NTCP Northeastern United States

"If We Don't See You Sooner, We'll Certainly See You Later!"

2009-08-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

Hello All!
This is it. As this is being typed, our final preparations for departure tomorrow are being squared away. Matt has everything set up for his flight to Atlanta, and Joel is packing for his drive back to Fort Wayne. It's been a terrific last week and we'll certainly remember all of the brothers and sisters in Christ we've met, but it's time to go home.
It's funny, but this trip has almost been like an allegory of the Christian life. Traveling this summer has shown us something. You see, when a person becomes a Christian, they become a pioneer, in the sense that they are far from home. As Christians, we are to bring the Light of The Gospel to parts overrun with darkness. One day, when we are done, God calls us home to heaven, but until then, we are never to feel at home in this world. Homesick Pioneers, that's what we are.
This last week was unusual in the fact that the pastor was gone almost the entire week. God blessed greatly, though, and we were able to knock on over 200 doors, presenting the Gospel countless times. We also were able to preach in the Wednesday night service, tag-team style. The church family has been so kind to us, especially the Cunningham family, for allowing us to stay in their home. Please pray for Bro. Dean Cunningham as he is having some health issues. We know he'll appreciate it.
Well, what more can we say about this summer? God has done something powerful, especially in our hearts. We have seen him move in the darkest of places. We have seen children hear the Gospel for the first time. God has changed lives, including ours. We serve a mighty and gracious God, who is still working in this world, despite what men may say. He's shown us that time and again. If only one thing could be said about what God has shown us, it would be this: He will provide a way, even when it seems impossible, to those that are devoted to following His will. Where God wills, God makes a way.
With that thought in mind, we leave you to see what God can do. Thank you again to all those who have prayed for us and supported us. It's been a pleasure Pioneering the Northeast with you.

Your brothers in Christ,

-Matt and Joel
Team Northeast 2009

"The Final Leg of The Journey..."

2009-08-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Sorry about the length of time that has lapsed between the previous post and now. We have been unable to access the internet until now. What a great we had in Jersey City! It was amazing to see God work in the lives of all those children. About ten children trusted the Lord as their personal Savior during vacation Bible school! All of the children heard the Gospel at least twice and were very encouraged in the faith. It was a wonderful time for all. God is so good!
We left on Saturday and began our drive to Ohio. We arrived around 10:00pm at the home of Dean and Corliss Cunningham, a family in Revival Baptist Church. They have opened their beautiful home to us for the remainder of our time here. We unpacked and got some rest. The next day, we met Pastor Jim Larger and his wife. They were celebrating the two year anniversary of the church's first meeting! We both were given opportunity to preach and had a wonderful time of fellowship with the pastor that evening.
Unfortunately, Pastor and Mrs. Larger have to leave this week, to tend to family matters in Texas. No worries, though; New Testament Church Pioneers are prepared to handle any change in schedule. Or at least we like to think so... Nonetheless, the pastor left us with a list of assignments and Lord willing, we will have them finished upon his return.
Today, we spent the day knocking doors in the nearby town of Pataskala, Ohio. God truly blessed as we were able to make some excellent visits and many people showed interest in attending the church services. Please pray that god will not only lead us to thse seeking a church home, but also those who need salvation. Also, pray for Pastor Larger and his family; he'll need safety as he is travelling this week. We are really looking forward to how God will bless this last week of our summer. Truly, He has something great in store.

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

This part of the country is a far cry from the streets of New Jersey!

We have adjusted to the countryside without too much effort, really...

The land is so beautiful out here. God's creation never ceases to amaze!

"The Adventures of Faith"

2009-07-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
I hope this post finds you all doing very well. God has been very good to us this past week. We have been able to help very much with the Vacation Bible School going on at Trinity Baptist Church, here in Jersey City, New Jersey. It has been exciting, challenging, and absolutely wonderful. Tomorrow will be our last day here, so please pray that we will have a large turnout, and that if there are any children who do not know Christ as their personal Savior, that they will make a decision for Him before the end.
We have had a wonderful time here, teaching in classes, leading the kids in songs, doing object lessons, presenting the Gospel in numerous ways, giving our testimonies, and working one on one with the kids, as well. We also can't forget the Kayak Simulator that we built. Words don't do it justice.
The pastor was kind enough to bring us along to the First Annual Northeast Summit Conference in Southern New Jersey. It was a wonderful experience! The sessions were filled with practical, useful information and they were extremely helpful. Not only that, but we also saw several folks that we had met this summer, there. Pastor Chris Corrigan and his family from Sligo Baptist Church were there, as well as Pastor Erickson, Sarah Becker and several others from Jersey Shore Baptist Chapel. It was wonderful to hear how God was blessing in the churches we had come from and it was just refreshing to see some of our old friends again. God is good, isn't He?
Today, Pastor Hagedorn took, Daniel Miljenovik and us out on the Deleware River, to do a little Kayaking and Canoeing. It was a gorgeous day! we had a wonderful time just relaxing and enjoying God's creation and our company. Tomorrow, we will have an opportunity to travel to New York City with Daniel and do a little sight seeing, before VBS starts in the afternoon.
We are looking for a big day tomorrow, so please pray for us and for the work going on here in the church. This is not the easiest part of the world to work in, but God is able to supply all of our needs! Below are a few pictures of the last few days. Thank you for your prayers and support. Let's make this last week, the best one of the summer!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

