Those of Italy salute you!
A busy summer is past. The church had a family conference with Brother Richard Rawls; then a visit and report from the Bloyds; one of the missionary families supported by Vicenza Baptist, (VBC).
July brought a visit from the Bob Jones Musical Mission Team. The day after they left Brother Dave Mros and his wife Cathy arrived to fill in while we visited the States. The church received many visitors during the summer, (in response to many more invitations). Please pray as the invitations continue to go out and the church follows up on the many visitors.
One new family has joined VBC. Pat and Gaby Booker arrived from Germany with their two daughters and are getting our children’s church going. This is a great blessing. One of our short falls is a lack of Sunday school teachers and children’s workers. Please pray for this need.
The Bookers arrived just as the church said goodbye to the family of Kent and Tina Thompson. They have been a great blessing and it was sad to them go, but that is a part of military life.
While in the States, visiting churches and family members, Isabella learned that in late March, John William will have a little brother or sister. We should know which by the next letter. Please pray for Isabella! This will be a ‘challenging’ time for her.
We wish to thank the many friends and churches that invited us to visit. We are very sorry couldn’t visit all of you, but we are grateful for your kindness.
August 16th was the churches 20th anniversary. VBC was started in 1989, when a group of soldiers who desired to have an independent, fundamental Baptist church began meeting together for Bible study. The church has been serving soldiers and their families ever since. Brother John Hornbeck, preached the very first service in 1989, and returned to conduct the anniversary service.
Among the missionaries supported by VBC are a dear couple named Tom and Sandy Hastings. Each year they come down from Germany and Sandy conducts The South of the Alps Ladies Retreat. This year VBC will host this event which ministers to the ladies from throughout Italy. Sandy is a veteran missionary, author, and ladies conference speaker. The Hastings will join us from Thursday through Monday, (Oct. 8-12), and Brother Tom will minister the word here during the Sunday services.
A final note; all of the soldiers here can be deployed at any time. Though we won’t mention, dates, times or locations please be in prayer for men who may depart at anytime as well as the families they leave behind. We also treasure your prayers as we seek to minister to these soldiers and their families.
In addition to the above, pray for:
Soldiers to be saved
Our children’s / family ministries
Outreach to the civilian community
Revival among God’s people
Many thanks to all who pray and give,
Yours in Christ,
The Drylie Family
