Dear Praying Friends,
It has been another length of time since I've last posted, so I will try to fill you in on all the Lord has done.  In February we celebrated our third year of service here in Australia!  It is only by God's grace that we are able to celebrate this milestone.  The memories of raising funds on pre-field ministry still linger close in our minds, the Lord sustained and provided then and He is still faithful today!
Also, in February I took the third module of a biblical counselling course.  It has been an eye opening time to see how the heart is the target of counseling and truly all ministry.  Sin manifests itself in many ways in our lives, but behind the sin is an idol of our heart.  I've enjoyed the personal challenge to seek any idol in my own heart and seek God's help to cast it down and replace it with Christ.
March has started off with a flurry of activity, that is, not snow! This morning I took Francis "Beef" Hires to the airport after of week of him visiting us.  Beef took a trip to the Philippines and swung by to see us for a little while.  It was fun fellowshipping with him.  He has been a great encouragement.
Just this last Sunday we held our annual Kid's Fun Day.  It is our main outreach to our community.  The day is filled with games, face painting, crafts, and the always popular bounce house.  There were a little over a dozen new children at the event.  What a privilege to introduce them to Jesus and send them home with a gospel tract.  Please pray that God would work in their hearts and that we would see these families at church soon.
Thank you for your support in prayer and for taking the time to read this update.  May God bless you.

In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family

Beef having fun before the Fun Day

Passing out tracts at the local train station

Dear Praying Friends,
Well, it has been a little while since I have updated the blog and I apologize.  Things have been busy over the holiday season.  In November we had some special guests visiting with us for the month.  My parents came all the way from Butte, Montana!  This was their second trip "Down Under" and we had a blast showing them more of the Melbourne area.  The best part was being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.
December was busy from start to finish.  We had many events at church that took much preparation.  On the 13th we held our Carols by Candlelight service and had a wonderful time of worship.  It was  a blessing to see several visitors and have the opportunity to share the Gospel that night to them.  We also had a specials, dinners, and Christmas breakfast with our church family.  Again, the best part was being able to spend time with family, our Australian family.
January has been a nice month of planning.  It is our summer month and things slow down quite a bit.  There is much to prepare for in 2016 which includes our first furlough.  We are planning on returning in July of this year.  The Lord has provided our substitute in Don and Lola Winans.  The Winans have served in Australia for over 30 years and we replaced them at Grace Baptist Church when they retired.  They have graciously accepted the invitation and will need our prayers as they continue the work while we are gone.
It does not feel like we have been in Australia long enough to be considering report ministry, but time does fly.  God has been good to us and we have seen His hand at work both in our lives and in the lives of those whom we serve.  Please pray for the last months we have before departure, that God would use us in a mighty way.  Also, please pray for the Winans and the time of transition for them, us, and the church.  Thank you for taking the time to read this update.  May God bless you.

In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family

Dear Praying Friends,
Today was an extra special day.  I met with a gentleman today who has been visiting Grace Baptist Church for a couple months now.  After sharing the gospel with him again, he bowed his head and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.  God is so good to us!  He has made a way of redemption through Jesus and He has allowed us the privilege to share this great news.  May God continue to bless this ministry in Australia.
The Lord has been blessing the ladies Bible study that Sara has been leading.  Many ladies have attended and we can see the Lord working in their hearts.  The book of James challenges believers to live out their faith, and these ladies at Grace are doing just that!
God is blessing the work here.  Though it may be slow, we are seeing people grow in their walk with the Lord.  The sins that were holding them back are being confessed and their thinking is being changed by the work of the Spirit using the truth of Scripture.  Working in the ministry allows us the blessing of seeing others put off the old man and put on the new man.
Please continue to pray for the work here in Australia.  There is so much still to do.  Please pray that more would be saved and that believers would grow (that includes us as a family too!).  Thank you for taking the time to read this update.  May God bless you!

In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family