September 2009

Praise God for open Doors!

Let us share some wonderful news: our Samantha and Serenity followed the Lord in Baptism this Sunday. We had a great service with many first time unsaved visitors. The kids played their instruments and sang “Amazing Grace.”

The title of the message was “Where were you when…” It was a spin off of the question we are always asked during the anniversary of some past event. We then posed the question, “Where will you be in the last event of your life?” stressing the opportunity to plan this event. We then discussed the parameters (the Ten Commandments), the way and finally the deciding factor being our relationship to the judge. The sermon was very direct and clear.

At the end of the service we showed pre-recorded video salvation testimonies preceding the girls’ baptisms. The baptismal videos can soon be viewed here on the Scoop. Afterwards we enjoyed a fellowship that all wished would not end.

Vivian, our Bible College Student, is on her way to Africa on a missions (apprenticeship) trip. Please pray with us that God will use this time to encourage and give clear direction for her life.

In the spring we worked very hard to get our foot in the door for the city festival. It was so difficult to convince the city that we had something to offer. We were kind of anxious about whether or not they would allow us to set up a stand again. Earlier this month we received a letter asking us to be apart of the next city-wide festival. Praise God for open Doors! We will have a booth at the Reformation Festival on October 31.

A note about my father’s health: Dad is recovering from his last radiation treatments. They crystallized the disk that as the doctor described it was turned to jelly by the cancer. This greatly reduced the pain, but took its toll on the digestive tract. He is now in physical therapy to rebuild the lost muscles in his back. He is also taking hormone therapy in the hopes of staying the advancements of the cancer. As of the last test results, the cancer is in the lymph glands along the aorta and in the stomach cavity. There is also a spot in one on his lungs. Please continue to pray for God’s healing.

Thanks be to God for our wonderful support team of churches and individuals. We were able to make a trip to see Dad and help as he went through this last bought of radiation. It was a wonderful time for us as a family. Many heart-felt thanks!

Laboring in the land of the Reformation,

Paul Sudbrock

Reveling in God's presence.

I am reveling! What a morning! You know, one of those moments when God's presence is so real that all worldly realities fade away and all that is left is HIM. In that moment, you could fly. Oh, the savor is so sweet! God is great! The challenge is to remember the reality of the mountain through the entire of the shadows of the valley.

Paul

Water, water everywhere

Our drought has come to an end. After weeks of dry weather, the rains came yesterday. The gardens were thirsting for its arrival. I on the other hand could have waited one more day. You see, yesterday, our two oldest daughters were baptized. Despite the weather though, we had a pretty good turnout for the services. As a matter of fact, we have been experiencing a type summer drought at church as well, and not just in the back yard. Since the beginning of summer, attendance has been down and the pews have been thirsting for visitors. But the services yesterday showed encouraging signs of new life. We had 45 people attend and more than half of those were first time visitors. What a blessing! To start the morning off each of our children played their instruments and sang praises to God. Leading into his salvation sermon, Paul showed a video clip of street interviews where Germans were asked how a person becomes a Christian. At the end of the service, we projected the girl's prerecorded testimonies up on the wall for all to watch while the girls got ready to be baptized. Sixteen children gathered around the bapitsmal while the adults watched on the big screen. Samantha and Serenity were beautiful as they followed the Lord in believer's baptism.

Our cook-out in the church yard had to be re-worked. We still cooked-out, but we ate-in instead. All of the chairs in the auditorium were moved to the side to make room for the tables. The "Veggie Tales" videos have just recently been translated into German, so the kids enjoyed watching a film or two between rain showers. They also crafted sunflowers to decorate for fall.

Many of our first time visitors expressed an interest in coming back again. Our returning visitors seemed to really enjoy themselves and we left feeling refreshed and thankful that the drought has finally come to an end.

Now, it is time to gear up for fall. In October, we will plan a big bon-fire at church with crafts and games for the kids. The last day of October is of course Reformation Day. So we will be spending the 31st downtown on the market square passing out tracts and Bibles. We hope to end the evening with a parade of light, weather permitting. Each child will be encouraged to make or bring a lantern and we will walk the streets of Wittenberg singing praises to God spreading the light into the darkest of corners. Please pray with us as we prepare for a full month of October. Novemeber awaits with its own surprises. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

Have a great fall day!

Chelli