Here, we have our first run of the kayak simulator. No one was harmed in the making or operating of this device.

Here we are withour good pal and fellow adventurer, Daniel Miljenovik. Dan will be a Sophomore at Crown next semester.

Here's a snapshot of the auditorium decked out in VBS array.

Here, Dan is showcasing one of Matt's favorite new creations. Notice the similarities...

"Full Steam Ahead!"

2009-07-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Hey All!
It was a wonderful week with Pastor French, but the time has come to hit the trail. Praise God for the wonderful time we had conducting the Bible Club and for the great turnout. We peaked at 23 kids! Every one of them got to hear the Gospel and it is evident that God is ready to do something in Bland. We will continue to pray for the pastor and his family and that God will bless them in their efforts to spread the Gospel. Thanks again, for the wonderful reception you gave us!
Yesterday morning, after we said our goodbyes, we hit the road. It wasn't a terribly long drive, nor was traffic a problem. Praise the Lord, it was pretty smooth sailing! We arrived at Trinity Baptist Church of Jersey City, New Jersey around 5:00pm. We were met there by Pastor Richard Hagedorn and our fellow Crown Student, Daniel Miljenovik. We immediately jumped into action as the pastor laid out the schedule for the day. We'll be assisting with the Church's Vacation Bible School this week. We were assigned classes to asssist and other jobs as well.
The pastor and his family are allowing us to stay in their home, right next door to their house. Daniel is staying with us as well. Please pray that God will bless the attendance and the workers this week! Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

P.S.- Below are a few pictures of the trip so far. Enjoy!

The countryside in Virginia was beautiful!

We had a great time teaching the kids at the Bible club! Those songs never get old...

"Virginia is for Lovers... and Pioneers"

2009-07-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
We left yesterday, headed for Bland, Virginia. It was hard leaving so many friends behind, but duty calls. it was a nice little trip, only lasting about two hours, which is a stark contrast to all of the other drives we have made. Below are a few pictures of the scenery. We arrived safely around 2 pm, at the home of Pastor Matthew French, a graduate of Crown. He and his wife and two children are in the process of beginning Grace Baptist Church, here in Bland. As of now, the assembly is being called Grace Baptist Fellowship.
We are so thankful for the warm welcome that we received from the pastor and his family. They made us feel right at home! We will be staying with them in their home for the remainder of the week. We will be helping get the word out about the church this week, by door knocking and hosting a Bible Club. We can't wait to see what God is going to do here!
Today, we began canvasing the area. The people here are predominantly Methodist, but were extremely friendly and all those that we talked to listened and took the invitations we handed out. We had several great contacts and they promised to be in the service on Sunday! Praise the Lord! We also met many families with children who were very interested in the Bible Clubs held on this Thursday through Saturday. Pray that we will have a good turnout and that Matt will be able to clearly present the Gospel in each lesson! Also, pray for each of us as we will both be preaching this Sunday. We are excited to see what God has planned and covet each and every on of your prayers. Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

Once again, we crossed the state line of Virginia. This area of the country is gorgeous!

This is the playground where we will be hosting the Bible Club this week. The merry-go -round works great, as the knot on Matt's noggin will prove...

Here is another view of the scenery here by the park. This stream flows under an old wooden bridge by the park.

"So Long and Good Night!"

