Our Blog

Back In The States

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:24:58 -0700

We are now back in the USA at the Colville Free Methodist Church! First time I stepped into this pulpit I was a green, 28 year old pastor with a head of thick black hair and a little too much self esteem! I’m 53 now and I’ve eaten enough humble pie to know it’s not about me, my skills or magnetic personality! It’s about Jesus and what He did at the cross and simply following Him by faith.... which brings me to our tax issue in Belgium. Have you ever gone through something and had no clue what God was up to? I had no idea why the Belgian government was taxing us right out of the country...surely God would deliver us from this evil... but He didn’t! It wasn’t until a boat load of circumstances all came together at just the right time, which included the Belgian tax fiasco, that we knew Colville was the place for us. God has confirmed it in just about every way possible! Normally CFM has 70 people on a Sunday, our first Sunday, the church was packed and on Easter, we had 272 PLUS one young man gave his heart to the Lord!!! We now have a home for the first time in 11 years, a car, and Sheila got a job in the school district that began right after spring break! Our Father is blessing us far beyond I ever expected! Yet, a part of my heart is still with Jackie, Lawrence, Maria and the churches back in Belgium. They need our continued prayers for wisdom and courage as they face a godless society! Sheila and I want to thank every one of you who prayed and gave so faithfully over the past 3 years so we could plant churches and reach the people in Belgium. Because of your generosity
many have come to know Jesus as
Savior...Bless You!!! This will be our
last update but you can still peek in on
what we are doing if you want by
logging onto our church website:
www.fmccolville.org
“Til All Have Heard!
Dick and Sheila

A Great Weekend in GB

Thu, 2 Feb 2012 11:38:50 -0800

We prayed to be a blessing to the Garstang Free Methodist Church, UK as we came to be a part of their first Missions Day this past weekend. It was a wild success with over 10 ministries displayed throughout the facility which the GFM supports. They give 20% of their budget to ministries outside their four walls!
Instead, we were incredibly blessed by the church and our new friends Tom and Barb Stackhouse. We stayed in their 1779 farm house, ate some real good cookin’ but most of all, we just simply enjoyed fellowship.
It’s what people who really love Jesus have when
we get together. It goes beyond an intellectual
discussion or silly fun....it’s a deep bond that only
knowing Christ can make possible. I’d say these
folks and the good people at the Garstang FM
are forever friends!
Thank you Pastor Marcie for inviting us!
‘Til Al Have Heard!
Dick and Sheila

Our Church In Brussels

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:22:04 -0800

We had the privilege of visiting our African church in Brussels this past week. It’s always a joy for us to worship with them! We danced, clapped and sang our hearts out. These young ladies are the same girls Sheila has been training in children’s ministry. Sheila took the
opportunity to observed Patience
( gal in pink sweater- video) in action
and gushed about how awesome she
did. “The kids were really into the
story of Job!” What impressed
Sheila the most was the technique
Patience used to engage the children.
She had them take notes/draw a picture
of her teaching and then they got to go
up to the “special chair” and share what they had learned...I might use that technique some Sunday morning...LOL Please whisper a prayer right now for these teens:
1. That God would protect them from the evil one whose intent to kill, steal and destroy their faith
2. That they would be filled with the Holy Spirit to enable them to be a light in a very dark country
3. That the EGLISE METHODISTE LIBRE de BELGIQUE under the leadership of Pastors Rutazihanna Simeon and Habiyakare Eleazar would flourish

‘Til All Have Heard!
Dick and Sheila

One More Soul!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:21:03 -0800

After Bible study last night, I grabbed Maria to interpret Kenya’s story...I hope you enjoy it! Sorry for the noise. We have such a good time at our meetings! By the way, Maria is now leading the Bible study. Keep her and her family in your prayers.
‘Til All Have Heard!
Dick and Sheila

THREE SAVED!!!

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 10:05:09 -0800

While in Madrid last month Sheila and I met Ana
Guayante who was helping in Spain with the Fajardos as a short term missionary from Nogales, Mexico. When she heard about our Latino work in Belgium, she offered to come up and help us while we were in the states leading a friend’s memorial service. We started receiving e-mails from her shortly after she arrived in Oostende about what God was doing. Three people accepted Christ, several were shown love including our neighbor next to the ministry center and many were encouraged to walk in obedience to the Word in just two weeks! We knew all along that if someone would come who speaks Spanish, things would pop here...and it did! We just returned to Belgium yesterday and met one of the new believers. Without any “preaching”, Kenia has quit drinking alcohol and smoking. She reads her Bible every day and is so happy...she is a new creation! This is why we exist. We are not , as Andy Stanley says, “in the business of education, social reform, or political revolution...” but in the business of calling people to follow Christ. Be strong my friends and courageous. Someone you know needs to hear your story of how Jesus changed you.
Til All Have Heard!
Dick and Sheila