“O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years,
in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
Dear Brethren, February 2024
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray this letter finds you in His nurturing grace.
As we come into a new year I am wonderfully reminded of how good and loving and patient our God is and how he continues to strive with man in His creation. The meetings in Valen and Lespez are going well and continue to grow. When we first started these meetings, it was mostly children, but now in both meetings many adults and young people are starting to come. The Christmas packets were enjoyed more by these two villages because most of these children are so poor, they’ve never even celebrated their own birthdays, let alone Christmas. We’re very grateful for everyone who helped us make these children’s lives a little brighter because of our Savior’s birth.
Last week I was able to take two of my children to the meetings in Medgedia and Castelul. They got in the car after school and most of the car ride was quiet. Fifteen minutes before our first meeting Uriah asked me a question,” Dad, why do you get up and go to these meetings?” I remembered asking my father the same question when I was younger, and my response was the same. I told him, “Well son, I know where God is going to be today, and I don't want to miss Him.” He then asked me again,” Why would God meet with poor people?” I responded by telling him, “That is what he did 2,000 years ago when he walked this earth. His message hasn't changed and is still the same.” The verse comes to my mind “For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth;” Psalms 102:19
For the past few months in the town of Pecineagra, the Lord, through the support from the churches and brethren in America, we have been able to build a building to have church and feed afterwards. We meet once a week and pray and in time we want to have morning prayer meetings there also. Many of my wife's family lives in the village and it is an opportunity to reach people who are further away from our weekly meetings. My own nephews and nieces are coming to know the love of Christ and I would be ashamed not to take this opportunity from the Lord. Please be much in prayer for this meeting and us.
I thank all the brothers and sisters in Christ who have contributed and prayed for the work here in Romania. We love you dearly and covet your prayers. “Finally brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11
From Constanta, Romania,
Jacob Reed and Family
jakereedfamily1994@yahoo.com (A printable PDF version is available here)
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2 Corinthians 4:3-5 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: [4] In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. [5] For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.
Dear Pastors, Churches, and Friends, February 2024
Greetings from Romania and I pray this finds you enjoying the blessings of our Lord and using them to get the gospel of Jesus Christ to all you can in this new year.
What a wonderful Christmas we were able to have with the 450 packets this year. The excitement of the children was very uplifting and made all the hard work seem as nothing. With the containers from our mission board and the money we received; each kid was able to receive something very special. Thank you to all who helped us make this the best Christmas ever for all these poor kids and families.
We have so many wonderful people coming to the church. Every day I am amazed to learn of new and old things Christ is doing as He continues to build His church in these last days.
One man comes to mind and his name is Marchelle. He is a Romanian man who has been faithful to the church since his conversion. He only knows a little Turkish, but says he feels a real power in our church. He has had little education and has worked hard to take care of his large family. Before his conversion he was a bad alcoholic and would come to church and we would speak of many things over a bowl of soup and one day the subject of alcohol came up and I begin to explain to him how detrimental it is to one's body and one’s soul. He would listen and go off on his way and I would see him again drunk down at the open marketplace a few days later. One day he came to the church, and he had a strange burden for his son who had been placed in prison for theft. He was crying and I didn't hear the prayer, but I saw him trying to pray at the end of the service and when he rose from the prayer, I knew something had happened. I believe it was at this point that all the seeds we had sown began to take root and from that point on, he began to be more sober. I was able to baptize him that year and ever since he has been sober and is now one of the best prayer warriors in our church. I found out later he had wanted to go with God earlier in his life, but when he tried to bring his wife to church, his mother-in-law’s family had tied him up and beat him with a cable very badly, because they didn’t want their family members joining with repenters. Now he goes around the village with his bold voice singing the hymns of God and has been known to break out in testimony of his newfound strength in Christ. Please be much in prayer for him as he leads his family away for the world with the light of Christ.
Please continue to pray for us as we travel to the meetings weekly. We have morning prayer meetings and feeding here in Calarasi three days a week. In the villages we have two meetings on Saturday and three meetings on Sunday.
Thursday, we have meeting in Jacob’s village church.
It takes me four hours round trip just in driving, but I try not to ever miss a
meeting if possible. Gas is up to $7.50 to $8 for one gallon. Please keep all
these places in your prayers. We love and appreciate all of you for all you do.
From Calarasi, Romania,
Nathan, Teresa, and Nate Reed momareed15@yahoo.com (A printable PDF version is available here)
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November - December 2023
“...The good LORD pardon everyone that prepareth his heart to seek God,” 2 Chronicles 30:18 - 19
Dear Pastors, Churches, and Fellow Saints, we greet you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We give thanks for you all and are grateful for your love, prayers and support.