2009-07-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Thank you so much for your continued prayers this last week! God has moved mightily here at Pleasant Island Youth Camp. It has been an absolute pleasure serving here these last two weeks and we are leaving behind many friends tomorrow. We must be moving on, however. We won't forget the memories we've made, though.
At the beginning of this week, we had the opportunity to serve in the Church that supports this ministry, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church. Joel taught in the Teens Sunday School class and Matt worked with the younger kids in a Children's service. The people of the church have been extremely warm and open to us. They have certainly done their best to make us feel very much at home. We had a great time serving the Lord there!
Monday was registration and arrival day. We got up and helped with the final preparations for the campers, including picking up trash, cleaning up the dorms, and moving supplies. Around 2:30pm, the campers began to arrive. By the end of the day, over 40 children, 3rd-6th grade had registered. Our first chapel that day was conducted by Bro. Vince Button, a local pastor who has a heart for young children. He also has a knack for keeping their attention. We definitely learned a lot from him throughout the week.
Throughout the week we played games with the kids, ate with them, and helped them with their devotions and memory verse goals. We got to know a lot of them and were able to help some of them with different struggles. We also were able to get to know the other counselors, who were teens that had attended the camp the week before. It was wonderful to talk to them and encourage them about college. They also were an encouragement to us. By the end of the week, we had developed a great sense of brotherhood with all of the other staff members.
We had a great opportunity this week. We were in chapel on Thursday, and two little girls came forward during the salvation invitation. We both had the privileged of leading one of them to the Lord! It was so exciting to see God's hand moving over the camp! It was truly an answer to prayer and nothing less.
Friday was the toughest day of the week. That was when everyone said their goodbyes. It was a bittersweet parting. The hugs that the kids gave out made it all the harder. The night before, all of the counselors stayed up late, telling stories, showing pictures of the week, and eating junk food. Lots of memories made there. We won't soon forget it.
Saturday, we headed north toward Fayetteville, WV. We had made plans earlier in the week to go Whitewater rafting and that was what we were set on doing. By 2:30pm, we were on the Lower New river, on a crash course for excitement. It was a wild ride, and hopefully the pictures will develop well. Waterproof cameras are worth every penny...
Today, we were able to teach in the Teen Sunday School class yet again, this time with Matt preaching. Unfortunately, he went a little over his time limit... Afterward, we both assisted in the children's program again and then went out to eat with all of the counselors and Bro. Messenger. Tonight, we were able to work with the children again, this time showing Jonah and the Whale with balloons. It was a great time, for us and the kids.
Tomorrow, we will be making our way to Bland, VA, to meet with Bro. Matt French. We will be helping him for a week with many things, as he has just started a fellowship there, not even a month ago. It will be a very different environment, but it will be an excellent learning experience as well. We can not wait to see what The Lord has in store and covet your prayers.
Thanks in advance! Also, below are just a few snapshots from the last week of camp. Enjoy!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

This is Bro. Vince Button, conducting one of the chapel services held everyday.

Bro. Nathanael Messenger is head of the camp staff and coordinates everything that is going on. He also has a really neat loudspeaker.

What would we do without the faithful registration table staff?

Here, Matt gets to put to use some of those old maintenance skills in the cafeteria.

Joel was able to give Evin, one of the other counselors, a hand putting the finishing touches on the rock climbing wall.

"Go West, Young Man..."

2009-07-05T22:41:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Sorry about the length of time between the posts. It has been nearly impossible to get online this last week or so. Hopefully, we can bring everyone up to speed!
God moved mightily during our stay in Boston. It has been wonderful to see His hand move and has been awing to know we had a part in the ministry that is continuing still. Our God truly is amazing and we cannot wait to see what is in store further ahead.
We have had opportunity to be involved in many facets of the ministry during our stay.
Thank you so much to Pastor and Mrs Corbin for your hospitality and kindness. We have certainly felt at home this week in Boston and it will be very hard to leave. We have had a great time learning about the heritage we have in this city and being able to build on that heritage by working for the Lord here. We were especially thankful for every opportunity we have had to preach and teach the Word of God.
On Monday, we left Boston and made our way to Elkview, West Virginia. It was a beautiful, yet tedious drive. After 14 hours of being on the road, we made it in to Pleasant Island Youth Camp! What a trip!
The camp, run by Bro. Nathanael Messenger, is aptly named. It is situated on a six acre island that is connected to the main land by a suspension bridge. We have just finished up the teen camp week and are preparing for the junior camp week now. God moved mightily this last week as several young people came forward and accepted Christ as their personal Savior. Many more came forward and made a decision for the Lord after the preaching sessions, which were conducted by Pastor Greg Locke of TN. Also during the week, Champion Baptist College's singing group came and sang several times for the teens. They were a great blessing to everyone.
Living in the dorms with the guys gave us the opportunity to get to know them and talk to them personally about what the Lord was dealing with them about. Several young men accepted the call to preach and we were able to pray with and encourage them. It truly encouraged us to see so many teens on fire for God!
Friday was a bittersweet day. It was sad to see all the campers go home but we were happy to know that they were going to represent Christ in their schools and homes. We are looking forward to what next week will bring and we'll be sure to keep everyone updated. Please continue to pray for us as we serve the Lord this summer. Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,

-Matt and Joel

The Scenery was amazing on the way here.

