Mike Wells – Continued growth in the Lord, health.  Mike is a believer who is really excited about sharing his faith on the field. 

Matt:  Pending marriage, growth in Christ to be a witness of His power.  He also desires to lead his friend Mike to Jesus.  Pray that God will honor his request.

Lynn Nikkel, Don Whalen, Drew and Pam Crabtree – Please pray that God will revive their hearts in the Spirit; that they will be faithful to His vision for their lives, and that the revival fire we pray for here in Wyoming will begin in their lives also.

Please pray for the youth at MainStreet.  Get a list of the names and lift them up to the Lord as often as you can.  Pray for their steadfast commitment, that the Lord will build a hedge of protection around them and preserve them in purity of heart, mind, and body.

Please pray for the Lord’s provision for the Chapel operation and for the ‘rolling chapel.’  Also, please pray for the location of the next OCF chapel.  Pray for John Bird and Mike Chaffin as they prepare for the Oilfield Christian Fellowship Annual Breakfast, where they will be presenting the opportunity to oil companies to provide another chapel.

Please pray that what we have learned will be used as we attempt to replicate energy industry chapels in other areas.  

Please pray for Pastor Ed Bryant and his wife Autumn.  He has released himself from secular employment, to full time pastoral ministry of Fellowship Baptist Church.  Pray that the church will support their Pastor financially, emotionally, spiritually and that the Lord will bless their sacrifice.

Justin, Carl, Sadie, Ruth – Christians with problems in their marriage. Pray that the Lord would work in them to restore their marriages and protect the children.

Mack-Pray that the Bible we took him will be a blessing, and be read, bearing fruit according to the promise that God’s Word will not return to Him without having accomplished the purposes for which He sent it forth.

Sheri and Duke – Please continue to pray for the new believers, and their families.  Please pray for Spiritual protection and perseverance.

Richard and Carole Boyum – Pray that their family will be blessed as Richard spends his last few weeks here on earth preparing to go to be with Jesus in person.  He has only 5% of his lung capacity left and knows that his heart is failing from the stress.  He says that one day he will fall asleep here and wake up in glory.  Were it not a sin, I would be envious I do believe.  Pray for Jerry, his oldest son, who is not a believer and is having a really hard time with everything.  And of course, pray for his wife who is tending him with strength and courage.  I know that many of you can relate personally. 

Other than those things, please pray for the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace…for yourselves, for us, for the Body of Christ, worldwide.  Pray that we will experience moment by moment, both the “power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering” for lost individuals.

We thank our Lord upon every remembrance of you…praising Him always for your faithfulness even until now.  We thank Him for the notes, cards, and emails we still receive.  We thank Him that we are your ‘forever family’ and we have the honor of representing the ‘Family’ here, in this place, in this time–in the Name of Jesus, for the Glory of God alone. 

When asked how we can pray for them, what needs they would identify for themselves, the responses vary of course, but they all have some things in common.  They want some kind of respite from the pressures of their jobs, and the demands that society puts on them to live up to their ‘reputation’.  They want to know that they are appreciated for something other than the money they spend.  Like any of us, they want to know that somebody cares. 

This is where the Oilfield Christian Fellowship, Big Piney Chapel comes in.  By God’s grace, we are able to “be here” when their felt needs become so great that they spill over into a seeking.  Slowly, the Chapel is becoming known as a place where the love of God is offered with no strings attached.  We aren’t a church that takes up a collection.  We aren’t a store selling something.  We are simply here to offer whatever succor they will receive, and to offer it in the Name above all Names, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

As I am sitting here typing, its “before hours” but someone rushes in on the way to the his Company trailer.  He’s bringing a sack full of Christian books that his grandma sent with him from home.  He tells us he’s returning from time off and has a friend who is “about to turn the corner” in life.  He wants us to witness to him, he wants us to lead him to Christ.  Kevin could lead his friend to Christ on his own, but it took all the courage he could muster just to bring us the Bibles and ask his friend to come to ‘church’ with him on Sunday.  The devotional services we have ready every Sunday are brief, and seldom attended.  Sunday is just another work day here–but between shifts, when the night shift is getting up, and the day shift hasn’t arrived there is a brief time when a service can be sandwiched between the coming and the going.  So far, the Lord has reaped 100% from these devotionals–every person who has ever attended has come wanting a personal relationship with Him.  God wants to work here.  We want to be used by Him here.  What prevents these men and women from coming to Him, or those who know Him from becoming intimately involved with Him on a visible, and daily basis?  Here are some things from the men themselves.

The companies they work for do not, in any way promote healthy lifestyles.  The “Company men” warn when the drug tests are coming up; turn the other way when the prostitutes come on site; and participate in, encourage, and/or tolerate behavior that is morally reprehensible.  In the small, closed society of the rig, it is extremely difficult to stand up to a rig boss or company man whose behavior is oftentimes worse than any of the hands.  If there are Christian men in management positions of these companies (Exon, Shell, BP–whatever) they don’t make themselves known by their demands on or provision for other Believers in the field.  If there were company sponsored chapels in every man camp, or site, would they all utilize it?  Perhaps not, but at least the behaviorial expectations would be presented differently, and there would be somewhere to go when the need became great.  The EnSign Camp next door provides every amenity for their workers.  It’s like a huge motel with food service onsight.  Their beds are changed, their meals are prepared for them.  They are bussed to their work site.  They have dining, living, and exercise areas provided for them.  Until a month or so ago, they also had a computer room and phone service.  It’s closed now because of viruses and so much pornography on them that they all crashed, and/or became unuseable to those who chose not to be exposed to what came up every time a computer was turned on.  Peer support is negligible.

Their “home” churches don’t expect it.  If they do go to church, or are aware of one, most don’t live any differently than the culture they face while at work.  God’s expectations, for the most part, really have no place in the lives of most of the churches with which they are affiliated.  To them, it is a small leap from ‘living together’ to taking advantage of prostitution while they are away from home.  What’s the difference?  If one thing the Bible calls ‘sin’ is OK today, then why isn’t everything else?  [The previous is one statement often repeated.]   Peer pressure is devasting.

