tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6892610563624853122024-03-14T10:05:24.068-07:00The Independent Baptist Missionary Blog SpotA clearing house of Independent Baptist missionary blogs that exists to raise awareness of world missions and provoke us to pray more, give more and go farther for the cause of Christ.Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-30623992981580050362014-03-11T21:38:00.001-07:002015-01-07T19:30:28.756-08:00A new blog for a new yearYeah, I know that we're already almost halfway through the third month of the "new" year, but I've been terribly negligent in caring for my blog and so this is the official first posting of the year.<br />
<br />
But to make up for all of the months of neglect I am so excited to present you with a new blogger who has been a tremendous blessing to me in the short time I've been reading her posts.<br />
<br />
This blog is rather uniquely called "Road Schooling ... Our Life on the Road of Life" and is published by Mrs. Charity, who serves with her husband, Bro. Jason, in Southeast Asia. You can find her blog here: http://rdschooling.com/.<br />
<br />
If you want to meet a missionary who bares her heart for all to see, then Mrs. Charity's blog is for you. I am very impressed with the way she writes about her life, warts and all. <br />
<br />
I won't go into too much detail because I want you to dash on over and sign up for Mrs. Charity's email updates so you can experience life on the Road with this family.<br />
<br />
Just make sure you buckle up, because they can sure have some amazing adventures along the way!<br />
<br />
Now I will certainly make every effort to post a new blog sometime before summer (although I can't promise anything), but until then, let's all covenant together to Pray More, Give More and Go Farther than ever for the cause of missions.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-25143677670903552002013-10-06T19:33:00.001-07:002013-10-06T19:33:28.696-07:00A pair of Bloggers in Ghana, West AfricaWell, it's time for me to try and get caught up with my blogs again. I appreciate everyone who follows this space even when it does take four months for me to post anything new.<br />
<br />
This time, I'm happy to introduce you to a missionary couple who chronicle their lives in Ghana, West Africa, through his-and-hers blogs.<br />
<br />
First we have Bro. Matthew Siekbert, who blogs at http://matthewsiekbert.blogspot.com/. Bro. Matthew is joined by his wife, Mrs. Jackie Siekbert, whose "Jackie's Journal" can be found here: http://jackiesiekbert.blogspot.com/.<br />
<br />
Next month will mark a decade of service in Ghana for the Siekberts, who stay busy with evangelism, soul-winning, training local believers and building a local independent Baptist church.<br />
<br />
Bro. Matthew's blog chronicles ministry updates, including their monthly prayer letters. Mrs. Jackie really opens the door to their lives with updates on family, pictures of church members and much more.<br />
<br />
Please take some time and check out the Siekberts and their blogs. In fact, they would probably love it if you'd sign up for email updates and post an occasional comment to posts you read. (A positive, encouraging comment can make a blogger's day!)<br />
<br />
One more thing - please keep the Siekberts and all of our missionary heroes in your prayers. These men and women have sacrificed more than most of us can imagine to follow God's call to the mission field. If you don't know what to pray for, just ask and they'll let you know.<br />
<br />
As we look at our world, it becomes more and more clear that the Church Age is nearly over. We must Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther than ever for the cause of missions.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-22702685122718346872013-06-14T05:29:00.000-07:002013-06-14T05:29:17.089-07:00Headin' North for a family two-ferWe're right in the middle of my favorite time of the year - late Spring and Summer. I don't have to grab a jacket every time I leave the house, everything is as close to green as it gets out here in West Texas, and it's light when I get home from work.<br />
<br />
Now let's park for a moment on that last part, because I am so excited to bring ya'll a pair of blogs from a family who live in a place where the sun is up when they rise in the morning, when they go to bed at night, when they rise at midnight for a snack - in fact, right about now the sun is ALWAYS up!<br />
<br />
That's right, we're headed past 66 degrees, 33 minutes North Latitude into the Arctic Circle to meet Bro. Marty and Mrs. Masey Arnold, missionaries to Greenland. The Arnolds each blog about life in Greenland, so I figured I'd present them both to you at one time.<br />
<br />
If you're interested in posts about ministry in Ilulissat (and in Sisimiut before that), then turn to Bro. Marty's blog, "Freezin' for a Reason" (http://www.freezinforareason.blogspot.com/). If you prefer to peek into life as a missionary family in Greenland, then you'll enjoy Mrs. Masey's blog, "Masey's Thoughts" (http://maseysthoughts.blogspot.com/). Personally, I'd encourage you to read both of them!<br />
<br />
In fact, I think you would really enjoy signing up to receive both blogs by email (and not just these two, but as many of my other bloggers as you can squeeze into your day). Since I've been chasing missionary bloggers around the world, my eyes have been opened so much to the amazing men and women God has equipped to spread the Gospel to some incredibly difficult areas.<br />
<br />
God has placed these folks in areas most of us have never heard of and they would love to have someone stop by periodically and let them know they're not alone.<br />
<br />
So start with Bro. Marty and Mrs. Masey and wander through Greenland with them. Don't forget to comment on their posts, so they'll know you're there, and put them on your prayer list with all of the other missionary heroes.<br />
<br />
As always, please keep our missionaries in your thoughts and prayers and may each of us Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther than ever before for the cause of world missions.<br />
<br />
Until next time, may God richly bless each of you and especially Bro. Marty, Mrs. Masey and the entire Arnold clan!<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-58863655982213330872013-05-12T19:00:00.000-07:002013-05-12T19:00:41.019-07:00Welcome back ... to Mexico!I know it's been an awfully long time since I've posted, but I am so happy to be back with a new post and a new missionary for you to meet.<br />
