Northwest Trio

Headed home...

2009-08-03T01:09:00.001-07:00

As we return home and reflect on the entire summer, we are overwhelmed at how our Lord has blessed us. He has taught us many lessons and has used many of His people to encourage and bless us. It is amazing to see what the Lord is doing through His people! Yet, it is staggering to see the need and the work still to be done in our own country and neighboring Canada. Over the summer, we have grown to love each other and thank the Lord for the bond that He gave us early on. We are grateful to Pastor and Mrs. Sexton for sending us out west this summer and we thank others who have helped us prepare: Mr. Gordon, Bro. Gray, Mrs. Sengmany and Bro. Cheney. We have enjoyed serving our Savior together and pray that He will continue to use our lives for His glory and honor. Please pray for the Morlans as they embark on a new season of ministry in their lives. We thank all of you- friends and family who have kept up with us and prayed for us. May God bless you.

Second Baptist Church

2009-08-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

Pastor Gary Satterfield
Festus, MO

Sunday evening's service was very bittersweet for our group. After 12 weeks of traveling across the northwest United States and southwest Canada, we have come to the end of the summer. At our last service we were welcomed by the pastor and members of the church. Several Crown students have called this church home, and we were glad to also meet some who are planning on attending this fall. We're so thankful for the Spirit of the Lord that is so evident here. We hope that this ministry will continue to do great things for God in Festus.

Lighthouse Baptist Church

2009-08-02T22:33:00.000-07:00

Pastor Hylton Lawrence
Independance, MO

As we arrived at Lighthouse Baptist, we were greeted by Pastor Lawrence, who instantly made us feel right at home. Pastor Lawrence actually used to be Hannah's pastor in West Virginia when she was a little girl. We joined the Lawrence family for a meal at Cracker Barrel, where Pastor had everyone sing happy birthday to Hannah, who turned 19 the day before.

The Lord has given this church such a great spirit, and we were put right at ease by the pastor. Bro. Derrick preached in the Sunday School hour and was greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm of the people. The church is approaching its 7th anniversary and has seen great growth in the lives of its members. God has blessed us through Pastor Lawrence and we were so thankful that we were able to have our last morning service at this church.

Everyone "shakes hands" at Lighthouse Baptist

First Baptist Church

2009-07-31T22:30:00.000-07:00

Medicine Lodge, KS
Pastor Matt Wilkerson

We have been looking forward to this church for quite some time. The Wilkersons, who are good friends of Crown College and Temple Baptist Church, came to Medicine Lodge 3 years ago to pastor this church. Since then, they have seen many converts and been able to help many young Christians. We had services on Thursday and Friday night and Pastor Wilkerson was encouraged by the attendance of the young Christians and their eagerness for the things of God.

Friday we helped out around the church, painting and remodeling. We painted a classroom and the church foyer, while Bro. Derrick and the Wilkerson boys worked on tiling the foyer. We had a great day few days with the Wilkersons and are so thankful for what the Lord is doing through their church. It is so exciting to see the young families that are on fire for the Lord there! We pray that they continue in their steadfastness!

West Omaha Baptist Church

2009-07-30T06:16:00.001-07:00

Omaha, NE

Pastor Doug Robertson

We were so pleased to be with this young church during its very first Vacation Bible School. We arrived for the Monday night program and were able to stay through Wednesday night. Their theme was "Following in the Footsteps of Jesus" and the program was taking the kids through the promised land to different "locations" important in Jesus' earthly life and ministry. We were able to sing some songs with the kids, aid in the lesson time, and even helped perform the skits each night. We had such a great time interacting with the kids as well as enjoying the fellowship of the Pastor, his family, and all the church members who worked each night. We were so encouraged not only by the turnout of children each night, but also the involvement of the church family in this endeavor to reach families for Christ. The church was so excited by how many children were attending and learning about the Lord.

Mrs. Jamie Robertson is Kelly Radank's sister and their mother, Mrs. Chamberlain lives with the Robertsons and she works at a nearby assisted living facility. On Wednesday, we went to sing for several of the folks who live there. We had such a good time sharing our testimonies, singing and playing and had time afterward to spend getting to know them. We called out Bingo, helped with crafts, and enjoyed talking with them over a delicious bowl of peaches and cream. It was a lovely afternoon and we thoroughly enjoyed talking and visiting with them. Thank you, Mrs. Chamberlain for letting us minister to these wonderful people.

We would like to say a special "thank you" to Pastor Robertson and his wonderful family for allowing us to stay in their home for three nights and for taking care of us so well. We had a wonderful time fellowshipping with you and we will be praying for your family and ministry.

Liberty Baptist Tabernacle

2009-07-27T20:13:00.001-07:00

Rapid City, SD
Pastor Wayne Williams

We were especially privileged to be in the Sunday night service of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle. This warm and loving church is the home of Mr. Bob Dustman, Sr. and his son Jack and family. We were able to stay with "Grandpa" Dustman on the ranch, as Bri's group did last year and we enjoyed it immensely. We were only sad we could not stay longer. After enjoying a wonderful weekend around Rapid City and the Dustman ranch (we went to see Mt. Rushmore on Saturday), we had a great service in Liberty on Sunday night. We know just from being there one service that the spirit of the Lord is working in this church and we thank God for Pastor Williams and his wife and their faithful service in this church for thirty years. After the service, we enjoyed a lovely meal with the Williams' and the Dustmans and we are so thankful for all the kindness and hospitality shown to us in Rapid City. May God continue to bless this growing church.

Bible Believer's Baptist Church

2009-07-27T20:05:00.000-07:00

Custer, SD
Matt Furse
We had a great Lord's day this week, as the Lord continues to show Himself mighty through the churches of the American West. Pastor Matt Furse and the people of the Bible Believer's Baptist Church could not have been more welcoming and we praise the Lord for the great morning that we had with them. It was so encouraging to see so many families in the church and could not help but notice the emphasis placed on soul-winning and discipleship. Pastor Furse is actually teaching his adult Sunday School class through Pastor Sexton's Following Christ and Fishing For Men Material and this theme was continued with a great message about bringing others to Christ. After the service, we all went to a nearby park for a picnic. It was beautiful weather and we enjoyed all of the food and just chatting with some of the church families. We were so glad to be with this church and see how the Lord is expanding their numbers providing for their needs. We pray that the Lord would will to bless them and that they will to glorify Him through their ministry.

Emmanuel Baptist Church

2009-07-24T21:46:00.000-07:00

Pastor Ken Schultz
Box Elder, SD

After a quick visit to the home of Mr. Dustman, Sr., we drove to Emmanuel Baptist Church where Pastor Schultz and his family were awaiting our arrival. After we sang, Bro. Derrick preached on "Why Christ should be Precious to us" out of I Peter 2:1-8. After the service, the church families had prepared a wonderful meal for us. Everyone was very interested in Crown College and asked many questions concerning the different ministries offered at Crown. Many teenagers knew different Crown students from attending the BIMI Camp this summer. We had such a good time fellowshipping with all the people at Emmanuel Baptist Church and one of the ladies in the church made each of us girls a bag full of goodies for the road. We thank the Lord for what He has done through this church and look forward to seeing what He is going to do in the future.

