Prayer Letter March 2022

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, ... who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth … to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:1-6

Our praying friends and family in the Lord,

I believe, as perhaps many of you do, that there is significance in the ordering of the books of the Bible. We know all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and by the Holy Ghost is both applicable and profitable for whatever your need whenever it may arise. Yet it seems also apparent that the latter books hold a special relevance for these latter times. And if you believe, like I do (and I certainly don’t see why you shouldn’t, as the Apostles declared it), that we are in the last days, we might look again to those latter letters and find sustenance to strengthen us for the coming calamities.

With that in mind, let’s cast our eyes to the first line of the last book of the Bible. There the Holy Ghost, by the pen of John, states emphatically the priority of almighty God and the prerequisite for all who profess Christ: the revelation of His Son. What’s the need of the hour? To see Jesus Christ. What does God want above everything else in this day? That His Son should be revealed to the world. Moreover, if the Christ hasn’t been revealed to you, what follows in the book of Revelation will remain a mystery, as it is the revealing of Jesus that brings all things into perspective. And really, what else would one want to see? What else can compare? Cousin Pierce LeFever said there were only two places he wanted to visit in life: Paris, France and Pea Ridge, Tennessee; and after seeing Pea Ridge, he no longer cared to see Paris. So, too, with Jesus; once you’ve gotten a good look at Him, who cares to look at anything else? “Mansions will glisten on the streets of glory… but Jesus will outshine them all.”

Can I add one more thought to this? I’m going to anyway, it’s my prayer letter, and I don’t write that many of them; I reckon I’ll write what I want. Do you know where the Christ was revealed to John? Where did John first see Jesus in the book of Revelation? From where did he hear Jesus’ voice speaking? In the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. What are the seven candlesticks, you ask? Let the Lord Jesus himself give you the answer: “The seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.” In these last days, where will you see Jesus? Where will you hear Jesus speaking? In church.

So much as happened since I last wrote, I don’t know where to begin. (“Why don’t you start writing more?” asks Hannah. Wives: can’t live with them, can’t worry about whose they’ll be in the resurrection.) Quite a few of these things are updated about regularly on our Facebook page, but if you’re like me and indulging social media less and less and feeling better and better about doing so, I’ll recap them here.

We were finally able to replace our vehicle. After almost a year of waiting, litigating, consternating, and aggravating all the wrong people with all the right information, we threw up our hands in desperation, and God filled them with enough to buy a used 2012 Mercedes Vito van. It has low miles and high expectations of being everything we need it to be. It accommodates all of us, with room to spare. But most importantly, it gets us where we need to be to minister to those anticipating help.

I praise the good name of the Lord Jesus for all of you who loved us and gave. And I thank God for guiding us in the right direction at just the right time to find this van available.

As a little postscript to this, the insurance company issued their final verdict via letter a little over a week ago. They concluded that ultimately I was at fault for a thief sneaking onto the gated property, breaking into the back hatch of our locked vehicle, climbing into the driver’s seat, prying open the steering column and hot wiring the car, fleeing the scene in said stolen car, hitting the gate in the process, finally crashing into a concrete pylon totaling the vehicle, leaving the scene, and returning on foot to the exact same village in which we live. Does it seem like this issue makes me a little testy? Listen, I don’t have anything against the thief; I pray he gets saved. I don’t even begrudge the loss of that vehicle. It was never ours to begin with. God gave it to us, and He didn’t need my permission to do whatever seemed best to Him. But, merciful heavens, Bulgarian bureaucracy can knock the shout out of any man. “But he giveth more grace,” and at the end of the ordeal, like Job, we’re better off than when we started. Bless the Lord.

A month ago now, we were able to hold our first big meeting of the year. Our churches were so sick of this pandemic and its restrictions, and so eager to meet again, that we went ahead and invited “whosoever will.” Praise God the “whosoever wills” outnumbered the “I don’t think we shoulds,” and the Great I Am came to the great In Need; the gospel was preached, the hungry fed, and all who came empty went home full.

Brother Keith Blalock preached the second of two meetings. He talked a little about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and mentioned everyone’s fear of Putin dropping the bomb. Brother Keith said, “I ain’t worrying about the bomb. If he drops the bomb, I hope he drops it on me first. I’ll be vaporized here and awake in heaven.” All the Turks took comfort and courage from that message. Most of them have grown up in and around Islam and were taught that no one can really know their soul’s final destination. When Brother Keith said with full assurance that he’d wake up in heaven, it finally dawned on a number of them that they, too, could have confidence in the work Jesus had done in their souls.