<br />
Once again we are privileged to travel to the country of Mexico, this time to meet a sweet missionary family who are serving the Lord in the city of Queretaro. I am so happy to introduce you to Mrs. Ruth Sloan Miller, who blogs at "Joyfull Living," http://joyfullwoman.blogspot.com/.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ruth and her husband, Bro. Steve, are veterans in Queretaro, where they work with Iglesia Bautista Victoria en Cristo and Mrs. Ruthie is mother to seven lovely children.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Ruth is also a gifted singer and you can go to the "store" tab and purchase several copies of her new CD, "Tell Me the Story of Jesus," and its Spanish companion, "Dime la Historia de Cristo, which includes her renditions of 15 beautiful hymn. Mrs. Ruth was accompanied on this CD by her amazing mother, Mrs. Billie Sloan. You may recognize Mrs. Billie's name, as she blogs in her own right at "From the Heart of Mexico" (http://mimitomany.blogspot.com/).<br />
<br />
One more bonus you can find at Mrs. Ruth's blog is a link to Bro. Miller's website, www.millers2mexico.com.<br />
<br />
Please get right over to Joyfull Living and read about the adventures of Mrs. Ruth and her family in Queretaro. You will be blessed as you do!<br />
<br />
If you know of a blog written by a like-minded Independent Baptist missionary that you'd like to see featured here, please drop me a line and let me know.<br />
<br />
Until next time, let's continue to Pray More, Give More and if called, go Farther than Ever for the cause of world missions.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-73369816292202050222012-10-10T21:21:00.001-07:002012-10-10T21:21:21.429-07:00Home missions - Minnesota style!For the past year, I've focused almost exclusively on foreign missions, introducing you to men and women serving all around the world. Now I am privileged to introduce you to a family serving as missionaries right here in the Good Ole U.S. of A.!<br />
<br />
Bro. Preston Hoiseth traces his roots to Minnesota and, after stops in Oklahoma City and Wesley Chapel, Florida, he has returned home with wife Karen and two kids to plant an Independent Baptist Church in the town of Bemidji, Minn. You can follow this family through their personal website, <a href="http://thehoiseths.com/">http://thehoiseths.com/</a>, where you can find their testimonies, doctrinal statement, an archive of monthly letters, and blog entries. It's a great way to learn about this family and know how to better pray for them.<br />
<br />
Last February, Bro. Preston's vision came to life with the first service of Northwoods Baptist Church. This baby work has been growing ever since, and they recently started their own Sunday School! You can learn more about the church here: <a href="http://www.northwoodsbaptist.org/">www.northwoodsbaptist.org</a>.<br />
<br />
I'm pleased to be able to bring you some home missionaries, and encourage you to pray for this young family and the work they're doing in Bemidji.<br />
<br />
Whether it's in the US or abroad, the need for sound Bible-preaching missionaries is desperate and I hope that you will join me as we Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther than ever before for the cause of missions.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-12433367900282337392012-09-16T21:36:00.000-07:002012-09-16T21:36:07.654-07:00Reaching "The Last Frontier"It's been nearly a year since I started blogging about world missions. I've met missionaries who are serving on all six of the populated continents on the planet (I've not found any missionaries yet to Antarctica). <br />
<br />
Today marks a little bit of a transition for my blog, as I'm introducing you to a new missionary based on his website and not a blog.<br />
<br />
I first learned about Bro. John Pinnix and his ministry, Remote Alaska Missions, from my pastor on a Wednesday night. He told us about going to Alaska for a fellowship meeting and being introduced to a man whose ministry was taking the Gospel to the most isolated communities in America.<br />
<br />
Checking into this ministry led me to their website, http://thepinnixfamily.com/, where I learned more about their calling. A few weeks later, our church was privileged to host the Pinnix family and I met briefly with Bro. Pinnix.<br />
<br />
There are more than 250 communities in Alaska that are inaccessible by road, and 100 of those have fewer than 100 residents. Reaching these communities, settlements, villages and homesteads is a huge challenge for Bro. Pinnix, his wife Janet and their children (seven, with another on the way), but they are confident in the God Who has brought them to Alaska.<br />
<br />
It has been incredible for me to follow this ministry and I really encourage you to stop by the website. You can watch videos and see pictures from some of their many ministry locations and read their mission newsletters.<br />
<br />
Please support this family - I have been so blessed by Bro. Pinnix and his ministry and know that you will, too. As always, my prayer is that our commitment to missions will be to Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther than ever before.<br />
<br />
Until next time,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />
Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-57817299663835571262012-07-15T21:17:00.001-07:002012-07-15T21:17:25.148-07:00A bit of Steele in UkraineWell, it's been far too long since I've posted - it's amazing how intrusive things like jobs, church, brand new grandbabies and other things can be!! But we're back and so, without further ado, let's hop aboard our virtual plane and zip around the world right back to one of our favorite places - Ukraine - to meet Mrs. Kelsie Steele, author of "Be of Good Courage."<br />
<br />
Mrs. Kelsie's blog can be found here: <a href="http://kelsiesteele.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://kelsiesteele.blogspot.com/</a>, where she invites us to enjoy "<span>Stories, Snippets and Snapshots from my Life in Ukraine."</span><br />
<br />
