October 6, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:
This Mission Sheets month began September 6th and ends today, October 6th.
During this period, I preached seven sermons. Sunday morning and night [September 6-7], I preached at the Faith Baptist Church, Kirksville, Missouri, where Glenn Archer is the pastor. Brother Glenn and Sister Judy – and all the church as well - were very kind and gracious to us. Brother Steve and Sister Eva Blake were our drivers from Lexington to Kirksville and back. This dear couple has visited three other Baptist churches here in Lexington with us during this Mission Sheets month.
On the 20th of September, Charles and Reva Bratcher were our chauffeurs from Lexington to Owensboro, where with them and Mrs. Jodie Bratcher and Ronda and Sue, we ate at Moonlite Café. The next morning we five [Charles, Reva, Jodie, Marie and I] went to Uniontown Kentucky, where Sunday morning, I preached at the Calvary Baptist Church. Harold Greenfield is the pastor – Kenneth Mayberry is the song leader and Albert Hagg is the soloist. The pastor and all the people present were very kind to us.
On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, [September 22nd-24th], we attended and I preached three of the nights of a five night revival at the Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church, Oldtown, Kentucky, Brother John Lybrook, pastor. Brother Lybrook with Brother Carroll Meadows came after us around noon on Monday.
Wednesday night, Mrs. Theda Eldridge of Trinity Baptist Church attended and brought us back to Lexington. Brother John’s father, Pastor Charles Lybrook, preached the last two nights. We owe a debt of gratitude to Brother John and his family for keeping us royally in their home during the three days and thanksgiving to the church for their generous offering.
During the Missions Conference of the First Baptist Church of Science Hill Kentucky, Ed Massey, pastor, and Bobby Creiglow, Missions Promoter [September 29th through October 2nd], we heard four of the speakers, including Dave Parks, and I was the fifth speaker October 2nd. This Conference was a blessing to us.
We were blessed by the seven sermons heard during this Mission Sheets period. Pray for Brother Harvey Thomas who preached at Prayer Meeting, October 1st at Trinity Baptist Church, Lexington. Brother Harvey was a political leader under the “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of Great Britain. After nearly being killed by a terrorist bomb, he became a minister of reconciliation, preaching among other places St. Matthews Baptist Church of Louisville. He teaches all who hear him to forgive our enemies and tell them so, whether they have repented or not.
Yesterday [October 5], we attended the Porter Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington, Dr William Henard, pastor, both services. The church was celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the organization of the church.
Other brothers and sisters in the Lord, too numerous to mention helped us and were a blessing to Marie and me during these days.
Pray for the healing of the surgery on my right eye [September 11th], removing a large cataract by Dr Mark Simon at the Pattie A Clay Hospital in Richmond, Kentucky. My eye is still not completely healed from the post-surgery swelling.
Please permit me to mention one more sermon heard. It was at the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church, Lexington, where David Prince is the pastor. The sermon was delivered by Dr Chuck Lawless.
Let us all pray and give thanks that the goals for the Monthly BFM General Fund of at least $37,000.00 – and the $100,000.00 Thanksgiving Offering goal will be reached.
“Glory be to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit [the Great and Eternal Three-in-One]. As it was in the beginning and ever shall be, world without end. Amen and Amen.”
Yours in the service of the Savior,
Harold and Marie Bratcher