Grace Baptist Church

2009-07-22T22:07:00.000-07:00

Pastor Ben Bogardus
Cody, WY

After a lengthy drive from Montana, we arrived for a Wednesday night service in beautiful Cody. Pastor Ben Bogardus (brother of Pastor Bill Bogardus in Seeley Lake, MT) was there to greet us and helped us set up for the service. We were so encouraged by the welcoming spirit of the people and very happy to see this ministry with a young pastor who just took the church last September. We were also very happy to meet the Kiser family, who now attend Grace Baptist. Lariena Kiser works at the Crown College British Division with the Zenkers and Bri was priviliged to meet her and her family last year. Although Lariena was not in town, we were so pleased to stay with them for two nights and even got to go see the Cody Stampede Rodeo on Thursday night. It was a lovely stay in Cody and we are very grateful to Pastor Bogardus and the Kisers for their kindness to us. We are encouraged to see the Lord work in Cody through this growing church and we pray the Lord will continue to bless them.

At the "Rodeo Capital of the World"-
the Cody Stampede

Stony Creek Bible Church

2009-07-22T22:04:00.000-07:00

Pastor Rick Hammond
Dillon, MT

Sunday evening we were welcomed at the Stony Creek Bible Church. After we sang, Derrick preached on how easy it is to affect and to be affected by others. After the service, we enjoyed a delicious meal prepared for us by the church family and we were made to feel right at home. They were all so eager to talk and we especially enjoyed playing with and watching the Pastor's granddaughter, Autumn, who had been born prematurely. She was such a tiny and adorable baby and we loved making her laugh. The Lord really watched over the baby - even though she was very small she was very alert and as healthy as any baby her age. That night we went to Mrs. Yarborough's house and stayed with her for a couple days. The Yarborough's are Mrs. Genevieve Zenker's parents, and even though Mr. Yarborough was out of town due to the sudden death of his sister, we enjoyed Mrs. Yarborough's extremly kind hospitality. Her Christlike spirit and her gift for winning people's affection was incredible. We went to town with her the next day, and we were amazed at how many people knew and loved her. While we were in town two people told her they would like to come to her church. Her testimony revealed to us how very much you can " affect others" by you attitude. We learned a lot by watching her and were sad when it was time to leave. Mrs. Zenker is definitely blessed with a wonderful mother.

First Baptist Church

2009-07-22T22:00:00.000-07:00

Pastor Walter Widdis
Laurel, MT
Sunday morning we were able to be with Pastor Widdis again, who currently runs the Castle Rock Baptist camp, which we were at earlier this week. It was nice to see some familiar faces from camp, both staff and campers. We were especially excited to talk to Tristan and to hear that he accepted Christ as His Savior on the last night of camp! We had been praying for his salvation during the week of camp and were so excited to see that the Lord answered all of our prayers. Many young people, like Tristan, came back from camp excited about the Lord and seeking to do His will. We were also again reunited with fellow Crown students, Hannah, Jen, and Rebekah, who are traveling through the New Testament Church Pioneers program and are working at the camp for another week. We were priviliged to sing in the Sunday School and worship hour at the church, and were encouraged to speak with so many people who were supportive of the college and our ministry. We pray that the Lord continues to bless Pastor Widdis and the ministries of the First Baptist Church of Laurel.

Arapahoe Baptist Church

2009-07-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Riverton, WY

Pastor Tony Cole

We returned to Wyoming this week to spend 3 days on the Arapahoe Indian Reservation. Pastor Cole and his wife, who are originally from Tennessee, have been at this church for two years. We had the opportunity to minister in services on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening. It was wonderful to see some of the same families every night, eager to hear from the Word of God and be with fellow Christians. Also, because of our services being on weeknights, some of the local pastors were able to visit. We enjoyed speaking with them and it was encouraging to see how the pastors in this area have such good fellowship with one another. The Cole’s are very excited about what the Lord is doing and also for the upcoming arrival of their first child. We hope that the Lord will continue to strengthen this church for His glory.

Gospel Baptist Church

2009-07-16T10:39:00.000-07:00

Billings, MT

Pastor Jeff Benton

When we arrived at Gospel Baptist we were all exhausted from camp, but when we met Pastor Benton we were uplifted by his great big smile and an enthusiastic welcome. As we began meeting more people we realized that the whole church shared that same joy and energy that their pastor had. We arrived at the church expecting to have to work unusually hard at being cheerful and enthusiastic about the meeting everybody and singing for them, but the people had such a cheerful and loving attitude that we thoroughly enjoyed every moment with them. The song service was a special blessing because the congregation truly sang each hymn their whole heart. Pastor Benton mentioned during the service that sixty-six people had come to know the Lord as their personal Savior in the past week! This church's spirit of revival and consuming desire to serve and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ was a enormous encouragement to us. We only wish that we had more time to spend with them.

We sang one last song for Pastor and Mrs. Benton before we left

Castle Rock Baptist Camp

2009-07-16T09:23:00.000-07:00

Bozeman, MT
Camp Director: Pastor Walter Widdis
Dean: Pastor Dave Sprunger

Evangelist: Rick Moore

Castle Rock Mt. on a beautiful rainy morning

On Monday, we arrived at beautiful Castle Rock Camp and enjoyed a lovely couple of days there. The camp is located just outside of Bozeman right next to Castle Rock mountain and a gorgeous rushing river. The staff was very excited to see their largest junior high attendence in the eight years Pastor Sprunger has been leading Junior High camp. We helped out with meals and games, sang in the services, and Bri filled in as a counselor in one of the girls' cabins. It was a great time to get to know the camp staff as well as the campers and we were so encouraged by the spirit of Pastor Sprunger and the way he conducted the camp. There was plenty of fun activities for the kids as well as good times of searching God's word, preaching, and quizzing over the sermons and daily Bible reading. Evangelist Rick Moore was speaking this week and he preached powerfully both services we were in. We are so grateful for the girl that was saved Wednesday morning just before we left and we hope for many more decisions for Christ.Singing with the NTCP girls: Hannah Jones, Jen Cole and Rebekah Moore

We knew before we arrived that the Pioneer group for the Northwest was planning on arriving at camp the same day we were. Unfourtunately they had some serious car trouble and were not able to make it until Tuesday. Once they arrived, we enjoyed swapping stories of our travels and even got them to sing with us for the evening meeiting. They are staying for the rest of the week and all of next week, so we are praying the Lord continues to use them in the lives of the campers.

Sword drills during the Bible quiz

On Wednesday before we left, Bro. Derrick, Bri, and Alaina had the opportunity to hike up Castle Rock Mountain and enjoy the spectacular view of the surrounding mountains and rivers. Every other year they take the campers up the mountain and we were amazed and impressed that the Junior high campers could make such a trek. We loved the time we were able to spend with the campers and staff in the midst of a lovely portion of God's creation and we continue to pray that the Lord will bless and work in hearts through the camp.

View of from the top of Castle Rock (the camp is at the bottom center, left of the river)

Florence Baptist Church

2009-07-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

Florence, MT
Pastor Tim Johnson

We had a 3 hour trip to get from Great Falls to this Sunday evening service and we barely made it in time. When we did arrive, we were warmly greeted by a kind church family who did all they could to help us set up for the service. We sang many songs, showed the college video and Bro. Derrick preached a stirring sermon. We were encouraged by the varying age groups in the church and were kindly treated by all the families there. After the service the Pastor and his family as well as the assistant Pastor took us to Cracker Barrell (our favorite!) and we enjoyed great food and fellowship. We are so grateful for the wonderful accomodations we were provided with and we pray God's continued blessing on this growing church.

