Dear Church,
Greetings from the top left corner of both the U.S. and Oregon maps! We thank God for you and your desire to read about the work here in Astoria, Oregon, while praying for this area, our family, and the ministry of Anchor Baptist Church. I apologize for not getting a letter out in May as I had intended. There is much to report, much to be thankful for, and much to pray about together.
We have been friends with a deaf couple in the community here for some time now. Stacy is an interpreter for the deaf and I can communicate a bit in sign language as well. This couple has been very kind to us, and I have done some handyman projects for them to be a blessing. Several times the man offered to pay me and I told him I wanted to be a blessing. Sometime in May, I did a rather large project for him and he wanted to pay me for my time. I said, “What I really need is for you and your wife to come to church.” I told him, “God called me here to plant a church, and you and your wife need a church; why don’t you come?” That was in May, and they have been attending each Sunday as they are able. We firmly believe there are others out there who have been considering our church. Perhaps this will be the year they surrender to the Lord and give their Sundays to Him! Will you pray for this dear couple and for the others who have yet to come to church?
Several weeks ago I was on my way to the dentist when I stopped for a pedestrian in a cross-walk. Once stopped, I was hit by a Ford F-350 diesel. Thankfully the pedestrian was not hit but our van was destroyed! My back still hurts, so please pray the pain would go away as I have been having trouble sleeping. The insurance did not provide a rental car as they were required to, and the next evening, Stacy was scheduled to work at a concession stand as a volunteer for the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She had to cancel, but as a result, one of the ladies called Stacy and told her she had a car that she wanted to donate to a veteran. After knowing this woman for less than two months, she gave us a car in excellent condition! The Lord is always faithful! I smiled as I thought on this truth; “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom!”
Last month a church informed me they would no longer be supporting our ministry here. While thankful for the years of support, I immediately brought the matter to the Lord with our family, but told no one else. Less than one week later, a pastor called me to say their church had voted to increase their monthly support. As you may have guessed, the amount of increase was exactly what we lost. I will continue to lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help; my help cometh from the Lord! Thank you for praying together with us, giving, and serving a faithful God alongside us! Rest assured of our continued effort to reach lost souls for Jesus Christ in this very difficult mission field. We pray God continues to bless you as well.
-The Byers Family