Survey Trip Info . . .

Chuck and I had a great day at the Rez today. We met a bunch of delightful people who are interested in improving the life of the people of their community. We have a lot of opportunities to pursue. Steve Hernandez spent the day with us showing us around Kyle. Kyle is a small town with a lot of potential. One potential opportunity is to help renovate a shelter for children. Another possibility is to help with a health fair. We also may have nightly seminars concerning gangs and meth to inform parents about the growing problems these drugs are bringing to rural communities. Pray for God's direction as we try to assemble the team and select the projects to have the most impact on this community as we respond to it.

Buddy

Rapid City here we come. . .

In just a little while I'll board a plane for Rapid City, SD. Chuck Baker and I are going on a survey trip for the June Mission trip. In a few hours we will be near the heart of America and just a few miles from Mt. Rushmore. Oddly enough this monument was built on sacred land of the tribes of the region. As we launch toward helping another cultural group we have to be sensitive to their cultural peculiarities. Chuck has lined up several meetings for us. The people we will meet with will direct us to a place where we can lay a foundation for future mission efforts. Pray for our efforts . . .

Connections to Christ

Everybody has the need to be connected to something or someone. The rage it appears in culture is to try to "connect" to find intimacy and blot out the loneliness that the single life offers in the world. The internet offers all kinds of connections to all kinds of activities, most of them are rooted in the flesh. We are presently trying to form a new minsistry in our current response to Christ in Modesto. It is a connections ministry, better yet it is a ministry about connecting people to Christ.
We have spent a lot of effort teaching ourselves the importance of inviting people to events at church. Now we are following up with the next step. That is assimilating these people who have responded to our invitations. We will need this to be a congregational effort, all are invited to be a part of this effort. We want to start in the parking lot and make people feel wecome their entire visit with us. I am excited about this new adventure. Please pray for this effort.

Buddy Gray

Two Souls Added . . . to the book of life!

Praise God! Two souls were added to the church this week. One of the people that was baptized has been attending for some time. She dropped by the office and when she could be baptised. We offered the water immediately and with a few hours the rescue was complete. Tears streaming down her face as she sought the forgivenness of God and God gave her what she needed. The gift of the Holy Sprit.

On Sunday night I recieved a call from one of my close friends and he asked if we could baptize his brother-in-law. No hesitation we met them at the buidling, talked for a little while, opened up God's word, prayed and then my friend took His brother-in-law down into the watery grave and new creature came up from the water. The angels rejoiced as we did Sunday night. Another soul claimed from the grip of Satan. That is what response is. Taking people away from a world that has them in their grips.

Go! Make a difference today!

Buddy Gray
Modesto, Ca