What does all of the above have to do with you?  Nothing, if you don’t want it to–everything if you want to, by God’s grace and movement in your life, impact Godly change in your world:  And we can, because He wants none to perish, but for all to come to Him.  Every human being, ever born, has the knowledge of God written into their heart.  They are born, “looking for something” to fill the space that is reserved for God alone.  Whenever we allow substitutes in our own lives, we set the standard for someone else, and they set it for someone else, and on it goes.  Sometimes I look around and the ‘problem’ becomes overwhelming…how can we impact our world when all we are is just one aging couple, longing to spread the love of God.  The whole of the world, and much of the church thinks its none of our business.  It’s only one opinion…and people who are supposed to know what is “right” are so involved in idol worship (money, power, materialism, diversity, apathy to name a few) they are afraid to take a stand and say, “Stop, this is God’s world-and we will live that truth.”

I heard a testimony recently at a Prayer and Renewal Conference, from Richard Blackaby, whose organization witnesses to and disciples men and women who are owners, CEO’s, Executive Management, in Fortune 100, and 500 companies around the world.  He told of a CEO, and majority shareholder of a company with worldwide market influence.  This man came to Christ and faithfully grew in His knowledge of the Word and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.  While watching TV one rare evening at home, he came across (he was “flipping channels of course–he’s a guy) an ad for his company.  Curious to see what show his company was sponsoring, he watched through the commercials and began watching the remainder of the show.  Mr. Blackaby didn’t mention what show was being watched, it could have been almost anything currently on television, but the man was so horrified by what he was sponsoring that he immediately called the advertising agency his company retained and told them to pull all the ads sponsoring that show.  Despite losing a huge amount of money to cancel the contract, he could not abide knowing that what God provided to him, was being used to blaspheme His Name, ridicule God’s standards and promote such purient, destructive, material.  The show was cancelled the following week.  Just one man, convicted by God, taking a stand.  (I wonder how many of us would even turn the channel.)  But, I digress.  What can you do for these men and women in the energy industry to whom you have sent us? 

Pray for the CEO’s, the Executives, the owners and managers (all in authority) that they would begin to see the benefit of having spiritual and emotional support “in the field.”  Pray that they would follow through and provide “Company Chapels” onsight, wherever they set up camp.  Pray for partnerships between Godly organizations (like NAMB, Corporate Chaplains of America, Oilfield Fellowship) and the energy companies so that the spiritual support that is provided, points to God through Jesus Christ. 

Pray for the families, for the churches in the places where the men make their homes.  Pray that the churches would respond to their needs with Godly support and encouragement and not be negligent to pray themselves.

Pray for yourselves.  Pray that you would let no opportunity pass you by to take a stand for Jesus Christ.  That doesn’t mean self-righteous, stay inside the doors of my church and point fingers–it means the kind of loving, confrontive, compassion that Jesus Christ Himself showed to everyone (even including the religous hypocrites of His acquaintance.)  It doesn’t mean acceptance of sin–it does mean loving the sinner with the love of God.  (Don’t you want to be loved with that love?  Isn’t that what brought you to Him in the first place?)  Jesus never told anyone, “anything goes”; He did however, say, “Go and sin no more.”      

This has been a mish-mash hasn’t it?  Forgive me, but understand our hearts. I am thinking about John Bird, President of Oilfield Christian Fellowship who will be speaking to Company men this weekend in Canada, and then again at the big prayer breakfast in May; men who have influence and have the ability, by God’s grace to impact the energy industry in a big way, for Christ.  Pray that God will give him a voice to share what is on God’s heart, with power and conviction.

I am thinking about the notes we receive from families of the men who come in here.

 ”Thank you for being there for my husband, and for us.” 

“You have a special place in our hearts for bringing God to the camp.” 

“I just thought you should know how much the families appreciate you being there in the chapel.” 

“We aren’t Christians, but I’m so glad there is a good place that supports families.” 

“We are all so grateful that you are there for our husbands.” 

“My husband is such a different man since he can come over there to the chapel instead of going to the bar every night.” 

It goes on, and on.  And to whom do the “thanks” belong?  Oh first, and always, to God.  To those who pray.  To the men He has chosen to use.  To the Company He chose to provide the chapel.  To the churches who support the work, and the workers.  To those who have found what all these men and women are really looking for, and having found Him, tell others.  To you, our heart– our family.

Come visit me again here soon…let me know you prayed.  And having done all, stand…in the nurture and admonition of the Lord of Glory.  Love one another, with pure hearts, fervently.  Remember us.  We love you.

Your ‘sifted ones” in Wyoming,

Gary and Roberta  

This isn’t really about basketball, I just said that to get your attention…now that your’re reading– 

OK – contrary to popular opinion, Gary and I did not bring the snow to Kentucky.  While we were there for a week, it didn’t even stick.  We will however, allow that we wished you all kinds of the wonder that we experience when we have snow storms.  We hear that our Kentucky family has been blessed with more snow in two days than they had all winter.  (Sorry about the spring break thing…there has to be a better way of handling those back roads than cancelling school and causing all that parental frustration!)  So, my dear Kentucky family, I hope you enjoyed your snow, and thought about us as you rolled snowmen and shoveled your cars out.  Remember though, I know that if you would just stay home and wait for a day or two, it would all melt and then, no shoveling would be needed.

Our week in Kentucky was so very refreshing to our souls—and bodies since it didn’t entail the 12 hour, seven days a week schedule we have been keeping for the several months.  Our trip home was uneventful unless you want to count landing in Jackson Hole to find our car needed to be shoveled out and that there had been an airplane slide off the runway and catch fire just before we landed.  (No serious injuries, just a few bruises from coming down the emergency slides and quite a few red faces.)  If anyone ever wants to come see us, Jackson Hole has only one (count them) ONE gate, and ONE baggage thingy (don’t know what its called) which is adjacent to the only “in” door from the runway where the plane lands.  And they are very, very slow getting the luggage off so there may be two or three planeloads of people standing around poking one another with ski poles and wrestling one another for similar appearing bags while their mink and leather coats perspire from the exertion.  That’s a hint by the way, if you fly into Jackson, pack sparely and prepare to fight!  After obtaining our very distinctive scruffy luggage (no ski poles or designer labels on it) we drove directly to Casper for a conference.  I think I slept through most of it, with my eyes open to be polite, and was very glad to get back to our little trailer and our own bed.