Speaking of the Russian invasion, for all who have asked, we are safe in Bulgaria, far from the fighting taking place in Ukraine. Only the Lord knows what tomorrow holds, and He has grace sufficient for what is and is to come. However, no one is expecting anything like what occurred there to happen here. Nevertheless, Bulgaria, like every other European country, is taking precautions.

Those of you keeping up with Hannah on Facebook, or our LeFevre page there, know the work she and our other missionary friends are doing with the Ukrainian refugees. To make a long story short, at the start of this war, Brother Blalock’s daughter, Kylie, had befriended a young Ukrainian girl newly arrived in Bulgaria. Learning from Yulia what efforts were being made to help the refugees in Varna, several of our missionary wives, with Brother Keith driving, went to see what they could do to be of service. After that day of volunteering, seeing the need firsthand, word began to spread, saints in America began to give, and the opportunities for outreach began to grow.

Skipping ahead, this last weekend, along with two missionaries from Ukraine, Brother Richard Maher and Brother Paul Gray, our folks went again, this time armed with gospel literature, to the center. After a morning’s profitable venture into some of the areas open specifically for refugee housing, our group made their way to the Ukrainian anti-war demonstration. There they distributed to small and great the gospel of the good Lord Jesus. Not a single Ukrainian refused a tract. More often than not, they would come back, asking for more for friends or family.

Every day, more and more Ukrainians are crossing the border into Bulgaria. Every day presents new challenges to meet their needs and new opportunities to give out the gospel. Pray for us that whatever the need, as much as we’re able, we’d be able to help. Pray especially for those whom God allows our paths to cross, that they would have open ears and tender hearts to receive the message able to quell the war raging in their souls.

Last, but certainly not least, and much to a hungry people’s hearty rejoicing, we’ve begun to give out flour and oil. Last Tuesday we began early in the village of Goren Chiflik and wound our way around several villages in that neck of the woods, distributing to the poor saints what God had provided for their sustenance. We were met everywhere with smiling faces and empty wheelbarrows and horse carts. The price of sunflower oil has nearly tripled in the last couple of weeks, so receiving a five-liter bottle really was like receiving liquid gold to most of our people. We go this week to our farthest villages, in the Balkan Mountains, to see their needs met. Pray for us as we go. Pray for them as they receive. Pray in all things that the Lord is glorified.

Because of a living Savior, The William LeFevre Family

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“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:” Hebrews 6:17-18

Our praying friends and family in the Lord,           November 2021

Have you ever read stronger verses, verses brimming with assurance and comfort, verses that engender hope and infuse love; verses that burst forth in song in the face of the devil’s fury; verses that provide ointment and anointing, a balm and blessings? Every inspired line, authored by God, penned by Paul overflow with an all-persuasive peace, and testify both to the nature and nurturing care of our great Redeemer.

As to His nature, He is God: eternal, immutable, unchangeable; the same yesterday, today, forever; unaffected by time or the tides of men; tested, tried, true; terrible and triumphant. As He is, so is His word: inerrant, inviolate, and, in the person of the Lord Jesus, incarnate; full of glory, grace, and truth; given by God to man that they might trust in Him.

As to His nurturing care, He is willing. Think about that just for a second, or an hour, or lifetime. Of all that He is, of all that He has, of all that He can do, it wouldn’t mean anything to you or me unless He was willing. But not only is He willing, He is willing “more abundantly.” It is His all-consuming desire that we rest securely, sweetly in the knowledge He cannot lie and His word cannot fail; that though our vessel be tossed to and fro, the anchor holding us will not move the slightest degree.

What a thought! The great I Am condescended to the woeful cannot and offered eternal refuge. Though the world, flesh, and devil conspire daily to discourage us, to disqualify us on the basis of our merit, our inability, the author of eternal salvation reminds us, it is His promise – of which He has sworn, and taken an oath to uphold – that secures our souls and succours our spirits. The oath and covenant are both unnecessary, given He cannot lie, but for our sake, that we might rest in Him without the slightest alarm or worry, He cheerfully swears.

Are you happier after reading those verses? Goodness gracious, I am. It might be a gloomy and gray November afternoon, but it’s eternal springtime wherever Jesus is. What a good God!

