April 2008

Dear Friends and Prayer Partners:

I’m writing you from my home office here in snowy Alto, MI. We have the second highest snow fall in recorded history this year and it is snowing again this morning. As of Easter Sunday it was 105 inches.

Since our last letter we have been with Pastor Nathan Lobb and the Lakeland Baptist Church in Gilbert, MN. They are doing a great job for the Lord. I was privileged to spend a weekend with Pastor David Gerhardt and the Calvary Baptist Church in Cambridge, MN. Then we traveled to Heritage Baptist Church in Duluth, MN where we worked with Pastor Eric Braun. Our next stop was with Pastor Timothy Kenoyer and one of our supporting churches, Maranatha Baptist Church in Columbus, OH, to report on the ministry. I also was privileged to spend the night with my son David and his family who live in Columbus. Next we returned to First Baptist Church in Fenton, MI where interim pastor Josh Gates is doing a great job. The following week we attended the OARBC Fall Conference in Toledo, OH. We had a short two day meeting with Pastor Carl Nannini and the Breton Road Baptist Church in Kentwood, MI before heading west to UT. Our first week was with a small mission work led by Pastor Robert Franklin and the Faith Baptist Church in Roosevelt, UT. Then we moved to Vernal, UT where we worked with Pastor Ben Bardon of Grace Baptist Church. I held meetings with Ben’s father in Provo, UT when Ben was only 4 or 5 years old. Our next meeting was with Pastor Lloyd Larkin and the Trinity Baptist Church in Riverton, UT. This was a real treat because my son Andy and his family are now members and serving with that church as Tent Maker Missionaries. Over Thanksgiving week, Rose Mary flew out to Salt Lake and we spent Thanksgiving with Andy, Betsy and Michael. While I was in the Salt Lake Valley I was privileged to minister to a Pastor’s Fellowship and also with the New Testament Baptist Church in Magna, UT and the Grace Baptist Church in West Valley City, UT. On the way home we were able to spend Thanksgiving with two of Rose Mary’s sisters in NE. We conducted our semi-annual Board meeting for COME on the campus of IBC in Greenwood, IN. (Indiana Baptist College). They treated us like family. Our last meeting of 2007 was a missions conference conducted by Pastor Mark Staley and the Calvary Baptist Church of Pontiac, IL Rose Mary and I were able to spend Christmas with two of our sons and their families in South Bend, IN. What a blessing! You never have enough time to spend with family.

January of 2008 found us busy in the office and visiting new churches to make COME more known. We had the privilege of speaking at our home church and reporting on the ministry. The last of January I traveled to OH to attend the MBCAF pastor’s meeting in Coshocton, OH. It was a real blessing to meet these new pastors. February found us traveling to FL to attend the IFFB Conference in Orlando. While I was in FL I was privileged to speak for Pastor Thomas Knickerbocker in Arcadia, FL.

While I was parked at my motel in Orlando someone backed into my car. It was still able to be driven. It just didn’t look to good. Because it was a hit and run accident my insurance covered it all. Praise the Lord. On the way back north I was able to visit one of my supporting churches, Calvary Baptist Church in Dayton, TN. I spoke at their Valentines Banquet on Saturday night and then reported on Sunday. Pastor Sayre and his church family are getting ready to break ground for a new building. After stopping at home I was on my way to Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Omaha, NE. We had good meetings there with Pastor Edwin Anderson. March began with a Missions Conference on the campus of Indiana Baptist College in Greenwood, IN. I was extremely blessed by the maturity of this student body. Just as I was leaving IBC on Friday afternoon the Midwest was hit by the blizzard of 2008. I made it to Columbus, OH where I stayed with my son David and his family for two days. Everything was closed down. On Sunday I traveled north to Perry, OH and we started the meetings there on Sunday night. Pastor James Lane and the Faith Baptist Church are doing a great job there in the snow belt of OH. This week end I travel to Minneapolis, MN to attend the MEN FOR CHRIST meeting and then on to Wadena, MN and the Southbrook Church.

Rose Mary and I praise the Lord for the wonderful TEAM of 19 churches and 7 families that he has raised up to help us with this great ministry of World Wide Missionary Evangelism. We are energized by your prayers and gracious gifts. Together we have been able to accomplish great things for God's glory. We praise the Lord for our Support Team each month. Our support level is up to 85.7%! Please pray with us that we would reach 100% this year. Your investment in this ministry through your prayers and financial support is reaping Eternal Dividends. Unfortunately due to personal financial problems we have lost two supporting families. Please pray for these dear families that have stood with us for so long. Please pray for more NEW TEAM members!!!

Prayer Requests:

Salvation of souls
Safety on the highways & in the airways
Sanctification of the saints
Support-100% by the end of 2008
For Matthew 9:38
For a Lowering of the gas prices

Praise Reports:

For 85.7% support
For faithful servants with COME
For many opportunities of service
For the many souls saved by the Gospel
For the many lives changed by the Word
For those who have surrendered to ministry

Preaching a Living Christ to a Dying World,
Eldon Stevens