Yunak is just a little village, but the people are faithful and love to come to church. We meet in sister Zaharina's home and everyone has a testimony of God's faithfulness and care. We have an edifying time together when God meets with us. Lately Zaharina's step-son Nasko has been around when we have meetings. He is about 40 years old and is as rough as a cob. It will take nothing apart from a miracle for Nasko to get saved. And that’s what it took for us to get saved. We are reminded in the scriptures of when the disciples were told by the Lord that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. After hearing that they echoed most of our sentiments and said “…who then can be saved?” The more we look at lost men and women we often say only half of the verse which says "with men this is impossible". It’s easy to give up when we don't look to God. But thank God, when we look to God and his track record we read, "but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. God is able to save anyone that will come to him and believe on His Son. I will admit after getting to know Nasko it seems impossible that he will turn to God. But when I look to God's word, he says “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25 Then it's easy to believe. Jeremiah said it like this “Ah Lord GOD....there is nothing too hard for thee...” Jeremiah 32:17.
There are definitely two viewpoints: One "with men" and one "with God"
May God help us to see things his way because, “Where there is no vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18
All because of Calvary,
Matthew Welch and family (A printable PDF version is available here)
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Dear Pastors, Churches, and Friends, December 2023 - January 2024
While writing this letter I am reminded of scripture found in Job 24:22 “He draweth also the mighty with his power: he riseth up, and no man is sure of life.” I do not want to be morbid, but in reality, all of us are graveyard travelers! That is why our time is to be used wisely in the short life that we have! On December 23rd I had an emergency surgery. About 10 years ago I had a non-cancerous “Turp” prostate surgery. The doctor told me that it might last 12-15 years. On December 21st, I began having serious problems and two days later I had the surgery. After two emergency room visits, I was taken to Frye General Hospital by ambulance and the doctor and his team performed another “Turp” procedure. I am doing well and have recuperated. I had three trips planned for the first of this year. We already had people scheduled to travel and they were able to make these trips successfully without me.
Two trips were made to a Hispanic country, the first in January and the second in February. Both trips were without incident and accomplished all that we had planned with these two groups while visiting and preaching. One of our American pastors preached a message on “just being faithful” and “sticking with it”. One of our national preachers was weeping after hearing the message at the church he pastors. He said, “I was really discouraged and wanted to give up. Thank you all for coming and for the message!” They had special prayer for him before leaving.
We also had a trip to the Amazon planned. It had been several years since I had been able to go into that area. The countries on the Amazon River where we travel and reach are the countries of Colombia, Peru, and Brazil. This trip we had planned to have an institute and teaching sessions emphasizing missions, soul winning and church expansion. Our group went on without me. They returned and had about 200 people attending. They had a great time and the time spent was very profitable. Pray for these people. These areas in the jungle where they minister are really difficult places, not only with transportation, (all on banana boats), but there is a lot of drug trafficking and crime in the area.
Thanks to all of you for prayers for us and the works in these countries!
Joyfully Yours,
Farren Caeble 1 Sam 12:24 A printable PDF version is available here
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Dear Praying Friends and Family, November 2023 – January 2024
Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. New Years is a time when we stand in the present, while bidding farewell to the old and anticipating the new. It always reminds me of Revelation 1:19. This letter hopefully will provide a past, present, and future understanding about the ministry the Lord has so graciously committed to us for His glory.
The past few months were spent catching up after my last trip into Ukraine, taking meetings in FL, WV, NY, OH, KY. We cherished the holidays where we were allowed to spend time with family. January was full with meetings, tax preparation, and prayerful deliberation about the Lord’s will for the future of our ministry.
The two most common questions asked during furlough are, “When are you going back to the field?” and “Can you even get back to the field?” We have spent some time in prayerful consideration, taking counsel with our people in Ukraine, and monitoring the war. As such we are still committed to the ministry God has given us to finish. The two questions remaining are, “Where?” and “When?”
After thirty plus years as a missionary in Ukraine, I’ve had enough experience to know both the opportunities and tolls of furlough. At the outset of this furlough, I wanted to accomplish as much as possible seeing that we won’t be given another opportunity for a long while. Our next term in Ukraine will require a lot of steadfastness and stability necessary for planting a new church. At the outset, I knew that this furlough was indeed going to be a very full one. After our last stint of seven years on the field, there was much to do: churches to update, new churches to visit to replace lost support, fundraising for certain projects, medical issues to tend to, and children to help get reacclimated in the homeland. Keep in mind that all of this was done during the Covid pandemic. Any one thing in the list could fill up a lot of the traditionally allotted one-year furlough. We did what we could but did not come close to finishing the things on the list. We planned to return to the field anyway and were excited to do so.