Thanks to the wonderful ladies who let me come and speak at the WMU tea in Kentucky, and thanks so much for rescheduling .  It was such a blessing, and I hope that my edited and shortened version of the wonderful message that the Lord gave me was a blessing to you as well.  I am still trying to comprehend the awesome thought that we, you—I—each of us, His children, are His reward for the suffering and shame of His cross.  We are “the joy that was set before Him,” Hebrews 12:2—how incredible.  Doesn’t it make you just want to  please Him  with everything you have?! 

We returned to another “crisis” in the ministry team here.  Without sharing too much, let me just say that the things the Body of Christ at MainStreet are facing, are the same that face the Body of Christ all over the world-including in Wyoming.  If the evil one can get us fighting amongst ourselves and criticizing each other,  he won’t ever have to worry about souls being won to Jesus Christ; we’ll be too busy justifying ourselves to ever tell anyone about the love of God in Christ Jesus.  I am ashamed to say that I (Roberta) have personally allowed myself to become discouraged by this, almost to the point of wanting to walk away.  By God’s grace, my wonderful husband doesn’t suffer from the same angst as I, and sees his only course as following the vision the Lord gave him when you sent us, and the church here called us.  He tells me regularly that if we are faithful to do and be what God has called us to, He (our heavenly Father) will reap the glory.  That’s what it’s really all about anyway; and it truly is our heart’s desire—simply to please Him in all we do, and bring Him all the glory.  So, for you hardy souls who have made it this far in your reading, may I encourage you, wherever you are, to stay the course, consider the “well done” important only if it comes from the Master, love passionately the most obnoxious brother or sister you can find, don’t waver or compromise on clear principles from the Scripture, and don’t make mountains out of mole hills.  Ask yourself if whatever you are upset about is going to make any difference at all to the Kingdom of God (whether you are right or wrong,) in five years.  Don’t complain or grouse about something unless you have spent at least an equal amount of time praying about it, and even then it would probably be best to simply offer it to God as an offering of thanksgiving—then you won’t have to worry about defending yourself if you end up being wrong.  And finally (omitting a LONG list of things I have learned by this experience in Wyoming) try to remember that it wounds the very heart of the Living God when His children backbite, fuss at, gossip about, and otherwise wound one another.  We are His workmanship, created for GOOD WORKS—and at the end of the day, if what I have done, doesn’t  come under the category “GOOD WORKS” then I, (not” someone else”) have not been obedient to the Lord Jesus, and I owe Him an apology (and perhaps “someone else” too.) 

I have been thinking a lot lately about digging holes…for lots of reasons.  One thing I have thought about at length is that I would never, ever, try to dig a large hole with a hay fork (pitchfork.)  Why?  Well because it’s not the right tool for the job of course.  If I wouldn’t be so foolish, what makes me think that God, Who created every “tool” by His own will, would try such a foolish thing?  What does this have to do with anything?  Each member of the Body of Christ is placed by God with specific use in mind.  His mind.  We who are born again of the Spirit of that same Living Creator God,  must know that our place in His Body is chosen by His design.  It doesn’t matter how we kick against the pricks, God will not use a shovel to do the job of a pitchfork.   He created us, designed us by considering every last atom of our being, and places us in the Body at His will.  May I ask you simply, my dear brothers and sisters, to consider how you are being used by the Master;  And if He isn’t ‘using’ you to glorify Himself, why not?  And if He is using you, know that you are an irreplaceable part of the Body—there is only one YOU.  Thank Him, and count on this—He knows what He is doing.

WHAT IS GOD DOING IN WYOMING?  Abundantly more than we can ask or even think about asking for is the answer.  And I know He is doing the same wherever YOU are too.  Are you noticing?  Are you expecting?  Are you giving thanks?

I thank God every time I think of you.  Your prayers of encouragement and uplifting are truly a boon to us.  We brag often about the ‘prayer warriors’ who battle with us as we reach out on the Jonah mission field.  Since the beginning of February, we have had 89 visitors, 24 first time visitors, several  major answers to prayer, and many more who have asked for prayer.  We have seen one man who works on the Jonah Field become so excited that he is now reaching out and offering help to other guys.  The Lord has done a marvelous work in our own lives…we are learning more about Him every day as we seek His face on behalf of these men in the camp.  He is ever faithful to respond to our pleas for daily fruit and we are grateful for every person He sends our way.

If you will remember when we were first ‘brainstorming’ the ministry here, prior to our chapel arriving, we had asked prayer for a truly “mobile” chapel.  The truck and trailer, called the “rolling chapel” has arrived and is now parked in Big Piney, ready for use.    Drew and Pam Crabtree will be in charge of the mobile chapel, continuing their church strengthening efforts with 1^st Baptist, Big Piney, as well as investigating ministry opportunities for the truck and toy hauler that NAMB provided funds for with Cooperative Program Funds.  At present there is no budget specifically for the “Rolling Chapel” and we would covet your prayers for funding sources, particularly for fuel.  Everything is a long drive from Big Piney. 

