Long-term Evangelism!

The last five years for Alicia and I have been filled with joy and immeasurable happiness in NJ. We want to thank you at Smith Springs for making this a possibility; we know that God has worked through you to help establish a church in NJ. The joy and happiness in our lives is not from the ease of life, but instead from being exactly where we know God wants us to be. There is no doubt in our minds that God is continually preparing us for yet another church plant in the near future here in New Jersey. Alicia, Zoë, Elle, and I are excited about what God is doing in our lives and the lives of those in our community.

In 2009 we have been blessed to lose some members at the Brunswick Church of Christ. Now, I know that sounds ironic, but God through this time has blessed us by maturing NJ leaders. First, our teammates Brian & Shannon Gifford moved back to Illinois to be closer to family. Second, with a dwindling NJ economy, several families have moved to other states for jobs. However, this has helped the congregation as a whole become even more self-sufficient. It is amazing how God continually is faithful in helping His church!

The past two weeks we have had 3 people become Christians. The first is David, an 80 year old man that I met 5 years ago delivering Meals on Wheels. I mainly delivered meals to build a positive reputation in the community, but God had better plans. The last couple of years we have had a small group Bible study in David’s community and it now meets each week in his home. Along with David, his best friend Evelyn, a blind woman in her mid-fifties became a Christian. Just before Evelyn and David, a 29 year old man named Sincere was baptized. At his baptism he told us that his real name is Tyee, Sincere was his street name. We decided together that with a new life in Christ Sincere could once again take on the name given to him as a child, Tyee. He has given up his street name and taken on the name of Christ; he has been reborn!

God continually reminds us that evangelism is done through the ordinary events of life. Five years ago I delivered meals and today a man 80 years old and his friend in her fifties are Christians. Furthermore, Tyee, who saw the sincer-ity of faithful Christians who were his own age going to church (8 Harding Students and their families), decided that he also desired to be like Christ. May you this week shine your light in and around Nashville! Who knows what God will do as you talk to strangers, start Bible studies, or invite teens into your home?

Grace and Peace to You All,

Carl, Alicia, Zoë, & Elle Williamson

Added:  2009-11-05