Recent Updates
| A Thankful Message |
| As we approach the day that our country has set aside as a day of Thanksgiving, I thought it would be proper for me to add one more item to your Thanksgiving list. It is true that 2020 has brought many things that can steal our gratitude, but Scripture tells us to always give thanks no matter what is going on in the world around us. 1 Thess. 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” So, I would like to report some good news for you to add to your Thanksgiving praises this year. Please join me in giving thanks that at least 600 people have come to faith in Jesus Christ during the last 3 months of ministry through those supported by Barnabas1040. More than 200 of those dear people followed the Lord Jesus Christ in baptism in spite of the fact that doing so would mean possible persecution from family, friends, and the government. Barnabas1040 has the privilege of helping national church planters in 17 Restricted Access Nations. Together we are standing with our brothers and sisters who are laboring under very difficult conditions that include poverty, persecution and Satanic opposition. Consider the backgrounds of these 600 converts who have come to Christ in the past 3 months. • Atheistic Communist Countries: 162 Salvation decisions: • Buddhist Countries: 215 Salvation decisions: • Islamic Countries: 99 Salvation decisions: • Hindu Countries: 62 Salvation decisions: • Catholic Countries: 47 Salvation decisions: More than 200 of these new converts have followed Christ in baptism. Interestingly enough not all of the folks baptized are included in the 600 that were saved this past quarter. The reason for this is that in many of the places we work they do not baptize converts until they have been saved for several months. This has more to do with culture and security reasons than doctrine. The church leaders want to make sure that the new convert understands what it means to leave their false religion and gods to truly embrace Jesus Christ as the only Lord and Savior. Also, It is not uncommon for public baptism to be the cause of the pastor and member being jailed, so you can understand why they are often cautious about when and where baptisms take place. Our brothers and sisters in Restricted Access Nations are facing things that we don’t have to deal with in free countries. I never cease to be impressed and convicted by their courage and love for our Savior. One of the pastors we support is in jail as I type this letter. Please pray for Pastor Sithone, his family and church. It has been 8 months of incarceration and he still has not been charged. It was as a result of a public baptismal service that he was arrested. As we celebrate Thanksgiving in a few days, I want you to know that Gayle and I are thankful for each of the churches and individuals who pray for and support this ministry. We know that we could not do what we do without you. Thank you for partnering with us as we shine the light in some of the most spiritually dark places in the world. Your prayers and financial support is making a difference. Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com USA Cell: (949) 880-9415 |
Baptismal Service in an Islamic Country
Dear Friends,
First of all I want to thank you for your prayers and encouragement these past few weeks since our last prayer letter. I know it has become a cliche to say that 2020 is a year like none other but one of the questions I never expected to ask my wife was “Does this mask clash with my suit?”.
This has definitely been a year that I would describe as both Pains and Gains.
Pains: Covid-19 and Hurricane Sally:
On September 10th both Gayle and I were diagnosed positive for Covid-19. Many of you reached out to let us know that you were praying, and we sincerely thank you for that. I have completely recovered and Gayle still has some mild symptoms of headaches and tiredness. We have been assured by medical professionals that we are no longer contagious and it is safe for us to be around others. By God’s grace I am back taking meetings and my calendar is booked for the next few months.
Six days after we came down with Covid-19, Hurricane Sally made landfall in Pensacola, Florida where we are currently based. We planned to stay home and ride out the storm, but I received some calls from local friends that advised me that it would be a mistake to not evacuate. There were no hotels or shelters open to us because of our sickness. God always provides for the needs of His children, and a Pastor friend in another city opened his missions apartment to us.
When we returned home a few days later, we were welcomed by water and mud damage both in the garage and house, along with power outages, no internet and the water being shut off. But at least we were able to sleep in our own bed as we recovered from the Virus. The damage could have been much worse and I mention these “pains” only because I know that many of you love and pray for us and want to know what is going on in our personal lives. The truth is that these are minor inconveniences when compared to what is happening with so many other people here in America and around the world.
Gains: New Churches:
The past few weeks have seen some great opportunities for us to expand the ministry. God is still drawing people to Himself in some of the most gospel resistant parts of the world. We were able to participate in new church plants in four different countries where governments restrict and persecute Christians. One of the men we added for support is currently in prison and our support will be a great help to his wife and children. Three of the countries are communist countries where we have already been working, the fourth is the country of Belarus which is a land in great need of the gospel. I personally know the national pastor that we are helping there and have complete confidence in his integrity and love for Christ.
Children’s Homes:
I am happy to let you know that by God’s grace we have completed the Children’s home in Myanmar. The building is beautiful and will be greatly used of God in the lives of orphans and poor children. Many will be saved and trained to serve God there. On behalf of Pastor Paul VanHre and the dozens of children that are being housed and educated, I want to say thank you for giving towards this worthy project.
Our focus is now on helping Pastor Ning Wungkhai finish the orphans home in India. We have raised enough money to acquire land and lay the foundation. Now we can proceed with the construction of the building. Thank you to those pastors and individuals who have given towards the India orphanage.
If any of my pastor friends would like to make this a Christmas project I believe the Lord would be pleased by helping these poor and needy children. Please contact me if you would like more information.
Showers of blessing and revival:
We are now helping 68 church planters, 3 Bible Colleges, and 2 children’s homes in 17 different countries. These national workers are human and they face the same difficulties and spiritual warfare that you and I do. Some of them have been separated from any personal missionary contact for several months. Many have been harassed and at least one has been imprisoned.
By God’s grace they are not giving up, they are continuing to labor in their harvest fields and I am hearing reports of scattered showers of revival blessings.
• Sri Lanka: A 4 year old church had 330 people in attendance and 160 people saved in a recent service.
• Pakistan: 79 Adults saved and 46 baptized.
• Vietnam: 3 new churches planted.
• China: many being saved in spite of increased persecution.
• Laos: New churches being planted, Christians reaching out to the poor and needy and seeing several saved.
• Egypt: A local congregation was able to purchase their own meeting place. Our ministry was able to help.
• Camp: A missionary couple had to return from China and is now starting a Children’s Camp that will reach into Asian countries to bring children to the USA where they will be exposed to the gospel. Our ministry was able to help.
• New Field: My son-in-law and daughter had to leave China but God opened the door for a unique and innovative ministry in Africa.
I could go on listing many other things that are happening, but I don’t want this report to be a book!
Suffice it to say that no matter what is happening in the world around us “the Word of God is not bound”. God is very much at work in our world today and it is our great privilege to be involved in what He is doing!
God bless you and thank you once again for your love, prayers and support.
Dwight & Gayle Tomlinson
Barnabas1040.com
Email: dtomlinsonlbc@gmail.com
USA Cell: (949) 880-9415
The orphanage in India is just getting started after many months of prayer and planning, but I am encouraged by the interest that pastor friends are already showing in being involved.
- September is wide open and we will be in the Gulf Coast, Southeast States.
- Sunday, November 1st is open in the Seattle WA area.
God bless you,
While the Coronavirus Pandemic is dangerous and powerful, we know that it will soon be defeated and our world will return to whatever our new normal will look like. Churches will open, people will return, missionaries will hit the deputation trail and those missionaries who have been stranded here in the USA will be able to return to their fields. We look forward to that day!
Please continue to pray for the orphanage in Northern India ministering to children along the Indian and Myanmar boarder. A church in Washington State and one in California gave enough money to get the orphanage started and we believe God will see it through to completion in His own time.
God bless you,
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