<span>Mrs. Kelsie, her husband Bro. Josh and their three children have lived for seven years in Lviv, Ukraine. I really enjoyed seeing the pictures she posted of Lviv; it sure makes it come alive for me to see pictures of our missionaries and their places where they live.</span><br />
<span><br /></span><br />
<span>I would really encourage you to stop by the Steeles and see what they're doing. They've had lots of adventures and I'm sure there are many more to come. While you're there, be sure and sign up for their email updates - it's a great way to keep up with this family and their ministry.</span><br />
<span><br /></span><br />
<span>I encourage you to keep praying for the Steele family, as well as all of the other missionaries who have been spotlighted here. Time is running short and there are so many who have not made decisions for Christ.</span><br />
<span><br /></span><br />
<span>Please join with me to pray more, give more and, if you have been called, go farther than ever before for the cause of Missions.</span><br />
<span><br /></span><br />
<span>Until next time, may God bless each of you as you continue to serve Him.</span><br />
<span><br /></span><br />
<span>Bro. Garry</span><br />
<span><br /></span>Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-75493076525075615572012-06-02T20:46:00.001-07:002012-06-02T20:46:04.420-07:00Headed by Faith to SiberiaI'm kind of embarrassed about bringing you blog in early June - after all, I really should have introduced you to Mrs. Amber Pranger and her blog, "Living by Faith," way back in March when I first introduced you to Mrs. Amber and her husband, Bro. James Pranger and their blog, "Reaching the Uttermost in Siberia."<br />
<br />
Anyway, I didn't realize until just the other day (which is a euphemism for "sometime in the recent past") when I noticed that Mrs. Amber also has her own blog! I contacted Mrs. Amber and asked if I could share this blog with you and so now we're off to another trip to Siberia.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Amber's blog can be found here: http://www.simplysiberia.blogspot.com/.<br />
<br />
One really nice thing about not having found this blog until now is that you can join us for this couple's dual journey - deputation to the field of Sibera, Russia, and their ongoing journey toward parenthood! That's right, Bro. James and Mrs. Amber recently announced that they are expecting their first child!!<br />
<br />
In "Living by Faith," Mrs. Amber has tabs for her favorite foods and a tab (currently under construction) for her photography. Having followed Mrs. Amber on Facebook, I am excited about seeing this section grow because she is a gifted photographer.<br />
<br />
I hope you'll take a few minutes and stop by "Living by Faith" to meet Mrs. Amber and her ever-growing family. You can also sign up to receive email updates so you won't miss a single step on the journey.<br />
<br />
As we head into another Lord's Day, I encourage you all to join me in prayer for our missionaries all around the world. Please keep looking for ways you can Pray more, Give more and, if called, Go farther than ever for the cause of missions.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry <br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-56863073021070683142012-05-29T19:57:00.001-07:002012-05-29T19:57:27.562-07:00Sharing their Joy in KenyaEvery so often (especially when I've had a drought on finding new blogs), I'll stop by and visit my friends at Baptist Missionary Women (http://baptistmissionarywomen.blogspot.com/) to see if they've added anyone new.<br />
<br />
The other day I wandered past and discovered my newest missionary blog. I am so excited to introduce you to Mrs. Jessi Cormier, author of "Joy Unspeakable," which tells all about her family (husband BJ and two kids) and their lives ministering to the Deaf in Kenya. You can find Mrs. Jessi here: http://joyunspeakableinkenya.blogspot.com/<br />
<br />
My desire in writing this blog is for you to learn about what missionaries do, how they live and how they serve the Lord on their chosen field. Well, Mrs. Jessi has an entire section of her blog where she shares her desire for her blog. Check out this quote: "My goal and purpose for this blog is to show you what it is really like
to be a missionary. For many people in America and in first-world
countries, the foreign mission field is so far away and so difficult to
imagine."<br />
<br />
It's really easy to get lost in Mrs. Jessi's blog; she has one section where she gives her testimony, another where she has pictures of her family and another with some recipes unique to Kenya. But the best of all is a section where Mrs. Jessi shares her statement of faith and the Plan of Salvation.<br />
<br />
Please stop by and see "Joy Unspeakable." You can sign up for email updates and subscribe to the blog as well.<br />
<br />
Don't forget to pray for this family (as well as all of the missionaries who serve around the world). Pray for their safety, their ministries and for the Lord to bless their labors. <br />
<br />
As much as the lost world needs the Gospel, our missionaries need us to support them. Please make a commitment this year to Pray More, Give More and, if God calls you, Go Farther than ever for the cause of world missions.<br />
<br />
Until next time, may God bless you and your families as you serve Him.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-5727718211925330172012-05-04T21:17:00.002-07:002012-05-04T21:17:54.411-07:00Preaching the Gospel on the Emerald IsleI was looking at my Facebook today when I had one of the best surprises! Bro. Stephen Kennedy popped up to clue me in to his blog, which centers on his ministry in Northern Ireland. Bro. Stephen and I had a wonderful visit before he had to head to bed (oops, I forgot it's about six hours later there than in Lubbock!!), but I was so blessed to meet this man of God and learn a little bit about his heart.<br />
<br />
Since I am never one to spurn an opportunity to visit a missionary blog, I popped right over to "Old Church on Scroggy Road" (http://www.oldchurchonscroggyroad.blogspot.com/) and took a look. There I was blessed by some very thoughtful entries by Bro. Stephen, as well as the chance to read his most recent prayer letter.<br />
<br />
Bro. Stephen, his wife Angel and their children live in Limavady, Northern Ireland where he pastors the Roe Valley Baptist Church. (By the way, I had to look up exactly where Limavady is - it's in northern Northern Ireland, located east of Londonderry and northwest of the capital of Belfast.)<br />
