SUCCESS STORY #4

GoodSoil's Missions Camps have trained and promoted a future wave of missionary-minded youngsters over the past 25 years. Rosemary Perry is but one of the more recent trainees to devote herself to a foreign term of mission service. This month, "Rose" as her family calls her, landed in Mozambique and began serving along side the Montepuez mission team. 

Her primary assignment is as school teacher  to the missionary families' children. Beyond that (which is a great ministry in itself!) she'll join the team in serving the established churches in the Montepuez area. Rosemary surveyed the area a few month ago, navigating international flight  from Little Rock through Johannesburg to Mozmbique on her own-- she is 19 years old. Her hands-on mission camp training in "how to travel internationally" paid off. 

Here are Rosemary's thoughts in the first few weeks of her time in Africa:

"It is so true that Mission camp, the staff team, and the things you all taught me have proved to be exceedingly helpful and beneficial in preparing for moving to Mozambique, the traveling, and transition. Several lessons that have been especially helpful  that I learned at mission camp and am continuing to learn are, 1) pray, pray, pray, seek the LORD, listen to GOD, read His word- it is vitally critical to stay connected to God and to seek His face daily. 2) Travel! I think I could talk all day about how the mission camp airport experience prepared me well for traveling internationally. (I do not like traveling-especially in foreign countries by myself but this is also where I feel most dependent on God so I'm sure it is very good for me. :)) At the time I thought the airport experience was exaggerated but I found out it wasn't. :) Several of the lessons that I have put into practice a lot are to watch my baggage carefully, be respectful but persistent,  be alert and do not trust 'just anybody'. 4) Also mission camp helped me to understand how important it is to try to communicate with people in their  own language, to graciously receive their hospitality and food, to be kind to people even if they are different from my 'normal' because they are God's children, and overall just being okay with different culture, different language, different food, different everything! I could keep going but I will stop there. :) I am so thankful for the Mission Camp experience, your family, and others who have helped train and encourage me to love God and serve others." 

Rosemary is sponsored by the Dermot church of Christ. Most of her support is in place, but there are needs. If you'd like to help, the address is P.O. Box 663  Dermott, AR 71630.  You'll bless her and the mission team there. 

We're proud of you Rose!!!! God bless. 

PS.  Another 'success' in and of itself is that the Montequez team that is hosting Rose was (twice!) the host team for one of our early Mission Camp weeks! Amazing 'coincidence'. 

AT LEFT:   Makua ladies making crafts for sale. These beaded crafts are a means of earning needed income in a place where cash and jobs are extremely difficult to find. The Montepuez team is instrumental in the training and aiding the start up of projects like this one. 

See a video of a day in the life of a Missionary in Mozambique by clicking the button below. 

Success Story #3

He saw a need and he did something about it-- A good example to the rest of us. 

The first encounter I had with Steve Christian was several years ago as he stood near the doors leading into the sanctuary of our church. Steve was visiting our Celebrate Recovery and standing about 6' 5" he was difficult to miss!

About the same time, a young lady at CR was also working through matters which had caused her misery for most of her life. Of the course of time Steve and Becca would fall in love and marry. They would also become a dynamic force for Christ in our community and eventually begin a tender and charitable outreach to the hungry.  SEEDS OF HOPE came to be a reality over a year ago and already Steve says they've fed well above 4000!  

A host of volunteers meet monthly now to unload, organize, and distribute needed goods to anyone who has need. Lines are often seen extending outside the doors and down the sidewalk, sometimes over 100 feet! The volunteerism has created a serendipity of unity among the Believers from differing churches who work shoulder to shoulder on distribution days.  SOH has actually become one of the hallmarks of unity in our commuinity which has led to the successful launch of Springs of Life-- A recovery program for men. 

Steve is a soft spoken man who exudes humility. He says, "Being able to serve is his reward" and "that reward is more than enough." 

Though local funds and labor are the primary support of SOH, we realize that others, living far away, may want to play a part. If you are led to join, please express your interest in an email to goodsoilmin@gmail.com , and instructions will be supplied about how to make financial donations or to volunteer. 

Success Story #2

As it appears in the picture above, it doesn't look like much yet, but in a few weeks this will look like heaven to 10 men!

Springs of Life is a ministry Cliff Branum and a Board of Directors are designing to minister specifically to those with life controlling issues, to set them free from the bondages of addiction. 

Cliff, who was himself bound in addictive bondage has found freedom in Christ. The joy and hope realized in his new life in fellowship with Jesus has inspired him to reinvest in those still living without either hope or joy.  

The ministry is to be a 12 month intensive Christ-based recovery program for men. The facility will house 10.     Four staff will be active around the clock.  Cliff and his board of directors are interviewing and selecting staff. Meanwhile, Cliff busily juggles fund raising and the remodeling of the former GoodSoil Center. Many items such as beds and linens and other furnishings have already been donated as well as some start-up cash donations. Several teen groups volunteered their energies this past summer, though there is an ciritical need for expert carpenters, plumbers and the like to assist in a number of final touches like installing new windows and doors like the large double-door in the picture above.  These doors are the actual ones through which every future recovery participant  bound by addiction will enter and through which each renewed man will exit in freedom. 

GoodSoil's first contact  with Springs of Life Founder and Director, Cliff Branum, was interesting.  Cliff, at that time, was just out of high school age and already in his own full blown addiction.  A gifted musician, his charisma and charm was carrying him 'above the fray' of his destructive lifestyle, but 15 years later, after much cost financially, relationally, spiritually, and emotionally Cliff would turn and face reality at an ole' fashioned tent revival being held in Jellico. It was that night that Cliff sensed it was time he changed everything. He knew it was God calling him to turn around. He obeyed that evening and now, three years later, he is not only free, he is building a path to freedom for others.