(This was copied from Jeff’s website, https://thecassklan.com )
We are now over 10 weeks street witnessing in South East Roanoke. It is extreamely tough ground!
A lot of seed is being cast on the wayside and being devoured by the birds. We have also cast seed on stony places where it has had no root and was scorched by the sun or the seed has fallen among thorns that have choked it out. Two or three have made a profession of faith but so far nobody has followed through with their walk with the Lord. Derek and I have given our phone numbers to them to contact us so we can disciple them, but to no avail. There have even been several who have said that they are Christians and really appreciate our prayers but when invited to a Bible Study to help them grow, they adamantly say they will be there but then never show up. There is always an excuse. But there is no excuse when showing up to get free pizza and snacks. That, they will find time for.
Am I frustrated? Only in the sense that I would love to see salvation fall on South East. God loves these people so greatly yet the hardness of heart is keeping them from His Mercy and Grace. It is definitely not an unreached people group. Everybody knows of Jesus, most have heard the gospel, although what form that takes, whether in there own mind or in the presentation, could be very convoluted.
I know it will take time for genuine fruit to be produced. For now,… we cast seed.
All that to say, Pray!
Pray for salvation upon South East. It is a stronghold of Satan but Jesus makes it clear, the gates of hell WILL NOT prevail! Pray for patience; we are fishing after all, and sometimes there are just no fish to catch. Pray for direction. Where do we cast our nets? We do not want to cast pearls before swine, so where are we to step out? How would God lead us? It is an ongoing question for us.
Another aspect of this that I would like your help with is resources. If somebody wants to get off of drugs, off the streets, out of prostitution, just plain out, how do we help them? What are our resources here in the Roanoke valley? My conviction is that those resources must be Biblical. We are not going to send somebody to a needle exchange, or a 12 step program emphasizing any higher power, or counseling that does not lead to the Word, or a homeless shelter that does not give them the Word, etc. etc.
Their ultimate need is a relationship with Jesus. With out Him, all that other stuff is useless. Might be useless anyway. We are not looking for people to get clean. We are looking for them to know Jesus, then He will do the cleaning. We feel that our part is to plant a church. That is our conviction.
It is a dark, lost, pain filled and evil field. The harvest in this field will come.
My prayer at this time: “Father, if this field is white for harvest, where are we to harvest? And if not, show us where to plant the seed.”
On other fronts:
Pray for Derek and Melissa as they will be traveling up to Kensington, Philadelphia at the end of the month with Calvary Chapel of Lynchburg to see how they can support Calvary Chapel Kensington “The Rock”. If you know anything about Kensington, it makes South East Roanoke look like Disneyland. So Derek and Melissa should come back with an education and hopefully more insight into how we can tackle SE.
Karin and I will be flying out on May 29th heading to Okotoks, Alberta, Canada to attend the wedding of Josh’s sister Emily and her fiance Scott. We will get to spend 10 days with the grandkids! Wohoo! We are very excited to get to see them again. Josh’s father, John Peters, who pastors Calvary Chapel of Okotoks, has asked me to teach the Sunday after the wedding. Please keep me in prayer for that. I will be giving an update on what we are doing in SE and teaching on evangelism and how to share the gospel.
Thank you again for all of your prayers. They are much appreciated. For those interested, we would love for you to join us in fasting and praying for SE Roanoke every Monday before the Tuesday outreach. Also if anybody is interested in joining us in the work in SE, Tuesday is not the only day. We are open to however God would lead you. Give me a call and lets talk.
The Lord bless thee and keep thee, the Lord make His face to shine upon thee. And be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26
I copied this from Jeff because I could not have said it any better myself.
Supplies that we need with Amazon links for some items (consistency):
- Snacks (individually wrapped chips, nabs, granola bars, etc.)
- Sunny D (we always need Sunny D, I think its the Vitamin C they crave)
- Travel size deodorant (mens a.co/d/5NBJwVQ and womenshttps://a.co/d/4vI53jS)
- Single use shampoo and shower gel packets https://a.co/d/c0T9EmM
- Single use sunscreen packets https://a.co/d/1zPmjKZ
- Chapstick https://a.co/d/1cURpXq
- Tracts https://a.co/d/branLd1 https://a.co/d/9VpWEgB
- Gospel Synthesis https://plusnothing.org
If you feel led to donate, you can give supplies directly to myself, Melissa or Alex or you can have them delivered to us. Financial donations can be made on our website or in person.
As always, much love and God Bless you
Derek, Melissa and Alex
Buchanans in the Wild
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