---

Dear Prayer and Financial Supporters, 

In a recent prayer letter, I wrote about our budding fellowship. It may be helpful to explain what is meant by that. 

Firstly, in our thinking, a fellowship begins with an idea which governs the fellowship. In our case, the idea is a command—“Go and make disciples of all nations.” As you know, to us that means ministering to the global community, locally, in order to export the gospel, internationally. Therefore, all that we do is informed and critiqued by this thought/command. 

Secondly, our fellowship does not begin as one group of people meeting once a week. Rather, our fellowship could be described as bits and pieces, or odds and ends. By this I mean, Deb and I have many relationships/ministry opportunities which together form our embryonic fellowship. Each of these bits and pieces may not yet be aware of each other, but we hope that one day these various pods will become a more organized Christian gathering. 

Our bits and pieces, odds and ends include Bible studies, language partners, coffee shop conversations resulting in dinner invitations, an evening at the Mexican restaurant again resulting in a planned dinner in our home with our waitress, International Thanksgiving dinners, online meetings, mentoring Bible college students, and even our financial and prayer supporters. All of these have a certain synergy, working together, swirling around, slowly taking shape, becoming a Christian gathering, becoming a church, making disciples of all nations. 

That’s what we do, our joy, God’s command to us,

Bill and Deb


Note: On Monday, we are sending you a third email prayer letter, which announces a change of mission status for Deb and me.
 

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

---

Dear Co-Laborers,
Deb and I recently received a letter from a friend to whom we ministered  during the 1980’s. After almost 40 years, he performed an internet search and contacted us through the Baptist Mid-Missions website. Deb and I ministered with Campus Bible Fellowship at the University of Notre Dame at the time we first knew him. As part of that ministry, I functioned as a walk-on wrestling coach. This friend was one of the wrestlers on that team. Coaching was a blast!  A highlight  occurred at one of the  tournaments. I was sitting in the stands with the  ND heavy weight and as we  prayed together,  he trusted in our Savior.  On another occasion, Deb and I hosted the full wrestling team for a pre-season Thanksgiving Dinner. Since wrestlers strictly monitor caloric intake during the season, we labeled our preseason Thanksgiving Dinner, “The Last Supper.”  Back to the former wrestler who contacted us after all these years… He  thanked us for caring for them. We shared memories through several emails,  with the result that we may meet at his home one day to discuss my “Evangelical view of salvation.” 

As my mind wanders back though our decades in the ministry which God has blessed us with, I realize there are many, many rich relationships like this. Some have responded to the gospel, others are still inquiring, and some, like our wrestling friend, reach out all these years later—Gospel centered relationships are gifts that keeps on giving.  We look forward to what God has in store for us in the decades to follow. 

I will be sending out two more letters in the next two days. Tomorrow, you will receive a letter explaining what I mean when I speak about our budding fellowship as it relates to church planting.  Following that, two days from now, our email prayer letter will explain a change of status for us within Baptist Mid-Missions. 

We love you, 

Bill and Deb

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

To Our Ministry Partners,    

Recently Deb and I made many new acquaintances from around the world at a picnic hosted by  Friends of International Students in Iowa City, Iowa. We found the people we interacted with to be very receptive to friendship. It is an incredible opportunity for those who endeavor to live the Great Commission to become effectively involved within close proximity to their home. For us, even in a small city in Iowa, we had the      opportunity to meet and engage people from the four corners of the world.  

 

A week or so ago, we helped a Christian family from Nigeria shop for  winter clothing. Adapting to Iowa winters when you are from Nigeria is no small matter:-) There is a significant Nigerian community in Iowa City, which we hope to engage, perhaps with the help of this Christian couple. Deb and I started doing this type of thing over 30 years ago when ministering at University of Notre Dame. Some of those who we helped live life in the United States later became Christians. 

When the incarnate Jesus ministered on earth, He revealed Himself to be the Messiah by ministering to people’s needs, people who were themselves waiting for the Messiah, who would care for them. The Savior’s ministry was authenticated by the way He cared for people. This is part of the theological basis for why we minister in this way. 