This young man's name was Cody. He was inseparable from us this week! He also was abig help by taking a lot of pictures of everything.

"Blazing the Gospel in Boston!"

2009-07-01T11:34:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
We are in Boston! Praise The Lord for His goodness and Grace! We arrived safely at Bible Baptist Church on Saturday afternoon. Thank you, once again, to Pastor Jim Townsley for providing us with a place to stay Friday night. When we arrived, we met Pastor and Mrs. Gary Corbin and began to learn as much as we could about the work going on. They gave us a warm reception and have provided us with a place to stay at the church. The Corbins have been working in the inner-city Boston area for over 25 years. That's quite the testimony as this is not the easiest or safest place to do God's work.
Our thrusting into the local ministry came rather suddenly. The night we arrived, pastor Corbin gave us the opportunity to accompany him as he went street preaching by Harvard Square. He has been doing this every Saturday night for 25 years, without exception. We left the church at 11:30pm and returned around 2:00am. We were able to pass out many gospel tracts and the Gospel was clearly preached. One of the most eye-opening things about the people there was their disregard for truth. Many mocked us as we stood our ground, some threatened to call the police if we did not pipe down, others just balled up the tracts we gave them and walked away. It was a heart-breaking sight. There are so many lost people here, yet so few that are working toward reaching them. We also had opportunity to walk through the Harvard Yard and see the College Grounds. What once was a training ground for preachers is now almost devoid of any reference to The Scriptures or to God.
The next morning, the pastor allowed both of us to preach and lead singing in the morning service. The pastor then gave a convicting message on The Second Coming of Christ. We were also able to have part in the evening service. Matt gave a devotional message to the teen class and made a few balloon animals while Joel assisted with the teens. The young people at the church come from various backgrounds, including several broken homes. Please continue to pray for the youth in Boston, as it is a hazardous place, spiritually and physically.

Monday, we went out door-knocking in the housing projects. People were extremely receptive to the Gospel! A few actually walked back to us to ask questions and get more tracts to give to friends and family. It was amazing and humbling to see The Lord move and to see how He had prepared hearts for our visits. We saw 6 people come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior while we were out! Praise The Lord!

Tuesday, the pastor and his wife had a few errands to accomplish, so we were able to take in some of the historic sights of the area. It is amazing to see how much heritage we have here in Boston. This is the cradle of liberty, including religious liberty. We were able to board a full scale replica of the Mayflower, and see life from the perspective of our fore-fathers. We saw quotes from men such as William Bradford, who left behind a Christian testimony and inspired many to pursue Godliness. It was a great blessing and it was an experience we shall not soon forget.

That afternoon, after we arrived back at the church, we went to the local train and bus station to pass out tracts. Once again, the Lord blessed greatly. So many people of diverse backgrounds use the train! We were able to meet people of several different languages and give them the Gospel. Families, businessmen, the elderly, even police officers were very receptive and interested in the Gospel. Praise God for His goodness!

Tonight, the pastor is allowing us both to preach again in the service, so please pray that God will use us. Also continue to pray for Bible Baptist Church of Boston, that people will attend the upcoming tent-meetings and receive Christ as their Savior. Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,

-Matt and Joel

Here 's Joel, standing in front of the Scale replica of the Mayflower, the Mayflower II. It was quite an amazing exhibit, even featuring actors who would answer any questions you might have, while remaining in character.

This is why they need to put "Do not touch!" signs on the cannons in Plymouth Plantation! Thankfully, Matt is a terrible shot with anything larger than a water pistol, so no harm was done...

"Moving Up in The World"

2009-06-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Today was our final day in New Jersey at Jersey Shore Baptist Chapel. It has been a wonderful week and God has blessed greatly, but it's time again to travel on. This was also our last day with pastor Stoeber from Westbrook, Maine. It is very sad to say goodbye to him, his family, and the other members of the church there. Thank you all again, for your hospitality and kindness.
These last few days were filled with activity! Every morning, we went out and passed out John and Romans in the community. Afterward, we met back at a church member's home and had a meal. IN the afternoon we went to various places in the state after handing out more literature. Each evening was brought to a close by a special "get-to-know-you" meeting at the church. On the last night of meetings, two small children came forward and received Christ as their savior! Praise the Lord!
Today, we followed pastor Stoeber to Southington, Connecticut, where he had arranged to pick up some pews for the church building. We helped load the pews and said our goodbyes. Pastor had arranged a place for us to stay until tommorrow, at Central Baptist Church. This is an answer to prayer as we were just going to camp out in a nearby campground.
Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new leg of our travels. We will be working with Bible Baptist Church of Boston, Massachusets, all the way through the 5th of July. We are extremely excited and cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store! Continue to pray that God will work mightily in the Northeast. Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,
Matt and Joel

(P.S.- Below are some pictures from New Jersey. Enjoy!)