<br />
I am so glad to be able to bring you this blog; it's always a blessing to meet new missionaries and learn their desires, prayers and burdens for their fields, and learn what they're doing to meet those needs.<br />
<br />
Please stop by and visit the Kennedys and take a look at the beautiful country of Northern Ireland and this family that is seeking to bring the light of Jesus Christ to the darkness. There's even a place you can subscribe and keep up with their work.<br />
<br />
As always I encourage you to keep our missionaries in your fervent prayers as they serve on fields throughout the world. My prayer is that we would all Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther for the cause of missions.<br />
<br />
Until next time, thanks for stopping by and being a support to these great Heroes of the Faith.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro. Garry<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-30297535198143538932012-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:002012-04-29T12:13:52.202-07:00Serving with Four Princesses in the CaribbeanSo what do you get when you take an All-American girl from the Heartland, blend with a Louisiana boy, toss in a small gaggle of girls and dump the whole concoction on an island in the West Indies? Why you get our latest missionary family!<br />
<br />
I am pleased to introduce you to Joshua and Maria Wesley, missionaries to Jamaica. I've been following Mrs. Maria's blog, "Raising Four Princesses" for a while now and it's a fun read. Here's where Mrs. Maria blogs - http://caribbeanmissionarywife.blogspot.com/.<br />
<br />
Mrs. Maria uses her blog to show how God is working in her family as she recounts her adventures raising four young daughters on the mission field. Followers of her blog can also keep up with her special listings where she shares craft tips, recipes and parenting tips from other bloggers.<br />
<br />
If you want to see what life is like in Jamaica, run by and visit "Raising Four Princesses." Then if you want, sign up for her email updates to you can keep the Wesley family in the forefront of your mind and prayers.<br />
<br />
Please keep all of our missionaries in your thoughts and prayers. These heroes have given so much so that others would have a chance to meet the Saviour.<br />
<br />
Remember our battle cry: Pray More, Give More and if called, Go Farther an ever for the cause of the Gospel.<br />
<br />
In Christ,<br />
<br />
Bro.. Garry<br />
<br />
<br />Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-67848645156528983202012-04-23T18:45:00.004-07:002012-04-23T19:38:04.277-07:00If it's published, is it still Unpublished??I know, I know. The headline doesn't make much sense; hang on for a minute and I'll try and clarify matters.<br /><br />You see, I stumbled upon my latest blogger while poking around Facebook and was intrigued by the name, "A Story Unpublished." Since I really love reading missionary blogs, I followed the link and realized that the author is someone I've never before featured -- a Missionary Kid!<br /><br />So I contacted Miss Noelle O'Brien (like I do with every new blogger), introduced myself and asked if I could publish "A Story Unpublished" (http://readnoelleobrien.blogspot.com/) in this space.<br /><br />When she responded, Miss Noelle told me this is her second blog. "A Story Unpublished" began as a spinoff from her first blog, "Memoirs of an MK," which chronicled Miss Noelle's life growing up in Kharkov, Ukraine with her parents, veteran missionaries John and Cathy O'Brien.<br /><br />Now that Miss Noelle has begin blazing a new trail (she currently is a student at Heartland Baptist Bible College in Oklahoma City), she has launched her new effort. I scrolled to the beginning of "A Story Unpublished" in December 2010 and found Miss Noelle's rationale for the new effort:<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Today I've started up a new blog. The beginnings are always the end of something else. And although I feel that I will someday return to my kharkovgirl blog, Memoirs of an MK, life is changing and I'm changing with it.</span></span><br /><br />This is a really unique blog and so is its author. Please take a few minutes to stop by and visit Miss Noelle. I really think you'll get a blessing from this young lady who is grabbing life and serving the Lord in two countries and across the blogosphere.<br /><br />Please pray for Miss Noelle and all of the other missionaries you've met in this space. All our missionaries desperately need us to support them with our prayers, our encouragement and our faithful giving.<br /><br />As always my prayer is that we will all Pray More, Give More and, if called, Go Farther for the cause of missions around the world.<br /><br />Until next time, may God continue to soften your hearts to the needs of missionaries.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-90795121642376839782012-03-25T11:49:00.005-07:002012-03-25T12:35:37.147-07:00A return trip to UkraineWay back when God opened the door for me to start blogging about missionary bloggers, I introduced you to Jolene Sloan, a sweet lady who blogs from her field of Simferopol, Ukraine.<br /><br />So far, God has brought me an incredible 25 missionary blogs and we're just getting started!! Today, we head back to Ukraine for Blog No. 26! Not only are we headed back to the same country, we're going to the same city! And, not only are we going to the same city, we're even going to the same church to meet our newest missionary!!<br /><br />I am so excited to direct you to "Judy's Ukrainian Journal," the blogging home of Judy Van Zant, veteran missionary to Simferopol, Ukraine. You can find it on my blog list at right, or here: http://judys-ukrainian-journal.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />Mrs. Judy and her husband, Bob Van Zant, have been serving the deaf in Simferopol for the past 15 years. They started in May 1996 with the deaf church. Within two years they added a hearing church and they haven't looked back. Simferopol Baptist Church has become an established and dynamic church.<br /><br />While the family has been in Ukraine for a long time, Mrs. Judy is new to blogging. In fact, as of today she has only had three posts, so you can very easily catch up and be there for every posting from now on!