Energy industry development is continuing to grow.  If any able bodied person needs work, there’s lots of it here.  In the Jonah Field alone there are permits pending for 85 more new wells.  Speculation is that this is the largest developing energy producing field in the world, certainly in the United States.  How does this impact our work here?  Firstly, it certainly validates our identification of at least two distinctly different, formerly unidentified ‘people groups.’  One group of energy industry workers are those who make their homes in the area.  They integrate into the community, buy or rent homes of their own, and basically settle in.  This group is the group that the local churches will be most effective in reaching out to.  They respond to outreach efforts, and some will even come to the church on their own.  This large influx of ‘permanent’ residents taxes the community resources, raising prices for homes and commodities.  Long time Wyoming residents have an ambivalent attitude toward this group due to the many “booms and busts” in previous years and the economic aftermath.  Observation and historical research shows that if the church reaches out to this group, they most often integrate well into the communities—staying through and after the boom years, opening businesses and raising families.  Since the local churches consist mainly of the resident population, were they to seriously outreach to this people, the benefits to God’s kingdom work would show fruit for decades in this area.

The second group of people we have identified are the ones who live in the man camps, RV parks and motels.  The individuals in this group seldom integrate into the community, consider the camp or rig their social group, and most often do not have family ties in the local area.  Some, actually a very few proportionally, have families within a day’s drive.  The men and women who stay in the man camps are required to leave the camp when they are off shift.  They work either 1 or 2 week shifts, go to their homes (or try to find a local motel) for the same amount of time and generally come back to the same rig, although some rigs move on in the interim and they return to work in a new location.  Whereas traditional evangelism efforts may bear fruit with the group that become permanent residents, the transient group will not be reached by traditional means. 

Our main goal, here at the Chapel is to provide an environment where we can earn, in a very short period of time, the right to be heard.  Our method has slowly evolved (and is still evolving) to become something much like what Jesus did Himself.  Gary walks out among the men, just visiting and introducing himself, listening for the Holy Spirit to provide an opportunity to initiate spiritual conversation.  We invite them for meals, try to find their interests and then stage an “event” around those interests.  Whether it be sports, just relaxing with a movie, using the phones/internet, grabbing a quick drink before work, or running in to ask for prayer or just say hi—we have decided that the best we can do, is simply “be here” and be ready always to “give an answer for the hope that is in us.”  We are, to borrow from MainStreet’s vision, “continually seeking new ways to be an avenue of God’s blessing to our community, and to our world.”  In reality, when these men and women leave the camp here, they literally go all over the world.  In as much as we are able to obtain their “home” addresses, we try to follow up in their “hometown” to provide them a contact with a local church, or in some cases ask the local church to follow up with them.

We are looking forward to the Regional Prayer and Awakening Conference in April.  The Wyoming churches are working together through Claude King’s book, “Fresh Encounter” and  it is evident that God is beginning now to call His people to repentance, and to prepare for the RAIN—good old fashioned REVIVAL RAIN.  If God’s people get excited, renewed in the joy of their common salvation there will not be any way to contain the joy of it all because there is a very transient people group here who will be spreading it all over the world.  Oh pray that we will be faithful to the call, and that we will see Revival Fire descend on this place, in this time.

I suppose I should apologize that I, once again, have written a thesis instead of a summary, but I just can’t help it.  Feel free to read the last first, the first last, the middle not at all if you want to.  It is just such a joy to write to you, and know that your response will be prayer.  I sit here and picture faces one after another who will read this.  In Oregon, Washington, Missouri, California, Kentucky, Vermont, Colorado…Georgia…what a rich heritage we have in you.  May the Lord bless you richly, each and every one with His richest gifts in glory!  We pray for you.  We love you. 

Gary and Roberta Franklin

Prayer Request page is on Write Back page. 

Ever get the “post holiday” or “post event” blues?  I think we all must to some extent, at least that’s what I tell myself as I sit here writing to you and recounting the many blessings of God that we have received these past weeks.  I have absolutely nothing to get the blues, or the blahs over, yet there is that niggling sense of something undefinable that is keeping me on the edge of unrest.  So, my mind begins to look around for “reasons” and it takes me a bit of pondering and praying to figure it out.  “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1)  “For it is God that works in us to will and to do His good pleasure.”(Phil 2:13) “…without Me (Jesus), you can do nothing.”  John 15:5, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”  Phil 2:3  “Let your light so shine before men that others may see your good works and glorify God who is in heaven.”  “To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”  Col. 1:27  “Odd” says I to myself, “there is no mention of my name, or even one little ‘I’ in there.”  We have been so caught up of late in “busyness” that perhaps I have forgotten that it is God’s ”business,” not mine; God’s works not mine; God’s glory, not mine.”  This missionary stuff can get pretty heady at times.  Surely you can understand because, I would guess you suffer the same temptation to claim your job, your teaching, your life’s bent as your own.  But, it isn’t.  So, before I go on and tell you about what has been happening, may I ask your forgiveness for often not thinking, or acting, as if the Jonah Field ministry, the fruit born of your investment, the appreciation, the love, the glory and praise–belongs to the One who calls; the One who sends; the One who sustains us, gives us hope, does us good, always?  And, even as I ask, I know that I am forgiven and this is just one more step in the learning process of one of God’s beloved children.  I hope you can look at yourselves that way too.

Just some news blurbs: 

The week before Christmas over 300 cookie baskets were baked and delivered to the Jonah Field workers.  Ladies from 1st Baptist Church, Big Piney assisted the women of Fellowship Baptist in baking the cookies.  Contributions from the bake sale at the Senior Center added to the numbers.  Included with the cookie baskets was a brochure providing information about the local Christmas celebrations, dates and times.  It was reported that some of the churches had visitors at their services over the holidays.  On Christmas Eve, the Big Piney Oilfield Chapel hosted a Chili Feed and Devotional Service, then on Christmas Day prepared and served a full dinner and afternoon of games.  A total of twelve people attended both nights.   The camp was nearly empty, but the ones who remained and had somewhere warm and inviting to come appreciated so much what God provided. 

