Pastors, Church Families, Friends & Family:

It has been sobering to see America’s economy plummet in the last couple of months and the dollar continuing to grow weaker around the world. On many occasions as I call pastors for meetings, I am told that things are just too tight. I know that is true and I fully understand. During these trying times, however, faith is so important. As I read about Elijah’s and the widow’s needs, I can see similar parallels. Times are tough for all. When Elijah asked the woman to help him, she by faith obeyed and God miraculously met both of their needs. As God’s people and churches trust Him and sacrifice for the gospel’s sake, somehow God continues to amazingly provide for needs. 1 Kings 17:13-16 says, “And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.” Amen! God’s ways are sure not our ways (Isa. 55:8, 9) but they should be.

The Lord is good to keep us safe in our travels. Praise the Lord. Recent incidents remind me of our survey trip to Mexico City when we almost slid off of a mountain. Two months ago we nearly crashed in an intersection but God intervened. Two weeks ago, a semi truck ran us off the interstate into the median at 70 miles per hour just as we were approaching a bridge. God graciously kept us from impacting the concrete structure and allowed us to amazingly keep control, narrowly missing the bridge and other cars as we scooted back onto the road.

Our family approached a small apartment complex recently to knock doors. Before I could reach the first door, the apartment manager approached me with the familiar phrase, “No soliciting.” As I told him that we weren’t soliciting, he asked, “What are you doing?” I said inviting people to church and giving them the gospel. He then replied, “We occasionally have a service on site here. Are you trying to take our members?” I replied “No” and said, “We just want folks to have the opportunity to be saved and go to heaven.” The manager said “there are big, mean dogs on the property and some bite.” As he saw that I ignored the comment and went to the next door, he said, “No one will be home here today.” As a man answered my knock on his door, I just smiled. The manger followed behind me as I went from door to door. He then said, “Many people here work third shift and don’t want to be woke up.” As I woke a man, he said his uncle once attended our church and liked it and he might come too. He was relatively receptive when I witnessed to him too. The manager was relentless in pestering me. As we later were finishing the complex and no real good visits, I thought that it was not a particularly productive day. On the way back to the van, my daughter met a young lady on the sidewalk named Jamie and was able to lead her to the Lord for salvation. Hallelujah! All of the attempts by the apartment manager and Satan to discourage us were in vain. We can’t wait to get to Mexico City and continue to see God working in spite of difficulties.

Last week while traveling we received a call from a church that had voted to support us. Glory to God! I was excited and thankful but realized I didn’t remember having a meeting there. As I thought on the church’s name, I realized it was a church that we just stopped in once when we didn’t have a meeting and our children sang a song there.

We need to be sure to always keep the main thing (The Gospel) the main thing. Someone once said “Why do what others can and will do, when there is so much that needs to be done that others will not do.” Someone else said, “Is what you’re living for worth Christ dying for.” Oh how we must make souls our number one priority.

Well, I must close. Please pray for us as we will for you. Bye for now.

Bro. Mike Wallace & Family