Fall 2014 Newsletter Hello Friends, It is our prayer that this letter finds you doing well and growing in the grace of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We have had many changes since our last newsletter. We sold our home in Kentucky in June and on July 1st packed up all our possessions and headed across the country to Monticello, Utah. Upon arrival we emptied the moving truck in the church parsonage and then immediately headed south to the Navajo Reservation where we spent three weeks holding Vacation Bible Schools in Blanding, Utah, Cahone Mesa, Utah and Mexican Water, Arizona. We had a great turn out in each location. The children and youth responded very well to the bible teaching and many received Jesus as Savior. We had a great group of volunteers from Kentucky come out to help us with the Vacation Bible Schools. I would like to thank them for their sacrifice and joyful service to the kids. Our daughter Celia and her husband Felix spent the entire three weeks with us. Their dedication to the the children was an inspiration to Michelle and I as they served with diligence and purpose. Beth St.Clair and her three daughters Elita, Julia and Sylvia were with us for two weeks and God worked through them in a mighty way as their genuine love for the children was poured out through their sacrificial service. Also, Dan and Julie Ison came out with their daughters Haley, Ellie and Josie. They arrived the last week, and it was just the right time! Their energy and spirit really encouraged both the volunteers and the children at VBS. After finishing the VBS ministry Michelle and I returned to Monticello to set up our new home and begin ministry at FBC Monticello. This was quite a job! But as of today I can say that we are moved in and beginning to get settled. It has been a big transition but Gods grace is sufficient. The church is doing well and we have had a few visitors over the past few weeks. The people of the church are very supportive and we look forward to serving with them in this community. God has already equipped the church with a very effective ministry tool in the form of a low power radio station broadcasting the gospel across San Juan county 24/7. Please pray for Michelle and I as the Holy Spirit leads us in the way He would have us direct the church here in Monticello. In Zimbabwe, Cosmas and Margaret are making preparation for the Food for Mola project in November. This week Cosmas is finalizing all the arrangements for the purchase and transport of 18 tons of mille meal (ground corn) and beans to be delivered the first week of November. November is a time when many people in Mola are go hungry; during this same time in years past many have died. This load of food could make the difference between life and death to some. This is the first time that God has ever led me to give food and I have heard many stories of how it can be very difficult and in some cases even create problems; however, Cosmas, Margaret and I have talked and prayed about the best way to deliver food and we believe that God has given us the wisdom to complete the task so that it will be a blessing and not a curse. If you would like to donate to the Food for Mola project the projected cost is $7,500. You can send a check designated Food for Mola and the funds will go entirely to this project. At this time we have received $ 2100 so we are quite short; however we are moving forward by faith, trusting that God will stir the hearts of His people to help our struggling brethren. Preparations have begun for the Giftbox Ministry on the Navajo Reservation on December 12 & 13. My brother Rodney and his wife Tammy, as well as Beth St. Clair are working to organize the boxes on the Kentucky end. They are diligently getting things in order and plan to deliver them the second week of December. At this time there are already around 850 - 900 boxes being filled and prepared for delivery. We are expecting 1,000 boxes this year. If you would like to fill a box you can contact Rodney at 859-653-0884, Tammy at 859-653-4956, or Beth St. Clair at 859-609-6613. If no answer please leave a message and they will return your call and give you all the necessary information. Each year we praise the Lord for the effectiveness of the Giftbox Ministry as each box is hand delivered to the childs home and the children are prayed over. At this time we have five couples from Kentucky committed to come and help distribute the boxes. Please pray for the couples and that those children receiving boxes as well as their families will be open to the Word of God. Next May we are organizing a pastor conference in Mola, Zimbabwe. As I have shared with you in the past, Cosmas and Margaret have been planting churches and discipling leaders. In order to assist them, this May we will travel to Mola and hold a four day leadership conference for the churches. Please pray that we can be a useful tool in the hands of our God to build up and teach the proper things to equip them for the work of ministry. Michelle and I appreciate your continued prayers and the support of the work. This is Gods work and His ministry so please pray that God will strengthen our faith as we move forward to fulfill the great commission. Blessings, Richard and Michelle If you would like to receive the newsletter by email please contact us via email atgcfm07@gmail This would be a great help because it would decrease our mailing expenses; however if you would prefer a paper copy we will continue to send those by mail. Also the new mailing address is: Richard and Michelle Collins / G.C.F.M. P.O. Box 1044 Monticello, UT 84535
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:47:03 +0000
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