<br /><br />You can see in her posts that Mrs. Judy has a great love for her people and a great burden to see the people of Simferopol reached with the Gospel.<br /><br />Please be in special prayer for the missionaries who serve in Ukraine, as so many have been forced out of the country due to changes in visa laws there. We know God is in control and that He has a plan for everything, so please pray with the Van Zant's that He will raise up an army of Ukrainians to lead God's churches in their country.<br /><br />I would greatly encourage you to stop by and join Mrs. Judy's Journey. There is a place on the "contact" page to sign up for email updates, so be sure to do that and you'll know every time she posts something.<br /><br />As always, when it comes to missions, we need to pray more, give more and, if God should call you to go, then go farther than ever for the cause of Missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-39591012054767831202012-03-19T19:52:00.002-07:002012-03-19T20:42:46.032-07:00A Mississippi Boy in NigeriaSo what do you get when you take a young man from Mississippi and a young lady from Louisiana, then toss them together into West Africa? Simple - today's featured missionary family.<br /><br />Bro. Mark Holmes and his wife Sabrina are that couple and their blog is simply called, "Missionary Holmes," found here: http://missionaryholmes.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />The Holmes family has served in Abuja, Nigeria, since 2005, where the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been proclaimed from the aptly-named Truth Baptist Church and taught at Temple Baptist Institute.<br /><br />I enjoyed poking around Bro. Holmes' blog, because it contains a wealth of information about the family, their ministry and the country in which they serve. You can also find a number of ways to contact the family (which I suspect would be a real blessing to them!).<br /><br />So stop on by and visit this family and their work and keep them in your prayers as they seek to reach their corner of the world for the cause of Christ.<br /><br />As always, please remember to pray more, give more and, if God calls, go farther than before for the cause of world missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-43930378520040141572012-03-13T20:07:00.002-07:002012-03-13T21:22:37.415-07:00Giving their utmost to reach the UttermostWell, we've met veteran missionaries, rookie missionaries and missionaries who are still on deputation.<br /><br />Today I want to introduce you to a couple who are really a blend of all of the above! I'm really excited about James and Amber Pranger, who are on deputation for the field of Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, Russia. Mrs. Amber blogs at "Reaching the Uttermost in Siberia" (http://www.prangerstosiberia.blogspot.com.au/).<br /><br />The Prangers are a mixed pair - Bro. James grew up on the mission field of Russia with his parents. Mrs. Amber grew up in Florida and earned the title of Missionary in 2010 when she married Bro. James.<br /><br />One of the neatest things about following Bro. and Mrs. Pranger is that you can start the journey with this couple, as Mrs. Amber has only written two posts!<br /><br />I'd really recommend you jump over there and sign up for the email updates. That way you can read the first two posts quick before Mrs. Amber starts posting in earnest.<br /><br />Don't forget to support the Prangers with your prayers and sign up for their email updates. While you're at it, I'd appreciate it if you would sign up for my email updates as well!<br /><br />Until next time, please keep missions in your mind -- pray more, give more and, if God calls you, go farther than ever before for the cause of missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-12713573918976734652012-02-27T19:54:00.002-08:002012-02-27T20:52:19.970-08:00Indonesia in their sights!So stop me if you've heard this one before ... pastor of a church is praying for his upcoming mission conference, asking God to bring forth more laborers for the harvest. Yeah - you got it!<br /><br />Phil Lien was the pastor in question when God laid upon his heart to leave the pulpit, pack up his family and travel to Indonesia where they will preach the Gospel to the largest Muslim population in the world.<br /><br />After about a year on deputation, Bro. Lien, his wife Kristine and their three children are seeing the reality of their dream coming true, as they look forward to heading to the field later this year.<br /><br />The Liens blog from their own website - http://lienmissions.com.<br /><br />The blog is interspersed with their monthly ministry update letters, so you can follow just about everything they have been doing while on the deputation trail. Throughout the rest of the website are other tidbits of information about this family and their vision.<br /><br />I encourage you to stop by and visit the Lien family, read their blog and check out the rest of the website, then keep them in your prayers as they finish deputation. Like so many others, the Liens are leaving their old lives behind to follow God's leading - in my book, that makes them heroes.<br /><br />Please keep all of our missionary heroes in your prayers; my hope is that we will all pray more, give more and if God calls, go farther than ever before for the cause of world missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-75786188231798756202012-02-26T12:03:00.002-08:002012-02-26T13:09:36.502-08:00Doing God's work in AcreOK, if I invited you to travel with me to the town of Rio Branco in the state of Acre, would you know where to go?<br /><br />Don't feel bad - I didn't either, until I searched for the location of our newest missionary - Bro. Stephen Doolittle.<br /><br />Turns out, Acre is located in far western Brazil, and Rio Branco is the capital of the state of Acre. It is here that the Doolittle family - Bro. Stephen, his wife Kelly and their four children - have been serving since 1999. You can read about their adventures in Bro. Stephen's and Mrs. Kelly's blog, "The Doolittles in Acre," which can be found here: http://www.doolittlesinacre.blogspot.com/. (By the way, since they don't have a link to their website from the blog, I'll sneak it in here: http://www.brazilianmissions.org)<br /><br />It has been interesting to read some of their blog posts, to see how the Doolittles are impacting their region for the cause of Christ. I am especially impressed at how their older children have stepped up to help out in the work of the ministry.