Fairview Baptist Church

2009-07-12T22:11:00.000-07:00

Great Falls, MT
Pastor Richard Dion

Sunday morning we joined the congregation at the Fairview Baptist Church. Although Pastor Dion and his wife were out of town, we enjoyed fellowshipping with Pastor Jonas, Bro. Brian and the people of the church. We were welcomed in the Young Adult class for Sunday Shcool, where Bro. Brian taught from Nehemiah on keeping sin out of your life. We were privelidged to sing in the morning service before Bro. Derrick preached a convicting message from Philippians 3 on "Enemies of the Cross." After the service, Bro. Brian took us out to lunch before we headed on to our next meeting. We appreciate all that the church has done to make us feel welcome. The congregation and Bro. Brian were such an encouragement and we are thankful for all that the Lord is doing through this ministry.

Glacier National Park

2009-07-11T11:26:00.000-07:00

Friday morning we returned to the Bergstrom home, and Jonathan, Andrew, Abigail and Anna Bergstrom joined us for a day at Glacier National Park. Pastor Schrepfer had given us some suggestions of things to see at the park and his list of favorites helped us get the most out of our visit. We got to stop at several waterfalls and hiking trails and even made it through the snow to the Hidden Lake. We had a wonderful day, and we are so thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has given us again to enjoy our wonderful country.

Valley Baptist Church

2009-07-11T11:07:00.000-07:00

Eureka, MT
Pastor Matt Schrepfer

Upon arriving at the church we were greeted by Pastor Schrepfer. He and his wife started the church around 2 years ago out of their own home and now hold services in their renovated garage. It's great to see how the church has grown and they have several faithful families who are seeking to grow in the Lord. After the service, we enjoyed the food and fellowship with the church. We especially enjoyed talking with Amber and Ashley, two sisters who are both praying about going to Bible college. This is a young church that is setting out to do great things for the Lord. We are grateful for their dedication to the Lord and good witness for Him in the community.

A new trio!

Grace Baptist Church

2009-07-08T21:49:00.000-07:00

Columbia Falls, MT
Pastor Don Bergstrom

Grace Baptist church is situated in one of the most beautiful areas that we have seen while we've been in Montana. The Pastor and his family enjoy the most beautiful view out of their back windows of the mountains and a gorgeous grassy field with horses grazing in it. When we first met the Pastor and his family we were impressed with the Christ - like spirit of the whole family. They are a very ministry minded family. There us a young lady named Andrea living with them that became a Christian while listening to some street preachers in California. When Andrea moved to Montana she was struggling with trying to find the right church when Lisa, the pastor's daughter, invited her to Grace Baptist. It was exciting for us to see Andrea's desire to serve the Lord. She is now the children's Sunday school teacher at the church, and growing quickly in the Lord as a result of the Bergstrom Family. We have fallen in love with this sweet family. During the service we felt so welcomed into the church just by the friendly faces of the congregation! The people were eager to talk to us after the service, and fed us some refreshments. Later that evening we sat down with the family and had lots of fun talking with them and playing with their children. It has been so exciting to see how the Lord is using this family.

Seeley Lake Baptist Church

2009-07-07T22:20:00.000-07:00

Seeley Lake, MT
Pastor Bill Bogardus

On our journey to Seeley Lake today, we made a very important stop. As we passed through Missoula, MT we stopped at the last Cracker Barrell in the Northwest. We have missed good southern cooking and have not seen a Cracker Barrell in two months. We were all very excited to be somewhere that felt so much like home.

We were greeted at the church by Pastor and Mrs. Bogardus, who helped us to settle in at their home. The service went great and we enjoyed meeting the families of the church. After the service, we had a meal with some of the church, followed by a highly competitive basketball game with the kids.
Wednesday morning, Mrs. Bogardus prepared a wonderful breakfast and sack lunch for us before we headed on our journey. On our way to the next town, we stopped at Holland Lake and hiked up to a waterfall and lookout over the lake. The Lord gave us a great stop in Seeley Lake and we are grateful for his continued blessings on us.

Faith Baptist Church

2009-07-06T23:40:00.001-07:00

Spokane, WA

Pastor Greg Boyle

We have heard many great things about this ministry in Spokane and were excited to visit. Unfortunately, we were unable to meet Pastor Boyle and his wife as they were traveling in Germany, but we were warmly welcomed by the congregation and their assistant Pastor, Bro. Donnley. We also met some Crown students and alumni as well. Jake and Amy Burkholder, who are Pastor Boyle's son-in-law and daughter, are now serving in this church. It is also home to Alysha Cunning, who just returned home from a year at Crown Southwest. Her brother, Andrew is also planning on attending Crown in the fall as a freshman. After the service we enjoyed eating at a cozy diner with the Donnley's and Burkholder's. It was so good to have been with these people who have such a heart for the work of the Lord.

Clark Fork Baptist Church

2009-07-06T23:37:00.001-07:00

Clark Fork, ID

Pastor Eric Lamphere

This Independence Day weekend, we were with Crown graduate Pastor Eric Lamphere. Pastor Eric first traveled in this area with the New Testament Church Pioneers and returned to take this church after he graduated in 2007. On Friday, we joined the church for a barbecue and helped make a float for the 4^th of July parade. The float was decorated along with the theme of their upcoming Vacation Bible Club and we helped pass out water and candy with tracts and information about VBS. We had a great 4^th with the Lampheres, walking in the parade and enjoying some late night fireworks.

Sunday morning we helped in the Sunday School rally time, the Teen class, and a primary class. We sang during the morning service and Bro. Derrick preached a convicting sermon from I Samuel 15 on being little in your own eyes. We really enjoyed our holiday weekend with this loving church and are so grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Lampheres and all who made us food and provided us with a place to stay. It really was a memorable 4^th and we thank God for his continued blessing on our group and safety in travelling.

Victory Bapist Church

2009-07-02T10:04:00.000-07:00

Sagle, ID
Pastor Jerry Favor

As we came into town, we were greeted by Pastor and Mrs. Favor and were soon made to feel quite welcome. We followed them to their house way out in the wilderness on a mountain and the pastor led us to a cabin further up where us girls were going to stay. It was a charming rustic cabin with a gorgeous view of a lake and the mountains surrounding it. We were so excited about staying there, though we were warned about aggressive moose.
We had a very good service with Victory Baptist Church and met several friendly families. The Pastor and his wife has ten children and other families in the church were quite large, so there were many children that we enjoyed getting to know. After we sang, Bro. Derrick preached a great message about knowing who you are in Christ from II Corinthians 13.
We are very thankful for Pastor Favor and his family for all their kindness to us in providing food and fellowship . We are especially grateful for the wonderful place we were able to stay the night and enjoy more of God's beautiful creation.