Where am I? Oh, that’s right, Bulgaria. Things have been on the slow side here for the last little bit. Bulgaria is still in pandemic mode, combating the fourth wave of COVID. Everyone is sick of it (accidental pun intended). The government introduced a controversial measure akin to COVID passports: green certificates. Basically, if you want to shop in larger, non-grocery stores, you have to show proof that you’re not a risk. Bulgarians immediately protested it, but the alternative is complete shutdown again. Thank God for Heaven: no sickness and never a shutdown. And there isn’t a single restriction in place, as there isn’t any need for them; everyone’s free to worship God.

One unintended, or perhaps very much intended, consequence of the unrelenting barrage of COVID coverage, (yes, we get it here, too) has been the subconscious fear instilled in people. It has become the new boogeyman, so to speak: Its specter haunts every potential gathering. Now a sniffle, a cough, or a cold chill threaten to close down entire communities. Where once we took care, now we take cover. For weeks on end, we’ve not been able to attend certain meetings due to flu and rumors of flu. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not downplaying this virus or its effects. What I am saying is we’ve become more health conscious than heart conscious, safer but less spiritual; more afraid of assembling than forsaking the assembly; more apt to trust science than search scripture; more concerned with spreading the virus than spreading the gospel. You’d think, being surrounded by this potentially life-threatening illness, people would prioritize being ready to meet God, but they’re doing everything they can to avoid Him, saints included.

In addition to fighting the flu’s influences, the entire work has been accosted with car troubles. Y’all know about the ongoing struggles with my vehicle situation. If you don’t, I’ll mention it in a minute, hang on. A few weeks back, Bro. Mitko’s wife, Monika, was in a serious car wreck that totaled her vehicle. Praise the Lord she escaped with only a mild concussion, as the driver’s side roof was caved in completely. God spared her and her daughter Eliza, who was with her. Just after that, Pastor Nasuf, while returning from service alone, lost control of his vehicle and wound up upside down in a field. Thankfully, God spared him, as well, and apart from soreness and bruising, he escaped without injury. My brother Zach’s vehicle suddenly started having transmission trouble last week. (I haven’t told him yet. We’ll see if he reads my prayer letters.) Help us pray, please, and believe God to provide what’s needed.

As for our vehicle, I don’t have bad news; I have an opportunity to see God work. We received a letter from our insurance company stating we defaulted on our claim, not having turned in the required documents within the prescribed time. Since the car was stolen in April, I have been to the main adjuster’s office in Varna at least once every three weeks. Each visit they set another task, another document to obtain, and each visit we did what was asked. It soon became evident that what we were doing was the equivalent of “buying blinker fluid.” It was busy work with the seeming intent to divert and stall us. When we pushed back, we were given the number of our case worker at the head office, who then sent us on another wild goose chase. So today, I took the letter to an attorney to see if anything can be done. I told you before, and I think some of you thought I was joking, that after the collapse of communism, all the car thieves transitioned to car insurance.

Where do we stand on a vehicle? At present we don’t have one, but I’m not complaining. God’s provided. Other missionaries have graciously allowed us to use their vehicles, for which we are very thankful. For the last few months I have been using Zach’s (see two paragraphs above). Now he’s due to return just after Thanksgiving. When he comes back, the Lord will work something else out. Today we rode the train to town to meet with the attorney. I thank God for the train. Since we’ve been in this valley, they’ve started road work on just about all the roads leading into Shumen, where we live. That means, for Ahmed to go to his mountain meetings, he now has to drive right past our apartment to avoid construction, and he picks me up on his way. God provides. We live in the center of town, surrounded by stores containing anything and everything we need. God provides. Whatever happens, God has, is, and will continue to meet every single need as it arises. Bless His name.

We’d like to wish each and every one of you a Happy Thanksgiving. We love and miss you, and thank God daily for you.

Because of a living Savior,

The William LeFevre Family

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“And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.”  Exodus 17:11-13
 

Our praying friends and family in the Lord,                 August 2021

The above verses should be familiar to every child of God. It is the account of the first direct action the children of Israel saw after crossing the Red Sea. Their deliverance from the “Iron Furnace” of Egypt, and subsequent death of Pharaoh and utter defeat of his armies, was a feat God entrusted to no one but Himself; Moses being His mouthpiece. So, too, our deliverance was the sole work of a selfless Savior. As Charles Gabriel wrote, “He took my sins and my sorrows, He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calv’ry, and suffered and died alone.” Little wonder he followed that with, “How marvelous! How wonderful!” He could have easily filled the refrain with as many worthy praises as he could imagine, and we’d Amen every one as recipients of that love. Do you still marvel at the love expended to ransom you from Hell? Do you still contemplate with wonder the great machinations enacted by almighty God to woo you to Himself, and win your soul forever in His safe keeping? Gracious me, if you don’t, sing his song again!