Then the war broke out. We decided to continue with our unfinished furlough list while, simultaneously, raising funds for the refugee work. Going back to the field with no unfinished business was a very welcome thought. We also hoped and prayed the war would come to an end and we could just return to our home in Ukraine and pick up where we left off. This was our “Plan A” and would have been the best for many reasons. First, we have a fully set up home for my family waiting for us. Second, we have an established ministry giving us the ability to easily obtain religious visas necessary for missions work in that region of Ukraine. Thirdly, we have helpers there, consisting of those we led to Christ and trained ourselves, who are anxious to help us with our next phase of ministry. Lastly, all the time-consuming bureaucracy associated with life overseas (bank accounts, insurance, residency registration, background checks, tax identification papers, etc…) were already accomplished.
Seeing we had unfinished business to tend to, it was wise to wait and see
what the Lord would do with this war. I am taking the long view of the work in
the Lord’s mission field. I did not want to have a knee jerk reaction and just
start doing things to keep me busy for optical reasons. It is now, however, time
for “Plan B.”
It looks like I will need to make at least two trips into Ukraine within the
next couple months. The first, Lord willing, will be in March where I hope to
accomplish a few things. The Lord graciously allowed me to win more souls in
eastern Ukraine in two days than I have in a long time, and I want to go back
for more! Another reason is that I need to move my family. It is still not clear
what is to become of the Odessa region, so we have decided that it is time to
begin making preparations to move to another location. We are not sure which,
but we will either move to a safer city within Ukraine’s borders or to another
city just outside its western border. We are praying the Lord will show us the
place where we can minister to those displaced by the war and/or from which I
can make trips into Ukraine, continuing the progress for our long-range plans.
Lastly, I hope to be able to secure a vehicle for our use upon arrival if
possible. It is too risky to be sitting in a potential war-zone with no
transportation.
My main prayer requests are for guidance, wisdom, preparation, and provision for our return. Please pray for the Lord to make it abundantly clear where He would have us minister. We are also praying for the Lord’s provision for our return. We need return tickets to the field. I purchased “Round Trip” tickets when we returned to the USA for furlough. Our original return tickets recently expired and the airline has exhausted our extensions due to Covid and the war. This was another expense that I was not expecting. Another pressing need is to set up a new residence for my family. There are two options from which to choose and I’m not yet sure which would be safest and cheapest: one, going and packing up our house and hiring a truck to move everything or, two, just downsizing and starting over. We will probably have to do a little of both but either way, we are going to need extra funds for the move. After talking to my men in Ukraine about future trips and ministry it is evident that I’m going to need a vehicle for independent travel within Ukraine, first and foremost. We sold our vehicle in Ukraine prior to returning to the US for furlough to help cover the expenses of relocating. There are a lot of details to consider but I’m sure the Lord will sort them all out in His time.
We want to thank each one of you for your concern for our safety and prayerful support of our ministry. Please continue to pray that this war will quickly come to an end. Better yet, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
That Ukraine May Know Him,
Christopher Rue
Philippians 3:10 (A printable PDF version is available here)
https://www.facebook.com/p/Rue-Family-Missionaries-to-Ukraine-100068352738533/
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Dear Praying Pastors, Brothers and Sisters, Ukrainian Crisis Letter January 2024
Our Greatest Joy except our own Salvation is knowing that our Children know the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. On that note we want to thank so many of you who Prayed for our son David, Halleluiah! He got SAVED!!! Oksana had asked him to read and analyze a few Gospel Tracts (Chick tracts) which we were praying about giving to Feruza, our Muslim friend. As he read them, He realized that he had not really called upon the Lord to Save him from his whole heart. *We began to see the Lord changing our son and could hardly believe our eyes how caring and reciprocating he became as the Spirit of the Lord changed his heart and fruit began to grow instead of thorns and thistles! Christ indwelling us through His Holy Spirit truly does transform the heart and change our desires. (Our hearts rejoiced that he professed Christ openly to his best friend. He is planning to get baptized at Lakeside Baptist Church in Lemansky, Ukraine this summer when the whole family will be there. He is even passing his tithe to the Church through me on our current trip.) Please Pray the Lord will show him His Perfect Will for his life! Pray for him also as he goes to do volunteer work in Ukraine from April 8th - August 12th. {It is true that they cannot get away from Prayer!}
As I write this letter, Oksana is packing our suitcases for our trip to Ukraine from February 14th to April 10th. Upon our arrival in Poland, we will be sending out a box of literature to Ireland to help a missionary reach the Ukrainian refugees in his area. We will also be ministering in a Ukrainian Church in Poland on the 18th. Then we head into Ukraine where a good portion of our trip we will be ministering to Lakeside Baptist Church in Lemansky. Slavic our national pastor could really use some encouragement and help. He is already planning for me to teach his class for our young preachers. Pray for us as we will also be making many Evangelistic Visits among the displaced souls living in the Lemansky area.
**After Lemansky we will be making evangelistic visits in villages around both Chernovtsy and Khmelnitsky.
*** Evangelistic Crusade in the city of Dnipro from March 10th – 17th. A group of Brothers & Sisters will be going out with different Baptist churches in the Dnipro Region to make Evangelistic Visits presenting the Gospel of Christ!
