In light of the tragic accident that took the life of three-year-old, precious Azlynn Cretzman, we have come to really love and appreciate hearing the words, “I will be praying for you.” We never want to take for granted the divine protection from God as Christians all across America have lifted our family in prayer. Through the Matt Cretzman Family (missionaries to Cuba), we have seen the sufficiency in the grace of God. I am humbled while convicted of my faith in the Lord during the seemingly dark times of life.
In late December, we finished our meetings in California and began our travels to South Carolina to continue our deputation journey on the East Coast. We were thankful to visit our home church in Arkansas along the way to give a deputation update. It was a joy to see my church family. To download a .PDF version for your ministry, please click here. >>>
We praise God for the busy 2012 schedule that He has already provided for our family. We are looking forward to finalizing our last year of deputation. Please be in prayer as Susan and I take a quick trip in April to visit and encourage a church in Southeast Asia. As it stands, our intentions are still to be in Singapore permanently by the end of November, 2012.
We have seen 5 people trust Christ through personal soulwinning since January 2012. Pray for Wendy, Caesar, Chaz, Brandon, and Cynthia–all of whom we had the privilege of leading to the Lord in the recent months. They all need to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism and attend a local Baptist church.
Since our last newsletter, we have now reached the 45% mark in our support. We are thankful for the many new ministries that have begun their financial support of our mission.
Fellowship Baptist Church – Durham, North Carolina
White Oak Baptist Church – Stratford, Connecticut
Beacon Baptist Church – Raleigh, North Carolina
Laurel Baptist Church – Charlotte, North Carolina
International Baptist Church – Brooklyn, New York
Lighthouse Baptist Church – Oakdale, California
Centennial Baptist Church – Caldwell, Idaho
Hopewell Baptist Church – Napa, California
Shady Grove Baptist Church – Bossier City, Louisiana
Shenandoah Baptist Church – Cleveland, Tennessee
Grace Baptist Chapel – Elmira, New York
Eastside Baptist Church – Murray, Kentucky
First Baptist Church – Long Beach, California
Prayer Requests // Safety in travels Soul winning efforts SE Asia Trip in April and provision of finances to facilitate this trip Potential Singapore Team Missions Labourers (JOIN US!)
Provision & Answered Prayers // Vehicle work performed by: Ivan Baker of Baker Automotive in Marion, North Carolina provided a check-up, oil change, and general maintenance work. South Haven Baptist in Springfield, Tennessee fixed our broken windshield. Grace Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia changed our oil and replaced a belt. Unspoken prayer request – Answered (PTL!)
Dedicated to my dear missionary friends, Matt Cretzman Family (missionaries on deputation to Cuba) whose precious daughter, Azlynn, went home to be with our Lord on Monday, February 20, 2012.
It is Sunday night. Our family just finished a wonderful missions conference week at Grace Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia where Dr. Jeff Amsbaugh is the senior pastor. The week was encouraging, thrilling, and beneficial. Once again, we saw the hand of God move in the services and in the lives of the members of Grace Baptist Church and School. Dr. David Snyder, President and General Director of BIMI was the keynote speaker. I enjoyed the opportunity to be better acquainted with several missionary families: Susan Moore (Chile), Phillip Brown Family (Montana), David Ruley Family (Uganda), Paul Johnson Family (Japan), and James Carney Family (France).
It is early in the morning following a great missions conference, however, my heart is extremely heavy and sadden by some devastating news. I noticed on Twitter that my friend, Matt Cretzman (missionary to Cuba) sent out a tweet earlier this morning to pray for his daughter. The tweet reads, “We were in an accident just now. Don’t know if Azlynn is going to make it. PLEASE PRAY. #RT.” Naturally, I call for Susan to inform her of the news. Immediately, we began to weep for the Cretzmans. I gather my children to come into the room. I inform them of the news and we began to pray as a family for this very dear little girl, Azlynn. Our prayers were desperate asking God to miraculously allow the situation to be “okay,” in the hope that this precious girl would make it. As we concluded our prayers, more tweets were being sent from a pastor friend that acknowledge that Azlynn did not survive. I was motionless. The thought of a friend losing a child literally numbed me in the moment.
It was Wednesday, October 19, 2011, and in walks Matt and Lana Cretzman. We were all gathered together to participate in a missions conference in Long Beach, California, at the First Baptist Church pastored by John Wilkerson. The week was great! Incredible actually! This conference was no ordinary missions conference. Our family got better acquainted with the Cretzmans. What a wonderful family. What a beautiful family. What precious children. It was obvious that Azlynn and Maadison were definitely adored by their parents. Matt and Lana shared their testimony and video presentation about their future work. I thought to myself, definitely, I would definitely support this family. As the conference comes to a conclusion, we all had to say our “goodbyes”. As we said goodbye to the Cretzmans, we asked, where they were headed next. Matt responds, “North Valley Baptist Church in Santa Clara. Where are you guys going?” This was amazing as we were headed to Gethsemane Baptist Church in Long Beach, California, and then onward to join the Cretzmans at North Valley for their missions conference.