Deb currently has several language partners. We have found that helping individuals with their English skills is an excellent way to communicate genuine care for them, which is a prelude to sharing the care of the Savior. 

By the grace of God, during this fall season we have engaged folks from three different continents.  It is our prayer that these acquaintances will become genuine friends, which will become gospel opportunities.  

Our fellowship is in the embryonic stage. We need prayer for everything; new, not-yet-Christian friends, evangelistic Bible studies, effective administration, and wisdom managing family and ministry priorities. Please pray for the Global Crossroads Ministry Fellowship as it matures into a body of international believers, who are able to minister the gospel, globally.  

Thankfully serving the Lord,

Bill and Deb

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

To Our Ministry Partners,    

Last October, I accompanied my brother, Bob, to Kurdistan. Bob returned to Kurdistan recently in order to train Kurdish believers principles of ministry. His report to me (below) highlights the importance of ministering in strategic places. 

---

 

Hi Bill, It was a good trip.  Smaller class this time, but good interaction.  We had dinner one evening with Bayan, the same lady who had you and me to her home for dinner last time.  Bayan told us more about their vision for  Refugee camp ministry.  It is the same vision you have for Global Crossroads ministry.  They want refugees, when they eventually return to their homes to take the gospel with them and spread it like wildfire.    She told us about a young widow she led to Christ.  She didn’t think this lady would respond because she was a committed and trained Muslim.  Her husband was an Isis fighter and was killed on the battlefield (probably by  us).  Well this lady responded to the gospel like Saul did, and her life turned around just as quickly.  Bayan was discipling her and she was eating it up.  One day the authorities came around and told her that she was going to be deported from Kurdistan because her husband fought for Isis.  She had lied to them about how her husband died in order to be allowed in the refugee camp.  Now when they discovered the truth, they sent her away.  She returned to her home village near Bagdad but stayed in touch with Bayan online.  Bayan felt that she was not ready to stand for Christ on her own but had no choice in the matter.  To Bayan’s surprise, this lady began to minister in her  village, preaching the gospel to men and women alike.  She led some of them to Christ and baptized them.   The most amazing thing about this is that this lady’s village is still full of Isis fighters who permeate the area.  They are literally her neighbors.  She is evangelizing and baptizing right under their nose.   The vision works!  They want you to come back again.  Several people asked about you. 

---

I (Bill) just wonder—Should we do something about this? Kurdistan is a Muslim area of the world, friendly to both the West and to Israel. It is a rare place within a Muslim country where Christians can share their faith freely. It is a place of human misery, including large refugee camps, where there does not appear to be much hope. And yet, it is a strategic place where people are on the move, globally. A perfect place to do gospel ministry. The believing community is small and in great need of theological and practical ministry instruction. Kurdistan could become a launching pad for making disciples across the Muslim world. Should we be joining our Savior in this?  Tomorrow: Ministry in Iowa City

Thankfully serving the Lord,  

Deb and Bill

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

Our Ministry Partners,

In September, the Lord graciously and somewhat miraculously allowed our whole family to gather at Deb’s parents’ home. We are so pleased that our children and grandchildren inconvenienced themselves to honor their grandparents and great-grandparents. 

When our families cease to be a priority, we have lost our way. We seek to honor the Lord in family and ministry, but the balance between these is tough to maintain. God has helped us to remember; our family is our first ministry. 

One bit of advice: You have spent years training your children. Now, learn to listen to them. Our family is not perfect—we struggle at times. However, we do listen to one another. My children have become our counselors and confidants. It is a beautiful relationship. One worth working towards. 

In the next several days, two additional reports: 1) A Kurdistan update 2) Ministry in Iowa City. 

Thankfully serving the Lord,  

Deb and Bill

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

Our Dear Fellow-Workers for the Gospel,

The Lord Provides: Despite losing $750.00 monthly support, our income has not decreased. This is because of our faithful, thoughtful, and sacrificial supporters. Thank you!