[As you Pray for the souls of Ukraine, keep in mind that they are more open to listening and reading tracts than ever!]
Please lift us up in prayer as Oksana and I are
making this trip. Please pray that the Lord will: (1) keep us safe,
(2) use us for His glory and (3) use us to help many Ukrainians understand,
repent and receive Christ for Salvation. (4) Also, Pray that He will show us
where we are most needed - We are planning to move back permanently after we
finish up our furlough this summer.
February 24th will mark two years since the war began and it keeps getting worse, please pray for the salvation of both Ukrainian souls as well as the Russians.
Pray for Dasha & Vitalick whom we met while passing out tracts in Miami, FL. They are actually my in-laws’ neighbors who recently fled to America from Odessa, Ukraine because their children could (mentally) no longer stand hearing all the explosions.
For the Souls of Ukraine, Richard, Oksana, Elisabeth and David Maher
Also, Thank you for faithfully praying, supporting and being genuinely concerned for our family, Oksana’s family and especially for the souls of Ukraine during this unbelievably heart-breaking time. (A printable PDF version is available here)
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February 2024
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtlity,
so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” 2
Corinthians 11:3
This verse of scripture comes to mind as I see what is discussed and debated on social media these days. We now have a bigger platform and opportunity to voice an opinion or doctrinal stand than any other time in history. I feel that this opportunity is really far more than most of us need. Much is said argued and debated. My fear is for a lost and dying world, and many times a departure from the simplicity that is in the gospel.
I’ve been blessed many times in the past months of seeing this simplicity exemplified in the lives of the believers here. Tracy and I currently go to seven village meetings each week alongside Pastor Ahmet and his wife Gulzade. We see the gospel testimony in their lives and also in the lives of those in the churches in each village. Many of these faithful believers have limited education and some are even illiterate. The majority could not debate about Calvinism or Arminianism or many theological subjects, but they do know Jesus.
“…and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” Acts 4:13. What a wonderful testimony to have and it is the witness that many have here in Bulgaria. The greatest witness a changed life and an ever-present Lord working and interceding in daily lives.
To see and hear the testimonies of God working in their lives is what spreads the gospel to others and truly makes a difference in the lives of others and the world that we live in.
In the village of Yankavo, we have the testimony of one who was sick literally unto death. He was placed in the morgue and left for dead. Our God revived him and raised him up to testify of the goodness and grace of God. This is what affects and gains the attention of unbelievers, the manifest presence of God in our lives, not the different stances we have on this issue or that. Do not get me wrong we need to stand for truth, but the greatest thing we can do is give the world Jesus and a changed life. I will get off my soapbox for now, but I am so thankful that I can be around the simplicity of Christ preached and believers who have been with Jesus.
We are doing well here in Bulgaria. The winter has been a little snowier and colder this year, but we have enjoyed the snow days yet missing having the children with us as those days come. We enjoyed Christmas together in our empty nest, and thank God for the technology we have to be able to talk to and see the faces of all those we love.
I want to take this opportunity to thank each one who sent cards and gifts for Christmas. The extra support which was sent as Christmas gifts is always a blessing and we are very thankful for each and every gift given. We welcomed the new year very thankful for what God has done in our lives. He has worked in ways personally that we really never imagined possible and for that we give him glory.
The yearly flour and oil distribution is in progress. Please pray that all goes smoothly and that many will be blessed because of this. God has always been faithful in this endeavor and for this we are thankful. We also have the construction project in Avren where we will be able to have a larger meeting area for church, a kitchen and housing for visiting preachers. We see this as a place for us to be blessed and to be a blessing.
Pray also for our vehicle situation, we still have our van, but while we were on furlough insurance was purchased for the van. To make a long story short, whether deliberately or by accident, it was never entered into their system, so in the eyes of the police we had no insurance. Because of this the plates were removed from our van and we cannot get new ones until June of this year. Our hands are tied and there is nothing we can do but wait. We thought of trying to purchase a small car in the time being, but thankfully Brother William Lefevre is allowing us to use his van while on furlough. God provides!
Continue to pray for Kylie as she attends school in the states. She is doing well and made the President’s list her first semester. We are so proud of her. Pray also for our other children and grandchildren. God has been so good to us.
