November 23 Update

November 23 Update

This week I helped Brother Alish in his churches, and Brother Ismail in his churches.  Fellow missionary Larry Leach had been back in the states for his mother's funeral.  Brother Leach is back in Bulgaria now, and will again go with Brother Ismail.  Those churches are older and more established in the faith, so they are a joy to preach to.  They were glad to see me and made me promise to come back and preach to them more often. Sunday I preached four times.  By the last meeting I was very tired, but could have preached for two hours, the crowd was so attentive.   Below is my brother's most recent prayer letter.  He is planning to come to Bulgaria with his family to work in the ministry here.  Right now they are on deputation, but plan to come here next Spring.   From Bulgaria, Zachary LeFevre Our praying friends and family in the Lord,      This is the season of Thanksgiving, and as children of God, we have much to be thankful for.  We are thankful for our homes, our families, the country we live in, and our brothers and sisters in the Lord.  We are thankful as well, for all the Lord's material provisions he blesses us with daily.  First and foremost, however, we are thankful that Jesus Christ has "made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light". Colossians 1:12  What a priviledge to know that our names are written in Heaven; that simple faith in the word forever "settled in heaven", settled our soul's destination, and set us among princes!  "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." Hebrews 13:15   Preaching.  Recently I returned from a three week preaching trip.  The Lord opened the doors for me to present the work at Truth Baptist, in West Salem, OH; to preach a revival for one of our supporting churches, Faith Baptist Temple of North Ridgeville, OH; and to present the work and preach at Beacon Baptist in Lorain, OH.  Besides making new friends and fellowshipping with old ones, it was good to 'break the bread of life' and feast on God's word.  One night of the revival I preached about Joseph.  I recalled how the newly exalted Joseph had been set over the storehouses, to meet, not only the needs of the world, but especially the needs of his brethren.  How good it is to know, that our 'Heavenly Joseph' has opened the storehouses to us, and stands ready to meet our needs!    Believing.  It is good to rest secure in the knowledge that our God is able, and that there is nothing too hard for him.  It is another matter entirely to know that the God 'who is able', will; therein is comfort.  As a matter of personal confession, so many times I pray, recongnizing God's ability, but walk away empty-handed and disheartened, never having believed he would.  So it is with many of us, praying over our own needs; but that's the blessing and the necessity of the church; that though we struggle for oursleves, we're strong for others, and others for us.  And so I thank God for you all, for not only praying for our needs, but that your faith has secured those needs.  Please continue to pray for more open doors and opportunities to present the work.  Please continue helping us believe for what we lack.  I know the Lord will provide, and so I offer my thanks to God in advance for meeting all our needs.   "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:57      May the Lord bless you all.  You are in our prayers.     Because of a living Saviour,  The William LeFevre Family    PS – Please remember Hannah in your prayers.  It is less than a month now until her due date.

November 16 Update

Wednesday on the way to the regular meetings I got a phone call from a woman in our church.  There was a woman from a nearby village that had come to her house to ask the believers come to her village to start a church.  Even though it would be late, I told her we'd be there that evening.  After the regular meetings we went, and she was so happy to see us that she cried.  She had been saved some years before, but just recently moved to that village where there was no church.  She had missed church so much that she road the school bus to our village to see if we would come.  (She had to walk back home).  That night there were about five of the neighbors that came and listened as we sang, and then preached about the prodigal son.  They all said they wanted to be believers.  We agreed to come back Friday afternoon.   Friday there were about ten people gathered.  They all said they wanted to be believers; that's why they came.  I preached from Romans chapter ten about how a man can be saved.  Before I could finish there was one woman that interrupted me three times saying, "Tell us, how can I be saved".  She thought she couldn't be saved because she couldn't read or write, and didn't know any prayers.  After I preached the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, I told her just to call on the Lord.  "That much I CAN do!", she said.  We had prayer, and each adult prayed with a loud voice, asking God to save them.  Pray for this little group.  Lord willing, we'll go back every Friday. From Bulgaria, Zachary LeFevre

November 9 Update

This week Brother Larry Leach traveled back to the states.  His mother passed away just a few days ago.  Remember the family in prayers.   While he is away, we're short-handed again.  Brother Ismail is currently taking a taxi to his nearby village churches.  Sunday I saw Brother Nasuf.  His family and church are well.  The village churches in his area are full.  But, his vehicle is now more of a financial liability than anything else.  Please pray that the Lord would supply the need for this preacher to travel to the villages and preach the gospel.   Saturday we had a special meeting in one of our village churches.  Brother Shayim has had a church meeting in his house for ten years.  Now he is a grandfather.  For the baby's dedication service they prepared a meal to feed one hundred people.  Believers from several villages came.  It was a time of great joy. We thank each of you that prays for us, and ask that you would continue, and especially for our visas. From Bulgaria, Zachary LeFevre