Orting Community Baptist Church

2009-06-30T10:29:00.000-07:00

Orting, WA
Pastor Dale Gore

Our visit to Orting Baptist was very exciting! Tyler Huggins, a music major at Crown, accepted Christ as his Savior and was taught piano by one the members. We were very surprised when Pastor Gore asked us to perform a few skits in the evening service. We were so glad to have Julianna with us! As a former Mount Moriah Camp staff member, she was full of good ideas. All of the girls have been blessed with a great sense of humor and we not only made our audience laugh a lot, but we kept ourselves laughing also. After singing, testifying, and preaching, we did some fun skits and even got some of the congregation involved. The atmosphere of the church was happy and friendly. After the service, people were very talkative and truly made us feel at home. Thank you, to the Pastor and church family for inviting us to "serve the Lord with gladness" along with you.

Having fun with some skits:

Faith Baptist Church

2009-06-30T10:28:00.000-07:00

Tacoma, WA
Mark Smith
This Sunday morning service was very exciting for us. We have heard so many wonderful things about what the Lord is doing through this church! It is also home to two Crown students: Nelson Meaders, who is traveling in the Northeast Quartet, and Ashley Weberg, who just finished her first year of school. The Webergs were so wonderful, allowing us to enjoy their home and their wonderful home cooking!

We had the opportunity to sing in the teens Sunday School class and share with them information about Crown College and how the Lord led each of us there. . Bro. Derrick preached a sermon to the teens about "What is your life?" from James 4:14. For the main service, we were able to sing a few songs right before the sermon.

After we sang some songs in the morning service, the youth pastor, Dan Kirchner, preached on "Jesus Christ" and the importance of the name of Christ. Pastor and Mrs. Smith were not with us because the people of the church all pitched in to send them on vacation for a week to celebrate 15 years of his ministry at the church. It was great to be in a church that is always seeking the Lord and His will. There is a great spirit within the heart of this church and they are always striving to move forward for Christ. Pastor Kirchner showed us the property and explained the vision that Pastor Smith has for the future of the church. We also enjoyed a wonderful meal in town with him and some of Pastor Smith's family. The Lord is greatly using the people here at Faith Baptist to do wonderful things for Him. What an encouragement it is to see the Lord working through this vast growing church! We pray that the Lord will continue to bless Bro. Smith and this great ministry!

Summary of Canada

2009-06-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

We just arrived back in the states after three weeks in western British Columbia. The Lord has really opened our eyes to the need in this area and we wanted to share with you some prayer requests and tell you a little of what the Lord has taught us about Canada.

We were very surprised by the varied demographics of the greater Vancouver area. There are so many people from around the world who have immigrated to western Canada, but especially from Asia. We could not help thinking that anyone with a burden for people from China, Korea, or the Philippines would have plenty of opportunity to work with them in this city. Several churches that we were in were primarily Asian and we enjoyed the over-abundance of kindness and hospitality that they showed. The young people in these churches were especially friendly and easy to talk to. Being with so many international people was a surprising but very enjoyable part of our trip and we hope you pray with us for more laborers to work in the area of Vancouver to reach various peoples of the world.

Pastor Turner and some of his congregation at the Anchor Baptist Church in BurnabyThe children's choir at Anchor Baptist Church in Burnaby

Another need we noticed among many Vancouver area churches was the difficulty in acquiring a building of their own. Many of the churches we visited meet regularly in a hotel meeting room or some sort of community center. Pastor Turner's church in Burnaby has a sizeable membership but the extreme costs for property have kept them in rented facility for eight years. God continues to bless works all over BC despite this difficulty, but it is surely a hindrance to what the Pastor's are trying to accomplish, so please pray that ample funds will be raised for more church buildings in British Columbia.

A gift from Pastor Sexton to Pastor Fred Davis of the Chinese Tabernacle Baptist Church in Vancouver
Touring Vancouver with Pastor Beliveau and his family. Their church meets in a hotel in the very heart of Vancouver.

Of course, just as in many parts of the world, there is a great spiritual darkness in Canada and the greatest thing we could pray for is revival. Despite the beauty of British Columbia, we have seen first-hand that the Lord must do a special work in the hearts of people to bring them to Himself. We are so thankful to have been given the opportunity to better understand the need for laborers in Canada and will surely be praying more for this area. Thank you for your prayers for us while we were in Canada and we hope you continue to pray for us during the rest of our travels.On Vancouver Island

Castlegar Baptist Church

2009-06-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Castlegar, BC Canada
Pastor Tom Kline

Thursday evening we joined the congregation of the Castlegar Baptist Church. We were greeted by Bro. Richard and his wife, who hosted us as the Pastor was out of town. Waiting for us was an amazing dinner of Turkey and dressing with mashed potatoes and gravy, prepared by the ladies of the church. They even had wonderful southern style sweet tea to make us feel more at home. We thoroughly enjoyed being in this church and talking with the young people before and after the service. It's great to see churches like this with young families eager to serve and see the Lord work. This was our last service in Canada, and was a great reminder to continue to pray for the faithful Christians still serving the Lord in difficult places.

Julianna is showing much promise...maybe we'll have a trumpet duet soon!

Beaver Valley Baptist Church

2009-06-25T11:55:00.001-07:00

Pastor Tom Stastney
Montrose, BC

We were so blessed by the people we met at Beaver Valley Baptist. We ate dinner with the Hawkins', the lovely couple we were staying with and then had a good service with the church. We were encouraged by the prayer life of the church in the way that they brought every need before the Lord in prayer. After we sang several songs, Bro. Derrick delivered an encouraging message on following Christ from Matthew, chapter 8. Please help us pray for the church to find a new pastor very soon. Bro. Stastney has resigned and is moving to help his son who is pastor in another part of BC. Bro. Hawkins is going to help lead the church in the meantime, but they are really praying for the Lord to send the right man to them soon. We enjoyed our stay at this friendly church and pray for God's blessing on them, especially as they search for new leadership.

Thompson Baptist Church

2009-06-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

Pastor Dave Crews

Kamloops, BC

On Monday night, we had a special service with Pastor Crews and his church family at the convention center where they normally meet. It was a good turnout and we enjoyed getting to know the faithful members who were able to come. After our songs, Bro. Derrick preached a great message challenging the church to evaluate how they are living the one short life they have been given. After the service, we ate pizza and played a terrific game of softball with the church. The kids especially enjoyed the fun time on the field, and we certainly did too! The only injury occured when Hannah was sliding into 2nd and skinned her leg very badly. Please pray that it heals quickly as it causes her a good deal of pain and discomfort.

We are very grateful for Pastor Crews and his wonderful family for their hospitality to us while we stayed in their home. We enjoyed good food, fellowship, and a beautiful trip to Wells Gray Park to see some majestic waterfalls and have a picnic by the river. We have had a great time with this family and we hope we have been a blessing to them as they have been to us.

Berean Baptist Church

2009-06-23T23:20:00.000-07:00

Pastor Greg Vaal

Kamloops, BC Canada

It was just a short trip to our service tonight from the church we were in last night. We enjoyed a delicious supper with Pastor Vaal, his wife, and their two adorable daughters. Before the service started, we had time to speak to many of the sweet people who graciously made an effort to come on a Tuesday night to hear us. The former pastor of the church, Bro. Horton and his wife still attend and Mrs. Horton told us many fascinating stories about her life. She was placed in a Japenese concentration camp along with the school of the China Inland Mission during World War II along with Hudson Taylor's grandchildren and was re-united with her family years after the war was ended. They were such interesting people to talk to and really had a heart to continue serving the Lord, even though he had to retire as pastor because of his failing health. We thank the Lord for the hospitality of the Vaal's and the kindness of the people at Berean Baptist. We enjoyed meeting you all and pray God's blessing on you.