God bless you all and thank you for your prayers and faithful support,
Brother Keith Blalock (A printable PDF version with pictures is available here)
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Dear Churches and Praying Friends, January 2024
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of
faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain
jangling; Desiring to
be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they
affirm. 1 Timothy 1:5-7
I thank God that I have found the end of the commandment: charity. While others may rant and rave about the law and commandments, I continue walking down the old road of preaching the gospel and loving sinners. We are seeing souls saved and lives changed, new converts baptized; young believers sing the hymns every chance they get, and love to hear the Bible preached. The Lord keeps supplying the needs and adds blessing upon blessing: love, joy, peace, answered prayer, fellowship, new doors of opportunity opening, sinners coming to church and hearing the gospel, and then, more joy. James tells us that "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." James 1:27 A great part of the work in Bulgaria is ministering to the widows and fatherless - people who suffer in poverty. Sometimes their situations are heartbreaking. But, praise the Lord, the poor have the gospel preached unto them! Christ came to the poor and needy, to sinners. If the son of God came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, should not we minister to the same people? Most Americans miss one of the greatest blessings of heaven: that its citizens will hunger no more, nor suffer from heat or cold. The poor saints appreciate it. Our ministry is not to provide heaven on earth by providing their necessities, but to give them the invitation to the great marriage supper of the Lamb. The master has said unto his servants, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind." Luke 14:21 Charles Wesley sang it this way:
Come, sinners, to the gospel feast; Let every soul
be Jesus' guest;
Ye need not one be left behind, For God hath bidden all mankind.
Come, all ye souls by sin oppressed, Ye restless wanderers after rest;
Ye poor, and maimed, and halt, and blind, In Christ a hearty welcome find.
While we go to the heathen preaching the gospel, we remember the poor by all means, but the gospel is our message. Seeing children fed or clothed warms our hearts, but seeing sinners reconciled to God is glorious. Nothing cheers this preacher more than seeing sinners come to church and hear the gospel for the first time.
Brethren, pray for us. Pray for the sinners in Bulgaria. The Lord is supplying every need. He supplies the spirit through your prayers. We desire the spirit's aid, and it is given through your prayers. Please, keep praying.
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Update From Bulgaria and Romania
Dear Friends in Christ, June 2018
As you have probably heard, Brother Ralph Cheatwood went home to be with the Lord recently after serving as a missionary for the last 42 years. Many of you have faithfully supported him and his ministry over the years. There were both lean years living in Turkey, learning the language and culture of the people God called him to serve, and also the wonderful years of harvesting in Bulgaria and Romania when the Lord brought an awakening after the fall of communism. The Lord used your prayers and financial support, through Brother Ralph, to establish a strong church community in these countries where before there were only scattered remnants from earlier generations.
In Brother Ralph’s years of service, he translated the KJV Bible into the modern Turkish language, he preached to tens of thousands of Turks, started over 100 churches - the vast majority of which are still led by national pastors who were raised up under Brother Ralph’s teaching. He also established a children’s home in Romania where children are being raised to God’s glory and he fed and clothed countless of the poor and needy as he strived to show God’s love to the people he cared so much for.
This is the legacy Brother Ralph is leaving behind. This is the work that he loved and asked those of us who labored alongside him to continue. His wife, Sandy, who has an invaluable role in the children’s home in Romania, will remain with us and continue to serve.
As this ministry has grown over the years, each of the missionaries working under Brother Cheatwood has tried to carry his share of the financial burden, because it far exceeded what Brother Ralph could do alone. Brother Cheatwood used very little of his financial support for himself, rather choosing to put that money into the work...printing Bibles and hymnbooks, building churches, making sure the national pastors have gas money to get to their meetings, helping widowed grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren and much more. Brother Ralph’s passing means those of us who remain will now shoulder the financial burdens that he, and many of you with him, have been carrying.
We who will continue to serve in the field that Brother Cheatwood plowed and reaped for over 40 years will carry on the same way Brother Ralph would were he still with us...preaching the Gospel, establishing churches and caring for the flock that God has given us. We ask that you will prayerfully consider continuing your financial support so that we are able to do this and, by God’s grace see many more souls added to the Kingdom of Heaven.
In Christ, Dave and Dara Turner
"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be..." John 12:26
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March - April 2018
“Now also when I am old and gray headed, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to everyone that is to come. Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee”. Psalm71:18, 19
Dear Pastors, Churches and Fellow saints,
We
send greetings from all the believers that are among us in Christ Jesus our
Lord. It was in early March of 2018 that our senior missionary, dear friend and
God's man called us all together to let us know that he had been diagnosed with
stage 4 cancer. All of our hearts were deeply saddened by this unfortunate news.
We understood the time had come for Brother Cheatwood to be able to say, as the
apostle Peter said, "Shortly I must put off this my tabernacle”. 2 Peter 1:14
It was 1993 the Lord called us to "Come over into Macedonia and help" (Acts 16:9) in God's work under Brother Ralph. It was he who greeted and welcomed us to the mission field. From that time until now Brother Ralph has shown us God's strength and power as manifested in the New Testament, and that without it, God's work cannot be done. From the beginning he has put emphasis on the Word of God, on holding church services, worshipping God, and on prayer. Through these things we have experienced and witnessed God's strength and power.