January 12th was the official opening dedication.  The Chapel was “mostly done”, and the Opening Dedication luncheon was moved up to a nearby building (owned by Dan Alexander, who also owns the camp,) due to anticipated attendance.  You know how it is when food is involved!  Dan and his wife, Diane, have been so helpful and encouraging in getting things done in preparation for opening.  They attend a local Mormon congregation.  Please keep them in your prayers.  The luncheon was followed by a dedication service at the chapel.  Between the luncheon and the dedication service the chapel hosted over fifty people, and the afternoon open house welcomed many more browsing through.  John Bird, the President of Oilfield Christian Fellowship came up from Houston, Tx but the record for traveling the furthest went to retired missionary, Charlie Hardie who came from Alabama, via Siberia, and gave the dedication address.  The mobile chapel, which NAMB funded for ministry in the Jonah Field (and around the state in the Energy Industry) was unable to make the trip from Casper due to refurbishing but the Crabtrees are looking forward to getting out in the field, hopefully into some of the other man camps that are springing up. 

Since the dedication we have been here at the camp Chapel every afternoon and late into the evening.  We’ve been able to meet the workers coming and going in the afternoon and are passing out invitations to the Chapel daily.  So far we’ve only been able to provide hot showers for guys whose water is frozen (imagine that at -2,) play host to a number of curious lookers, and try to work out some scheduling.  We will be having Chapel Host/Hostess training and already have two volunteers excited about the prospect of spending time here, just being available to anyone the Lord sends our way.  I tell them we are looking for Ethiopian eunuchs–the eunuch part not being essential of course; just anyone whom the Holy Spirit has begun drawing to Himself.  One little guy last week asked me what a eunuch was…so perhaps I better think of another illustration.  Sunday, the 20th we began morning devotional services and an evening Bible study.  Just one of the things we are trying to see if its the direction God wants us to go.  The local churches don’t have much impact on getting people out of the camps to church, but it is our hearts desire to see them move from just visiting the chapel to being actively involved in a local church.  Ideally we want to be able to partner with churches near their own homes to be able to work together in ministry to the field workers who are here, and their families back home (wherever that may be.) 

Speaking of volunteers, do remember that we are always ready to welcome you.  If you want to go on vacation and dedicate a couple days to working for the Lord at the same time, don’t hesitate to give us a call.  The weather is incredible in the summer.  The area has incredible offerings within a short driving distance (Wyoming short that is.)  And besides, God Himself always shows up when willing hearts make themselves available for His use.  You would be blessed. 

We are looking forward to seeing the Courters in March, and the Leonards in late January.  They are bringing love from home we know and when they return they will bring our love with them.  (Of course the skiing is really the attraction but we get the benefits of it in seeing them.) 

Between Playoff Sunday, and SuperBowl Sunday we will be hosting a children’s group from Big Piney who want to learn about missionaries.  We look forward to making them feel special as they tour the facility.  Please keep them in prayer, and us that the Lord would bear fruit.  We are hoping that some parents might attend out of curiosity.

We are headed for the Wyoming Evangelism Conference the 21st-23rd in Casper.  In February we will be coming home for a week, and then in April we will be heading for the Regional Prayer and Revival Conference.  In September we have been asked to come back out and speak (and cook) at a retreat on the Oregon Coast.  We did the same retreat last year and were blessed with some real prayer partners and some potential vacation hosts and hostesses.  Other than those trips, we have nothing scheduled outside Wyoming but are hoping to make several trips around the state sharing about the Jonah Field Ministry and hopefully generating interest in the churches here to begin participating in outreach to these folks.  Any and all creative ideas are welcome by the way; but of course the easiest way to think of what can be done here is to come out and take a look yourself…hint, hint.

Prayer Requests:

Pray for specific direction in ministry.  What will work, what won’t, to bring glory to God.

Pray for the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace among those involved in the minstry.

Pray that God will reap the fruit, and that we all will be able to enjoy the harvest.

Pray for the evil influence that pervades this area.  Another suicide the other day illustrates the dearth of hope that there is here.  It isn’t even apathy, its a grinding kind of darkness that just smothers the heart. 

Pray for provision for ministry needs…I know beyond a doubt that God provides well for what He initiates and approves.  Oftentimes though, we think we have a ‘need’ and it just isn’t, so please also pray that we will be discerning and wise.

Pray a hedge of protection around the missionaries who work on this field…the Christian ones that is.  We have suffered much persecution, and have fallen into the darkness ourselves on occasion.  Please pray also for Larry Mizell, Ed Bryan, and Mark Hensley-these men are the primary pastors responsible for field supervision of the missionaries. 

Please mention these names to the Father:  Matt (Oklahoma) , Troy (Kansas), Mike Wyoming), Ken, Kelly Syd,(Missouri) Ryan, Jeff,(Wyoming) Norm, Brandy, McKenzie, Ronnie, Dan, Diane, Riley, Ann, (Wyoming) Martin, TJ, Matthew, (California) Cody, Mindy (Wyoming).  These are all people we have met who are in need of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  If you will bring them to the Father, when He reaps His harvest, you will be storing up treasure in heaven.  Did you know that?

And finally, when you worship, as you praise, as you give thanks….ask the Father to give YOU the opportunity to share His wonder with someone.  Be specific. And be watching for Him to answer.    

www.pxspot.com/chaplains_gandr  Whew!  Let’s see if this works. 

Close to home, but not home yet…that’s me. These last two weeks have been wonderful.  I have enjoyed being “home” in Kentucky so very much.  The welcoming hugs from brothers and sisters who are genuinely glad to see this pudgy old face have refreshed me tremendously, even as I was missing Gary, who couldn’t come along this trip, I was rejoicing in children-grandchildren-forever family.  What can compare with being shoulder to shoulder with family–both forever family and the one the Lord God blessed us with as our own, even for a short time.  

As Thanksgiving approaches my thoughts turn more and more often to the reasons I have to be eternally grateful.  These reasons always begin with the incredible grace of simply being.  That our awesome God chose to breathe that breath of life into me at conception is a gift so great it is priceless.  That He allowed me the opportunity to either choose or reject Him, as my Creator, Lord, and Savior is incomprehensible in its magnitude.  That He chose to love me even as I wounded Him with my rebellion is just so far beyond my ken I feel a simpleton.  The biggies being mentioned, there are innumerable lesser but poignant none-the-less reasons I am thankful this year. 