<br /><br />I would encourage you to stop by and visit "The Doolittles in Acre" and rejoice with them in the victories they are experiencing in Acre. Don't forget to check back often; at this point there isn't an option to sign up for email updates.<br /><br />For those of us who remain on the "home front," remember our missionary heroes. These are men and women who could be successful in business or ministry in the United States, but who have committed themselves and their families to take the Gospel to an unreached and dying world.<br /><br />Our commitment needs to be that we will pray more, give more and, if God calls, go farther than ever before for the cause of world missions.<br /><br />Enjoy the voyage and we'll see where God leads us next!<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-45294565679984061992012-02-24T20:55:00.005-08:002012-02-24T22:51:33.508-08:00Thinking about the Cretzman familyFor many of us in the Independent Baptist community, this week has been difficult as we have watched and read about the terrible accident that claimed the life of Azlynn Cretzman, the 3-year-old daughter of Bro. Matt and Mrs. Lana Cretzman, missionaries to Cuba.<br /><br />Our hearts ache for this family as they have suffered such a horrible loss. Untold thousands of us have joined together in prayer around the world, lifting up this dear family as their tragedy is played out again and again in the media.<br /><br />Earlier today I watched a video someone posted online from a news station in North Carolina, where this accident occurred. I was struck by Bro. Cretzman's calm spirit, his steady voice and his solid faith as he talked about the outpouring of love and support they have experienced in the days since he cradled his daughter in his arms as she slipped away into death by the side of a road. <br /><br />I watched Bro. Cretzman stand before the camera and talk about the accident and I wondered if I could do such a thing in his place. Could I stand before the world and tell everyone that God has given me the grace to go on in the face of a catastrophe far worse than the worst thing that I could ever imagine? I hope I never have to find out.<br /><br />I know that there are no words to say at a time like this other than, "Bro. and Mrs. Cretzman and little Maddi Cretzman, we love you and are praying for you." While even that is insufficient, we can say it knowing that the God of the universe knows exactly why this happened and what will happen as a result of it. He is always right and He is always good and He is always just.<br /><br />Any time I hear of the death of a young child like this, I am drawn to II Samuel, where David sat by the bedside of his unnamed son and waited for the death foretold by the prophet Nathan. Hour after hour David kept vigil by the child, fasting and praying for his son. When the child died, David rose, washed, went to the house of God and worshiped.<br /><br />While the circumstances surrounding the death of David's child were far different than those facing the Cretzman family, I think the principle is the same. Look at what David said when his servants questioned his reaction to the death of his son:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"[</span><b style="font-style: italic;">22</b><span style="font-style: italic;">] And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">[</span><b style="font-style: italic;">23</b><span style="font-style: italic;">] But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.</span>" II Sam. 12:22-23<br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I don't doubt that King David wept often in the time following the loss of his son, but his weeping was not "even as others which have no hope" II Thess. 4:13b.</span> Likewise, the Cretzman family will weep many times as they reflect on the events of last Monday morning. Still they will be able to cling to that precious promise that they will one day see Azlynn again in a place where "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4.<br /><br />We know that life will go on until the day that Christ calls His Bride home. The Cretzman family will recover from their physical injuries and will resume deputation, and eventually will go to Cuba, the land where God has called them to dedicate themselves for the furtherance of the Gospel. Other missionary families will take to the "deputation trail" and raise the support they need to take them to locations all around the globe. There may be more tragedies like this one last Monday, but God will always be faithful and His Name will be glorified in the midst of the most violent storm.<br /><br />For those of us who stay at home, let us rededicate ourselves to do more for missions in the coming days, weeks, months and years. We are charged with holding up the arms of our missionaries as Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses during the battle.<br /><br />Even now, God is speaking to boys and girls, men and women, calling them to dedicate themselves to go out into the farthest reaches of the world and seek the lost at any cost. May we dedicate ourselves to pray more, give more and go when He calls. <br /><br />Yet at the same time, we must faithfully remain in the harvest field where He has called us to serve right now.<br /><br />Let's join together to pray for the Cretzman family in their time of trial, and continue to pray for them and all the other missionaries who have given so much that the cause of Christ may be advanced.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. Garry<br /><br /><span class="fsm"></span>Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-48184203135798931142012-02-14T23:00:00.000-08:002012-02-14T23:18:14.372-08:00My own special missionary!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AwWYu3hBtONq2wZu2X6g4PA2HloySOoiDIjQQd0T4R74uZWMTYHt9l4tkzkAqMIE6I_csi46sux68UwZWUZ_qc2-nSanCN6i5MqWTnyMwlStzGZrSsMzZOJpZ6nu-b2KsQQ3T6HE-OM/s1600/2-2012+Bethany.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8AwWYu3hBtONq2wZu2X6g4PA2HloySOoiDIjQQd0T4R74uZWMTYHt9l4tkzkAqMIE6I_csi46sux68UwZWUZ_qc2-nSanCN6i5MqWTnyMwlStzGZrSsMzZOJpZ6nu-b2KsQQ3T6HE-OM/s320/2-2012+Bethany.