God has done great things here through Brother Cheatwood. He has translated the King James Bible into the Turkish language and put together a hymnal containing 250 songs that worship God and His Son. He also started over one hundred churches and a children' home in Constanta, Romania.
I would like to thank the Lord for a man of God like Brother Ralph. His desire is for everyone to come and know and experience God's strength, power, and righteousness, and to behold His great things.
Thank you Brother Ralph for all you have done to make this possible. Phil. 4:9 and John 4:38 and 17:3
All because of Calvary, Matthew Welch and family
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Important update From Bulgaria and Romania
“For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” (2 Tim 4:7,8)
Dear churches and praying friends, March 2018
Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. As spring comes to Bulgaria, we are thankful for a new season of sowing and reaping. The Lord has been good to us these many years. Here in my office, I have about two hundred Turkish New Testaments that I have bound by hand, and ready to be distributed. Last month one of our national pastors went to the hospital for a week’s stay where he witnessed to all those around him. One man, although unreceptive at the first, said, “Why don’t you give me a Bible so I can read it for myself? Then I might believe.” Last week this same pastor went back to the hospital for a week, and this time he took Bibles with him. In due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
It’s been five years since Brother Ralph Cheatwood purchased a house and small building in the village of Avren. Each year we have worked on preparing the building to be a church house, a workspace for producing Bibles and also a storage facility for the coat distribution in the winter. It is our desire to finish the work this year. Brother Cheatwood was recently diagnosed with cancer in the lungs and kidneys. He has refused chemo therapy, choosing to live the rest of his days in the Lord’s hands. Paul told Timothy, “The time of my departure is at hand.” That’s where Brother Cheatwood is now. After forty three years of service on the mission field his departure time is near. He called us missionaries and national pastors together to tell us. “…neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” His last request is that we finish the work on this church house and Bible factory.
I believe the work needed on this building will cost at least ten thousand dollars. Would you pray for this work? Brother Cheatwood has given his life preaching the gospel to the Turks and translating the Bible into their language. Although Paul told Timothy that his departure was at hand, he also gave him some final instructions. Those instructions included bringing his winter coat to him, the books, and especially the parchments. This is Brother Cheatwood’s final request. To prepare a place for the winter coats that we give the poor children each winter; to have a meeting house for a Turkish meeting, Bulgarian meeting, and an English meeting; and to have a place to print and bind the New Testament that he has translated. We believe there are some people who would believe, if only they had a Bible in their hands. Please pray with us about finishing this work.
In Christ, Zachary LeFevre
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Dear Friends in Christ, March 2018
I am writing this at the request of my father-in-law, Ralph Cheatwood. He has been my pastor, mentor, and example of a true man of God for the 25 years that Dara and I have been on the field.
Besides preaching to thousands of Turks in Romania and Bulgaria, planting over 100 churches, founding Casa Julia children’s home, and feeding and clothing countless children of God, he has worked tirelessly and faithfully to translate the King James Bible into Turkish so that the people he loves so much can have the true Word of God.
Brother Ralph was recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer – a tumor on his bronchial tube and several other places in his body. The doctors have said that there is nothing they can do besides, when the time comes, make his passing as comfortable as possible. At this time, his only complaint is a persistent cough which makes it difficult to concentrate on his translation work.
We are pursuing some natural treatments that are said to have success in shrinking tumors, which may give him some relief from the cough. Brother Ralph is at peace with his inevitable passing. He is 79 years old and has been blessed to be serving the Lord for the last 43 years on several different mission fields. His prayer now is that the Lord will give him this summer to read through his Turkish Bible a final time to have peace that he has done the best he could.
Brother Ralph also wants to finish the building in Avren, Bulgaria that will be home to the church in that village. It will also house the printing workshop for Bibles and hymnbooks and “Coats for Kids” which collects and distributes coats for poor children. He wants to leave that building completed so that we missionaries who have served under him all these years can carry on the work that the Lord laid on his heart to do.
The missionary families here got together and are resolved to see Brother Ralph’s vision realized. This will take some money and each of us will shoulder a part of that burden for him. I am asking each of you to pray and, if the Lord leads you, to help us with the work that we will be trying to do before the end of the summer.
I know Brother Ralph is thankful to all who have supported him and this work over the years. By God’s grace, we will stay faithful to see that work continue into eternity.
In Christ, Dave Turner
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Bulgaria and Romania
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Please click on the above link for a printable version
Aden’s Hats
“There
is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are
they among so many?” John 6:9
When we were in America last year I was asked to tell a congregation about Coats for Kids. After service a boy came to me and asked if there were winter hats in Bulgaria. I said yes. He then asked if I knew where to buy them and I said yes. He further asked if he sent me money would I go buy them for the kids. Smiling and crying at the same time, I said yes.
