October 2006

Do I have some news for all of our prayer partners?! About two weeks ago I asked each of you to set your cell phone alarms to go off at 10:02am and to pray that God will give us fellow workers each time the alarm rings. This was to encourage all of us to pray according to Luke 10:02.

For the past month we have been talking to a couple about whether or not they were the fellow harvestors we have been praying for. They were excited about this possibility, but wanted to make sure that this wasn’t just a “good thing”, but a “God thing”. Of course, Ellie and I fully supported this. Since then we have been meeting together on occasion and discussing our visions, doctrines, theologies, hearts, and goals in ministry. This past week they asked about a dozen or so people to seek God’s direction for their lives through prayer and fasting. During this time God solidified within them what He had created and called them to do.

Sunday they informed us that they are in. They are extremely pumped and can’t wait to start. There are a few loose ends that they need to tie up but they hope to join us in a few months before we launch.

These two are very talented, incredibly gifted, but more importantly are humble and willing to do whatever God calls them to do. They are even better than what we originally had in our minds when we began praying for co-laborers. God has been gracious to us.

Now while this is excellent news, it doesn’t mean the prayers can stop or even slow. This couple needs to raise support in order to exist and to devote themselves to this new work full-time. Please pray that we are able to raise enough for their needs to be met.

Also, please continue to pray the 10:02am prayer. We need a counselor here at the church. I’ve never been in a place where there is as great a need for addiction, recovery, reconciliation, abuse, marriage, and grief ministry as Port Saint Lucie. My heart bleeds for the families around us. We will definitly do what we can for these families, but we need a leader with experience and education in these matters.

Thanks for the prayers, encouragement, and financial gifts.

Life is good,
Billy

 

  

He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.�-Luke 10:02 

This last couple of weeks I have been annoying Ellie everyday at 10:02am. Of course, this is not the only time that I have annoyed her throughout the day, but this is unique in that it happens at the same time EVERYDAY. Let me give you the back story… 

About a month ago I heard a church planter talk about the enormous need for co-laborers and harvesters for the field. The verse that God had shown him was the one above, Luke 10:02. He said that he had such a desire and absolute need for some co-laborers that he sets his cell phone alarm for 10:02AM each day. Every time the alarm goes off, he spends a few moments praying according to Luke 10:02. 

Needless to say, this spoke to me. Anyone who has spent more than 20 minutes with me knows that in planting this church the one thing I’ve prayed most is for another worker or another family to be as committed to it as our family is. Other than salvation for some family/friends, I don’t think I’ve prayed for something as much as I’ve prayed for this. 

Okay, back to how this all has annoyed Ellie. When I returned from listening to the experienced church planter, I set my cell phone alarm to go off everyday at 10:02AM. (I did this in order to remind myself to pray for harvesters according to the Luke passage.) I probably should have told Ellie about this and the reason for it because I have a bad habit of leaving my cell phone at the house when I’m out. After about two weeks of my phone loudly ringing, at the same time, she had enough. Of course, once I explained what was going on and I made a blood oath to never leave my phone at the house, she understood. 

The main reason why I am writing this is to ask our ministry partners to set their alarms to 10:02AM and to ask that you pray that God will send devoted workers to us very soon. Things are going extremely well here, but one giant piece of the puzzle is still missing. I fully believe that with your prayers God will bring this person/people to us soon. 

If you can commit to daily pray the “10:02″ prayer for us, please send me a note and let me know. Seeing dozens, if not hundreds, of people around the country doing this will give Ellie and me a lot of encouragement. 

  

Life is good, 

Billy Mitchell 

 

My family is now, officially, North American Missionaries (according to the North American Mission Board) and we have the health insurance to prove it. HIP HIP HOORAY FOR INSURANCE! Sorry for my insurance high, but our family did without for almost two years.

Anyway, NAMB hosted us and around 30 other families this weekend for a “Commissioning Serviceâ€?. Besides having to leave our little Elle Madison behind, it was pretty much a perfect weekend. We arrived in Atlanta Thursday night and began the NAMB training and networking the next day. My favorite part of this was getting to know some of the other families there. I love to hear people’s stories of salvation, calling, and ministry vision.

Saturday was a special day because we got to see some of our best friends on the planet. Alan (a.k.a. Doc) and Beth (no a.k.a., but that’s okay) drove in from Bama and pretty much hosted us as we ate every piece of food in Atlanta. That’s right, if you are going to Atlanta, bring your own food because there is only potato salad and bad Mexican food left. It’s weird how you can spend a month struggling to lose ten pounds and put it back on in two days.

Sunday morning we had the Commissioning Service at First Baptist Church of Duluth. They did a wonderful job hosting the service and lunch for us. Thank you FBC of Duluth!

Sunday evening we were able to attend a church picnic at Dunwoody Baptist Church. This was a huge God thing for us. Because we had the evening free we were able to stop by and thank the church personally for their prayers and financial support. My wife and I had a great time as we met most of the church staff. We may even have a young adult group coming to Port Saint Lucie from this church to do short-term missions next year.

Finally, Monday we met with the Pastor and Pastor of Youth of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Due to some unforeseen circumstances the pastor was unable to visit much, but we hung out with Michael (Youth Guy) for about 4 hours. Michael is going to be bringing his youth group here for short-term missions in December and the church is praying about how to prayerfully/financially partner with us in the future.

Wow, I just realized all that was accomplished this weekend. Time to go take a nap.

Thank you God for all the love, support, and friendship you have provided for us. Help us to provide these same things to other families.

Life is good,
Billy