In historic Smithville, not even the New Testament Church Pioneers are above the law...

There we are, after walking all 217 steps of that lighthouse. They need an elevator. Badly.

Here we are with Pastor Stoeber and the missions group from Westbrook Baptst Church.

"Jersey Bound"

2009-06-23T10:27:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Thank you to all those that were praying for the Sunday services, as they were greatly blessed of the Lord! There were many visitors that came in both the morning and evening services and Matt's message was used to encourage many hearts. There has been a wonderful spirit of brotherhood at this church, just as in the others we have visited, and it has greatly encouraged our hearts.
Our time at Westbrook Baptist Church in Westbrook, Maine is over. It has been a wonderful time and the people have been so very hospitable and kind. We've truly enjoyed our time in Maine, but it's time to move on, as all New Testament Church Pioneers must do. After all, we're Pioneering new ground, are we not?
We won't, however, be saying goodbye just yet. We are accompanying pastor Stoeber and a few members of the church on their summer missions trip to Jersey Shore Baptist Chapel in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. We actually left yesterday at 6:30 am. What a drive it was! After almost eight hours of driving, with very few incidents(besides us getting separated from the group), we made it in safely. For the record, we never got lost.
Yesterday was the second meeting of this church, as it is just getting started. It is so exciting to see what the Lord is doing and to watch and take part in a new church's "birth". The speaker brought a powerful message on the Word of God and it's place in the foundation of the Church. It was mightily used. A church family has been kind enough to allow us to stay in their home during our stay here.
Today, we have been involved with the canvasing effort of the church. We have been trying to get as much information about the church out to as many people as possible. It's exciting to see people take an interest in the church and we can't wait to see how many people respond tonight in the service.
Please continue to pray for us as we serve here in New Jersy, that God will move mightily and souls will hear the Gospel. Thanks in advance!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt

"Sea Billows Roll..."

2009-06-20T19:57:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
It has been a wonderful week here at Westbrook Baptist Church in Westbrook, Maine. God has blessed us greatly in our efforts to help the pastor. The church here has started building a new building and we have had the opportunity to help the pastor finish preparing it to be insulated. God has kept us safe while were working on scaffolding(much to Matt's chagrin)and using air-nailers to secure stapping on the ceiling.
We have also had opportunity to work in the ministerial aspects of the church as well. Wednesday night, Joel brought a very encouraging message from Mark chapter five. The prayer meeting that followed was a great encouragement and helped us to be able to pray more specifically for the needs of the church. Thursday, Matt had opportunity to give a Gospel presentation in a local nursing home, using balloons. It was an interesting meeting, to say the least.
Just as the pastor was opening in prayer, the fire alarm started blaring! All of the occupants of the building had to be moved outside, where the rain was pouring down. Thankfully, it was only a drill and no one was injured, nor was there a fire. After everyone had settled back down, we noticed that some of the residents had not been in the meeting before the drill! Praise the Lord that He can use an occurrence of distraction to further the Gospel!
Also on Thursday, we were able to go door knocking with one of the members of the church. There were so many people who had no knowledge of the Bible! They were very kind and open to what we had to say. One elderly woman in particular took an interest and will be meeting with the pastor and his wife to talk about what the Bible has to say about salvation. Praise the Lord for opening doors in Maine!
Today, the pastor was performing a wedding ceremony, so he gave us some time to go sight-seeing. We took advantage of it as best we could. Maine is a very beautiful state, filled with lush forests, rolling hills, sweeping shorelines, and complex metropolitan areas. Our first stop was the Two Lights Lighthouses in Cape Elizabeth. The ocean was stunning. The wind was blowing at a steady clip and the waves were rolling into shore furiously. The sun was mostly hidden by the clouds but the weather managed to stay balmy all day.
The Lobster Shack, a local eatery famed for its culinary crustacean creations, seemed like a good place to stop for lunch. It lived up to its reputation and then some. We actually were sitting on the shoreline as we ate, so the view was fantastic!
Our next destination was the Portland Head Light. Originally commissioned by George Washington, this lighthouse was recommissioned by President George Bush Sr. It is also one of the most photographed lighthouses in North America, or at least that's what the church members have been saying...
It was a beautiful spot, nonetheless. The lighthouse is situated on a cliff which looks over a vast stretch of land. Another lighthouse can be seen off on a distant island shore. We were able to take some terrific photographs, with a little adventuring over the rocks. It was a pioneering experience to be certain! The waves seemed to had picked up some power since the last shore we were on, as they were more prominent and powerful here. Nonetheless, God kept us safe and allowed us to witness His handiwork in action. It still is a marvel to think that controls each and every ebb and flow of every tide. How mighty our God is!
God truly is at work here in the Northeast. Please continue to pray for us this week, as Matt is preaching tomorrow night and as we are leaving for New Jersey on Monday. Also pray for us as we minister to local churches all throughout this region.
Thank you in advance and may God bless you for your commitment to His work.
Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

