This morning we head out to Percy Quinn State Park in south MS, for the final leg of this road trip. Clear Branch Baptist church is going to be joined by a few smaller churches to make up this camp. Tings kickoff tonight.

Here’s how you can pray for us. First, that the kids hearts will be receptive to the Holy Spirit. Secondly, that there could be a possible break in the excessive heat. The worship is in an old fashioned outdoor tabernacle (pavilion)and I don’t have to tell you what kids are like after having played all day in such heat.

I will be attempting to blog but last year there was no wireless where I was so we traveled into town once. We may do the same thing again.

Checking in blesses us. Thank you for your prayers and support!

Blessings,
John

Hi friends,

It was a really nice day yesterday in Cleveland, MS.  I was asked to be a guest for a special series that FBC Cleveland is doing this summer.  I was excited to be a part, especially since attending Delta State University there in Cleveland.  I haven’t done a lot of work in Cleveland over the years so Patty and I took some time to get around campus and see all the changes.  Growth is a good thing but when your memory is 30 years old, it’s easy to get lost on a campus with that many changes.  Really nice to see all the good things going on.

The concert last night went well.  Several of my “friends” made an appearance as well as my horns and some corporate worship but a  real special part of the evening was the attendance of several from 2 different churches I served in while in school.  It was a nice reunion of sorts and one that brought back some wonderful memories.

Patty has had a bit of a relapse with sinus stuff and the allergens in the Delta and we are hoping that now that we are out and on the road again, that maybe things will clear a bit.  We are in Yazoo City for a couple of days visiting my mom and Patty’s dad and we will pull out for our last camp of the summer on Wednesday.

It’s another summer, and consequently another birthday that I’ve spent on the road ministering to kids.  Wow, how time flies!  Take care my friends and thank you so much for checking in and praying for us!

John

Well, we wrapped Kid’s Camp at Meadowview Baptist Church, Georgetown, TN, today around 3 p.m.  It was a good week with 129 high energy kids.  They really loved my “friends” and the crazy songs we sang.  But above that, during a question/answer time toward the end, there were a number of positive signs that the kids really were picking up on the teaching.  That was pretty cool and encouraging.  I’m tired.  But it’s all good.

Patty is doing so much better.  The meds the doc called in for us have really done the trick and we appreciate your prayers and all the checking up on us during this time.

Right now, we are spending the night in Chattanooga with a friend before leaving in the morning for Cleveland, MS, where we will set up for Sunday services.

Not a lot more to tell that hadn’t been told.  Just that we are on the last leg of a very long road trip and would appreciate your prayers for strength, for my voice, and for our travel.  Depending on Sunday’s lodging, I’ll try and blog at the end of the day!

Blessings,
John

9 decisions for Christ today at Meadowview Baptist Church. PTL!!!

The kids’ energy level is staying pretty high but the attention span is waning just a bit, as you can imagine. Still, things are going well and your prayers are a large part of that. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Tomorrow will be a normal schedule through the morning with a carnival type afternoon where, instead of their usual rotations, there will be the “Jump Houses” and all sorts of wild things.

Our plans are to leave here tomorrow afternoon and begin making our way to Cleveland, MS, where I will be in the service Sunday morning and will be giving a concert for the families that night.

Blessings,
John

Well, Patty is down for the count. Sounds terrible and feels almost as bad. BUMMER!!!

We called our Dr this morning and he called in some drugs to the local pharmacy. Thank you Dr Mike! Now we are headed backnto our new abode and Patty will call it a night while I come back for Parents Night.

Tings are going well with the emphasis being Salvation, tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers.

Blessings,
John

Well, the dust or mildew or mold or whatever it was has wrecked Patty’s sinuses. The gracious family that loaned their RV to us will still receive their blessing for the generosity but we will not. Don’t really know because it didn’t affect me but Patty would begin sneezing, drainage, sore throat, the works, as soon as we would enter the vehicle.

We have been relocated and it doesn’t look like we will have wireless so I’m knocking this blog out before we leave the church.

The kids were fired up today and a bit more responsive than yesterday so it was a much better time with them. Thanks for the prayers. We will continue tomorrow and then have parents nite tomorrow night.

We would appreciate your prayers for Patty. Praying that this has been arrested before developing into a full blown infection. We will know more as early as in the morning.

Blessings,
John

Actually we are in Georgetown, TN, about 45 minutes or so from Chattanooga.  Know where that is?  Ok, if I tell you we are 20 minutes from Ootelwah, TN?  How’s that?

No better, huh?  Well, we are out in the country.  It was just a bit of a rough start today.  We didn’t rest really well last night.  We are staying in a small RV that is hooked up to the church and last night was our first night in an RV.  The bed was comfortable but everything may take a little getting use to.  We are grateful for the Stansells that have graciously set everything up for us.

The first day of camp is generally a little rough getting started and this camp proved more of the same.  I’m always trying to make adjustments with music because, of course, with so many churches represented, music styles vary considerably and that makes it difficult to put a program together that the kids really get into and yet use a new song or two/three.

We would appreciate your continued prayers as we make adjustments and pray that the songs I sing will reach them.

Blessings,
John

Well, it’s time again. We had an uneventful trip through a few storms as we drove yesterday from Baton Rouge. Patty and I had a great there and look forward to hearing good things in the future from our friends there.

Last night we had dinner with my mom and her dad. We are pulling out this morning for Chattanooga as we begin another week of camp. I am not sure of the availablility of wireless Internet where we are headed so if you will, please pray for Meadowview Baptist Church in Georgetown, TN, and the 125 kids registered.

Blessings!
John

It was a wonderful day today as we saw 17 children make a decision for Christ. Obviously there will be some follow-up since so many here belong to a Catholic church. But we praise the Lord for every decision!

We will wrap things up tomorrow and drive to Yazoo City to layover to Saturday morning when we will head to Chattanooga, TN.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR TODAY!

Blessings,
John

Things went a great deal better today as I made some necessary adjustments in the worship order and the kids did well as well as things running smoother.

Today’s focus was on having a pure heart. The kids enjoyed both JJ and Sparky as well as some fun praise and worship.

From here, we are beginning our focus to a decision service on Thursday and would appreciate your prayers.

One other matter of prayer would be for Patty’s dad. Those of you following the blog for a while know that Patty’s dad has been through lymphoma and is now on a maintenance treatment of one dosage every 8 weeks. He believes he is feeling a lump reappearing and is scheduled for an exam tomorrow.

Just to keep you up!
John