However, the verses I’m considering aren’t about our deliverance from Egypt, but from the Amalekites. The Lord dealt with the Egyptians Himself; He left the Amalekites to Moses. In other words, while our salvation is secure, our success is in jeopardy. Hold on a second, don’t get sideways. I’m not preaching Schofield’s notes; hear me out. In spite of certain unbelievers’ perpetual wish to return to Egypt, God made sure there was no Egypt to go back to. The Egypt they held in fond remembrance no longer existed; it had been decimated. There remained only one direction to go, forward, and at this juncture, the Amalekites stood between them and God’s promise. You know the story from here: When Moses held his hands up, the enemy fell back; when his hands dropped, they advanced. In the end, Aaron and Hur, seeing Moses couldn’t do it alone, came to his aid and stayed up his hands until the victory was won. There’s been a whole lot of good preaching (and some questionable) along those lines of helping one another and upholding one another, staying up the preacher’s hands, etc. There’s truth in it! We need one another. The very best among us are feeble, unable to contend long or at all against our enemy. We all need help and assistance.

Nevertheless, Moses himself wasn’t the answer to the Amalekites. Moses alone wasn’t sufficient to win the day. Moses, Aaron, and Hur combined couldn’t even startle the enemy, let alone scatter them. What then? What forced the Amalekites to give ground, turn, and flee? Let me draw your attention to what Moses had with him: “I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.” That was the rod that stayed up Moses as he wandered a stranger among the Midianites. That rod became a serpent, signifying God’s power, and swallowed up all the imitators. That rod wrought wonders in Egypt, called forth plagues, and leveled judgment. Lifted up, that rod made an impossible way through the impassable sea. That same rod struck a rock and brought forth a river to slake thirsty rebels. If you haven’t figured it out yet, that rod is a type of Jesus. As long as He’s lifted up, the enemy must give way before Him. Have you any Amalekites hindering you on your journey, withstanding your advance, threatening your ruin and destruction? Lift up Jesus. Magnify the Lord. Does the Amalekite of unbelief stand between you and God’s promises? Remember, this same Jesus that saved you will assist you. His triumph over sin, death, hell, and the devil was so exact, so complete, so utterly magnificent – that to mention it, to glory in it, to make it your banner is enough to embolden the feeblest of saints, and unnerve the most obstinate enemy.

I hope that helps somebody. More often than not, I write those things to help me. I like to encourage myself in the Lord. I like to see others encouraged in the Lord. I know this is a prayer letter, and I’m supposed to tell what’s going on here, but sometimes I get happy thinking on heavenly things and get carried away. Someone said the other day, “You ought to write a book.” I said, “Did you read my last letter? It was a novella.”

In the general information category, I’d like to mention our move from the village of Dabravino to the city of Shumen. We had been living in the Welch household since our return a year ago. We found this apartment back in early spring, but it didn’t come available to move into until late June. It’s spacious enough, and we’re close to a big park where the kids can get out and play. Additionally, we’re closer to the meetings I attend.

I’ve been waiting until I heard something about our car so that I could update everyone on it. Here’s the update: Nothing is happening. We’re still waiting on the insurance company to pay out so we can use the money to buy another vehicle. Meanwhile, the insurance company says it’s waiting on the police to submit a final report. The police aren’t sure what the insurance company wants and are waiting for the insurance company to tell them. It’s a Bulgarian standoff, kind of like a Mexican standoff without the benefit of enchiladas. Now, seeing as this is a prayer letter, I have a prayer request: Please pray something gives and this is all resolved. And while you’re at it, pray that about the time this gets resolved, that the perfect seven-seater vehicle comes available at the perfect price.