Here is a shot of Joel and Pastor Stoeber working on the ceiling.

Here, Matt is working on some wiring in the corner.

Here we are, in front of the Maine shoreline. What an experience it has been!

"Rolling, rolling, rolling...."

2009-06-15T19:50:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!
We have had a wonderful time here in Silver Spring, Maryland. It has been a joy to meet the church family and has been a privilege serving here. Our last days were busy ones, as we tried to accomplish as many things as we could for the church before we left. God moved in the Sunday services. It was a great encouragement to hear the Word of God preached and the truth proclaimed so boldly.
Today was our last day at Sligo Baptist Church. It was hard saying goodbye to the pastor and his family, considering how welcome they had made us feel. It was a bittersweet parting to say the least. New Testament Church Pioneers, however, must keep pioneering, so off we drove!
We drove for over ten hours through some of the most beautiful country we have ever seen. Neither of us had ever been further north than New York, so this was an eye-opening experience to say the least. Plus, this was the first time Joel had ever seen the ocean, and what a spectacle it was!
We drove through some of the largest cities we'd ever been in, but God gave us safety, fair weather, and expediency all the way. One interesting thing that we noted was the lack of churches on the way. We only saw a handful during the 500+ miles we drove. Please pray for us as we try to help churches here grow, so that their work can be multiplied, and revival can take place. It would be an awe inspiring thing to see this part of our nation remember it's Christian heritage and awaken to the awful sin that has gripped it for so long.
We arrived at Westbrook Baptist Church in Maine, around 7:30pm and met pastor Stoeber and his wife. There were also several families at the new building, helping in the construction effort that is taking place. Already, much of the building has been built, but a good bit of work remains. Please join with us in praying that the building will be finished soon and the church can meet there, intead of in the rented facilities they are currently using. It is going to be a busy next couple of weeks, but we can't wait to see what God has in store.
Below are a few pictures of the drive from Maryland to Maine.

Goodbye and God bless, everybody!

The Baltimore shipyards on I-95. Those boats were huge!

Woo hoo! New Jersey!

There it is! The ocean! And there it goes. All that for a split second shot...

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

"Round Two!"

2009-06-12T19:13:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!
It's been about a week since our last post, but it's been impossible to get online here at Pastor Corrigan's home, due to inclement weather. The rain has been amazing these last few days! It comes for about 4-7 hours and pours out the most awful fury drops of water can muster. Then it stops and leaves without a whisper. Very strange.
Joel's message Sunday night was a big encouragement to the church. It was great to see the Lord work and to see Him continue to work!
Monday was scheduled to be a rainy day. God, however, gave us enough time to finish the walkway! Praise the Lord, it turned out great. We even had enough time to paint the side side of the church building! God is so good to us, is He not? It's been encouraging to see Him answer prayer after prayer this summer!
Tuesday, we began installing spotlights in the auditorium of the church building. It was a learning experience to say the least. It took us until Wednesday morning to actually finish. We were pleasantly surprised when we turned the switch and all the lights actually came on and stayed on! Not only that, but the pastor actually said they looked even. *Phew.* After that, we removed some old carpet from a storage room and did some general maintenance work around the building while the pastor and his family were presenting their work to a church in Tennessee. We're still trying to figure out the drywall, though...
Last night, Bro. Richard Young gave a powerful ending to his three part series on why a Christian should not drink alcohol. It was a wonderful, Biblical handling of a controversial topic and it helped us very much. It was also nice to visit with he and his family and the church members after the service. God has blessed us with the opportunity to serve at a very loving church.
Today was another work day at the church. We did some more electrical work today, replacing ballasts and light bulbs and light fixtures in the building. We also were able to help the pastor do a little work on the pulpit. It has been an all around terrific and educational experience here at Sligo Baptist Church and we're are sorry to think that this is our last week here.
Pray for us, as we are finishing up some things for the pastor this week. Also, pray for Matt, as he is preaching this Sunday-night. Thanks in advance! We can't wait to see what God has in store for the rest of this summer! It's going to be great!
Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

(P.S.- Below are some pictures from the week. Enjoy!)

