internet access or a shortwave radio, try to listen in sometime.

 

We have been visited by more hurricanes this year then usual.  Charlie went around us; Frances came too close for comfort.  Jeanne came too close for comfort.  Thankfully we have not had any serious damage. We did have to cancel services for one Sunday due to the storms.  I hope we don’t ever have to do that again.

 

The Bible says, “Give unto the Lord the glory that is due unto His name…” (Psalm 29:2a)  For His blessing on us over these last few months we want to do just that.  Give all the glory to the Lord.  Thank you for praying for us.

 

For Seminole souls,

Arlen J. Payne
Missionary to the Seminole Indians of South Florida
E-mail: APayne@bbfi.org

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