FBC Missions Updates – Cuba Deadline; South Africa; more…

Praise the Lord, we are church that seeks to be used by our Lord, and to join Him on His mission in world. The Great Commission of Christ (Mat 28:18-20) does not change. We are the ones who must make adjustments in the ways we live our lives ON MISSION – for Him and for His Glory.

First and foremost, we must continue to pray intentionally and fervently for God’s mission to reach the lost, and for all of our missions partners locally, nationally and around the world.

Please allow me to update you here:

1. CUBA – Our deadline to apply for visas is tomorrow. If you want to be on our July 15, 2020 trip (and we are hopeful the trip will still happen) you must contact Boe asap, and be prepared to pay $140 visa fee to the church in the near future. In the event the trip is rescheduled, your visa payment will count toward that future trip.
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2. SOUTH AFRICA – Our trip, originally scheduled for May 19, 2020, has been postponed. We will announce our future date as soon possible. Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Hoppy and for Xhosa Gospel Mission. Please pray for Hoppy’s health as he deals right now with a debilitating sinus issue. Pray for Pastor Hoppy’s entire team, and for all of the children they love and serve. Pray for our future team that God will assemble and send to East London.
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3. NEPAL – Our trip to Kathmandu, originally scheduled for March 16, 2020, was postponed. The leaders in Nepal imposed a two-week “lock-down” and closed the airport on Monday, March 23, 2020. Our partner, Pastor Dan Pokharel, is currently stuck in Kathmandu awaiting the first opportunity to return to his wife and kids in Charlotte, NC. Please pray for Dan, and all of our partners in Nepal, and for the people of Nepal that the Gospel would advance.
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4. EVY VOGLER – Evy’s dad, Craig, let us know that Evy is healthy and safe. She is “in place” and awaiting the announcement of plans for re-entry into her country. Please pray for all of the CRU missionaries, and for Evy.
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5. KENYA – Bobby Johnson had to cancel his March trip to Kenya, and is seeking prayers that “the world will learn to fear sin more than the Coronavirus COVID-19 and that they will turn to the Lord for their salvation, comfort and peace.”
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6. PUERTO RICO – Cree Women’s Care was recently denied an exemption to remain open, and thus, was forced to close down until the current lock-down order is lifted (possibly April 1, 2020). The clinic continues to operate remotely with call-forwarding and social media. Our partner, Joe Pardo, confirmed by phone that the abortion clinics in San Juan remain open. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will push back the darkness in Puerto Rico.
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7. NORTH AMERICAN PARTNERS – Like us, our partners in Boston and San Diego have moved all worship services and small groups online. Please pray for them, and for church plants (and  all churches) across our country that the Lord would provide for them abundantly, spiritually and financially.
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8. LOCAL PARTNERS – Like everybody in Tampa, our local partners have been affected greatly by social distancing and limitations on the size of groups that can gather.

   Amazing Love, for example, provides food and other services for the homeless. They are still doing their food ministry by giving out meals in to-go containers. We can still provide food for this coming Monday, March 30, 2020, by connecting with Kelly Pruett. Email Kelly here.

   The annual Walk for Life, which happens every year around Mother’s Day, has moved to a virtual event on May 9, 2020. Please give a pledge here and learn more about New Life Solutions and the Walk here.

   Please continue to pray and serve our other local ministry partners like Operation Rescue; Canines for Christ; Walking with Warriors; New Hearts Outreach; Bridging Freedom; Florida Baptist Children’s Home | One More Child; New Springs Jobs; Healing Root Ministries, and Created. Click here for links to all of our local partners.
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9. SOUTHERN BAPTIST PARTNERS – Please pray for Pastor Mike Kahn and our local Tampa Bay Baptist Association and all of our sister-churches in Hillsborough County. Please pray for Dr. Tommy Green and our Florida Baptist Convention. Please lift up also our national leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention, who join with us as we call on the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom to lead well.

Thank you again for being a loving, praying, giving, going and sending church family. In the name of Jesus.

Finally, if you know of anyone in our church family who has needs, our staff, deacons, and volunteers are ready to meet those needs. Just call the church office (813) 251-2524.

And, remember to connect with each other online:

Wednesday night Bible Study -> FaceBook
Sunday Morning worship -> https://fbctampa.org/messages/
Core Groups -> https://fbctampa.org/coregroups/
FBC Missions -> https://fbctampa.org/ministries/missions/

boe@fbctampa.org | (813) 533-5538
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“always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20