Once again, the conference at North Valley was a great highlight for our family. We loved the opportunity to be with the Cretzmans back-to-back. In our travels, this has been rare that we would have the opportunity to be with another missionary family in this manner. I sure am glad for the opportunity. This allowed our families’ to get closer. In which case, the Lord prompted me to write a few thoughts for many Christians around the world that pray for missionaries. It continues to humble me when a church member accepts one of our family prayer cards and says, “We will pray for you!” I pray that these thoughts penned with a heavy heart for another missionary family would compel us to be fervent in prayer for each other, but definitely for missionaries.
2 Corinthians 1:8-118For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life: 9But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: 10Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; 11Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf. The Apostle Paul describes some of his experiences as: “pressed out of measure,” “despaired,” “troubled,” and “above strength.” Yet he speaks confidently of God’s deliverance. Paul is sure that God will sustain him as the believers help in prayer. Paul did not want the Corinthians to be ignorant of his troubles. He admonishes them to pray for him and his ministry to Asia. He informs the Corinthians as how to pray. I, too, desire that you know how to pray for us.
Here are eight ways to pray for missionaries:
Power. That God would grant us the supernatural ability to do His work. For without this, we cannot do His work. We cannot do His work in our own flesh. It will not last. We need His work to last.
Provision. That God would meet our needs whether on deputation or serving on the field.
Protection. That God would keep us safe while traveling hundreds and thousands of miles. Or for safety as we serve in countries that may not necessarily desire that we are in there respective country preaching the Gospel.
Personal. That each family member by name would be lifted to Him and any special needs for each member.
Partnership. That God would send us labourers to help us with His Great Commission all around the world. That God would use people and churches to partner with us through prayers and finance. Matthew 9:35-38 “35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”
Physical. That God would sustain our health and our bodies to be free from sickness or disease. That He would give us the wherewithal and the strength needed to serve Him.
Positive Fruit. That God would give us not only much fruit but fruit that remains. John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Preaching. That God would be magnified and for the truth to be set free in the lives of the people with whom God has given us the opportunity to minister. Colossians 4:2-5 “2Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; 3Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 5Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.”
Please continue to pray for this wonderful family, but especially for Lana. She has lacerations on some vital organs. She will require surgery on her leg as well. They are at Wake Forest Baptist Hospital in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area. Here is a link to their missions presentation.
Our family has mostly certainly enjoyed an adventurous summer crisscrossing our great United States. As we head into the fall season, we anticipate an even busier schedule as the Lord has allowed us to have a very full traveling calendar. From September through December, we will participate in many missions conferences. We are thrilled and are looking forward to sharing our burden and vision for Singapore and Southeast Asia.
Since our last newsletter, we have now reached the 20% mark in our support.We are thankful for the many new ministries that have partnered with our family.
Mays Landing Baptist Church – Mays Landing, New Jersey
Friendship Bible Church – Ewa Beach, HI
Cornerstone Baptist Church – McAlester, Oklahoma
First Baptist Church – Hammond, Indiana
Gospel Light Baptist Church – Rogers, Arkansas
VBS at Freedom Baptist Church - Rural Hall, NC
We were so encouraged this summer as two churches, Liberty Baptist Church, Pastor Jack Cox and Freedom Baptist Church, Pastor Jon White contacted us to inform us that they were taking special offerings during their Vacation Bible School. Freedom Baptist children raised over $3,100 towards the church plant in Singapore. I was so humbled by their faith and giving spirit.
Dr. Don Sisk - President Emeritus of BIMI
We spent a few days in August at BIMI in Chattanooga, Tennessee during the Church Planting School. We are always encouraged by these great missionary servants.
While visiting California earlier this year, Chantha was able to lead his 15 year-old nephew, Justin Man to the Lord. This was a huge answer to prayer as much of the immediate family are still Buddhist. Pray that Justin will attend a Bible-believing church in the area.
The life of faith has been a wonderful life for the Chhim family. We love seeing God answer daily prayers in the most personal ways. For example, since our last prayer letter, we have seen the following answers to prayers:
Video Projector – Donated by Randy Proctor & Gospel Light – Hot Springs, Arkansas Printing Needs – Donated by Eastside Baptist Church – Nebo, North Carolina Service to Car – Donated by Ivan Baker & Paul Thompson Travel Display – Donated by Lawrence Swicegood
I am currently a missionary church planter going to SE Asia. Planting the first church in Singapore.
In light of the tragic accident that took the life of three-year-old, precious Azlynn Cretzman, we have come to really love and appreciate hearing the words, “I will be praying for you.” We never want to take for granted the divine protection from God as Christians all across America have lifted our family in prayer. Through the Matt Cretzman Family (missionaries to Cuba), we have seen the sufficiency in the grace of God. I am humbled while convicted of my faith in the Lord during the seemingly dark times of life.
We have seen 5 people trust Christ through personal soulwinning since January 2012. Pray for Wendy, Caesar, Chaz, Brandon, and Cynthia–all of whom we had the privilege of leading to the Lord in the recent months. They all need to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism and attend a local Baptist church.
In: 
It is early in the morning following a great missions conference, however, my heart is extremely heavy and sadden by some devastating news. I noticed on Twitter that my friend, Matt Cretzman (missionary to Cuba) sent out a tweet earlier this morning to pray for his daughter. The tweet reads, 
