Church of Christ
Mission USA

Whither we goest, thou goest: by your prayers and financial support

      Greetings to all our fellow-helpers.  We hope that all are well and things going well with the congregation. I solicit your prayers on behalf of me and my family.  My mother passed from this life September 10 around 9:30.  I am thankful that I was able to see her once again and to have a little more time with her.  Please see journal below.

      Our gospel meeting in Fairmont, MN has come and gone.  On Sunday morning we learned that a small Baptist group was meeting upstairs in the building we were renting.  A lady from the group came down to make sure we had found everything alright.  We told her about our meeting and asked that she invite her group to come down.  After they were finished, she and her husband came for the 11:00 service.  On Sunday evening, a group from the Estherville congregation came so we had a total of 18 (2 were non-Christians).  On Monday evening we had 1 visitor from the community, the Christian church preacher, who said he had come to “check us out.”  Those from the Estherville congregation made our total 15.  On Tuesday, there were 10 of us. 

      We greatly appreciate those who came from the Estherville congregation.  I am sure they were benefited from the lessons as we all were.  We appreciate Michael presenting such good sound lessons.  Our only regret is that more wasn’t there to hear them.  We had a total of 5 non-Christians to attend the meeting.  We appreciate those who helped Michael with his expenses to and from the GM. We also appreciate Steve Iverson and Gordon Lucas who came on Thursday before the meeting to help us finish passing out the material.  Sandy and I had passed out 600 before Thursday.  Tammy, Michael and the girls also helped on Thursday.  Sandy and I each took a grand-girl and worked across the street from one another.  We also switched grand-girls so we could each work with both.  We took several pictures and I had Sher’ril to take a lot of them.  I thought they might come in handy if I ever did a class on door knocking.

      Having been in Fairmont, MN for 4 months, I think I can see the need of evangelization even more.  Brethren, please think about and try to visualize it: we were about one hour away from a congregation in three directions.  In the west it would be closer to 2 ½ hours.  The three congregations were so small they could do very little in their own areas.  Two were without a full time preacher.  Please see enclosed letter from the preacher at Estherville (below).

      Augusts’ totals: 369 miles; 2 spot studies; 5 dvds;  pks; 7 refused material; 993 GM ads; 1,866 total doors.

      Our total Minnesota work from May through August:  1,094 miles driven; 3,653 packets;  70 DVDs;  5 BCCs signed up; 993 gospel meeting ads.  The truth was presented to 3,653 homes.  They were given very good and sound material and ways of contacting us for further help.  We pray that there will be some honest hearts who will study and come to the knowledge of God’s saving truth.  The seed has been sown to this extent.  We pray and trust that fruit will come from it, if not immediately then in the future.  The power is in God’s Word (Rom. 1:16).

      We are very grateful for your prayers and financial support of us and the work so that we can sow the good seed in places where it has not been sown for ages, if ever.

In His service,            

Perry & Sandy
 
 
Following is a letter from the preacher where we attended this summer while working in Fairmont, MN.  We appreciate the congregation there and Steve's good attitude for asking me to teach and preach.  Please pray for this congregation.
 
 
Estherville Church of Christ
703 2nd Avenue North
Estherville, IA 51334

Dear Brethren,

            Please let me introduce myself once again.  I am Steve Iverson!  I have been preaching here at Estherville for the past 20 years.  I am a native of northern Minnesota where the church was non-existent until long after our family moved to Oklahoma in 1978.  I am very thankful that I was able to meet a preacher’s daughter who was able to introduce me to the truth of God’s Word.  I am deeply grateful for her and thank God for her every day because I had never heard of the church of Christ before that acquaintance.  I am not sure where I would be today doctrinally if I would not have had that opportunity to come to know the truth through her and her family.  I said all of that to say this!  We feel blessed to have had Perry and Sandy Sexton working in this difficult area spreading the gospel to all of those who, like me, had not had the opportunity to hear the good news of Jesus Christ and His desire for every soul to be saved.

            Perry and Sandy’s work is so vitally important and needed not only for the lost, those outside the Lord’s church, but also in giving encouragement to the members of the existing congregations.  They have labored within our congregation through Perry’s teaching and preaching.   Sandy has given encouragement through her willingness to be Perry’s helpmeet.  Also, I must add their singing has enhanced our worship services.  Sandy, as you know, has a beautiful voice and you can’t have too many of those when you have visitors who have never sang acapella before.

            As we reflect over the last three and half months we can see growth within our own group.  Minds have been stimulated through studying basic principles and practices needing to be taught even today.  We need to continually seek the old paths!  Our hearts were encouraged to be more concerned about the need of evangelism over personal comfort levels. Our souls were stirred to seek out those who are lost so they can be found.  Most of all, they were constantly reminding us to be faithful to our Heavenly Father in all things!  The messages were simple, we must be obedient to our Lord though that form of doctrine found in the Bible.  Last but not least we must put our faith into action! 

            Thank you for allowing Perry and Sandy to spread God’s Word to Fairmont and to demonstrate God’s Word to our congregation through your continual support.

            Finally I must say that Perry and Sandy did an outstanding job of organizing and orchestrating their efforts.  The final results of their door knocking and gospel meeting will not adequately reflect their abilities.  This part of our great nation is a very difficult area to evangelize but repetition and persistence has proven most effective for us.  So please continue to support the Sextons, not only with monetary means but through great words of encouragement.  The gospel meeting at the end of August held at the Red Rock Center was very edifying for those who partook in it, especially me. 

            Thank you for listening and your concern for the Lord’s church and the lost!  In Christ, STEVE
 

 2010, 8 Jrnl  The Passing of my Mother