I am thankful for the challenges, the heartache, the loneliness, and the wonder of being here in Wyoming. 

I am thankful for the way that God has chosen to use Gary to further His kingdom on this earth as He stores up for us, treasures in heaven.

I am thankful that even as I say and do the wrong thing, I am confident that God’s love covers a multitude of my error…and that He wants to and will use, even me.

I am thankful that each one of my children have a vital relationship with the Lord God and that somehow He got it through our thick heads (Gary’s and mine) that as adults, they are His children first and foremost–not ours.  It is admittedly more difficult than words can express to “butt out” of their affairs.  I do realize though that when I stand between them and God’s direct working in their lives I am cheating them of a far better gift than I could ever give them.  I am so grateful that His love for them far exceeds even mine…and His goodness toward them is based on His character, not theirs.

Trying to post an update to December, I realize that I never did post November,  hmmm, I’m not getting old, just forgetful.  At any rate, I do want you to know I thought of you all in November, and that you were, and are, on my “Thankful List” always.  Speaking of which…the “Thankful List” I mean, I wonder how many of my own children did a list this year.  Every Thanksgiving for 30+ years, as we stood hand and hand to pray before dinner, each of us would give a special something that we were thankful for that year.  As the children got older it became more and more of a chore to get everyone to stand still and give their own statement of thanks.  It was always the highlight of the day for me…I missed it this year.  But, please know this, I love to hear you give thanks to the One from whom all things come.  So, even though the ‘season’ slipped by without my posting this, please know that we were, and are thankful for each of you.  Thankful that we have the opportunity to represent MainStreet’s vision as a sieve church here in Wyoming.  We are thankful for our family, our awesome children and their children, our forever family, and first and foremost for the opportunity that a creative and incredible God has given us to simply “be” and to devote ourselves to loving Him, by His grace.  Psalm 107 says (several times actually) “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men.”  Watch for something to praise God about, tell others, tell us.  Praise Him for His goodness (what of His character has He shown you?) and Praise Him for His works (what has He done for you?)  Let us hear His praises ring out.  Let us hear of His goodness, and kindness, and love.

Remember us, we remember you.

In love,

Gary and Roberta

chaplain.gary@yahoo.com

The snow is falling again; big white flakes that reflect the creativity and wonder of my Father in heaven.  Just think how much fun he had making each one of  those beautiful creation.  Do you remember being that childlike?  Do you remember being amazed that no matter how hard you might try to cut exactly identical snowflakes, there simply were no two alike? 

I do.  I remember trying time after time to create a pattern that would produce triplets, or even twins.  I would use every scrap of paper I could get my hands on; snipping and cutting, my tongue curled between my teeth and my eyes crossed so hard in concentration I thought they would never come unstuck.  Though I didn’t give up trying until the last time I used blunt nosed scissors while cutting snowflakes with my own children, I never did succeed.  I marvel often that our Creator God took such care creating each of us individually…uniquely.  Can you imagine it?  He takes His breath of life, a kernel of Himself and begins His work.  Carefully spinning, softly blowing the dust aside, snipping just here and folding just there until our lives look like what He envisions them to be.  That is His plan for us.  For me.  For you. 

Our “Christmas” update letter follows this portion.  You will read about each of our children, most of our grandchildren…and some prayer requests at the end.  And, you will read a bit about Wyoming, the Jonah Field, the Chapel.  As you read it, pray and ask God to keep working His way in our lives.  Ask Him if He will please send our way just exactly what each of us needs to be conformed to the incredible image He has in His mind.  And pray that with grateful hearts, we might receive the pruning, and the snipping, and the turning ; knowing that whatever He sends our way comes for our good, and His glory.

The Big Piney Chapel will be open on Christmas Eve, and on Christmas afternoon.  As you celebrate, please think of us and ask God to give Himself a gift for Christmas and bring someone to a saving knowledge of Himself.  We are still madly working to get the chapel open on a regular basis but the cold weather prohibits fast forward movement.  Gary has gotten frostbite on unmentionable parts of the anatomy until he learned to ‘layer up’ like his son told him to.  Now, although he has lost most of his excess tummy (I should be so lucky) when he goes out to work he looks like an adorable fluffy snowman.  (Are missionaries supposed to say such things?!)  He designed and built two covered wooden porches that look more like decks, and a third porch that is a bit smaller for the chapel.  He also designed (I tease him that he does it one board at a time) and built a shed that reminds me of the jolly green giant’s outback house.  It’s really ten foot square, but its so tall it leaves lots of room for imagination.  The next MSC’s who serve the chapel will be well prepared with all the work he has done and is still doing.  He had to replace three doors, run the wiring for the phones and a couple of outlets, and build computer stations.  When we get the new computers up and running at the chapel I will be able to put lots of pictures on here for you to see.  (My computer at this point is so overloaded I can’t even unload my camera–besides the cd-rw drive is stuck shut.)

Thanks to each and every one of you for your Christmas cards…I love mail, even though we can only get it about once a week due to our schedule.  The post office is only a part time office and its closed when we are coming and going most of the time.  Since we don’t have a box yet, well….you can imagine.  Believe it or not the post office in Big Piney puts the “General Delivery” mail in a big box in the lobby and let’s everybody get their own.  I’m glad I don’t get my mail there someone told me its a bit like a post-thanksgiving day sale.

We gave out over 700 cookie packages (4000+ homemade cookies) along with information  about local Christmas services  to the man camps, motels, and other living spots.  We have seen some good fruit from it already and look forward to seeing what God is planning to let us be part of.  Please pray that the fruit that is born from our projects will be fruit born to God alone, and nothing else. 

Finally, please begin praying about spending a week in Wyoming next summer or fall.  We have opportunities for ministry that would refresh your heart and renew your spirit.  There are building projects at these small churches, backyard Bible clubs, and Jonah Field projects that could fill the whole summer.  The fishing is great, the scenery is really incredible, and camping is fun.  All this and ministry too.  If you can get here, we’ll put you up, feed you, and let you enjoy what God is doing here in Wyoming. 

