Letter from Randy Smith
I understand that you all had a meeting this past week, as I was away with a team to work at Ormond Beach and Melbourne. I wanted to report to you about the trip, as Jesus asked me to.
Melbourne: The church is incredibly well kept, and we worked to re-landscape a bit and cleared the back water retention pond. We left them with a 430 foot long pile on the front lawn to have picked up. On Wednesday PM I met with Pastor Gene Klingler and some of their people. What a joy! I was overwhelmed with the sincerity and love of that little flock. Pastor Gene is limited physically, but a sweet spirited man that obviously loves the flock. I was deeply moved and encouraged by what I saw. I believe they have a great future, but it will take time and some additional help to push them forward.
Ormond Beach: Half of the group went on Wednesday PM to this work, while the rest stayed back at Melbourne with me. Gary Crites spoke (GCBI student) and other youth participated. The congregation expressed love and appreciation for the young people. We cleared overgrowth around the property, but again I was struck by the very good condition of the physical plant. Brad Taylor, the moderator of the congregation, spent both days working side by side with us. What a blessing he is to that work! Phil Johnson has been coming in and speaking there, and I have to say that there are things to work out, but the congregation needs to be held high in prayer. We have a good work here, and we cannot let it slip away. I was moved by some of the people I met, and truly want to develop a closer relationship with them in the future. Brad took us to CEF in Daytona Beach, where we spent Friday afternoon and Saturday morning clearing the property and removing a bothersome fence. We filled the entire front yard with refuse to be picked up, and the place had remarkable improvement. We also met the director, and I had a chance to share with him what I hope was encouragement. Four of our ladies held a "backyard club" with the neighborhood children that came to watch us work on "David and Goliath" and they had a blast.
All in all it was a great time to get to know these dear brethren, and I truly loved seeing what God was doing in these two sister churches. I cannot wait for another opportunity to be together with them.
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Thank you, and God Bless.