The Banquet was a great success!! There were 120 people that attended. We gave an update of our ministry over the past year and shared some answered prayer and requests. One man gave me a check for enough money to have the front tires replaced on the bus. Someone else gave a generous amount to put toward the replacement of our furnace. We are grateful to the Lord for giving us such a great group of people to pray and help in our ministry. Thanks to Him and to all who have listened to Him.
You are invited to attend the annual RBM Ministries Spring Banquet for Van Buren and Berrien Counties. It will be held at the Hartford Federated Church, 65418 Red Arrow Hwy, Tuesday, March 27, at 6:30 pm. As always there will be a delicious meal for which a free-will offering will be taken to cover expenses and assist in the work of RBM Ministries. A multi-media presentation will be given as well as a report on ministry and a challenge from God’s Word. Please contact us for a reservation by sending a note through the contact form. It would be very helpful for to know who is coming by Monday, March 18. Why not invite someone new or your pastor to come as well? Hello!
Just a little update and some prayer requests. Classes are going well this month, our verse for the month is John 3:16 and we are using what we call the "bridge visual". It is a very clear story of the the pure Gospel, how Jesus completes our "bridge" to heaven. There has been a great response so far to the plan of salvation. Class attendance is up, for the most part, there is some illness but there are new students attending as well. The Decatur El. class has tripled since they started handing out permission slips, we had 17 in January. Total number of students in Jan. was 449 with 20 classes! Another reason for writing this letter is for financial concerns. We have gotten to know our furnace repairman quite well over the past month. He is a very likable fellow but tells us that we had better start saving for a new furnace. He roughly estimates around $3000 for a replacement. We hope it will last through this winter but he says we are heating on borrowed time. Another fellow that has been very helpful to us is our bus inspector/mechanic. He tells me that a new pair of front tires for the bus will cost close $800 mounted and balanced. I have checked around on some other prices and that seems to be about the going rate. One shop that was somewhat cheaper does not have the equipment to mount and balance but can give us a little better price on the tires. This is not an immediate need but the tires will need to be replaced before Fall inspection. Prayer Requests 1) Wisdom as I share the Gospel in class this month, also for children to be saved. 2) Praise for the opportunity to speak to so many students 3) Wisdom about furnace repairs and supply of $3000 for replacement. 4) Need of new bus tires by fall, $800 As always we know that God will supply all our need. We are so thankful that we do not have to try to figure it out or worry about it as He is in control. Thank you again for standing with us in prayer and encouragement. May God guide and bless in your lives as well. Dean Brown RBM Ministries in Van Buren & Berrien Counties, MI *************************************************** RBM Ministries site http://www.rbmministries.org/ This month in Released Time Bible Classes we are talking about how we can have the peace of God since God is in Control. Our verse is Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” May the Prince of Peace give you peace as you celebrate His birth. It has been a long time since we have written so following is just a brief update. This past April I taught 20 RTBCs with 549 in attendance. This included 46 Adult helpers, 13 School Districts and 22 school buildings. Starting in June I taught 13 VBS’s with 455 kids and 690 people at 10 closing programs. RTBCs for fall of 2011 Classes started out a little rough this fall. There were a number of new Principals to whom I had to explain RTBC program. Some of them were not always accommodating, though at this time all classes from last year have been started. Decatur schools have now started to pass out slips for us, which should help our attendance. Please pray that unwilling teachers would hand the slips out as well. Most churches are able to supply enough help though at some it is just the pastor and me. Support At this time our support is waning a bit. Last year our RBM account received a large gift that has helped keep the balance up even as the income was low. That amount is rapidly deteriorating. In a few months we may have to have our salary reduced because there is not enough in the account to cover it. Please pray for churches and individuals that are struggling financially to pay their bills as well. We know that God is never caught off guard and that He continues to meet our needs, just as He promises. Again we pray that God will fill you with His peace and joy as you fill your mind with the Word of the Savior and trust His guiding hand. In Jesus’ Name Dean & Cherie Brown P.S. Our RBM Banquet will be Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. |