| | Dear Friends,
Greetings to you from Greenfield, Minnesota. Since our last prayer letter we have enjoyed visits to several supporting churches as well as individuals interested in our ministry in Liberia. On a major trip out East, we spent some time with one of our first supporting churches, Calvary Baptist of Elkins Park, PA. From there we went on to meet some new friends at the First Baptist Church of Troy, NH. We thank God for over 3,000 miles traveled safely and with no breakdowns.
Prior to that we were at Baptist Mid-Missions' annual conference for its missionaries in Ohio. Since we began with BMM in 1982, Nancy and I received our 25-year pins. God has given us the grace to complete five terms, each one laying pieces of the foundation for what is still to come. During the award ceremony we watched as some were given 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50-year pins. However, we truly felt like children when Dr. Anderson gave out BMM's first 60-year pin to Harold Reiner, a missionary who has served with BMM for all those years in Brazil. At the conference we also met with various mission leaders and clarified our focus for our next term of missionary service. We are getting exited about our return to Liberia at the end of November.
Lest you think we spend all our time traveling and have no fun, it's not true. We had a great time in Philadelphia visiting historical sites. On our way home from New Hampshire, we visited Niagara Falls. We were able to see the falls from a number of different viewpoints on land as well as ride the "Maid of the Mist" boat. It took us so close to the base of both Niagara and Horseshoe falls that we could feel the mist on our faces. It was amazing.
We sold our SUV before we left Liberia in January. It had served us well but it was over 13 years old and had close to 170,000 miles on it. When we arrived in the States in February we bought another of the same brand (Mitsubishi Montero), but much newer (2003) and with less than 40,000 miles. We have traveled over 15,000 miles since then with no problems. We are planning to ship it to Liberia at the beginning of November, but we need to pay off the remainder of the loan as well as pay for the shipping container we will use to send it to Liberia. We would also like to purchase other items, which we have listed below this letter. If you feel God would have you participate in our ministry by helping with either the cost of the SUV, shipping expenses, or any other listed items, it would be a huge blessing to us.
Please pray for the following requests:
1. Pastor Joseph Leelear, a Liberian pastor friend, is very sick with heart and kidney troubles.
2. God's leading as we seek to reach the unreached parts of Liberia with the gospel.
3. Increased interest of Liberians in being trained for ministry.
4. God's continued direction in our lives and the lives of our children.
Words are inadequate to express our appreciation to those who have welcomed us so warmly into their homes and their lives. We only know God will reveal in heaven the part each has played in making our ministry possible and encouraging us to "keep on keeping on." God bless you!
In Christ,
Mark, Nancy, Heidi and Jared Sheppard
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Sheppard 2008 Shipping List
Bibles: Text Bibles and study Bibles for pastors and students
Bible study books: Bible doctrine, commentaries, Bible dictionaries, Bible book studies, etc.
Hymnals: for our English-speaking churches.
Christian school materials: textbooks (new and used), teacher's manuals, school materials such as pens, pencils, chalk, notebooks, reams of typing paper, etc.
Glasses:
Reading glasses: (all sizes) for our needy church members
Prescription glasses: new or used - preferably no astigmatism correction
Typewriters: Manual and electric (portables are preferred)
Clinic materials:
1. Sheets, blankets, rolled bandages, gloves, medical instruments, drugs, etc. (please contact us for details on these items)
2. Layettes and other items for newborn babies ("onesies", baby soap, baby lotion, baby blankets, etc.).
If you can help us with any of these materials, it will be a great help to our ministry and a great blessing to our pastors and churches in Liberia. If you have any of these items, please ship them to this address:
Rev. Mark Sheppard
Oak Grove Church
5920 Golden Valley Rd.
Golden Valley, MN 55422
If you would like to help financially with the purchase or shipment of these items, please send gifts to:
Baptist Mid-Missions
Box 308011
Cleveland, OH 44130
Mark the gift "for the ministry of Mark Sheppard: 2008 shipment." We will be packing the container at the beginning of November, so please ship any items so they arrive before that time. The sooner the better!
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| | Posted 10/8/2008 7:07 PM - 42 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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