Have a blessed Christmas.  Enjoy one another, and remember to pray for us.  We remember you.

Gary and Roberta

December, 2007 – Christmas Letter

Dear Precious Friends,

Here we are, another season of celebration…and we have so very much to celebrate.  Gary and I are blessed to be missionaries in Wyoming, as Chaplains in a prototype  ministry to the energy industry (gas, oil, coal, uranium) workers.  Our chapel is in a man camp in Big Piney…otherwise known as the “Nations Freezer.”  This totally unreached people group (a phrase that we Southern Baptists normally apply to people outside the country) is deeply on our hearts.  So spiritually bereft, they are  a transient and lonely bunch who develop little real connection to the communities in which they work and live.  God moved us out here in July, has taught us a lot about many things, and is working through us in wonderful ways.  To Him be all glory.

“I(we) have no greater joy than to know that my (our) children walk in truth.”  A Scripture that has become a joyful reality in my life as we have watched our children, and grandchildren become closer to the One  to whom we owe all joy.  Robert and Michelle, Alena and David, are still in Kentucky serving the Lord at MainStreet:  Robert as a beloved Pastor, and Alena as Drama Worship Director (or some such title.)

Ryan began college  (University of Kentucky, Lexington) this year at sixteen and is doing very well.  How I miss hearing him play the drums or guitar in worship to the Lord.  Alyssa and Emily are beautiful (and very different) young women.  Alyssa will be going on an overseas mission trip this coming summer-(has a steady guy friend who lives in Virginia and is a Methodist Believer; they are both very eclectic, )and Emily continues to prepare  for a mission trip next year (2009) through her “Deeper” classes.  A friend who teaches the Deeper classes wrote that Emily is a joy with her sweet and teachable spirit.  Emily is considering a switch to public school this year (as Alyssa did last year).  Michelle still works for 5^th 3^rd  (funny name for a bank-reminds me of some of the church  names ones sees around the country) and uses her lovely voice in Worship leadership and choir. 

Alena and David are taking care of our house in Butler while we are in Wyoming.  They have leased their house out to another couple in the church there that needed a place to be for a couple of years while they build.  (Sort of like “musical chairs” only with houses.) David works two jobs in addition to his regular one as a suppliers representative to Home Depot and Alena works/runs the Day Care program at the church.  That, along with her Drama responsibilities and Christopher, their three-year-old son, keeps her busier than any human should be.  Christopher alone would occupy a full time person, just to keep up with him.  He is so ready for pre-school!

Jacob and Melody have seen a wonderful work of God in their lives this year as He has sustained them through illness, a couple of hospitalizations, the loss of a good friend, and a major move back to Oregon.  After much prayer and heart searching, Jacob applied for a job in Jackson County, again as a Sheriffs  Deputy, which he had been doing in Rifle, Co.  They moved to Central Point in November just before Thanksgiving.  It was a sad/happy move for them and us as our place here in Wyoming was only 7 hours from them in Rifle, Co. so we were able to see them more often than we had for several years.  The school system in Central Point is an excellent one and very supportive of children who have been home schooled as the boys were until now.  Caleb and Isaac, the two oldest will most likely be joining the school system if it can keep up with them.  Aaron, their third son is five and isn’t quite ready for school yet, and Elias their youngest is a robust two year old who pretty much rules the roost.  Jacob baptized Caleb and Isaac while on vacation in Kentucky at Robert’s church. Aaron wanted to be baptized but they thought him a bit young at five. What a joy it was to see.   All three of the older boys are evangelists, and prayers—particularly Isaac in the prayer department.

Scott and Shelly are still in Gig Harbor and suffering a bit from the economic slump on the peninsula where they have their business.  Scott plays drums now in the church band while Shelly enjoys her Precepts classes a lot.  The boys, Scott Michael, Joshua and Blake are a blessing to Scott and Shelly and all three have come to know the Lord Jesus in these last couple years.  Eric is working with his bioparent in Portland and Tia is married and living in the Portland area too.  Scott and Shelly have done a remarkable job of working through the problems that are inherent in raising a blended family and still honoring God and one another.  They will tell you the road hasn’t been easy, but God is good, and their joy is in bringing honor to Him.  It was such a pleasure to see them this fall, and we are praying that they can bring the kids sometime. 

Here in Wyoming, just 100 miles south of Jackson in the Green River Valley, we have found another part of the body of Christ that warms our hearts and sustains us with their prayers.  We live in their parsonage while serving the chapel twenty miles north.  Our dog Hope reminds us constantly what total adoring dependence should look like and anchors us to the realities of our responsibility toward the helpless.  Gary is becoming quite a builder, and believe it or not, public speaker.  Roberta is thrilled to be able to serve alongside him in whatever capacity God allows.  This last has been an awful, remarkable, blessed, challenging, joyous, normal year.  We look forward to many more, as long as the Lord tarries—simply doing what He tells us to.  We do have a blog on WordPress.  I update it as much as I can, and should have a recent addition with pictures before Christmas.  The address is jonahfieldwy.wordpress.com.  Type that into your IE browser and it should go right to the page if you are interested.  We would love to hear from any and all of you; you are precious family and your prayers and love mean more to us than anything on this earth. Speaking of which, here are our specific requests:

Big Piney Man Camp Chapel- (Jonah Field)wisdom for programming and ministry choice  Contact with the men and women in the camps, motels, trailer parks, (we’re looking for Ethiopian eunuchs specifically—those whom God is calling to Himself.) 

Ministry teams for summer/fall of 2008 to work in the Jonah Field doing BackYard Bible clubs, Refreshment Stations, all kinds of creative outreach…we’ve got lots of ideas, need volunteers and provision. 

Wisdom in interfacing with the Wyoming SBC and the other MSC volunteers, and the two sponsoring churches 

Our health-Gary still has no health insurance which concerns me, however God has protected Him wonderfully and I know He still will, if we pray.  Please pray that Roberta will remain able.  We have adjusted very well to life at high altitude, pray it will continue to improve.Pray that we won’t be lonely, especially Roberta.  The people here are so very wonderful, but we miss our family spread out all over the place.  You are all so important to us and you are always in our hearts.  I will never cease to be amazed at how permanently imbedded in our lives are each one of you.  God has truly blessed us with the most wonderful children, grandchildren, and forever family.  I miss you.

