Ministry
These last month’s God has moved in an incredible way, so much so that I almost need to write two letters just to touch it all. Gent Baptist Church has been open now for about three months and in that time God has already been growing His church. We are averaging over twenty people now and if everyone comes we would have thirty or more; meaning we have tripled in size. We also are seeing first time visitors every week. We have seen two saved already and have started discipleship classes with them. The Church has started a children’s church, where we are running about ten, on Sundays. We are also holding classes with the few teens we have every other Thursday night in hopes to eventually use this to build a teen class. Our Property can only hold about fifty people so we are well on our way to our goal of outgrowing this building. In August, we had a group of college students here who helped us to do a gospel blitz in our city, with street preaching, and giving out around
5,000 tracts in just a few days. I do ask you to pray though as after this we have faced some attacks against our church. The city questioned our legal right to have a church on our property, the volume of our music, and even fined us for putting gospel tracts in the wrong mail box; but the worst of their attacks is that they have temporarily stopped our street preaching while we look at getting a permit. God has answered our other needs and next month we pray to begin street preaching again, so please pray we could resolve the situation properly by then.
Personal
As most everyone knows already, Sister Lory gave birth to our first son on September 9th, late that evening. Both the baby and the momma are very healthy; and although it was a very long delivery, he came with no problems. Josiah Patrick Haley is his name; he was born just shy of 8lbs and with more hair than his father, much better looking as well. As you will see in the pictures attached, he most definitely got his looks from his momma. We thank all of you for your prayers for him and his mother, there were some minor concerns for his heart, but God has already taken care of that and as I said he was born perfectly healthy. We would like to say thank you as well to the churches and people who have sent gifts to him, he may not have had a baby shower, but it feels like we have. I do ask you to keep praying for me though as I will finally interview for my visa on October the 2nd. If this goes well I will be approved to stay in the country permanently and will not have to leave to renew my visa. Please pray for this though as this determines whether I can stay in Belgium or not.
Prayer
Pray for Loredana and I as we start Dutch Language classes in October
Pray for my visa interview that it would go well.
Pray for God to continue to grow His church and to see more souls saved.
Pray for the two saved already and for others doing one on one discipleship classes.
Pray for the people I am working to get in church or bring to Christ.
Pray that we could legally be allowed to start street preaching again without a permit.
Pray for my home church in America as they are going through some tough times.
Pray for the ministries of Gent Baptist Church as we try to grow them.
Pray for baby Josiah that he would grow to love and serve the Lord.
Thank you for all of your faithful prayers for us, you are a much needed part of the ministry and will never know how much of a blessing you are to us, at least not on this side of eternity.
With Sincere Gratitude, Bro. junior Haley