Aden was true to his word and sent money for winter hats. Instead of birthday presents he requested his friends and family give money to put hats on kids in Bulgaria this winter. This one lad shared what he had to help take care of many. It has been a blessing to give out over 300 hats for Aden.
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Eforie,
Romania
“The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.” Proverbs 22:2
I’ve written about Eforie before. Eforie, where castaways are cast even further away: out of sight and out of mind. But when I tell you that in this tiny container village at the city landfill live some of the sweetest, most loving children I have ever met, I truly mean it. Hugs. Smiles. Conversation. And not just when we bring coats and socks - no, they’re like this all the time.
So you just have to ask yourself: are they really the poor among us?
Sheker’s Boots
Sheker is a precious girl who lives in the Children’s Home in Romania. She and some of her sisters came to our house to spend time with our family. We met them at the mall in Varna where all the girls proceeded to spend Christmas money. Sheker bought a pair of boots that ended up being too big for her. I felt strongly we should buy them from her so she could get a pair that fit and we could give this pair to someone in need.
Today we met that someone. Her story is tragic - she was born into the lap of luxury and used to have huge bags full of Italian leather boots, but after her parents died and she turned to alcohol she lost everything. The woman we met did not look like she had ever been rich... but then again, maybe she’s richer now than she was before because she is open to her need for Christ. Pray for Petya.
They have very little. No indoor toilet. No accessible bath or shower. No washing machine. No kitchen. Barely any clothes.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,” Ephesians 2:4
But God. God makes the difference. God sees past these temporal things on which we place monetary value. He sees to the very heart of man. And in an area of great opulence where these people are cast aside, the true riches He sees are in a place of great poverty where the Holy Spirit fills a shipping container and lavishes an abundance of “the exceeding riches of his grace” on a thankful people. They may never swim in a safe of gold coins but they sure are immersed in love, mercy, and grace. They are rich.
I’m incredibly thankful to get to help people... but in the end I also ask myself: Did I help them? Or did they help me? That’s the beauty of the Body of Christ - rich and poor, he made us all. We are one.
On Behalf of All the Kids,
Carrie M. Leach - The Leach Family
2017 - 2018 Flour & Oil
Dear Friends and Supporters, November 2017
“There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.” John 6:9-11
These verses have been resonating in my heart for the past several days: how Jesus had performed many miracles while walking here on this earth. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written”. Amen. John 21:25
I write this letter to say thank you. Thank you for your yearly support, both by prayer and giving, for the feeding of the Turks in Romania and Bulgaria. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be a part of His ministry. He is still performing miracles. I am a witness to them and testify to you that our God is still God and still able. He still feeds the multitudes. He still has the Gospel preached to the poor. And those poor in spirit, are rich in faith. He still binds up the brokenhearted. Time, paper, and pen would fail us to tell all the things God is still doing.
It is time once again to give our “loaves and fishes” to Jesus, and trust Him to satisfy the hungry. I have spoken to Brother Matt Welch about the cost of this endeavor this year, and he said it would take around $60,000 to $65,000 to feed 2,000 families. These are the families that make up the 105 churches in Romania and Bulgaria. I realize this is a lot of money; but, don’t forget the little lad with five little barley loaves and two little fishes. He gave what little he had to a great big God who with it, fed the multitudes. Everything was little, but his heart. He had a heart for Jesus, as so many of you all have. We are believing this same Jesus, to perform this same miracle once again this year, by the love of God in your hearts.
Our goal is to get this money to the missionaries by the first of the year. Last year, the missionaries were able to distribute over seventy tons of flour along with around two thousand gallons of cooking oil to over two thousand families from our churches. Each family received one hundred and ten pounds of flour and five liters of cooking oil.
Thank you once again for your continued support and love for your fellow believers in foreign countries.
To God be the Glory! In Christ, Rev. Michael Nixon, Director
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From Bulgaria
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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. September 2017
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Matt. 19:14
We hope this letter finds you well satisfied with the goodness and grace of our Lord. Many of you have been faithful to help supply the physical needs for the poor, hungry and destitute children in Bulgaria and Romania. These children have been made full by your love and generosity.
Our primary ministry is to the gypsy Turks in this region of Eastern Europe. They are very poor, and most have no means of supplying for their families. That being said, we would like to give you an update on the feeding centers in Romania and Bulgaria. The children who come to these centers are taught to sing hymns to the Lord and receive one hot meal per day. For most this is their only prepared hot meal.
Currently
in Eastern Romania our missionaries along with four national pastors oversee
seven feeding centers. For around $3,400 per month we provide one hot meal per
day to over 320 children. This breaks down to about 35 cents per child and
consists of 6,400 loaves of bread, flour, pasta, beans, rice, tomato paste,
potatoes and oil. We now have adults who grew up being feed in these centers
assisting with food distribution in many of these villages.