New Testament Baptist Church

2009-06-22T23:33:00.000-07:00

Abbotsford, BC

Pastor Eugene Epp

In our third service Sunday, we were greeted by the pastor and his lovely wife who were very warm and welcoming. The pastor's daughter, Heather Epp, is a graduate of the Master's Program at Crown. We enjoyed visiting with her and seeing how the Lord is greatly using her in her father's church. The church family were so encouraged to see young people serving the Lord and giving their lives to Him. Bro. Derrick preached a sermon very fitting for Father's Day. He spoke on Standing for the Lord and applied it to Father's being the right example for their children. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless this church especially in their upcoming VBS.

Metro Baptist Church

2009-06-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

Burnaby, BC Canada
Pastor Russell MackayThe Lord really gave us a treat this past week with the privilege of staying in Pastor Mackay's house while he and his wife were on vacation in Hawaii. It is not often that we are able to stay long in one place, so it was such a luxury to stay in this lovely home for five nights in a row! We are so grateful to this generous family for giving us their home for the week and we were doubly blessed on Sunday morning by the warm reception we received in their church. We were so impressed by how Pastor Mackay's children helped set up the church in the community center where they meet, and his daughters played piano and keyboard for the service. All the fathers were given a Tim Horton's gift certificate (a popular breakfast cafe in Canada) and after we sang, Bro. Derrick preached a great message to challenge Fathers to live a godly life before their children. There were several children in the service, and we enjoyed getting to talk to some of the people before having a delicious lunch with the Mackays and the assistant pastor, Bro. Josh and his wife. Again, we thank you, Pastor Mackay and your lovely family, for being kind enough to share your house and allow us a break from moving. We pray God will continue to bless your ministry in greater Vancouver.

Harvest Baptist Church

2009-06-22T22:32:00.000-07:00

Langley, BC

Derrick Goette

We were privileged to have services on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with this thriving church located just outside of Vancouver. It is a church made up of very friendly Filipinos and they served us great ethnic food both nights. We also were able to pass out literature with the youth and enjoyed getting to know them. Harvest Baptist has a great group of involved young people, many of whom attend West Coast. Every service was so energetic and they were so hospitable and loving to us. Bro. Derrick preached powerful messages all three services and the Lord really used His Word in the lives of the people as well as in ours. We are so thankful for the kindness of these warmhearted Christians and we pray God's continued blessing on this ministry.

Chinese Tabernacle Baptist Church

2009-06-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Vancouver, BC Canada
Pastor Fred Davis

Thursday we had the unique opportunity to be in a Chinese church. This church is centered in the heart of Vancouver, which we've already found to have a very large Asian population. Pastor Davis, who was a missionary to Taiwan for 17 years, normally conducts services in Chinese, but for our sakes, spoke English as well. It was wonderful to spend time with these great people. The youth have a Bible study every Thursday night and are very interested in the things of the Lord. The children enjoyed our music and loved playing the piano with us afterwords. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless this much needed ministry in Vancouver.
Melody insisted on showing Hannah how she could play this piece without looking!
Julianna holds Jaivan, the Pastor's grandson.

Central Valley Baptist Church

2009-06-17T22:50:00.000-07:00

Abbottsford, BC Canada
Pastor Mike Nulph

This evening we visited the church of Pastor Nulph and his wife, Nettie. The people were very attentive and cheerful as we sang for them. Afterwards we all had a great time getting to know the sweetest group of ladies that were so eager to talk to us. We went to a Bro. Freisen's house after the service to have a snack, and he told us some incredible stories about getting the gospel out to people while in Russia, and also about witnessing to Muslims. He has apparently been involved in quite a bit of mission work in many different parts of the world. It was a tremendous encouragement to hear someone speak with such heart for lost souls and we look forward to going street preaching with him next week.

Sunshine Community Baptist Church

2009-06-16T22:47:00.001-07:00

Gibsons, BC Canada

Pastor Dave Cottrell

With Pastor Cottrell, his wife and their youngest daughter, Skye

We needed to take another ferry to reach the peninsula where beautiful Gibsons is located, but the extra effort was worth it all. Not only is the terrain along the coast gorgeous, the people we have met here have helped us so much.After spending some time with the Pastor and his family we headed to an assisted living center where we found a large group of elderly people waiting to hear us sing and play. We sang many songs, testified, and Bri played several trumpet peices (which the residents enjoyed singing along with). They were so thrilled to have us come, but we were more encouraged by their excitement in the Lord and their kind words to us.

We got to meet and speak with many of the church family during the pot-luck supper and we learned so much about the need along this western coast of Canada for good fundamental gospel-preaching churches. There is a heavy demonic oppression in his area through the influence of New Age philosophies and ages-old tribal religions that deal in superstition and witchcraft. As one man in the church put it, Gibsons is a "beautiful land in spiritual darkness." God is powerful enough to overcome Satan's power however, as we saw through the salvation of 22 year-old Sarah after Bro. Derrick's gospel message. Praise the Lord that He is turning the tide in one family's life and showing Himself strong through this church.
Before crossing back over on the ferry the next day, we sang and played in two more nursing home services that the Pastor had lined up ahead of time. They were such sweet people and we enjoyed taking extra time to minister to them. May the Lord bless Pastor Cottrell and his family for their heart for the people God has given them to serve.
With Sarah, our new sister in Christ.

Greater Vancouver Baptist Church

2009-06-15T22:23:00.000-07:00

Vancouver, BC
Pastor Gordon Conner

On Sunday we had an exciting evening with the people of Greater Vancouver Baptist. This church had a large majority of Asians and everyone was so warm and welcoming to us we felt right at home as soon as we walked in. It was most encouraging to see how they were so involved in the service and enjoyed worshiping Him. The choir sang a special number, which was a great blessing for us, and later the church presented the Pastor and his wife with a special gift for their wedding anniversary. It was great to hear about all the outreach ministries the people were involved in and know that they have a heart to reach their city for the Lord. After the service we were overwhelmed by the number of with people interested in books and CDs. We were so happy to help provide them with helpful books and uplifting music, knowing that such things are hard to find in this area. Thank you, Pastor Conner for allowing us to sing and be a part of your congregation for the evening and a special thank you to Bro. Paul Conner for the delicious Greek supper we enjoyed after the service.

Bro. Derrick, with Gabrielle, a young man in the church.

Anchor Baptist Church

2009-06-14T23:35:00.000-07:00

Pastor Ben Turner
Burnaby, BC Canada

With the Turners (except Brianna)

We enjoyed a wonderful weekend with Pastor Ben Turner and his family at Anchor Baptist Church. This church was celebrating their 8th anniversary on Sunday and we were priveledged to be with them on this big day. In preperation, the church handed out 15,000 flyers throughout neighborhoods. Meeting up with the Pastor and some church members Thursday evening, we helped distribute many flyers in a local neighborhood. It was great to see so many of the church members involved in this effort and getting the Gospel out to their community. Friday, Pastor Turner took us out to a delicious Chinese lunch before going to visit and sing for some shut-ins. We met some wonderful ladies from the church and enjoyed talking to them about the Lord. It was such an encouragement for us to hear these ladies talk about their love for Christ and burden for lost souls. Later that afternoon, we joined the Turners and Lesters for a barbeque. The Lesters are a family that recently returned from the mission field of Australia. They will be joining the Turners in their ministry at Anchor Baptist for a while, working with the deaf and starting a university ministry. Saturday, we passed out some of the last flyers and helped the pastor clean the church bus, as well as our own van and trailer.