Here is one of Joel and pastor Corrigan painting the church building.

Finally! It took until 9:30 that night, but we managed to get the brick walkway finished. It actually looks straight, too. Not bad for a couple of rookies, if we do say so ourselves...

Funny story behind these pictures. We were changing ballasts in the auditorium light fixtures when we looked out the window and saw a turtle of all things, crawling across the sidewalk in front of the church. We went outside and decided to have our pictures made with it. It was after we had put it on our heads that we realized it was a snapping turtle. Oops...

"By The Sweat of Your Brow..."

2009-06-06T16:47:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Things have been very busy here in Silver Spring lately. We are almost at our halfway marker for our stay here and there are plenty of things left to do.For the last few days, helping Pastor Corrigan with projects around the church building has been priority number one. We've had opportunity to do anything from minor carpentry repair, to drywall finishing, to constructing a brick walkway for the church. Some projects have been moving more swimmingly than others, due mostly to the inclement weather.
Pray for us, that we will have good weather this week, so that we can finish up painting the building and laying the bricks for the walkway.
We have also had opportunity to help hand out hundreds of packets of information during canvasing sessions and door-knocking outings. There are many churches in the area, including some which do not preach The Truth of The Bible. Unfortunately, many minds are held captive by the lies that are adamantly proclaimed here. One person in particular yelled at us( in the presence of the pastor's nine-year old daughter) and demanded we get off his property.
Please pray for us and for the pastor and church as we all spread the light of the Gospel in Silver Spring. We have met many here who are thirsty for the truth, but do not know where to find the well-spring. God helping us, we'd like to see souls saved during our time here.
Last night, we attended a local meeting of Reformers Unanimous International. It was absolutely amazing! This is a wonderful ministry that helps people suffering from all types of addictions by showing principles for overcoming them from the truth of The Bible. It was wonderful to see so many people coming together for the sole purpose of lifting one another up and furthering their Christian lives. God really spoke to our hearts as we heard His word preached with fire and power. The message was a warning to remember what God has done in our lives, lest we stray away from what we've learned. A timely truth, to be certain.
Tomorrow will be our first Sunday service with Pastor Corrigan. Pray for us, especially Joel, as he is preaching in the evening service. God is doing amazing things this summer, and we are waiting with expectant hearts to see what is coming next!
Below are some pictures of the church building and us as we work. Enjoy!

Here is a picture of us working on the brick walkway. Pray for us, as this seems to be the one thing that we cannot conquer! God is making sure that we have no problems with pride this summer...

Here's one of Joel showing some finishing panels who's boss.

Acrophobia? No problem! Here at New Testament Church Pioneers, we're all about conquering fears. The only real problem arose when Matt realized he had to go down the same way he had come up.

Here, pastor Corrigan and Matt discuss the drywall situation behind the baptistry.

Thank you all for your prayers and support! God bless you!
Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

Washington D.C.!

2009-06-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hey all!
Today, Pastor Chris Corrigan of Sligo Baptist Church in Silver Spring Maryland took us on a tour of our nations capitol, Washington D.C. This served a three-fold purpose: 1. It helped us gain an understanding of the people's hearts, 2. It allowed us to get to know the pastor a bit better, 3. It helped us unwind after a day of driving!
The city itself was wonderful. There is so much to see and do! And the food was terrific! We were able to distrube many Gospel tracts as we went through sights such as The Lincoln Memorial, The washington Monument, and The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Please pray for us, as the people's hearts are oft times cold toward Christianity.
Below are some pictures of the trip. Enjoy!
Our first major stop was the Smithsonian. It's so sad that such an amazing place is so full of deception and lies.

This is George Washington's Ceremonial Sword. We saw it at the National History Museum along with hundreds of other amazing artifacts, like George Washington's Wooden Teeth. (Just kidding...)

I felt like Mr. Ylitalo would appreciate this artifact. All I can say is, "Dude!"

Praise God for Old Glory and what she stands for!

Here, we stand proudly before the Washington Monument. What a walk to get there. Whoo...

Thanks for your prayers and we hope God blesses you as much as He has us!
Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

Pressing on!

