September 2015 Report

 

September 2015

Seminary and Travels

        

              We continue to visit our supporting churches on the weekends. It is always a joy to be with the churches and to rejoice over all that God has done in Kenya. We love getting to say thank you and to renew our relationship and partnership with all our supporting churches. God has giving us a tremendous financial and prayerful support team. 

              It was so good to also be able to speak at some special services this month. I attended a mission’s rally in Smackover, AR at Shadyland MBC. It was a great service and a wonderful time in the Lord. Our local association of churches, the Bartholomew Association, also met this month. It was so good to see several pastors that we have not seen for a long time and to say thank you for the support that the churches of the Bartholomew Association send each month. 

              Seminary classes are going well and I am enjoying every moment of my time at the Missionary Baptist Seminary. The classes are great and the instructors are very encouraging, teaching us so much. The drive from Monticello three times a week is going well and praise the Lord I have not hit any deer! Please continue to pray for this time of study that God will speak through the instructors and that I will grow in knowledge and wisdom of our Lord.

Lead Summit Family Edition Gulf Shores

         Our family was blessed this month to attend the Lead Summit Family Edition at Gulf Shores, AL. It was an amazing time of fun and fellowship. Our church staff all stayed together right on the beach in a huge house. It was so much fun just hanging out and being together, not to mention how beautiful the beach and the ocean were.

              Kenya and I also had the great privilege of speaking along with Larry and Pat Clements.  We spoke on the subject of raising spiritual sons and daughters.  The worship time was great and the crew from City Church, Conway, AR did a great job taking care of our children and having activities for them. We appreciate all the work that Chad Graves and Nathan Rogers put into making the weekend possible. 

 

The Howells’ Deputation

                  Please pray for our teammates Clayton and Lindsey Howell as they are traveling around the states visiting churches and sharing their vision and work. The Howells need an additional $1500 monthly support.  The Farming God’s Way ministry is a key to the future of our work in East Kenya. We are praying that over the next six months the Lord will supply the funds they need. Clayton has nearly filled up his schedule until the first of the year but he still has some openings and is starting on next year. His contact information is missionaryhowell@gmail.com or (870) 265-0326.

 

Bro. Chad’s Last Sunday as our Pastor

             

              This month Brother Chad Graves resigned as pastor of Pauline BC. It was a bitter pill to swallow but we must accept the Lord’s will. Brother Chad has been pastor of Pauline BC for the past ten years and has done an amazing job. He has been our pastor since we went to the coast of Kenya and has visited us four different times, three of those with his entire family. Brother Chad has truly been our pastor and close friend. Although we know that God has led him on we still grieve the fact that he will not be our pastor. 

              Please pray for our church Pauline BC as we begin the process of calling a new senior pastor. The church is healthy and we have a strong staff, but transitions are always a little scary.

Upcoming Furlough Appointments

November 1 Harmony MBC, Ponca City, OK

November 1 Lakeview MBC, Spiro, OK

November 8 Florence Blvd MBC, Florence, AL

November 8 Skyline MBC, Madison, AL

November 15 Holland Chapel BC, Benton, AR

November 15 Northern Hills MBC, Texarkana, AR

November 22 Jeffersonville BC, Jeffersonville, OH

November 29 Sugar Creek MBC, Ironton, OH

November 29 Flatwoods MBC, Mountain View, AR

November 29 Mountain View MBC, Cave City, AR

December 6 First BC, Sullivan, MO

December 6 Mount Calvary MBC, Sikeston, MO

December 13 Bridges Creek BC, Caulfield, MO

December 27 Columbus BC, Columbus, IN

December 27 Victory MBC, Seymour, IN

PO Box 299 Monticello, AR 71657 
James Taylor State side Phone (870) 723-7640 missionarytaylor@gmail.com

Taylor Tribe

 

This was our first time to attend Lead Summit family edition.  I have to admit no one in our family was excited about driving 8 hours in the car to Gulf Shores after our travels in August from Arkansas to Maine and back.  However, it was well worth the drive.  The kids thoroughly enjoyed the huge beach house, the beach, sand, shells, and hanging out with new and old friends.  James and I always enjoy teaching together and our opportunity to teach on raising spiritual sons and daughters was such a joy.  Although we feel unqualified to teach sometimes, the Lord continues to give us words to speak and even confirms to us that we are on the right path.  We absolutely loved Brother Larry and sister Pat Clements’ class.  They are such a sweet couple who have raised some very godly children.  I am grateful that we were able to go and glean wisdom from such a great family. 

            The kids are doing great in school.  They still come home every day all talking at once.  We have had a couple of bumps with one or two rough days socially and a couple of days of homesickness.  Overall, though, they love going to “real” school.  Each kid has good grades and has made a few good friends.  Over a year ago the kids, Josiah specifically, began praying that God would change James’ and my mind about letting them attend public school.  Over a year ago I prayed for God to be very real and personal to our kids.  God answered those prayers.  Our kids realized that God could change our minds, but more than that, He is a God who cares about not only their needs, but also their wants.  I tear up still thinking about the day that it clicked with our kids that God chose to answer “their” specific prayers for something they really desired.  So far this has been a very positive experience for the kids.  I am thankful to the Lord for this time we have in the states.  It’s all different and new, but God is teaching us all so much. 

            I’m so proud of James for going back to school to finish his Master’s degree.  He hasn’t been in school for almost 20 years.  This was a huge adjustment for him, but he is doing so well.  It’s not easy to balance a ministry, full time school load, and a family.  But he is doing it all so well.  James is such a gift to me.  He has always been an amazing example of a hardworking man of integrity.  I couldn’t ask for a better husband.  I know he is soaking up all that the classes offer.  I pray that God uses this time to strengthen, encourage, and equip him for the next 20 years of ministry. 

            Last month I think I wrote something about how I sit around eating bonbons and watching soap operas.  Just kidding.  I have somehow managed to fill up my days, though.  I have been doing some cleaning jobs here and there as well as enjoying visiting with different friends. 

            Thanks for reading and praying.