Good Friday Service and Easter Sunday Baptisms at Bowin UMC

Mike had a wonderful Holy Week with Bowin UMC. On Friday, we had a combination Maundy Thursday/ Good Friday worship service. We celebrated Maundy Thursday by having a footwashing service that was full of joy and prayers for each other. It was wonderful to see the people of Bowin love each other by serving each other humbly and giving blessing prayers to each other. We also celebrated Good Friday service through a modified version of a Tenebrae service. We love the spirit of the people of Bowin UMC who love the Lord Jesus with a passion that reminds me of our first love for the Lord Jesus. It is inspiring to be in their presence, because worshipping and fellowshipping with them makes me want to be closer to Jesus Christ in my daily walk.

On Sunday, Mike preached the Easter sermon and served communion. They practiced communion in a different way than their norm, by serving each other by intinction (dipping the bread in the cup). After Easter service and our meal together, we went to the local reservoir for baptisms. Pastor Jerron and Mike baptized 10 new believers. We prayed for those being baptized and then we went out to the water. The baptismal candidates would each go through a cross shaped bower covered with flowers and come to Pastor Jerron and Mike to be baptized. It was a joyous occasion and several people were so overflowing with joy, they danced in the water all the way back to the shore to the singing and cheers of their fellow sisters and brothers of Bowin UMC. The baptism service was shorter than usual because there was lightning, and a few times it struck near us.

We are all back in Thailand now. Sherri and Anthony arrived Wednesday early morning. It is good to get back to our ministry here, where the Lord has planted us.

Back from "Vacation"

Wow, it has been a long time since we have blogged because we have been on "vacation". That word "vacation" is in quotes because it was a whirlwind of work. On our "vacation" we sorted, packed, stored, and disposed of all of our belongings, as well as the belongings of our 3 sons and their families. Be the end of April, all of our family will be in Thailand with us. God is good!
We also had many legal issues to deal with to repair and sell our home in absentia. Sherri and I spoke at many churches and at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Also, our son Jim married Abby on March 14th in a beautiful wedding ceremony. Mike is now back in Thailand working and Sherri and Anthony are still in the U.S. for one more week. Sherri is in Chicago at this time trying to secure visas for our son Michael and his family. She is also interviewing people who are interested in serving as missionary Bible College professors in Thailand. Please pray that the Lord will send workers for the harvest here.

While on vacation, I (Mike) have received dozens and dozens of Birthday cards, Birthday e-mails, and e-cards. My cup overflows with joy at the kindness and thoughtfulness of God's people!

There are several people who wrote letters to us while we were away from Thailand. These letters expressed that their UMW circles were having a meeting on Mike's birthday and that they would like information on the Thailand Mission to make a presentation at the meeting. Unfortunately, I did not get home until the day after my birthday and could not respond to these in time. If you are one of those people, please accept my apologies and we will send belated information to you with the hope that you can share this at a later date.

Right now, I (Mike) am preparing for a special Good Friday service at Bowin UMC and will also preach there on Easter Sunday. After Sunday worship, we will go to the local reservoir to baptize over 20 Christians from Bowin. May the Lord be praised!

Now that I am back in Thailand, I will update this blog frequently. Our apologies for the dry spell on articles during the last 3 weeks.

May the Lord Bless You!