Bahama Mission
February 1999
The past few weeks have been a blur of activity and schedule reorganization. The words of James in chapter 4:14, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life?...", have taken on new meaning. Much time has been spent in prayers of thanksgiving and for courage and guidance to do the Will of the Father. We have been blessed with challenges and opportunities to which we had given no thought before the plane crash. We found another plane the day we returned to Florida, the Elders at Gulf Coast borrowed the money to purchase it, we bought it $13,000 below appraised value, the FAA expedited the registration so that we could use it outside the United States, and we have completed our required training for the transition. We are in the process of trying to raise the $30,000 needed over the insurance settlement , and are hoping that the insurance money will be forthcoming, so that we can retire the debt rapidly. The Cherokee 6 will carry more Bibles and materials with fewer trips and will fly 50 mph faster. The plane is really more suited for the work we are doing, than was the old one. The disaster was not a part of our plan, but "The Lord works in mysterious ways...".
Frank and Bea Sarver, who were with us in the crash, have returned to Morton, Illinois with plans to come back and help again in January for their eighth year. They did an effective work in Marsh Harbour, and the send off party attended by the congregation and towns people attested to the love, respect, and appreciation felt by all. Their trip was crowned with special joy just before they left when Henry Williams obeyed the Gospel. They had studied with him each of the seven years.
Jack and Donna Steward continue a few more weeks to help with activities and teaching in Marsh Harbour and other areas of the Bahamas. There, "His Needs/ Her Needs", training for couples has been well attended. We are thankful for them and their dedication and stabilizing influence.
Special meetings, and evangelistic efforts are being conducted in several congregations in the Bahamas. We are gratified by those whose lives are being touched with the Message of Hope, and for the increase being give by God.
March 7, was a day of rejoicing for the official opening of the Central Church building in Nassau. We have been meeting there for several weeks, and the building is far from completed. I was with them in a meeting some time ago. This was however a great day of rejoicing in the progress made, and a time to pray for a bright future. We are so deeply appreciative of Andrew and Bonnie Major, for their great faith and tireless endeavor. Many attended from all over the Islands as a sign of support and sharing.
We had the first baptism in San Salvador and share the joy of Terez Gibbs in becoming a Christian. This work of establishing a new congregation is made more special in that it is an outreach of the maturity of Churches in the Bahamas working together to preach among their own. We have always believed that our task is to help where we can, and to encourage the growth and development of those native to these Islands.
The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Lectureship is scheduled for April 1-3 in Nassau. I have been assigned the topic, "Lessons from Great Prayers of the Bible". This will be an hour lecture on Friday night. This is always a great time of reunion, study, and encouragement.
Meetings are being set up now for Eleuthera and Cat Island in the near future. We will mention that the Doctors who came to test Lincoln Young and the Williams family in Eleuthera discovered that they do not have the same affliction. This makes the disease that Lincoln has even more rare. Most cases have been found among Iranian Jews. Please continue to pray for this great man of God.
We were most thankful to the people of Rum Cay for all of their help, assistance, and hospitality after the crash. We have not given up hope of establishing a congregation among them.
Dinah and I are looking forward to having Steve and Delina Caldwell from Gulf Coast with us the first full week of April. Steve is one of the ministers in Ft. Myers and has been a vital part of our work for some time. We will work with several congregations during that time. Also we are rebooking Gary Nix, Missions Deacon from West Broward.
We are most thankful to the West Broward Church in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida for the increase in their contribution to the work from $100 to $300 a month. They just joined with us in January. They have also raised some funds for the plane. Gulf Coast has also increased their contribution. It is our prayer that we can finish raising the $30,000 for the plane, and that the monthly money coming in will allow us to operate in the black for the coming year. We thank you for your love for souls and for your sacrifice in giving that others may know Christ. If we plant and water, the Lord promises the "Increase".
Please continue to remember the Memorials/Honors Fund to assist in establishing new congregations. Checks can be made to Bahama Mission Church of Christ, and sent:
Attn: David Caskey, Missions
Gulf Coast Church of Christ
3825 McGregor Blvd.
Ft- Myers, Florida 33901.
Please mark special contributions for the Aircraft or Memorials. Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we work together in the Kingdom.
David Caskey
This page last updated March 23, 1999