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5709254767296404370" border="0" /></a><br />I would like to take just a moment and introduce you all to my favorite missionary in the world! Twenty years ago today (Feb. 15, 1992), our own Bethany Wesner was born. Two decades later, she is now a second-year Spanish language student at Mount Hebron Baptist Bible Institute in Monterrey, Mexico.<br /><br />Bethany has been the greatest blessing and a joy as her mother and I have watched her grow and mature into a beautiful young woman of God.<br /><br />She is still seeking God's long-term path for her life, but for now, she is exactly where He wants her to be, learning Spanish and taking part in many ministries of Mount Hebron Baptist Church.<br /><br />I enjoy Skyping with her as often as possible to hear about her latest adventures. Some days it's just piano class, Spanish Class and Chapel, but other days she is full of news about taking part in the bus ministry, ladies soul-winning, playing in the church orchestra or whatever else needs to be done.<br /><br />Please keep Bethany in your prayers as she seeks what God would have her to do. She graduates language school this May and is eagerly looking toward what He has as the next step in her life's journey, whether that means continuing her mission training or something else entirely.<br /><br />I love you Bethany and can't wait to see you continue to become the woman God wants you to be!<br /><br />DaddyGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-52804769520877886642012-02-09T17:23:00.000-08:002012-02-09T17:54:47.963-08:00A Family "Two-fer" in the West IndiesFor some time now I have been eagerly anticipating the first real "milestone" in my blog - the 20th missionary blog to feature.<br /><br />Now, thanks to the Gimenez family, I have passed that mark and added one!<br /><br />That's right - today you get two blogs for the price of one! I am so thrilled to introduce you to my newest "virtual friends," Bro. Patrick and Mrs. Kami Gimenez. On top of that, you can read both blogs to learn about their life on a pioneering mission field - the small island of St. Barths in the West Indies.<br /><br />Here's what you can find them - Bro. Patrick blogs at "Gimenez Family Life," which can be found here: http://www.gimenezfamilylife.blogspot.com/. Mrs. Kami has hers, "a day in the life of a missionary wife" here: http://adayinthelifeofamissionarywife.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />So what will you find? Well, Bro. Patrick blogs about the family with a ministry focus, while Mrs. Kami blogs about the family from her perspective.<br /><br />I really had a good time the other night, poking around both blogs. I have already signed up for email updates from both so I can see how they are assaying to reach the West Indies with the Gospel.<br /><br />Please stop by and visit both Gimenez's blogs, then subscribe and sign up for the updates - you'll be glad you did. While you're at it, subscribe to my blog and sign up for my updates, too.<br /><br />And just think - we're off toward another 20 blogs! I can't wait to see where God takes us next!<br /><br />Remember our missionaries, pray for them, ask God to help you give more and if He has called you to go, then GO!!<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-71588132327564734742012-02-05T18:15:00.000-08:002012-02-05T19:15:21.125-08:00It's all in the family!OK, so here we go again, dashing around the world in the pursuit of missionaries taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a dark and hopeless world.<br /><br />Yesterday we visited Estonia to meet Rachel and Ron Winkler. Today, we'll head back to the family as we head to Cambodia to meet Bro. Stephen Benefield and his family. The family connection? He is Mrs. Rachel's brother! If that isn't enough of a connection, there's another one that I didn't catch yesterday. Both Bro. and Mrs. Winkler and Bro. Benefield and his family are sent out of Sequoia Baptist Church in Visalia, Calif. Their pastor is Robert Benefield - their father!!<br /><br />So it is with this great familial background that we turn our attention to Bro. Stephen Benefield and his family, including wife Angela and their six children.<br /><br />Since 2000, the Benefields have worked in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, although they are currently in the United States on furlough Bro. Benefield shares his life in "The Missionary Memo," which can be found at http://themissionarymemo.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />Bro. Stephen Benefield's blog is written from the perspective of the man of the family and chronicles them on furlough. Both of these represent a really unique perspective and I would really encourage you to jump over and follow along. There's not a place to sign up for email updates to the blog, but you can sign up to receive ministry updates by email and you can follow Bro. Benefield on Twitter (I can honestly say that is the first time in my life I've written that phrase!).<br /><br />I really hope you enjoy the journey and continue to lift Bro. Benefield and his family up to the Lord as they work toward returning to Cambodia.<br /><br />Enjoy the new week and remember to pray for missions, ask God to help you give more and if He calls you to go, then obey His calling!<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-15583793502785838482012-02-04T20:33:00.000-08:002012-02-04T21:17:59.662-08:00Ever been to Estonia?I know I say this every time, but I am really excited to introduce you to my newest missionary blogger! I really REALLY mean it this time, because I've seen "Rachel's Reflections" several times and couldn't wait to make contact with the author.<br /><br />So without further ado, I invite you to join me in Johvi, Estonia, to share the lives of Mrs. Rachel Winkler and her family (http://winklerfamilyupdate.blogspot.com/).<br /><br />Mrs. Rachel, her husband Ron and their four children have been serving the Lord in Johvi since 2009, bringing the light of the Gospel to a dark land. Estonia is located just east of Russia, north of Latvia and south across the Gulf of Finland (east end of the Baltic Sea) from Finland. (Of course, I didn't know this off the top of my head; I had to look it all up!). Johvi is located in the northeastern part of the country, fairly close to St. Petersburg, Russia.