The anniversary Sunday began with some of the members setting up for the service. The church has been meeting in a community recreation center for the majority of its 8 years and has to set up its own auditorium and sound system. The church usually averages around 130 on Sunday mornings and we were all praying that the Lord would use the flyer distribution to bring many first time visitors to the service. During the Sunday School hour, we were able to sing a few songs and Bro. Derrick encouraged the people with a message about "The Fullness of Christ." When the morning service began, we were amazed to see how people kept coming in and the ushers had to keep bringing out more chairs. By the time we got up to sing, they were almost to the back wall. The Lord truly blessed the service and used Bro. Turner as he preached about "A Journey of Faith." There was a fellowship afterwords and the pastor announced to the church that there were 30 first time visitors with a total attendance of over 220! It is so exciting to see how the Lord is working in this church! We pray that He will continue to bless these wonderful people as they serve him. Thank you, Pastor and Mrs. Turner for taking great care of our group and allowing us to be apart of this special day. We enjoyed our time with you so much and are thrilled to see what the Lord is doing through your ministry. Keep up the good work!
Pastor Turner leads Raymond, a 7 year old boy in the church, to Christ.

Bro. Derrick helps Pastor Turner with an illustration about how Christ bridges the gap between us and the glory of God.

Faith Baptist Church

2009-06-10T22:43:00.000-07:00

Chilliwack, BC Canada
Pastor Randy Hoxie

Wednesday evening we were at the Faith Baptist Church. When the people began arriving for the service they immediately started putting together bags of bread for people that had undergone serious health problems. It was great to see the people's involvement in the ministry and their desire to help others. Bro. Jerry was an interesting man in the church who had memorized an amazing amount of scripture and wove it into his normal conversation. We had the privilege of getting to see the Pastor's newborn granddaughter, Emma, and thoroughly enjoyed talking to the Pastor's daughter who had an impressive knowledge of music and his wife who had an amusing taste for adventure. The family was sweet enough to provide a great meal for us after the service. Thank you Pastor Hoxie for your kindness to us during our stay.

Grace Baptist Church

2009-06-09T23:10:00.000-07:00

Victoria, British Columbia
Pastor Don Johnson

Upon returning to Canada on Monday morning, we boarded the ferry for the Vancouver Island. Pastor Johnson and his family allowed us to stay in their home and were so hospitable for the two days we stayed. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the meals and just being in the company of such a loving family. On Monday evening, we joined the family for their weekly Bible study at a nearby assisted living complex. It was great to be able to sing and talk to these sweet people. Bro. Derrick and Julianna enjoyed talking to a lovely English couple who are members of the church.

Tuesday morning, Mrs. Johnson showed us around downtown Victoria and some of the historic sights around the city. We had a great time walking around the city and enjoyed a picnic lunch in a beautiful park.

After a wonderful day of sightseeing, we had a great service at Grace Baptist. The church had a very good turnout and all of the people were very warm and welcoming. We especially enjoyed talking to a gentleman who was from Texas and wanted to know if we knew what "sho-nuff" meant. We've already found someone in Canada who speaks our language!With two of the Pastor's children, Kaliegh and Cullen.

Liberty Fundamental Baptist Church

2009-06-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

Lynden, WA
Pastor Small

After our afternoon service in Canada, we hurried back across the border for an evening service in Washington state. We were slightly late for the service, but we were greeted with so many smiling faces when we entered that we knew we were forgiven for our tardiness. We immediately noticed the many children and teens in the room and were so encouraged by the families that were faithful to bring their children to church. We sang and played several songs before Bro. Derrick preached a stirring message that challenged Christians to stay faithful in the work of the Lord and to be compassionate for people. After the service we enjoyed wonderful food and fellowship with the church family and were able to talk to some girls who are planning to attend Crown. They heard about Crown by listening to Pastor Sexton preach on the internet and we were so thrilled to know that his influence has spread to the complete opposite end of the country. God has greatly blessed Crown College through its wonderful leader and we are grateful to represent not only our Lord, but also his faithful servant, Clarence Sexton. Pastor, may God continue to bless you and give you health. We hope you are having a great summer.

Urban Community Baptist Church

2009-06-08T23:27:00.000-07:00

Vancouver, BC Canada
Pastor Shawn Beliveau

Upon our first arrival in Canada, Pastor Beliveau and his wife gave us a warm welcome. We were able to be in their Sunday afternoon service, which met in a hotel. Everyone there was so friendly and excited to have us come all the way from Crown College. Most of them did not know much at all about Crown and were interested in our books and music. After the service, we had lunch with the pastor and his wife as well as the teens in the church. We were able to visit with the teens and share testimonies with them of how God brought us to Crown and all the opportunities that are available through the school, as well as the Temple Baptist Church. The Pastor and his wife gave each of us a Vancouver t-shirt as well as a Canadian flag pin as a souvenier for our first church in Canada.

Bay Community Baptist Church

2009-06-08T23:23:00.000-07:00

Blaine, WA
Pastor Jim Turner
Evangelist Norman Stevens

On the fifth and sixth of this month we had the unexpected privilege of attending a revival service being held at Bay Community Baptist Church. The speaker during the meetings was Bro. Norman Stevens. Friday night he preached an incredibly encouraging message that made us all desire to come to know God better through prayer. Saturday afternoon we enjoyed a picnic with the church families and were able to meet Adam Ravert' s brother and his family. We loved playing with the kids and getting to know the people of the church. Sunday morning Bro. Derrick preached a sermon about how God "spared not his own son", and the love of God was much more real to us when he finished. It made us realize what a great responsibility we have as representatives of the Lord.

Northwest Baptist Church

2009-06-03T23:07:00.000-07:00

Marysville, WA
Pastor Kerby Campbell

Wednesday evening, we had the opportunity to go to Northwest Baptist Church. Upon arrival, we met with the youth group to go soul winning. Each of us had the privilege to partner up with one of the teens and go door to door through a neighborhood in town. It was so amazing to see the Lord using this youth group for His service. These teens really know how to confront people about their lost condition and lead them to Christ.
Following the teen soul winning program, Pastor Campbell and his wife treated us to a wonderful meal. When we arrived at the church, the people of Northwest Baptist were very warm and welcoming. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and meet so many encouraging Christians. Bro. Derrick preached on "The Potters" from I Chronicles 4:23. He challenged the church to be faithful potters in this world for the Lord. Pastor and Mrs. Campbell's adorable son, Jack.

We also had the joy of meeting Colby Pennington's family. Colby attends Crown College and is traveling in the Northeast quartet. The Penningtons took us out for ice cream after the service and we very soon recognized the same sweet spirit of Colby in all of his family.