In
Eastern Bulgaria our missionaries oversee eight feeding centers. Every month we
send around $5,000 to provide each feeding center with: five liters of oil, five
bags of sugar, five bags of salt, tomato puree, five bags of macaroni, one large
sack of potatoes, four 25kg bags of flour, and sometimes bags of lentils, rice
or beans. The children are not only fed physically but spiritually as well with
hymns and prayer.Our missionaries give generously to help offset the cost of these centers. Currently the exchange rate of the dollar is in our favor, and we can feed more children, but this fluctuates according to the European trade market. As this work continues to grow so do the expenses, but I believe God will meet all the needs. Many souls have been saved by the grace of God through your continual prayers and support of this ministry.
Once again, thank you for all you have done and for letting the Lord lead you in helping the helpless in their time of need.
To God Be the Glory, Rev. Mike Nixon, Director
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From the Streets of Boston Massachusetts
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Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? Ezekiel 33:11
Greetings from Boston, August 2017
I would like to thank all that have a part in this work. Thank you for your love, prayers and support. I would like to have us all pray for our country, as we can put America in that verse from Ezekiel. We see our country’s foundation being destroyed by the wicked many years ago by taking the word of God and prayer out of our schools and government. They have wanted to replace it with Islam and the Koran instead of the God’s word.
Our young people die for lack of knowledge of the word of God. It is our responsibility as Christians to proclaim the word of God. I have had many opportunities lately to go to high schools and junior high schools, sometimes not even knowing that is where I would wind up while giving out tracts. So many of today’s young people have been taking the tracts and letting me tell them that Jesus loves them, and that he died for their sins.
One time many young people were
getting on the bus, but I could not reach my bag in time to get them a tract.
When I got off the bus I started tracking the neighborhood and ended up in front
of a graduation ceremony. At first I did not want to interrupt the ceremony, so
I hung around until it was over. The young people and their families came by me
and I ended up giving them all tracts. One young man said to me as I told him
God loved him, “Thank you very much sir, this is just what I needed.” What a
blessing!
I have ended up at so many events through the spring and summer. Case in point: The Tall Ships Festival came to Boston. I had hundreds of tracts with tall ships on them for the occasion. So many people took them and I also put many on the cars. I saw people take them off of their cars with tract in hand and take it with them as they drove off with the word of God.
I also went to a Greek festival
and little did I know that I would end up getting a gospel tract in the mayor of
Boston’s hand who told me he would read it. I think he noticed my Heaven and
Hell hat. Also, I had Greek language tracts and many of the Greek orthodox
priests took them. I started feeling uneasy and felt like it was time to go. So
I went into a doughnut shop to get an ice coffee. It clouded up and all of a
sudden started raining cats and dogs. I realized it was the Lord getting me out
of the bad weather and that put an end to their religious festival. I thought
within myself that the word of God says “The rain falls on the just and the
unjust.”
Recently I went to an anti-Trump rally. I had my Bible verse sign Psalms 9:17.” The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.” That sign ended up in their video that they were recording for their propaganda. Not many people took tracts, but out of the crowd came a woman who said Mr. Costigan, “What are you doing here?” She is the therapist at the VA Hospital in the rehabilitation department. The Lord used this lady to help me get my motorized wheel chair. This is the chair I use to help spread the gospel and hand out tracts all over the city. She took a tract as she usually does when I see her at the VA. This time I had a little more time to talk with her and explain my reason for being there.
Remember Proverbs 3:5, 6, ”Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” I believe she is the whole reason for my being at the rally.
Another time while handing out tracts at that area I talked to some undercover detectives. I gave them some tracts and testified about what the Lord had done for me and also them. They drove off and the Lord brought to my mind that one of the detectives had a tattoo on his arm that said freedom. Well, in my tract assortment I remember as they drove off that I had a tract entitled freedom. I thought I missed the opportunity but they came around the corner again and I stopped them and gave him a tract of the statue of Liberty on the front of it titled Freedom. I said, “I noticed your tattoo Freedom. This will explain what true freedom is.”
In closing, I would like you to pray for a girl named Jen. She got saved, and it was amazing as I shared the scriptures with her. I saw how the word of God came to life in such a beautiful way. The light shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. I had seen this happening to her when Jesus said ”I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. She said she would like to go with me and pass out tracts. I asked her why? She said, “I want to help others!” Now that’s a good answer. Only the Lord could put that in her heart. It’s a long story to explain how she ended up in my life and I will explain in a future newsletter. I will dedicate the newsletter solely on her testimony. It would be a little hard to do at this time. I will need a lot of prayer. Please pray for me as it is somewhat painful, but yet glorified the Lord Jesus Christ in ways that I never thought would happen.
If anyone can help me out I can use some more chick tracts. I’ll write soon again. Eph. 6:10-20
In his Love, Jim and Jo Ann Costigan
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From Bulgaria
