Dear Praying Friends,
Happy New Year from the Pitts family! It has been an exciting year for us that began all the way back to December of 2012. Somewhere near Christmas of 2012 we learned of our visas being approved and the final preparations for moving were able to begin. In January of last year we finished packing and said goodbye to our items in a shipping container. February we left for Australia. Now we are staring at one year on the field! Praise the Lord! The time has flown by while we have been busy for Him.
This past year has been a year of learning to say the least. We have had a crash course in Australian culture and living while diving into the ministry headfirst. God has been blessing and guiding the entire way. He has surrounded us with great coworkers and an amazing group of prayer supporters. Truly we could not do this without the help God has provided through His people. Thank you for your prayers and support.
The Lord has been at work here at Grace Baptist Church where we serve. We have had visitors that have continued to attend and have been responsive to God's Word. The Lord worked recently in the distribution of simple fliers inviting people to church. My desire and prayer for 2014 is that we will see new souls come to Christ. Please pray that there will be opportunity to meet people who are searching, and that God would give us boldness to share Jesus with them.
May God bless your 2014. May it be a year that He lays someone on each of our hearts to share the gospel with and see them come to Christ. May it be by His grace and for His glory!
In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family
Monday, December 16, 2013
Dear Praying Friends,
Well, the weather seems to finally be turning fully to summer here. I'm sure many of you are reading that and peeking out your window at the snow that needs to be shoveled. Sorry about that. Anyway, at this time of year God provides a little extra for the Christmas time through our supporters. These gifts are greatly needed and extremely appreciated. I am thankful today for how the Lord has worked in the hearts of His people to show their generosity towards us. It is humbling and at the same time it produces the fear of God in my heart. Those who give are giving to God's ministry here in Australia. Our purpose for being in this country is to share the Gospel with the lost and be used to build His church. It is a wonderful thing to be in the service of the Great King, but a fearful one as well.
Please know that your support, gifts, and prayers are much appreciated. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family
Well, the weather seems to finally be turning fully to summer here. I'm sure many of you are reading that and peeking out your window at the snow that needs to be shoveled. Sorry about that. Anyway, at this time of year God provides a little extra for the Christmas time through our supporters. These gifts are greatly needed and extremely appreciated. I am thankful today for how the Lord has worked in the hearts of His people to show their generosity towards us. It is humbling and at the same time it produces the fear of God in my heart. Those who give are giving to God's ministry here in Australia. Our purpose for being in this country is to share the Gospel with the lost and be used to build His church. It is a wonderful thing to be in the service of the Great King, but a fearful one as well.
Please know that your support, gifts, and prayers are much appreciated. Merry Christmas!
In Christ,
Mark Pitts and Family
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Dear Praying Friends,
It has been a little time since we have posted, so much has happened in the last couple of weeks. First we started the month of November with a church camp near the Great Ocean Road. It was a joint camp with Cornerstone Baptist Church with around fifty people in attendance. The weekend was filled with board games, ping pong, basketball, volleyball, food, food, and more food. It was refreshing to hear from God's word presented by several speakers and to spend time in fellowship with other believers.
Next, we celebrated the girls birthdays in November. They had a combined party with many of their friends attending. It was great fun for the girls.
Later in November we had the men's breakfast at our home early on a Saturday morning. There were eleven men in attendance, which we praise the Lord greatly for. Right now we are trying to see what activities will work here in Australia, and this one seems to keep growing. The best way to reach men's hearts is through their stomachs, right? Well, it was great to have so many to chat and pray with.
The last weekend in November was reserved for the young adult activity. Paintball!! Ten men collected at a paintball range about an hour away in the hills outside of Melbourne. In good Christian love toward one another, we chased each other and plastered each other with paintballs. Some walked away with bumps, some with welts but we all walked away with fun stories to tell. It was a great event to build up relationships with each other as Christians. These young men need fellowship and the Lord provided it at this activity.
Yesterday was the church Christmas dinner program. It was another joint activity with Cornerstone Baptist Church our sister church plant. The children put on the play "The Smallest Angel" where our very own Meredith was the smallest angel. All of the children did a fabulous job with their lines, and solos. Then I had the opportunity to share the reason we celebrate Christmas. There is a manger so there could be a cross. Many visitors and family members were in attendance. Around one hundred people with several unsaved hearing the gospel for the first time. Pray that the message would continue to challenge their hearts over the Christmas time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. It is hard to express how thankful we are that people are praying for us, but thank you. May God bless you all with a wonderful Christmas celebration.
Merry Christmas,
Mark and Family
It has been a little time since we have posted, so much has happened in the last couple of weeks. First we started the month of November with a church camp near the Great Ocean Road. It was a joint camp with Cornerstone Baptist Church with around fifty people in attendance. The weekend was filled with board games, ping pong, basketball, volleyball, food, food, and more food. It was refreshing to hear from God's word presented by several speakers and to spend time in fellowship with other believers.
Next, we celebrated the girls birthdays in November. They had a combined party with many of their friends attending. It was great fun for the girls.
Later in November we had the men's breakfast at our home early on a Saturday morning. There were eleven men in attendance, which we praise the Lord greatly for. Right now we are trying to see what activities will work here in Australia, and this one seems to keep growing. The best way to reach men's hearts is through their stomachs, right? Well, it was great to have so many to chat and pray with.
The last weekend in November was reserved for the young adult activity. Paintball!! Ten men collected at a paintball range about an hour away in the hills outside of Melbourne. In good Christian love toward one another, we chased each other and plastered each other with paintballs. Some walked away with bumps, some with welts but we all walked away with fun stories to tell. It was a great event to build up relationships with each other as Christians. These young men need fellowship and the Lord provided it at this activity.
Yesterday was the church Christmas dinner program. It was another joint activity with Cornerstone Baptist Church our sister church plant. The children put on the play "The Smallest Angel" where our very own Meredith was the smallest angel. All of the children did a fabulous job with their lines, and solos. Then I had the opportunity to share the reason we celebrate Christmas. There is a manger so there could be a cross. Many visitors and family members were in attendance. Around one hundred people with several unsaved hearing the gospel for the first time. Pray that the message would continue to challenge their hearts over the Christmas time.
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. It is hard to express how thankful we are that people are praying for us, but thank you. May God bless you all with a wonderful Christmas celebration.
Merry Christmas,
Mark and Family
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