East Hill Baptist Church

2009-06-02T23:03:00.000-07:00

Kent, WA
Pastor John Steen

Tuesday evening, it was our privilege to be with the wonderful people at the East Hill Baptist Church. It was a great encouragement for us to be with these people who love the Lord so much. We had the opportunity to talk with church members of all ages, who were interested in the school and where we were headed next. After the service, Pastor Steen took us out to eat with some of the young people of the church. It was great to get to know them better and hear about their upcoming mission trip to Honduras. We pray that the Lord will bless Pastor John "the Baptist," his wife, and their church family as they continue to faithfully serve Him in Kent.

On our way to Kent, we drove by Mount St. Helens. This volcanic mountain, which erupted in 1980, is an amazing site in the Washington landscape.

Summerville Baptist Church

2009-06-01T14:40:00.000-07:00

Summerville, OR
Pastor Franklin Humber

Sunday evening we traveled to the wonderful little town of Summerville, Oregon. We had a great service, singing, testifying and being challenged by Bro. Derrick's message on "Fighting" from 1 Corinthians 9. Pastor Humber leads a thriving ministry in this small town with many strong families faithfully serving the Lord. The number in a church service often doubles the population of the town it is in! After the service we enjoyed going out to eat pizza with the youth group and several couples from the church. Thank you, Pastor and Mrs. Humber, for hosting us and for supporting the ministry of Crown College.

North Valley Baptist Church

2009-06-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

Eagle, ID
Pastor Jason Herring

On Saturday night and Sunday morning we were very privileged to be with the Herring family. Sadly, we arrived just a week after the burial of their 4 year old son, Josiah. Josiah was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor only a few short weeks ago and went to heaven while in Florida on a "Make a Wish" trip to Disney World. We were so moved by the stories of little Josiah's faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his brave look toward his eternal home. We were even more encouraged by the strength displayed by Pastor Herring, his dear wife Suzy, and little "J-bo." The Lord is showing Himself so true and faithful through this amazing family and we felt so privileged to try to be a blessing to them for a short time, even though they ended up being more of help to us by their sterling testimony through such a difficult situation. Please pray for the Herrings that God will continue to work His perfect will through their lives and influence.

Pastor and Mrs. Herring with J-bo

North Valley is still a young church and they meet in the gym of a local charter school. Please pray that God provides a permanant facility for this kind group of people to meet as a local New Testament church.

First Baptist Church

2009-05-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Cody, Wyoming
Pastor Jim Barrick
We had a special Friday evening service at the First Baptist Church in Cody, Wyoming. When we arrived at the church we enjoyed a delicious meal with Pastor and Mrs. Barrick, prepared by the church family. We had a great service, and Bro. Derrick preached from 1 Corinthians 4:10 on dying to self daily. It challenged us and reminded us that if we are not giving Christ our all, everything we do will be worthless. May the Lord help us to walk with him daily as we continue to minister to churches across the country.

Calvary Baptist Church

2009-05-29T08:52:00.000-07:00

Casper, WY

Pastor Jeff Matney

Wednesday night we were allowed to sing for the midweek service of Calvary Baptist. It was a special night for many because it happened to be the night they were giving awards for their Awana program. We watched as each of the Cubbies, Sparks, and older Awana groups quoted scripture and sang songs that they had learned throughout the year. Many of the children won multiple awards and they seemed so pleased that their hard work was recognized. We were so encouraged by the involvement of the church members in the program and saw that they truly desired to help the kids know the Lord. We were happy to be a part of this important evening for all the children and parents involved in this great program. Thank you Pastor Matney and Calvary Baptist for all your hospitality and generosity.

Faith Baptist Church

2009-05-26T22:36:00.000-07:00

Cheyenne, WY
Pastor Tommy Miller

Upon arriving in Cheyenne, we joined some families at the church for some fun and games. Tuesday morning we helped the Pastor and his family work on their new house. We cleaned, painted and Bro. Derrick helped tile some floor and build a railing off of the deck. We enjoyed doing some physical labor and getting to know Pastor Miller and his family better. The service on Tuesday night was a sweet meeting of God's people and the Lord blessed in a special way. We are so pleased with how the Lord is using our group and we give Him the glory for all He has given us the strength and opportunity to do.

Estes Park and Rocky Mountain National Park

2009-05-25T23:05:00.001-07:00

Monday we traveled to the Rocky Mountain National Park. We spent most of the day driving up to the the top of a mountain, which was at 11,700 ft. elevation. It was an amazing sight, one that we will never forget. It brought to mind Isaiah 40, how these majestic mountains are small in comparison with our great God.

Faith Baptist Church

2009-05-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Longmont, CO
Pastor Rick Cross

Sunday night we were priveleged to be in a church that had never had a group from Crown. Bro. John Kokenzie calls this church home, but they were otherwise unfamiliar with the ministry of the school. We were warmly received by the Pastor and his people and we were honored to have the opportunity to represent the school to these people who had never had students come to their church. After the service, we were invited to go with the youth group to a fellowship at the house of a lovely couple in the church. We had some great food and fellowship with the teens and then enjoyed some good singing and testimonies. We would like to especially thank Mr. and Mrs. Kokenzie Sr. as well as Mr. and Mrs. Fast for allowing us to stay in their homes.

Elmwood Baptist Church

2009-05-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Brighton, CO
Pastor Gary Randall

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Elmwood Baptist Church this weekend. It was wonderful to be with Pastor Randall, who is a good friend of Pastor Sexton's and a supporter of Crown College. Mr. and Mrs. Randall were more than hospitable and were very helpful and encouraging to our group. We enjoyed talking with him about the ministry and the things of God.
Sunday morning, we were able to meet and talk with so many wonderful people in the church. Bro. Derrick preached a stirring sermon on standing for Christ, not only for this generation but for the next. This challenged the church family, as well as our own hearts. We were not only given the privilege of being involved in the regular morning service, but also in the spanish service. Bro. Derrick preached some in spanish, but mostly with an interpreter, and we even tried to sing a few songs in spanish. Elmwood Baptist is also home to Crown students C.J. Knutsen and Anna Pallaoro, who just returned from The Crown British Division. We want to thank the Randalls and Elmwood Baptist Church for all of your kind words, support, and prayers. We pray that the Lord will continue to bless you. It's great to see churches like yours, that are continuing to stand for Christ!

Mountain View Baptist Church

2009-05-22T21:45:00.000-07:00

Denver, Colorado
Pastor David Thornberry

Friday we left the town of Colorado Springs, and made our way to Mountain View Baptist church. On our way there we stopped at Castle Rock, which is a large hill with a massive rock formation at the summit. We hiked to the top of the hill and when we arrived at the summit we all started looking for a not so steep cliff that we could climb. When we finally got to the top, we were amazed by the breathtaking view of the Colorado landscape.
We were greeted at the Mountain View Baptist Church by the pastor's wife and many of the church members who provided a great home cooked meal for us. The service was such a blessing; Pastor Thornberry involved the people in the service and he showed great interest in not only the college but also each of our lives. The Lord was definitely at work and used Bro. Derrick's message on our purpose in this life. The families of this church have a wonderful desire for the Lord and we were honored to be apart of their church. A special thank you to the Schuessler family for allowing us girls to stay in their home, even amidst such a busy weekend. Please pray for their seven year old daughter, Lydia who was taken to the
hospital with pnuemonia. May God bless this family with health and grace.

