“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift” II Cor.9:15.
Dear Prayer Partners,
May each of you have a great Holiday as we celebrate again the Savior’s birth and look forward to his coming again to take His bride home.
We are in the middle of the busy Holiday season and looking forward to the New Year of 2012. I want to bring you all up to date on what is going on here in Indian country. It has been a busy year for us and the Lord has blessed in many ways.
The church at Ferguson Memorial is doing very well. Attendance has been improving and we have seen a number saved and baptized this year. Pastor Steve Fox has gained strength but has been told that his liver cancer is growing again and he has just received a radiation implant that will possibility slow down the progress. Please remember him and his wife Treasa as they continue to trust in the Lord during this trial.
Becky is teaching a Ladies Bible study each month which will be completed this month. The attendance has been good and the ladies have all commented on how much they have learned and applied to their daily lives.
We have had the privilege of preaching and teaching in a number of our mission churches this year. It is always a blessing to get back to some of the churches we served in in the past and also to the new church plants and see how the Lord is blessing. We have also been privileged to preach some of the funerals of our dear friends who have gone on home to Heaven. It is such a blessing to know that we will see these folks again and be able to offer this comforting hope to their families. It is only because of what Christ has done and their faith in him that we can offer this comfort.
Our family is doing well. Steve and Sherry’s oldest daughter Jacqueline was married this past July to a fine young man who is studying for the ministry and should be receiving his Master’s degree in the spring. Pray for The Lord’s direction in the lives of Jon and Jackie Cook. The rest of the family is ministering at Hualapai Baptist Church in Peach Springs Arizona, and Steve is serving as the President and Director of the Independent Baptist Indian Mission Inc.
Brian and Susan and family live in Gilbert Arizona and are members of Tri-City Baptist Church. Susan teaches in the academy full time and Brian teaches part time and works at Intel Corporation as an engineer. Their oldest daughter Alyssa is a freshman at Pensacola Christian College. Kara and Brenna attend Tri-City academy and are active in sports and cheerleading.
Jeff is living and working in Escondido, California, he is planning to be with us to celebrate Christmas. It has been over a year since we have seen him and we are looking forward to his visit.
Becky and I have had a great year. Most of you know that we celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in November of 2010 but we were unable to take a trip at that time. However in January we were able to go to Hawaii for 12 days, seven were spent on a cruise ship visiting four different islands and the rest of the time was spent on Oahu. This was the trip of a lifetime for us and we were accompanied by lifelong friends Keith and Sharon Brock from Indiana. We also made the trip to North Carolina in July to attend our granddaughter’s wedding. We praise the Lord for allowing us to have these pleasures and for safety as we traveled.
As we begin the year 2012 it will also be the beginning of our 36th year of ministry here in Arizona with the American Indians. We are thankful that the Lord called us here to minister and for your prayers and support without which we would not have seen all of the blessings that we have experienced. We thank you all so much and trust that the Lord is blessing you for all that you have done for us.
Well this letter has gotten quite long so I had better close. Write or call when you get a chance we always enjoy hearing from you.
Sincerely in Christ,
David and Becky DeFord
