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6/12/08 - David Gross
It has now been a year since we were accepted with our mission board, Baptist International Missoins, Inc. We finished our second week of Candidate School the last week. Stephanie’s parents took care of our children while we were away in Chattanooga. While in Chattanooga, we had an opportunity to begin sharing the Gospel with a young family. While witnessing to the husband, the wife interrupted me and told me that she doesn’t believe that God will send people to hell or give them judgment. Her god is a loving god and would never do such things. I asked her if she believes the Bible, which is our basis for knowing the one true God, but she only believes parts of it. How it broke my heart to see someone wrapped up in idolatry. She has made her own god instead of seeking after the true God. I cringed when she told me to stop talking with them because she didn’t want her little girl to be subjected to what I was saying. How America needs believers to share the Gospel with them and pull them from their warped religion.
On a positive note, Jennifer, the one who trusted in Christ as her Savior in April, has been coming to our home church on most Sunday mornings. She has even brought her boyfriend and parents, too. Both of her parents are not saved. Please pray for Jennifer’s parents to be saved. Our pastor has been talking with them and continuing to give them the Gospel. Please also pray for Jennifer to continue having a strong desire to be in church and grow in her walk with Christ.
4/26/08 - David Gross
My wife and I have been praying that we would be used of God during our time on deputation. Even though we eagerly share the Gospel with people we meet, people have either already been saved orr reject the Gospel all together. We have been praying to not only be seed planters or waterers but also be part of the harvest, as well. Last Saturday, while on door-to-door visitation with another gentleman from our sending church, we had the privilege of leading a young lady to Christ. What a blessing it was to see fruit for our labors. Please pray for Jennifer as we will work on discipling her and getting her to start attending our church. She is eager to grow in the Lord, but we know that Satan desires to hinder that work. Please also pray that we will see more people saved while on deputation.
3/26/08 - David Gross
Deputation continues to progress each week. God has been so gracious to us over the past three weeks with having 4 more churches vote to support us financially on a regular basis. This brings us up to 30% of our support level! Being fully supported by September 2009 is definitely a possibility. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1:37) Keep praying for more meetings and more financial support. We truly believe that what we have seen happening is because of God graciously answering the prayers of His people.
2/27/08 - David Gross
We just arrived at Ambassador Baptist College and will be here until Saturday morning. Stephanie spent a year and a half here as a student and wanted me to visit the campus. I will be participating in a couple of the missions classes and speaking in Mission Prayer Band Thursday evening. There is a young couple here at the college that is planning to take a survey trip to Moldova this summer and pray about being missionaries to Moldova. What an encouragement to know God is continuing to send forth laborers into His harvest.
Both Caleb and Abby have colds which has been taking its toll on my wife and me. Sleep at night has not been consistent or uninterrupted. Please pray that we will all get back to good health and restful nights again soon. Keep praying for more meetings this summer. Our schedule is filling up slowly but surely. Our support has been going up, too. Pray for churches we have visited to take us on as their missionaries.
2/15/08 - David Gross
We have several things to thank the Lord for specifically this week. Caleb’s fever is gone and he’s doing well (minus the cold he caught from Abby). Abby has been the best behaved she’s been in a while. We started having regular “Jesus Time” with her before going to bed two weeks ago. We heard a message on the home from Pastor Stone at Landmark Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. We have been waiting for family devotions until Abby would be old enough to benefit from them. I can testify that she is at the point of being able to learn and have it influence her life. She is now starting to do her own prayers by repeating us. Another blessing came yesterday morning when two pastors called back-to-back to book us for their mission conferences. Please pray for us as we are back traveling today. Pray for more meetings, too.
2/9/08 - David Gross
We’ve been at Stephanie’s parents house this week to see them and visit Stephanie’s grandfather who is dying of cancer. We’ve been trying to catch up on things during this time of being on one place for a while. Caleb had his one year booster shots on Wednesday and has had a fever the past two days ranging up to 104.5 degrees. We are thankful to the Lord that we have all been physically well with all of our travels so far. Abby came down with a cold this week, but we are at “home” and not travelling again until this upcoming Friday. If you haven’t read our February prayer letter, be sure to do so. What a blessing it was to look back and see that in the past two months, the Lord has provided 23 more meetings in churches for 2008. Keep praying them in!
1/8/08 - David Gross
Once again, our cup is overflowing with gratitude to our heavenly Father who knows our every need. One of Stephanie’s fillings fell out recently and needed to be fixed. While staying in Penn., we went online and asked God to direct. The first one I called allowed us to make an appointment the next day. To make a long story short, the dentist office was such a blessing and encouragement to us. Both the receptionist and the dentist being believers, the dentist gave us a wonderful discount. We did not seek to throw the “we’re missionaries, please help us” around, but through questions they asked, they did end up finding out. They actually have done short-term mission work in using dentistry to open the door for the Gospel. To make the day an even greater blessing, God provided us with four more confirmed meetings, three at churches and one speaking engagement at Ambassador Baptist College. More and more, the Lord shows us His mercy and grace in taking care of us. He is good, regardless of circumstances, but we thank Him for the good circumstances recently. Please continue to pray for us...God is answering your prayers in marvelous ways.
12/26/07 - David Gross
Praise the Lord! Another church has voted to add us to their missionary family! Open Door Baptist Church of North Canton, OH, which has been supporting us through prayer regularly, will now be supporting us financially, as well. This now puts us up to 15% in our support level. It seems like we’re a long way from 100%, but we are heading in the right direction. While we know we have to do our part, we can see more and more that it is the Lords doing in getting us to Moldova.
12/25/07 - David Gross
Merry Christmas! We are now in Ohio with my parents and family. We have moved out of our rental home near Memphis, TN and ready to hit the road again on deputation. Even though we have not been able to call churches or mail out packets the week of our move, God answered prayer and provided four new meetings at churches, three of them being Mission Conferences. We praise God for this and contribute it to God answering your prayers. Keep on praying for meetings in March, April, and May..
On the way to Ohio, we had a wonderful overnight stay in Paris. Okay, so it is Paris, TN where my great-aunt lives. She is a sweet, godly woman who loves the Lord and believes in prayer. I must say that she fed us like Moldovans do for their guests.... a lot of food and tasty, too. We thank the Lord for the wonderful, relaxing time at Aunt Zelma’s. God knows just when we need a time of rest.
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