Verity Baptist Church

2009-05-21T23:22:00.001-07:00

Colorado Springs, CO
Pastor Grover Casada

We continued through the state of Colorado to the beautiful mountains of Colorado Springs. It's an amazing place and we are so thankful that the Lord has given us the opportunity to enjoy His wonderful creation as we travel. Pastor Casada and his wife helped us get set up at the church and then took us out to a tasty lunch. In the afternoon we got to go see the "Garden of the Gods" near Pike's Peak.
There was a special evening service and many Pastor's from local churches were able to attend. We especially appreciate Bro. Cook preaching for the service and challenging us all through the powerful Word of God. It was great to speak to the young people that came from Cornerstone Baptist Church after the service as well. The evening was finished off with a delicious meal with the Casadas and the Cooks. We are so thankful for the time spent with these wonderful Christians in Colorado Springs.

Ellicot Baptist Church

2009-05-21T23:03:00.000-07:00

Calhan, CO

Pastor John McKenzie

Upon arriving at Ellicot Baptist Church, the pastor and his wife were very helpful and got us settled in at the church. That night was their Christian school's graduation service. Some of the children that attended the school performed a program full of songs and verses. It was encouraging to see such a great work the Lord was doing at the school. It was a great blessing for us to sing and testify after the children finished their graduation program. Bro. Derrik preached on the subject "Who are You Living Your Life For" From Colossians 3:1-4. Following the service, the church provided fun, food, and fellowship in the gym celebrating the graduation. We played a game of volleyball while some played hide and seek with the younger children. We were able to meet many wonderful people who were interested in our school and what we stand for. Several were interested in learning more about the programs offered at Crown as well as the Seminary program. The Lord greatly blessed our stay at Ellicot Baptist Church.

Crown Southwest Norris Seminary

2009-05-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

Ft. Worth, TXThe visit to attend the graduation at the Crown College Southwest was totally unexpected and exciting. We had a blast seeing old friends again (Mia Stanley, Sarah Rogers, Chase Whitten,John Langman, the Knickerbockers, and many more), and were thrilled to finally get to see the beautiful campus in Texas.

Monday evening we took part in the first service of the Independent Baptist Fellowship International. It was a special blessing getting to meet many great men of God, and a privilege getting to sit under their preaching. I wish everyone could hear the amazing sermon preached by Bro. Johnny Pope at the commencement ceremony. The Lord spoke to all our hearts through his sermon, giving us a greater desire to give all of ourselves to glorifying our Savior.

While we were there we got to spend some time with Pastor. He was an encouragement to our group, and speaking with him definitely raised our standards and expectations for this summer. I was so proud to be able to say that he is my pastor and the president of the college I attend. We enjoyed our stay, but we were eager to get back on the road so that we could put to practice the things we had learned. God mightily used our unexpected trip to Crown College Southwest.

Bethel Community Baptist Church

2009-05-18T22:17:00.000-07:00

Fort Scott, KS

Pastor Greg Stine

It was such a pleasure to be in Bethel Church again with the Stine family. It was a special treat for Bri, who had visited for several days last year with a singing group. The Stines are a wonderful family who love their Lord and love the community God has given them to serve. Three of the Pastor's daughters have gone to Crown, and Sonda, who just graduated was married just a week before our arrival. Pastor Stine allowed us to sing many songs in the service and Bro. Derrick preached an encouraging message on the hope God has given us in the life we have. The people were so kind and welcoming to us and we thank them for their hospitality. We were treated wonderfully well with a fried chicken dinner after the service and were able to stay in the homes of some lovely folks from the church. Thank you Pastor and Mrs. Stine, Colette, Christa, Nonni and Monkey (Caleb) for being such gracious hosts. We wish we could have stayed longer. Also, congratulations to Justin and Sonda on their marriage! May God continue to bless Bethel Community and the Stine family for their faithfulness.

Grace Baptist Tabernacle

2009-05-18T22:16:00.000-07:00

Fort Scott, KS

Pastor Paul Rooks

When we first arrived Pastor Rooks and his family took us on a tour of the historic town of Ft. Scott. We visited the first national cemetery, Fort Scott, and drove around looking at all the beautiful old mansions while Mrs. Rooks pointed out all the special points of interest. We really enjoyed the time that we spent with the Rooks family, relaxing, eating, and playing basketball and football. Our first Sunday morning service was held at Grace Baptist Tabernacle. We had the opportunity to sing several songs during the Sunday School and worship hour. The Lord gave us a good service and we were encouraged by the response of the people.

Greater Cumberland Baptist Church

2009-05-13T21:29:00.000-07:00

Hopkinsville, KY
Pastor Ken Shaver

The Lord has given us some wonderful services this week and has blessed us greatly! We were able to spend two days with the Greater Cumberland Baptist Church and enjoyed it so much. The people were so kind and went out of their way to make us feel at home. We had a great service and were challenged by Pastor Shaver's message on prayer.

Thursday evening, we had the opportunity to join the church members as they went soul winning door to door. It was such a privilege to have a small part in the great ministry of this church. It is so exciting to see what God is doing through and in this church.

Thank you, Pastor and Mrs. Shaver for your hospitality to us, we are so thankful for all that you have done for us. We hope that the Lord will continue to use you to reach people in your area.

South Haven Christian School

2009-05-12T21:58:00.002-07:00

Springfield, TN
Dr. Steve Blazer

Tuesday morning we had the opportunity to be in a chapel at South Haven Christian School. The chapel service went very well and we had a wonderful reception from the students. It was a great blessing to get to meet and talk to some of the students who are praying about coming to Crown this fall.
Afterwords, Bro. Blazer took us out to lunch with some of the students and we enjoyed getting to know them better. Thank you, Bro. Blazer for your hospitality and allowing us to come into your school.

Campbellsville Baptist Temple

2009-05-12T21:58:00.001-07:00

Campbellsville, KY
Dr. B.C. Gillispie

We were very blessed to be able to have a special Monday night service at Brianne and Alaina's church. It was a very special time for them to be with their Pastor and church family. The people were so warm and generous and we would like to thank everyone for their love and prayers. We would also like to thank all of the ladies who helped with the fellowship after, we appreciated it so very much.

It was also a great encouragement that so many were able to support the Student Scholarship Fund on a regular basis. These gifts help so many students and we know every penny given is an investment in the Lord's work. Thank you Pastor for allowing us to sing and preach in your church, it was such a blessing to be with you.

Mount Pisgah Christian School

2009-05-11T12:17:00.000-07:00

Oliver Springs, TN
Pastor Garvan Walls
Principal, Jonathan and Sarah Bradford

Hello to all and thank you for checking
on us through this blog. We hope you are encouraged by it and will continue to visit the site throughout the summer. We are so thankful for all your prayers and support whether you are friends from Crown, loved ones back home, or new friends we’ve met on the road. I hope you enjoy this chronicle of our adventures.
We were so excited to arrive at our very first meeting of the summer at Mt. Pisgah. We still haven’t figured everything out yet, but it was great just to get into the swing of it all. The kids were so fun and Bro. Derrick involved them into his message so well. He gave a great sermon on finding all you’re searching for in Christ. Bro. Bradford is a Crown graduate and he and his wife were very hospitable and we enjoyed our short stay.