Dear Supporters,
Greetings in Jesus’ lovely name! The following report concerns our travels for the months of March
and April of this year.
We started out the month of March in a Missions Conference in Simms, Texas at the God’s Little
Acre Church where Brother Shannon Crawford is the Pastor. We had an exceptionally good
conference with many in attendance and a good response from the people. This church was born
in the fires of evangelism, and they have a true burden for getting the gospel around the world.
After leaving Simms we travelled to Kerrville, Texas to be with the Victory Baptist Church and take
part in their annual Missions Conference. Brother Cody Samford is the pastor, and he has a
burden to lead this church to fulfill the Great Commission. We had a tremendous conference and
enjoyed the visiting missionaries as well as the fellowship of the people.
The next meeting was not far away, we travelled from Kerrville to San Antonio, Texas to preach in
the annual Revival meeting for Brother Russell Riggs and the sweet folk of the Town East Baptist
Church. I have enjoyed having the opportunity to be a part of this meeting for many years now and
we always enjoy the freedom to preach as well as the spirit of the meeting.
Upon leaving San Antonio we travelled back to Houston to preach the last night of the Missions
Conference for Brother Mitchell Bell and the Northeast Freeway Baptist Church in Crosby, Texas.
We had a great service and were blessed to see the people excited about missions.
The very next day we left for Greenville, Kentucky to preach for Brother John Day and the Carter
Creek Baptist Church in a Revival meeting. The church was excited about this meeting, and it
showed by their attendance and participation. This was my first time there and I genuinely enjoyed
the fellowship of Brother John and his people; the Lord met with us each service.
Immediately after leaving Greenville, I travelled back to Texas to be with Brother Billy Borho and
the Victory Baptist Church of Salado, Texas for their annual “Days of Refreshing” Bible
Conference. I preached on Thursday and Friday night and enjoyed the sweet spirits of the people
and great liberty to preach the Word of God.
We then left Salado and headed towards West Plains, Missouri where I was asked to preach a
Revival for Brother Justin Jones and the Central Calvary Baptist Church. This was my first time
there and I found the people to be hungry for the Word and their response was encouraging.
The month of April started out with the 53rd Annual Missions Conference in our home church in
Houston, Texas, the Parkwood Baptist Church. Brother Wesley and our folk did a wonderful job of
planning and preparing for this conference, we had tremendous services with excellent missionary
presentations. Also, we took up one of the largest Faith Promise offerings in the history of our
church, what a blessed time we had.
Immediately afterward we headed out to Kalamazoo, Michigan to take part in a Missions
Conference with Brother Jonathan Bosserd and the good folk of the Green Meadow Bible Baptist
Church. This was my first time there and I enjoyed ministering to these precious saints, the
attendance, and the response on the part of the people was encouraging.
Immediately upon leaving Michigan we travelled back to Houston, and I preached in the annual
Missions Conference for Brother Santiago Medran and the Segundo Iglesia Bautista Libertad.
What the Lord has done in this church is amazing, it is one of the best Spanish speaking churches
in the greater Houston area and they are rapidly growing. The Lord blessed the meeting, and our
hearts were edified by the burden these people have for the Great Commission.
The very next week we stayed in the Houston area and took part in the annual Missions
Conference for Brother Gary Brittain and the Calvary Baptist Church in Arcola, Texas. I preach this
conference every year and it is always a blessing to watch this church grow in their burden and
commitment to support getting the gospel to the rest of the world, what a time we had!
The Sunday in between these meetings in the Houston area we travelled to Buffalo, Texas where
Joni spoke to a lady’s group and I preached the Sunday morning service for Brother John Murray
and the Flo Community Baptist Church. We had a sweet time of worship and fellowship.
We closed out the month of April by travelling to Tuscaloosa, Alabama where I preached a Revival
meeting for Brother Ken Myers and the faithful folk of the Little Sandy Baptist Church. What a
sweet time of fellowship and worship we had. The music was soul stirring and we had one soul
saved on Sunday morning. This was their Homecoming Meeting, and they did not have Sunday
evening services, so I travelled over a few miles and preached for Brother Dax Lancaster and the
Cornelius Chapel Baptist Church. They honored their graduates right before I preached and then
we had a time of fellowship afterward with refreshments.
As you can see, it was a whirlwind two months and I found myself battling exhaustion by the time it
ended. Nevertheless, I am glad to be in God’s service, and I am grateful for your willingness to
stand with us in this endeavor. I want all of you to know that we love you and appreciate your
prayers and support; we know that what we do would not be possible without you being willing to
help us. May the Lord bless you and return your kindness to you many times over!
In Christ,
Brother Mark Thrift