Material-Still need some things for outfitting the chapel and/or supplies on a month to month basis.  The Lord provided through NAMB, a wonderful startup budget which had to be spent before the first of the year setting up the chapel. 

We still need kitchen supplies such as a good set of pans and/or an electric frying pan, bottled cold drinks (non-carbonated preferably) coffee, carpeting for the office and small meeting room, large thermal coolers (5 gallons) for serving beverages in the field, a small generator, cell phone booster, and a good laptop computer.  

Pray specifically for Fellowship Baptist Church, Big Piney Baptist Church, the City of La Barge, and Big Piney/ Marbleton.  Filled with people who do not know the Lord.  Pray that the churches would develop a heart for sharing the gospel—and that God would prepare hearts. 

God knows the specific names, but here are a few to mention:  Mike and Cindy, Bryan, Eric, Cathy, Carole, Cindy, Angie and Andy, Tavi and her husband, Cody and Jeb, Jeremy, Brett, Keri, the Johnson Family, The Campbell family.           

October Newsletter (Text)

I am sorely tempted to…I think I’ll just go ahead and do it.  “Hello mudda, hello fadda, here I am at Camp Granads…”  Most of you have heard the song.  Well, here we are at “Camp” and the chapel building is finally on location in the Big Piney Man Camp.  (If someone wanted to complain to the ACLU by the way, it really should be called a “person camp”–there are women living here too!)  We are far from open, but the chapel is on location.  Praise God.

It has been a journey these last (almost) four months, reminding me further of the song, “camp is very entertaining, and I think we’ll have some fun when it stops raining.”  Not, of course, that its been raining in Wyoming.  We have been praying for rain, blessed moisture from the heavens, for both you and us…it’s been a very dry time.  The kind of dry that gets into ones bones and dusts the heart with the fine powder of discouragement.  It’s been the same there at MainStreet, in some ways I hear.  We’ve all been having a time haven’t we?  Challenges that seem insurmountable.  Loss and a deep grief that seems unbearable.  Dying dreams and unfulfilled vision.  Then, in the midst of thepity party at camp, I remember…you remember, that seedtime and harvest will always come, and even in the most severe drought of discouragement, there will come the morning of joy.  And so, with love we will bear your burdens in prayer to our Father, trusting you haven’t forgotten to bear ours, your missionaries to the energy fields here in Wyoming, to that same loving heart.  (I Samuel 12:23)

OK, now what has your investment in Wyoming earned?  We have experienced firsthand the movement of God in an untouched people group.  We’ve mentioned before that there are actually people here who have never heard the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  English speaking, born and raised in America–heathens.  We developed a little booklet that we hand out wherever we go.  It’s not a “your are invited to our church” tract, but tells people what to look for in a church if they are sensing a spiritual need in their life.  It is literally amazing how much genuine interest there is in the tract, and how grateful people are to receive it.  We have distributed a case of Oilfield Bibles, as well as several of the Daily Devotional Bibles that Everett’s Sunday School class purchased for us.  We have given the Bibles to individuals who are excited to receive them, and they actually do read them.  Just one more indication that God is working in hearts out here to draw them to Himself.  We will gladly send you the tract, or the Oil Patch Bible if you are interested.

One of the most striking things that we have seen is the loneliness of the people who work on the fields and stay in the man camps…or local trailer parks…or motels…or on the side of the road.  The other MSC missionaries who live in Big Piney have done a wonderful job of canvassing their neighborhood (very few oil/gas workers-primarily sherrif deputies and teachers) and, along with Gary, have done some work in the BP Man Camp.  There are little enclaves of energy field workers all over the place though, and these people are largely going unreached at this time.  We have to get out into the fields and “be there” in the man camps.  Gary and I have tried to get several different things going, but to this point, there is a lot of resistance and we have been mostly unsuccessful.  Please pray for us that we will be able to be effective in the ministry that God has sent us to.

In our daily life, we have met almost all of the people here in LaBarge, as well as many in Pinedale, Big Piney, and Marbleton, in one context or another.  By God’s grace we have had opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with many of those we have met.  One family we were able to share with for a brief time moved on to Big Piney, and the Crabtrees picked up the ministry to them.  That’s how the body of Christ should work and we are blessed to be able to trust that Drew and Pam will take up where distance or alignment prevents us from following up. 

Please remember the Regional Prayer Conference coming in April to Casper, Wyoming.  It would be wonderful if someone would care to attend and then come over South Pass to see the Jonah Field.  No picture can accurately potray the information that simply looking with God’s eyes into the heart of one of the lost souls here (or anywhere for that matter.)  I know that when the mundane becomes unbearable I find myself looking down, shielding my own eyes, and each time I do that I am convicted of my self centeredness.  I desperately want to take every opportunity to allow any, and all, to see Jesus in my eyes…in me.  Our heart, eyes, lives must remain open for His use.

Many thanks to those of you who faithfully pray for Gary and I, and the Jonah Field ministry.  We are so blessed each time we hear from one of you.  We received, just before our last trip to the Colorado Convention, a package with mail from Butler.  In it we found cards, notes, checks, and a lot of lov that we have yet to send out “thank you’s” for.  Please know that we are so very blessed by you–each and every one, and that our lack of timeliness in response is not ingratitude, but a combination of poor mail service, a very busy schedule, being out of town too much and a bit of disorganization.  Now that winter is coming (fall has definitely arrived) we will be tucked in much more than in these previous months and I will get a routine going.  In the meantime, please love one another for us; with passionate hearts, resting in Jesus.

Remember that November is the month set aside for Thanks Giving.  Let’s take this opportunity to PRAISE, ADORE, AND THANK our wonderful God and Savior.  Let your whole world know Whom you are thanking.