<br /><br />Anyway, Mrs. Rachel's blog offers a great insight into their heart for the Estonian people. I encourage you to stop by and see for yourselves what is going on in their lives. By the way, she also has a link on her blog to the family's website, which gives you even more information about the family and their ministry.<br /><br />Don't forget while you're there to sign up to get Mrs. Rachel's updates by email. I'd appreciate it if you would sign up for my updates, too, so you can meet the missionaries almost as soon as I do!<br /><br />Until next time, keep support missions - pray, give and go!<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. Garry<br /><span class="caption"><br /><br /></span>Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-22040216399886521172012-01-26T20:06:00.000-08:002012-01-26T20:31:51.274-08:00Reasoner ... Michelle ReasonerOK, it's not quite as catchy as "Bond ... James Bond," but with a blog called "From Russia With Love," I had to try the tie-in!<br /><br />I'm really excited for you all to meet Bro. Joel and Mrs. Michelle Reasoner, because you can jump in and catch her blog from the very beginning (at: http://fromrussiawithlove-michelle.blogspot.com/).<br /><br />That's right, not only are the Reasoners are a brand new missionary couple, she is also a very recent blogger! Now I do have to qualify myself a little - Bro. Joel is nowhere near a new missionary. He grew up in Russia with his parents, veteran missionaries Ron and Kathy Reasoner. Now, though, he and Mrs. Michelle have just started their first term together, looking forward to pursuing ministry opportunities with the Reindeer People of northern Russia.<br /><br />Mrs. Michelle has only written five posts for "From Russia With Love," so it shouldn't be hard for you to catch up with all of her news, then follow their adventures over the coming months and years - as she says in her introduction, "<span>As the Lord works and directs in our lives in the coming months and years, I'd like to share that with you."<br /><br />So please hop on over to "With Russia From Love" and meet the Reasoners. If you're interested in keeping up with them, I would encourage you to subscribe to the blog, and also sign up to receive email updates.<br /><br />(While you're at it, I'd really appreciate it if you'd follow my blog as well, and sign up for email updates, too!)<br /><br />Enjoy your trip to Russia, folks, and keep the Reasoners in your prayers.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. Garry<br /><br /></span>Garry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-11171335860211635212012-01-21T18:38:00.000-08:002012-01-21T21:15:17.621-08:00Bringing Light to the Dark ContinentOK, try this one on for size - I have a missionary family for you to meet who are serving the Lord in Africa but we get to read about their adventures in the United States!<br /><br />For Mrs. Sally Stensaas, their "Handfuls of Blessings" have come over the course of several months of travel throughout the U.S. on furlough. While they are just about ready to head back to their field of Uganda, West Africa, you can backtrack through several months of blog entries to see the family - Bro. Keith and Mrs. Sally and their six kids - enjoying life on the road.<br /><br />You can find "Handfuls of Blessings" here: http://handfulsofblessings.blogspot.com/.<br /><br />I encourage you to go by and share Mrs. Sally's blessings - I bet you'll be blessed as well, and learn a lot about what a family goes through in order to be able to return to the place where they left their hearts.<br /><br />Don't forget - if you enjoy "Handfuls of Blessings," be sure to sign up for email updates, and subscribe to the blog. While you're at it, I'd be blessed if you'd do the same for my blog - that way you get the updates as I write them!<br /><br />In the meantime, be sure to keep the Stensaas family in your prayers and ask God what more you can do for world missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-689261056362485312.post-54261917070800964502012-01-11T20:49:00.000-08:002012-01-11T21:33:36.036-08:00The World is their Mission Field!Now I know that you're thinking that I'm being a little obvious with my title - after all, Mark 16:15 says, "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."<br /><br />But as I read some of the posts in "contentment," written by Mrs. Tisa Damron (here's where you can find it: http://ericntisaplusthree.blogspot.com/), I realized that is exactly what God has given them. Mrs. Tisa and her husband, Eric, are not living in a foreign country and building a church in a previously unreached area, but their work is having an impact in more countries than most of us will ever visit in our lifetimes.<br /><br />You see, God called this couple to serve with a ministry called "Independent Baptist Media," which works with missionaries around the world to set up radio stations that beam the Gospel of Jesus Christ to unknown scores of people who might not otherwise hear a preacher preach, or see the "Jesus" movie, or whatever.<br /><br />Since God called the Damrons into this ministry in 2008, their lives have been busy about the Father's business, all while based in the United States. Bro. Eric and his colleagues are called to many foreign countries, where they do whatever is required to get a radio station set up and running under the direction of the missionary and the local church.<br /><br />Please go and check out "contentment" for yourself. Mrs. Tisa opens up a window into their lives and shares very honestly what God is doing in her. "contentment" may not be the blog of a "traditional" missionary, but it is certainly a missionary blog and shows just one more way God is reaching the world with the Gospel. Don't forget to subscribe to "contentment" and sign up for email updates (this is located at the bottom of the page, so keep an eye out for it).<br /><br />Please also sign up to follow "The Independent Baptist Missionary Blog Spot" by email as well and share posts with your friends. It is my heartfelt desire that my blog will give you a greater vision for missions than you've ever had before, and that each of us will step up in our local churches to advocate and support missions with our prayers, our finances and - if God calls - our lives.<br /><br />Have a great week and I can't wait to meet up with you again as we tour the world for missions.<br /><br />In Christ,<br /><br />Bro. GarryGarry Wesnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15176619536465018497noreply@blogger.com1