The Lord Moves: Recently, Deb and I were exploring Iowa City, asking God to help us meet new friends. Upon entering an Arabic restaurant, the Lord provided extended conversations with the owner, as well as a server . The owner is now looking forward to coffee with me, and the server, a Turkish grad student who recently arrived from medical school in Ukraine, may come to our home for dinner. Please pray that these relationships will blossom into redemptive friendships. 

The Lord Interrupts: A business call this week became a 21/2 hour discussion of Christianity, Christ, authentic religion, and our need for a Savior. The sales person I was conversing with had seemingly moved from a very abusive form of Christianity towards a kind of Eastern Mysticism. It had been years since their Bible had been opened. Questions were asked like: Is evil real, how does the Bible fit together, and can one survive ‘ Christianity ’ to become a Christian? At the end of the discussion, my new friend seemed encouraged to renew their relationship with our Savior. I am so thankful for this conversation. My personal business was interrupted, in order to do my REAL business.

The Lord Saves: In an online Bible study with two friends from Boston and one of their friends, we recently experienced what we believe was a new testimony of salvation. The question was asked, When did you accept Christ as your Savior? The answer given, I came to grips with this when my Boston friend explained that salvation happens when one believes (not exact quotes). We were studying Romans 3 and 4 at the time as we looked at the faith of Abraham. Often we are not sure of the exact moment when one believes, but we are assured of one’s justification when it becomes clear their trust is only in Jesus the Savior. In yet another evangelistic study, one person has come to faith and a second is very, very close. 

The Lord Cares: Many of you know, Deb and I are helping to care for her parents. Recently, Deb’s mom fell and broke her hip. As a result, much of our time has recently been focused on caring for our parents. Another result of this is Deb’s mom and dad deciding  to enter a senior care center. It is a very nice place, and we all agree it is time for this to happen. This also means that soon, Deb and I will have much more time and freedom to engage in other areas of ministry. 

Thankfully serving the Lord,  

Deb and Bill

Support Information

---

For more information concerning our monthly support needs, you can go to Bill and Deb’s Website for Supporters and click on the Financial Information tab.

Our Dear Fellow-Workers for the Gospel,

Thank you for your many years of faithful and sacrificial support—you inspire us. Deb and I are busy and thankfully serving the Lord in Williamsburg and Iowa City, Iowa. Please pray for Deb’s father, who is not doing well.

A New Name

On June 23, 2022 the council of Baptist Mid-Missions approved a name change from Boston and Beyond a globalized city initiative to Global Crossroads Ministry making disciples of all nations. We think this better reflects our stewardship.

Prayer Requests

People: The essential core of our stewardship is ministering the gospel to the world in Iowa City. We are developing personal relationships which, prayerfully, will become evangelistic Bible studies. When our friends become Christians, an embryonic church will begin to function—a launching pad for global ministry. As we together, (we, along with our supporters) pray and work, this will surely happen.

Preparation: Firstly, we are rewriting our through-the-Bible evangelistic studies. Secondly, our ministry plan (otherwise known as my doctoral thesis) is being reviewed, revised and updated. This will become the ministry plan for Iowa City and beyond. Thirdly, we are studying the global community of Iowa City, the Christian community and the community as a whole, to better understand how best to join what God is doing here. We will be unique in that we focus our efforts on the global community. In addition, our theological framework is distinctive. Progress is being made, but prayer is needed.

Provision: As you may remember, July marks the loss of $750.00 monthly support. However, a dear missionary friend decided to support us for $50.00 a month—a huge encouragement. We also think we may have $200.00 of other support beginning soon. This leaves us $500.00 below a very real monthly support estimate. Our responsibilities preclude us from traveling far to raise support, and we do not expect most of our supporters to be able to increase their giving. Therefore, we just need to pray together for the Lord’s provision. He always has provided, and He always will.

Thankfully serving the Lord, Deb and Bill