A Short Night and an Early Morning
After arriving at my room around 2 a.m., I set my alarm for six. The detailed note waiting for me in the room gave me a full schedule of the weekend events, and I appreciated that organization! The pastor wanted all of the missionaries at the church by 8 a.m., so I made sure to rest well—and I did.
When I woke up Friday morning, my blood sugar was 101, exactly where it should be. Praise the Lord! I’ve been working hard to keep it steady, and I truly appreciate everyone praying for my health. I want to arrive in Africa in tip-top shape because there’s great work ahead of us in Ghana.
Fellowship and Friendly Competition
By eight o’clock I met Pastor Jonathan Roberson and Brother Cameron (First Baptist Church Clinton staff) at the church. Together we loaded up to head out for a day of fellowship and sporting clays. On the way, we picked up the other missionaries from their hotel.
Among the group were:
- Evangelist Steve Hart (revival website) – the special speaker for the week.
- Brother Curtis Hall (BEST Missions) – missionary to Asia.
- Brother Johnson (Wings Bearing Precious Seed) – printing and shipping Bibles worldwide.
- Brother Austin Reed (https://www.globalbaptist.net/)– with Global Baptist Church Planters, helping missionaries raise support for national pastors.
- Brother Dale Akin (Revive Illinois) – leading a church-planting effort across the state.
At the shooting range, we had twelve stations: ten clays at the first, ten at the last, and eight at every stop in between. It was my first time shooting clay pigeons, and I had a blast! Pastor Roberson and Brother Cameron were the pros—both part of a local league—while the rest of us learned as we went.
Lunch at Yoder’s Kitchen
After the shoot, we headed to Yoder’s Kitchen, a famous Amish restaurant known for its home-cooked meals. The food was incredible—fresh salads, tender meats, and delicious sides. I managed to stay disciplined and stick to my diet, though it wasn’t easy with so many good options on the table!
Sharing the Burden for Ghana
That evening, I presented our burden for Ghana to the church. Brother Hart preached afterward, and it was the first time I’d heard him speak. His message on Faith Promise Giving was practical, well-studied, and deeply encouraging. It’s always refreshing to hear solid preaching that challenges both heart and mind.
Soul-Winning Saturday
Saturday morning began with study time and prayer before heading to the church for soul winning at 10 a.m. The children’s church pastor—known affectionately as Super Church—led the meeting. His enthusiasm was contagious! He’s perfectly suited for children’s ministry, full of energy and passion.
I teamed up with Brother Hall for door-to-door visitation. Walking and witnessing with him was a real blessing, and we had several good conversations at the doors. Afterward, we enjoyed lunch with Brother Benji, his wife, and their two young sons (ages three and seven months). It was a joyful time filled with laughter and fellowship.
An Unexpected Scare at Lunch
During lunch, the baby grabbed a strawberry ice-cream cone and planted it right in his face! Within seconds, hives began to form. I recognized the reaction immediately—he was having a severe allergic reaction.
I urged the parents to clean him up, give him some Benadryl, and get to the ER right away. Thankfully, by the time they arrived, the medicine had started working, and the baby’s symptoms had subsided. Having dealt with allergies myself—and in my family—I knew what they were facing. Please keep this little one in your prayers as his parents learn to manage these allergies.
Book Sales
Thats my Goat is selling very well. I am excited about how God is going to use these stories. All of the proceeds of the sale of the book is going to help us get moved to Ghana. It is a huge expense to move to a different country. We have already sold almost 1000 books. If we can sell more than 3000 books we will be able to completly fund this move just from book sales. If you are interested in purchansing our book, consfords.com/buy.
Prayer Request!
On Sunday afternoon, while out walking, I received a message from my mother-in-law. My father-in-law, Brother Van Manen had suffered a stroke and was in the hospital. Praise the Lord, he’s improving, but he still needs prayer.
Doctors believe his stroke was related to cholesterol issues, though he’s already a very healthy eater. It appears to be genetic, so please pray for wisdom for him and his doctors as they work to get this under control.
Reflection
The Missions Conference at Clinton IL was full of encouragement, laughter, and reminders of God’s providence. From early mornings and fellowship at the range to preaching, soul winning, and answered prayers, it was a week that renewed my spirit.
Each conversation, each shared meal, and each new friendship reminded me why we do what we do—to reach people for Christ and strengthen the churches that send and support missionaries around the world.
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