On Sunday July 25th we returned to Calvary Baptist Church in Sun Prairie for the day. Currently Calvary has called a new pastor and he will be taking up the ministry August 8th. I taught the Sunday School lesson and preached for both morning and evening services.

Pastor Rick Bloom is the new pastor at Calvary coming with his wife Denise. They are leaving a ministry in Campaign, IL. On Saturday they moved into the parsonage and they are taking a couple of weeks of vacation before assuming the pastoral role in Sun Prairie. We welcome the Bloom family to Wisconsin and to the fellowship of the WFBC.

Sunday July 18th we were ministering at West Salem Baptist Church in West Salem. Rick Sella is the pastor of this local church ministry and he was taking a vacation from the work.

Carole provided piano accompanyment for the services and sang in a duet with a lady from the church. I presented our DVD sharing the continuing work of the WFBC during Sunday School as well as presenting a lesson on Biblical Leadership. Also I preached for both the morning and evening services. We enjoyed a great time of ministry and fellowship for the day at West Salem.

Having pastored for many years, I believe it is important for a pastor to periodically take a break from their ministry. It provides a time of reflection, analysis and possibly even concentrated study. The stress of ministry is well known by every pastor and taking a break allows a opportunity to divest oneself for a few day of that pressure. Then he can return refreshed and revitalized for further ministry. Pray for your pastor!

Sunday July 11th we were ministering for the day at Calvary Baptist Church in Sun Prairie. Currently they are awaiting the arrival of a new pastor. I spoke in Sunday School and preached for both AM and PM services. Carole provided keyboard assistance in the morning service.

Calvary Baptist Church has called Rick Bloom as their pastor. He will be arriving in Sun Prairie around the first of August. Pastor Bloom comes from the ministry of Bible Baptist Church in Campaign, IL. After two years of being without a pastor, the congregation is excited about once again having a shepherd for their flock. Part of the last two years Dr. Dave Saxon of the Maranatha Baptist Bible College faculty has provided interim ministry for the church, as well as many others who have filled in as pulpit supply. It will be great to have this ministry back under full pastoral leadership. Pastor Bloom will be speaking for his first Sunday services on August 8th.

Sunday June 27th was the Tenth Anniversary of Southport Baptist Church in Kenosha. Scott Jones is the pastor of Southport. The special celebration included regular morning services, a church dinner at noon and an afternoon service at 1 PM.

Carole provided an offertory and we sang a special number for the morning service. I taught Sunday School presenting a challenge about the joy of the Lord in our ministry for Christ. Also during the afternoon service I brought a greeting from the churches of the WFBC.

Founding Pastor Jon Jamison came for the dinner and afternoon service, sharing a testimony of the church's founding and building program. Also a number of former members and area pastors came for the special occasion. We praise the Lord for the newer churches in our fellowship that are being started across our state.

Sunday June 20th we were at Victory Baptist Church in Eau Claire. Greg Robotti is the pastor of this local church ministry. Carole was able to assist with the music for the services and I taught Sunday School.

Pastor Robotti's challenge has been the lack of a local job for this bi-vocational ministry. Currently he works out of town for the week. We have been praying for the Lord to provide a job in the Eau Claire area.

During the past three years the church with assistance from a number of fellowship churches has replaced the furnaces, insulated the building, redirected the basement stairs, added a sound booth area. Also they are in the process of replacing the wooden front doors with some new energy-efficient doors.

Sunday June 13th we were at Havenwood Baptist Church in Hurley for the day. Havenwood is currently seeking a pastor to lead their ministry. Kevin Holland the founding pastor has taken a ministry in Michigan but he is working with the church to call a pastor.

Carole provided keyboard support for the service and we were able to share a special number for the morning service. I taught Sunday School and preached for both the AM and Afternoon Services. We met with those present for the afternoon service and talked over the condition of this local church ministry. They are committed to the continuation of a church in Hurley.

Pray for God's direction to the church as they seek the pastor that the Lord has for them. They are trusting the Lord for God's man to be in place soon.

Sunday June 6th we were ministering at Northland Baptist Church in Hannibal. Northland is pastored by Richard Chromy. Brother Chromy assists at Camp Chetek, and he was ministering with the camp staff in Minneapolis for the day.

Carole and I provided special music for the service. Also I preached for both AM and PM services. We always enjoy the good fellowship at Northland Baptist Church.

Northland Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Chromy has completely refinished the exterior of their building and they are working on remodeling various areas of the interior as well. Praise the Lord for a functional building which also looks great!

Sunday May 23rd we returned to Calvary Baptist Church in Sun Prairie to fill the pulpit for the day after having preached there most recently on Easter Sunday. Calvary is currently seeking a pastor to lead their ministry. I taught Sunday School and preached for both AM and PM services. Carole and I provided special music for the evening service as well. Following the evening service we enjoyed a snack fellowship in the giving us some quality time to talk with several church families.

We are continuing to pray for the church that they might soon be led to the man who will be their next pastor. Calvary along with four other churches in our fellowship are with pastors. Pray for Calvary in Sun Prairie, Havenwood Baptist in Hurley, Point Baptist in Mineral Point, Mt. Ida Baptist in Mt. Ida and Grace Baptist in Sheboygan Falls.

We opened the month of May with a visit to Grace Baptist Church in Sheboygan Falls. Larry Taylor is the pastor, though he has resigned and will be leaving the end of May. We were in Sunday School and the AM Service and had a brief visit with Pastor Taylor.

Pray for Grace Baptist Church as they look ahead to God's direction for the future of their ministry. This church was planted thirteen years ago by the WFBC with the assistance of Falls Baptist Church and a number of other fellowship churches.

Park City Baptist Church celebrated their 20th Anniversary as a local church in the city of Merrill. Freddy McMillen is the second and current pastor. The church was started late in 1989 by Pastor David Milleson, who has since gone to be with the Lord.

Carole and I were graciously included in this anniversary celebration. Carole provided keyboard music for the services and she and I both sang special numbers as well. I taught the Sunday School hour with a special review of the book of Acts leading up to the church plant in Merrill. In the morning service I challenged the congregation with "the open door" which God has given them in their community.

The day's activities included the morning services, a delicious dinner in the church's fellowship hall and a testimony service in the afternoon. The afternoon testimonies were a great blessing as a number folks shared how Park City Baptist Church had ministered to them and their family. Nancy Milleson the wife of the founding pastor is a member of the church and was able to be present for the day. An interesting fact came out in the testimonies that similar to the building gift in Rhinelander, that God had given Park City Baptist Church their building as a gift as well. God is good!

We rejoice with Park City Baptist Church, the McMillens and Nancy Milleson over their anniversary. It is our prayer that if the Lord tarries he will continue to grant them many years of fruitful ministry in the city of Merrill.