Dear Supporters,
We have certainly started out this year with a bang and I am so glad to be engaged in the Lord’s
service doing what He has called me to do.
The first Sunday of January Joni and I travelled to Pontotoc, MS to take part in the transition
service for Brother Steve Parrish and Brother Will Busby. Brother Steve entered full time
evangelism and Brother Will assumed the position of Pastor of the Greatest Mission Baptist
Church that Brother Steve started 16 years ago. It was a privilege to assist Brother Ronnie
Barefield in this important service in the life of this church.
After leaving Pontotoc, MS Joni and I made our way to Cincinnati, OH to take part in the annual
Missions Conference for Brother Andy Sturm and the Central Baptist Church. What a blessed time
of fellowship and ministry we had preaching missions to this church. The members attended well
and responded to the messages, and there were many visitors over the course of the week.
Upon leaving the Cincinnati area we travelled back to Texas and made our way to the McPherson
Road Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX where Brother Jonathan Mann is the Pastor. They were
having their annual camp meeting, and I was privileged to be one of the speakers. There was
tremendous fellowship, and many visitors attended from the area. The Lord met with us in each
service and many spiritual victories were won.
We did not stay in Texas long and the very next week we left for Lodi, California to be with Brother
Tim Pollack and The Home Church. I peached in their annual revival meeting, and both Joni and I
were refreshed by the sweet spirits and hospitality of these dear people and their pastor. The
church attended faithfully each night and responded freely to the messages that were preached.
As January ended and February came upon us, we found ourselves at the Gravel Hill Baptist
Church in Dekalb, TX. Brother Sam Yancy, our very good friend, had us come back this year and
preach their annual Missions Conference. These dear people are committed to getting the gospel
around the world and they prove it each year by taking part in this conference and responding
accordingly.
From Dekalb, TX, Joni and I travelled back to Houston so I could prepare to leave for Israel to take
part in the IDF Project along with our missionary Jay Ross and four other volunteers. This trip
proved to be more than I could have ever imagined as we found ourselves traversing the country
ministering to the IDF soldiers with items that met their personal needs along with gospel tracts in
both the English and Hebrew language. We found the soldiers very receptive and grateful for our
efforts and it was a blessing to let them know that the churches in America love them and pray for
them as well. We know that God’s Word never returns void and that it will accomplish the purpose
to which it is sent. After four different tours of Israel, I found this trip to be the most fulfilling as we
were able to make a difference in the lives of so many. Brother Jay wants to do it again and I would
love to go back, it was a mission trip that was truly evangelistic in every sense of the word.
After returning from Israel, I made my way to Middleton, Tennessee to take part in the revival
meeting of the calvary Baptist Church where Brother Jeremy Burnette is the Pastor. What a
blessed time of fellowship and worship we had, the Lord met with us, and we saw hearts stirred
and one soul saved before the meeting was over.
In closing, allow me to thank each one of you for your faithful prayers and love offerings on our
behalf. Joni and I love what the Lord allows us to do, and we know that it would not be possible
apart from your participation. We still have a long year and many engagements ahead of us and
we covet your prayers for grace and strength to finish the task. May the Lord bless you and cause
His face to shine upon you today and every day to come!
In Christ,
Brother Mark Thrift
