June 25, 2010
Dear Friends,
In my April letter, I observed that our attendance on Thursday nights has been a bit fewer since Tim was released in late February; not many new men had been coming. I asked you to pray with me for another “inviter” in the A-1 dorm.
Although God has not yet given us an inviter in the A-1 dorm yet, He has been blessing the invitations of a long-time faithful member of the group, Nate. Nate invites someone every week, and in the last month someone new has come in response to Nate’s invitation just about every week.
The first to come was Tim, who showed up the day after I sent my last letter. Tim has only missed one week since April and often has insights into the Scriptures that have jaws dropping around the whole room. Tim’s a young man—in his early 20s—and pretty new to the Faith
In mid-May, Josh came for the first time at Nate’s invitation. In early June, Rob came for the first time. Rob had come to Christ through the Navigators Ministry at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix earlier this year. Another Navigator at Miramar, Todd, has been visiting Rob and urging him to come to Bible study.
That same week, Jay came for the second or third time in two years. Jay is openly anti-Christian. He used to call himself an atheist, but now realizes he hasn’t been everywhere in the universe and therefore has no right to claim there is no God. Our text for the evening was Romans 9:1-13, a passage that makes even the strongest Christians nervous. Jay was pretty feisty that night, but others report that he has been a bit softer since coming.
The next week, Joe came for the first time at Nate’s invitation. In our prayer time, Joe has repeatedly thanked God for Nate and for bringing him to our study. The following week, another man named Josh came for the first time; again, at Nate’ invitation. Josh openly shared that his legalistic upbringing in the Bible Belt had made Christianity very unattractive to him. But now he is experiencing the freedom that only Jesus can offer.
And just last night (June 24), Nate brought Mike with him. Mike was raised Roman Catholic, but has been reading the Bible lately and wants to learn more.
All of these men are in their mid-twenties, which represents something of a shift in demographics. For about a year, Nate (who is 25) has been the youngest man in attendance. Most of the group have been in their late 30s and early 40s (and facing Dishonorable Discharges after 18 or 20 years of service). Nate will be released this fall, so please pray for more “inviters”, and continue to pray for inviters in the A-1 (orientation) dorm.
A number of faithful men have been released in the last month. Seth is home in Austin, Texas with his family. He sends me e-mail updates about once a week. Patrick, who became a Christian during his 8-month stay at NCBM, was released on a Friday and called me on a Sunday. He and his wife live in Camarillo, California, and own a trucking business and already have a home church.
Pray for Gary, who visited on a Thursday night in May, saying he wanted to get right with God before being released in two weeks. Gary lives with his parents about four miles from my home—near a grocery store where I shop regularly. I’m hoping we can touch base very soon.
As always, thank you for your prayers for these men and for me. And thank you for your generous donations to this ministry.
Grace and Peace,
Ben Conarroe
Dear Friends,
In my April letter, I observed that our attendance on Thursday nights has been a bit fewer since Tim was released in late February; not many new men had been coming. I asked you to pray with me for another “inviter” in the A-1 dorm.
Although God has not yet given us an inviter in the A-1 dorm yet, He has been blessing the invitations of a long-time faithful member of the group, Nate. Nate invites someone every week, and in the last month someone new has come in response to Nate’s invitation just about every week.
The first to come was Tim, who showed up the day after I sent my last letter. Tim has only missed one week since April and often has insights into the Scriptures that have jaws dropping around the whole room. Tim’s a young man—in his early 20s—and pretty new to the Faith
In mid-May, Josh came for the first time at Nate’s invitation. In early June, Rob came for the first time. Rob had come to Christ through the Navigators Ministry at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix earlier this year. Another Navigator at Miramar, Todd, has been visiting Rob and urging him to come to Bible study.
That same week, Jay came for the second or third time in two years. Jay is openly anti-Christian. He used to call himself an atheist, but now realizes he hasn’t been everywhere in the universe and therefore has no right to claim there is no God. Our text for the evening was Romans 9:1-13, a passage that makes even the strongest Christians nervous. Jay was pretty feisty that night, but others report that he has been a bit softer since coming.
The next week, Joe came for the first time at Nate’s invitation. In our prayer time, Joe has repeatedly thanked God for Nate and for bringing him to our study. The following week, another man named Josh came for the first time; again, at Nate’ invitation. Josh openly shared that his legalistic upbringing in the Bible Belt had made Christianity very unattractive to him. But now he is experiencing the freedom that only Jesus can offer.
And just last night (June 24), Nate brought Mike with him. Mike was raised Roman Catholic, but has been reading the Bible lately and wants to learn more.
All of these men are in their mid-twenties, which represents something of a shift in demographics. For about a year, Nate (who is 25) has been the youngest man in attendance. Most of the group have been in their late 30s and early 40s (and facing Dishonorable Discharges after 18 or 20 years of service). Nate will be released this fall, so please pray for more “inviters”, and continue to pray for inviters in the A-1 (orientation) dorm.
A number of faithful men have been released in the last month. Seth is home in Austin, Texas with his family. He sends me e-mail updates about once a week. Patrick, who became a Christian during his 8-month stay at NCBM, was released on a Friday and called me on a Sunday. He and his wife live in Camarillo, California, and own a trucking business and already have a home church.
Pray for Gary, who visited on a Thursday night in May, saying he wanted to get right with God before being released in two weeks. Gary lives with his parents about four miles from my home—near a grocery store where I shop regularly. I’m hoping we can touch base very soon.
As always, thank you for your prayers for these men and for me. And thank you for your generous donations to this ministry.
Grace and Peace,
Ben Conarroe