2009-06-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hi all!
Well, the time has come for us to be moving on. God has been so wonderful to us while we were at New Grace Baptist Church and we cannot wait to see what is ahead of us. Yesterday was a wonderful day at the church. There were 13 new visitors at the church! Matt had opportunity to teach in Sunday school, Joel preached in the morning service, and Matt preached in the evening meeting.
It's been such an encouraging week here. The pastor and his family were very hospitable and it will be hard saying goodbye. Thank you so much for everything! We hope we will leave things for the better.
After we packed everything up, we hit the road. We soon reached the Virginia state line, and took a brief stop to look back at where we've been.

So Long!

Thank you, Joel, for your help holding up the sign...

We are on our way! Thank you for your prayers!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

New Grace Baptist Church

2009-05-31T11:48:00.000-07:00

Howdy all!
We've been here at New Grace Baptist Church now for almost a week, and what a week it has been! God has shown Himself mighty, time and time agian! Our first action to help Pastor Barnett and his family was to begin painting the auditorium of the church building. This took a bit longer than we'd hoped, but God was in it all! The auditorium is now finished and looks beautiful, thanks to a group effort.
A large emphasis that the pastor has placed in the church is on children. We have had several opportunities this week to visit in local parks and even a hospital and minister to children using balloon animals, Bible stories, and passing out flyers for the church. There is nothing as beautiful as seeing a child understand that Jesus Christ loves them and them accepting Him as their Savior.
We were also able to go out door to door, and visit with people, giving out flyers and gospel tracts as we went. The pastor was extremely encouraged by the response. He asks that you all pray for he and his family and the church, as opposition to the gospel is just as high as the need for it. God is ready to do something mighty in Tarboro, however, and it is encouraging to see that work begin.
This morning there were numerous visitors in the Sunday morning service, as well as several visiting children in the junior's meeting. Everyone had the opportunity to hear the gospel presented to them. Prasie the Lord for His goodness and mercy! Continue to pray for us, as Matt will be preaching in the evening service and he and Joel will be travelling tomorrow morining to Maryland. It has been a wonderful first week and we cannot wait to see what God has in store for the rest of the summer!

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel

This is an outside view of the church building.

Here's a good picture of Matt and Joel, painting a hallway in the church building.

Departure Day

2009-05-25T07:57:00.000-07:00

Hello again!
Well, today is the big day. Today is the day that all of the stateside teams hit the road. The annual send-off meeting went off without a hitch. Everyone gathered at the steps of Temple Baptist Church for a final word from Mr. Ylitalo and for the last of the group pictures. Emotions ran high as everyone said their goodbyes and wished their fellow pioneers safe travels and fair weather. We all departed after one last prayer.

All that was left was the road.

We were on our way, heading toward Tarboro, NC, by 10:30 am. Traffic was thick, considering it was a national holiday. The weather was a little odd. We would have calm sessions of sunshine, and without warning, hit rain so thick you couldn't see past your bumper! Nonetheless, God gave us a great blessing of safety and we arrived in one piece at the pastor's home.

Pray for us, this week, that God will bless the services and our service here in Tarboro. Below, there are a few pictures posted of our departure. Thanks for checking in!

Your brothers in Christ,

-Matt and Joel

Here's a good one of Team Northeast, ready to hit the road.

Every team signed Mr. Ylitalo's Bible before they left. We're praying for you, Chief!

Training Week

2009-05-20T08:41:00.000-07:00

Hello!
This is the New Testament Church Pioneer Northeast Traveling team for 2009! We are excited to have the opportunity to serve the Lord by encouraging pastors and helping local churches in the Northeastern region of the United States.
For the last week, we have been preparing for our trip. It's been a wonderful learning experience as we've covered a broad range of things; anything from vehicle maintenance, to conducting a Bible club, to pitching a tent and starting a camp fire.
More than just a learning experience though, it's been a time for each of the teams to draw together in a spirit of brotherhood. No one will be traveling alone by themselves this summer, as every team will be lifting the others up in prayer.
God has blessed us so much in the last few days. We have seen need after need met, prayers answered, and have had the opportunity to spread the Gospel all around the Knoxville area. It's amazing to see how God has moved so far, and we are excited to see what He has in store for this summer.
We leave you now with a challenge. God has given each and every Christian a command and that is what the New Testament Church Pioneer program is built upon. It says in the first part of Matthew 28:19, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations..." This is our goal this summer. Please pray that God would go with not only us this summer, but with every pioneer team and that He would perform a mighty work through us.

Your brothers in Christ,
-Matt and Joel