Greg and Wendy Mann: March 2007
Dear Family and Friends,
The last time we "talked" we were headed for Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL, where we started a conference on 3/4. Marcus Pointe really went all out for their conference...we saw things there that we have never seen and experienced in any conference! The church had a man repel out of the ceiling onto the platform to start the conference with the exciting theme of "Mission Possible." Ed Gibson preached and did a fantastic job. We were absolutely treated like royalty, far better than we deserve. Among the fun things we did I enjoyed a day out in the bay fishing. The other missionaries might try to dispute this, but I caught the biggest and the most fish! We had another day where we went golfing. We are grateful to Pastor Godfrey and the great people of Marcus Pointe...they really have a zeal for missions...its fun to be around a church with so much excitement.
From Pensacola I carried Wendy and the boys to Alabama for some rest, while I went on to Mississippi. I thoroughly enjoyed preaching in a little country church in Maben, MS. The folks at Bethel Baptist Church discovered that I was a yankee, but they forgave me for that and we had a great meeting! Pastor Womack and the church were very kind and generous, and we are glad to have these folks now supporting our ministry.
From Mississippi I returned back to Alabama, where on Wednesday I preached for Saks Baptist Church in Anniston. Pastor Daniel Harper is very humble and pleasant man to be around. The Lord has given these folks a beautiful new auditorium. We were treated with such kindness and generosity. I thank the Lord for allowing us to be in this good church.
While we were in Alabama we stayed with Trinity Baptist Church in Oxford. Pastor Grinstead and some of his men have been down to Guyana. This church and pastor is one of the most mission hearted churches you will ever set foot in. Pastor Grinstead has visited (I believe) over 50 countries. During the week I was able to speak in their school chapel and help out in some other ways. I preached this past Sunday morning at Trinity. Wendy and the boys needed a few days off the road, and we are grateful for the rest.
Early Sunday morning I headed out to speak at a prayer breakfast. I was definitely in RURAL Alabama. The men had gathered from 5 or 6 different churches for this event. There was such a sweet spirit...so rare to see BETWEEN churches of like faith and practice within the same area. I challenged the men on commiting their lives to doing what the could for the Lord. These men and the churches represented stepped up big time to partner with our work in Guyana. One church gave $15,000 to build a church in Yarakita and committed a building crew to come next January to do the job. Another church, which I have never visited and did not know the pastor gave our ministry $5000. Two separate individuals gave our ministry $5000 a piece. In one early morning prayer breakfast in rural Alabama we raised the last of the money for Bible College/Dorm building and the $5000 goal for books for our national pastors!
When I reached back to Trinity in Oxford to preach the morning service, I checked my email and a couple in Florida had written to tell us that they were giving the final amount needed for the church radio sets! What a morning! Nearly $35,000 raised for the work in Guyana...and it wasn't even 10 in the morning!!!
Yesterday evening we headed back into the hills of Alabama to the Amazing Grace Baptist Church. These were some of the best, down to earth people you could ever meet. We thouroughly enjoyed ourselves in this country church. Pastor David Phillips is doing a fantastic job for the Lord in a very rural location. The church was very generous to us and our ministry. I liked the name so much, Amazing Grace Baptist Church, I decided that I would like to use that name for a church in Guyana...the people loved that! Wendy will be speaking to a ladies fellowship tonight, with several churches from this area getting together...she is always greatly used of God in her speaking...I am proud of her!
Well, we have been busy on the road...and so blessed. Thank you for praying and supporting the work in Guyana...God is doing some great things, and I believe he is about to do some GREATER things!
Yours In Christ,
Greg,Wendy, Joshua, Josiah, and John