The other thing I was waiting on before I wrote was our meeting in Dabravino. This last Sunday saw a good size crowd, undaunted by the present-day pestilence and its perpetrators and perpetuators, assemble together to sing, pray, worship, and listen to preaching. After a meal, we recommenced our meeting by the river’s side, where twelve souls professed publically their faith in Jesus and followed Him in baptism. Five of those who were baptized were from one family, from our meeting in Smyadovo. I had the privilege of driving the sister to the meeting, whose two daughters, two granddaughters, and son-in-law all owned Christ as Savior. When we met at her house the Monday prior to meeting, all of her daughters said, “Normally we take vacations to return home and see our friends and family. This time we took a vacation to testify in church and get baptized.” After Sunday meeting, on our return trip home, their mother said, “William, I’m drunk on happiness! I still can’t believe it. I woke up this morning and said, ‘I won’t be needing my cane to attend this meeting.’” She must have had the rod of God! Pray for these souls. Pray for this work. Pray for its workmen. Pray for fresh unction.

We love you all and miss you dearly. Hannah, Carrick, Christian, Dixie Joy and Derrick Wade all send their greetings.

Because of a living Savior,

The William LeFevre Family

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October 2020

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:15-16

Our praying friends and family in the Lord,

Colossians chapter three is one of those passages where, if you’re not careful, you’ll extract the “dos and don’ts” and miss the “who and why.” How anyone can overlook the resurrected and reigning Christ and His redemptive work is a mystery, but there are those who manage. In chapter three we’re commanded, as resurrected beings, to look and to long for heavenly things. Only those souls who’ve passed from death unto life, by virtue of the second birth, are free to rise unfettered, victorious over the world and its pull. The resurrection not only frees us from things, but frees us to things as well. Being freed from the service of external and internal sin, we’re at liberty to love and serve one another. Looking to and loving the living Christ benefits the whole world, beginning at home.

Tucked right in the middle of this passage are the means for mastering our mess (if you like alliteration): the peace of God and the word of Christ. They are contingent upon one another: Peace can’t rule where the word doesn’t dwell, and the word only dwells in those who dwell in it. To put it another way, get your head in the heavens and make the word your foundation, and you’ll find out that come what may, it’ll be alright. You can face a frowning world with the smile of God’s favor. One more thing on a tangential note - if 2020 hasn’t yet incentivized you to get a hold of Heaven and find some comfort, just wait ‘til 2021.

What an introduction to a prayer letter! Hello from Bulgaria. It’s been quite a while since I’ve sent out an update, though we try and post regularly on our Facebook page “The LeFevres in Bulgaria.” We’ve been back just shy of two months, returning on the sixteenth of August. Our return trip, though uneventful, was nevertheless surreal. Having traveled extensively prior to the global pandemic, we were taken aback by the “new normal”: a sea of highly regulated masked faces, herded onto half-filled planes, providing minimal service. The flights passed quickly, and we were in Bulgaria in record time. Upon arrival, seeing as how America is listed as a hotbed for COVID activity, we were given the option of quarantining or testing. We opted to take the test. Thank the Lord all of us tested negative for the virus, though some of us tested positive for meanness.

Bulgaria, like most everywhere else, has mandatory mask laws, social distancing requirements, and crowd limitations. And like most everywhere else, the general population doesn’t seem to bother: Masks are worn as chin straps; distance is ignored as someone might cut in line, and very few places have ever been filled to capacity. And yet, what is the one type of gathering that draws the most scrutiny? Evangelical meetings. Bulgaria has had almost ninety straight days of mass protests against government corruption. Yet who makes the news for perpetuating the spread of corona? A church in Plovdiv. As such, the meetings have been kept very low key. The national pastors continue to minister circumspectly, endeavoring to be “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” The weekly American meeting has resumed, as well.

In spite of COVID, or perhaps because of it, people seem hungrier for heavenly things. Those souls that brave meeting, leave with full and grateful hearts, appreciating more what they missed. Pastor Alish testified about a particular village church he’d almost given up on a year ago. He said that when they saw him, they asked if he was coming for church. He said, “If you all want church, I’ll come back next week.” They responded, “What’s wrong with right now?” In no time, a small crowd gathered, and they had a real meeting. In the village here, Hannah and her mother went to sing for a widow woman and her daughter. The man of the house lived and died an atheist, but his loved ones are seeking for something more. Brother Mitko said that everywhere the virus has taken its toll, not on people’s health so much, but on their finances and livelihood, and has them looking for something not subject to change. Praise the Lord we have the answer in our unchanging God and His eternal word

All the family fares well, and everyone sends you their greetings. All of our existing visas are secure, so no worries there. We’re working on getting Derrick his visa. Remember us in your prayers. Remember the ministry.

Love y’all

Because of a living Savior, The William LeFevre Family  www.facebook.com/bulgarianlefevres