Our Baptist Missionary Deputation Travels are so much fun! I hope you follow allong as we go! It’s amazing how the Lord fills every week with blessings, surprises, and stories worth sharing. This past stretch of travel took us all over Texas and Louisiana, from Wylie to Sulphur to La Porte—and even up to Oklahoma City! Deputation life can be busy, but every mile brings a reminder of God’s goodness.
Dont forgit about our book! Thats my Goat is selling very well!
A Sunday Full of Fellowship in Wylie, Texas
On September 28, Laura and I packed the car and headed for the Dallas area. Sunday morning found us at Lighthouse Baptist Church – Wylie, TX for Sunday school and the morning worship service. It was a wonderful meeting.
Pastor Coombs and I have known each other for several years through football camp, but camp days are so packed that you rarely get to sit down and visit. This time we had a chance to talk, laugh, and truly connect. The church even voted to take us on for support right in the service that morning—what an encouragement!
After church, we joined the pastor’s large family for lunch at Panda Express—my first visit there. It was both fun and delicious.
A Joyful Evening in Lewisville
That afternoon we drove to Iglesia Bautista Fundamental – Lewisville, TX (pastored by Dr. Danny Ortiz). I had never presented our ministry to a Spanish-speaking church before, and it turned out to be an absolute joy. The congregation was lively, full of smiles, and we laughed our way through the evening.
Pastor Ortiz preached a powerful message, and thanks to the interpreter and listening device we were able to follow along and enjoy it.
From Sulphur, LA to La Porte, TX — Meeting New Friends
On Wednesday, right after Laura finished her school day, we hit the road again—this time toward Calvary Baptist Church – Sulphur, LA (800 Lewis St, Sulphur). Danny decided to ride along for this trip while Bonnie stayed home for her own church evening.
We discovered that the pastor is related to our good friends Beam and Charity Gmyer. He also grew up as a missionary kid in the Philippines—so we immediately had plenty in common.
By Saturday we were on our way to the Houston area for the missions conference at Underwood Baptist Church – La Porte, TX. (Pastor Danny Traxler.) The international dinner Saturday evening was full of laughter, food from around the world, and even a few fun games.
Sunday was powerful—Pastor Traxler taught Sunday School, and I preached both morning and evening services. The altar was full both times, and hearts were tender toward the Lord.
Encouragement in Arlington and an Unexpected Emergency
Monday morning we aimed north toward Trinity Baptist Church – Arlington, TX (2212 N Davis Dr, Arlington) for the Great Southwest Bible Conference. Brother Joel Haynes had just become pastor, and I was eager to hear several preacher-friends—Evangelist Tim Booth, Pastor Joel Haynes, and Dr. Keith Gomez. Their messages centered on how God sometimes makes life uncomfortable to stir spiritual growth. That truth hit close to home for me!
While in Arlington, we stayed with our dear friend Mrs. Pam Fisk, widow of Dr. C.W. Fisk. He was an incredible soul-winner, and I was blessed to go soul-winning with him many times. Mrs. Fisk kept us laughing, and her little dog Jack made sure we didn’t forget him either!
However, Tuesday evening brought an unexpected scare. As the service began, Dr. Bob Ross—who was sitting near us—suddenly became very quiet. When Pastor Haynes called the men to the altar for prayer, Brother Ross stayed there afterward. Something didn’t seem right, so I knelt beside him. He was drenched in sweat, and I realized he was in trouble.
Brother Gomez and I helped him to a seat, saw his glucose monitor reading “38,” and immediately called 911. The paramedics arrived quickly and got him stabilized. Praise the Lord—he recovered well and was even back at the conference the next morning! God’s hand of mercy was clearly present.
From Arlington to Oklahoma City—and a Health Wake-Up Call
The next day started early as we headed to Oklahoma City for the missions conference at Higher Plain Baptist Church – Oklahoma City, OK (6810 NW 122nd St). We worked with Pastor Tom Vineyard and his wife Melissa during our early missionary years in Ivory Coast, so it felt like a reunion.
I spoke to the teens in their academy that morning, and the special speaker, Brother Mike Ridge, brought powerful and well-prepared messages—you can always tell when a preacher has spent time in deep study.
That evening, back at Mrs. Fisk’s, she asked if I was still dealing with blood sugar issues. I told her I thought everything was fine—until I tested it. The meter read “299!” I didn’t even feel bad. After checking again in Oklahoma City and getting the same result, I knew I had a problem.
Thankfully, a medical doctor at Higher Plain came to meet with me and helped me pinpoint the issue. My lifestyle had changed drastically—I went from walking 30,000 steps a day at the hardware store to under 5,000 while traveling. And with travel food and long car rides, the perfect storm hit.
Following his advice, I fasted on Thursday (with plenty of water). My numbers dropped from 299 to 230 overnight, then down to 187 after another clean-eating day. That was enough motivation for me!
Back on Track and Training for Africa
Since then, I’ve been sticking to a strict diet, walking three miles a day, and drinking lots of water. I need to be in top shape for our return to Ghana! Missionary work there will be physically demanding, and I want to serve at full strength.
Please pray that God gives me wisdom to stay healthy and be a blessing to those I meet while traveling. Deputation life isn’t always easy, but it’s full of opportunities to grow, to serve, and to see God’s hand at work.
Last night I finished reading your book, “That’s My Goat”. It was great. The main thing I learned was that I need to pray more for our missionaries. There were a couple of scary stories in the book. Laura needs to write a book about the mission field from a wife’s view.