February 2007 Prayer Letter Update

Dear Ministry Friends,

I am writing today to update you on a situation that has come before us over the past couple of months. This past November a missionary with a different mission agency asked me if I would fill in on Sunday mornings for a few weeks while he attended to his dying mother back in America. So, I talked with my coworker and with us being involved in a team ministry there really was no reason why I could not help out. Well, long story short, after filling in for two months the missionary notified me that he would not be returning to Ireland. This created a problem or an opportunity as to what should I do. The work that this missionary has started is in the city of Waterford which is two and a half hours south of Dublin. The work is only about ten months old and there are about 10-15 people who attend, most of whom are new converts in need of being discipled.

Upon finding out that the missionary would not be returning I immediately contacted my sending church pastor, Bob Wall in Fostoria, MI. I have kept in close contact with him concerning this situation. He suggested that I not make an immediate decision but take thirty days and spend some time trying to find the mind of the Lord in this matter.

We have been with the work in Dublin for almost three years and feel that we have a good handle on the Irish culture. We do not feel that we should just abandon the work in Waterford, and after taking the thirty days in prayer with the Lord I have found very clearly through His Word that the Lord would have us go to Waterford. The work in Waterford is in the infant stage right now, but there is great potential along with a tremendous need for a church in to be planted there. I have not found any independent Baptist work going on in Waterford.

We would ask that you be praying for a few specific things:
For God to use us mightily as we yield to His will
For a smooth transition
For the Lord to provide the right house to meet our families needs
For the extra finances to cover the expenses that come with moving
For the Gospel to impact Waterford a city of about 50,000 people

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to ring my pastor, Bob Wall at (989)795-2185; fostoriabaptist@cecpower.net or myself at 00135316219877; thatchers@bimi.org .

May the Lord find us faithful,
Don and Lisa Thatcher