Old Church On Scroggy Road

Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Song of Solomon 4:16

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Anything is better than the dead calm of indifference. Our souls may wisely desire the north wind of trouble if that alone can be sanctified to the drawing forth of the perfume of our graces. So long as it cannot be said, "The Lord was not in the wind," we will not shrink from the most wintry blast that ever blew upon plants of grace. Did not the spouse in this verse humbly submit herself to the reproofs of her Beloved; only entreating Him to send forth His grace in some form, and making no stipulation as to the peculiar manner in which it should come? Did she not, like ourselves, become so utterly weary of deadness and unholy calm that she sighed for any visitation which would brace her to action? Yet she desires the warm south wind of comfort, too, the smiles of divine love, the joy of the Redeemer's presence; these are often mightily effectual to arouse our sluggish life. She desires either one or the other, or both; so that she may but be able to delight her Beloved with the spices of her garden. She cannot endure to be unprofitable, nor can we. How cheering a thought that Jesus can find comfort in our poor feeble graces. Can it be? It seems far too good to be true. Well may we court trial or even death itself if we shall thereby be aided to make glad Immanuel's heart. O that our heart were crushed to atoms if only by such bruising our sweet Lord Jesus could be glorified. Graces unexercised are as sweet perfumes slumbering in the cups of the flowers: the wisdom of the great Husbandman overrules diverse and opposite causes to produce the one desired result, and makes both affliction and consolation draw forth the grateful odours of faith, love, patience, hope, resignation, joy, and the other fair flowers of the garden. May we know by sweet experience, what this means.

My expectation is from Him. Psalm 62:5

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It is the believer's privilege to use this language. If he is looking for aught from the world, it is a poor "expectation" indeed. But if he looks to God for the supply of his wants, whether in temporal or spiritual blessings, his expectation" will not be a vain one. Constantly he may draw from the bank of faith, and get his need supplied out of the riches of God's lovingkindness. This I know, I had rather have God for my banker than all the Rothschilds. My Lord never fails to honour His promises; and when we bring them to His throne, He never sends them back unanswered. Therefore I will wait only at His door, for He ever opens it with the hand of munificent grace. At this hour I will try Him anew. But we have "expectations" beyond this life. We shall die soon; and then our "expectation is from Him." Do we not expect that when we lie upon the bed of sickness He will send angels to carry us to His bosom? We believe that when the pulse is faint, and the heart heaves heavily, some angelic messenger shall stand and look with loving eyes upon us, and whisper, "Sister spirit, come away!" As we approach the heavenly gate, we expect to hear the welcome invitation, "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." We are expecting harps of gold and crowns of glory; we are hoping soon to be amongst the multitude of shining ones before the throne; we are looking forward and longing for the time when we shall be like our glorious Lord--for "We shall see Him as He is." Then if these be thine "expectations," O my soul, live for God; live with the desire and resolve to glorify Him from whom cometh all thy supplies, and of whose grace in thy election, redemption, and calling, it is that thou hast any "expectation" of coming glory.

Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

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The Lord Jesus had goings forth for His people as their representative before the throne, long before they appeared upon the stage of time. It was "from everlasting" that He signed the compact with His Father, that He would pay blood for blood, suffering for suffering, agony for agony, and death for death, in the behalf of His people; it was "from everlasting" that He gave Himself up without a murmuring word. That from the crown of His head to the sole of His foot He might sweat great drops of blood, that He might be spit upon, pierced, mocked, rent asunder, and crushed beneath the pains of death. His goings forth as our Surety were from everlasting. Pause, my soul, and wonder! Thou hast goings forth in the person of Jesus "from everlasting." Not only when thou wast born into the world did Christ love thee, but His delights were with the sons of men before there were any sons of men. Often did He think of them; from everlasting to everlasting He had set His affection upon them. What! my soul, has He been so long about thy salvation, and will not He accomplish it? Has he from everlasting been going forth to save me, and will He lose me now? What! has He carried me in His hand, as His precious jewel, and will He now let me slip from between His fingers? Did he choose me before the mountains were brought forth, or the channels of the deep were digged, and will He reject me now? Impossible! I am sure He would not have loved me so long if He had not been a changeless Lover. If He could grow weary of me, He would have been tired of me long before now. If He had not loved me with a love as deep as hell, and as strong as death, He would have turned from me long ago. Oh, joy above all joys, to know that I am His everlasting and inalienable inheritance, given to Him by His Father or ever the earth was! Everlasting love shall be the pillow for my head this night.

The wrath to come. Matthew 3:7

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It is pleasant to pass over a country after a storm has spent itself; to smell the freshness of the herbs after the rain has passed away, and to note the drops while they glisten like purest diamonds in the sunlight. That is the position of a Christian. He is going through a land where the storm has spent itself upon His Saviour's head, and if there be a few drops of sorrow falling, they distil from clouds of mercy, and Jesus cheers him by the assurance that they are not for his destruction. But how terrible is it to witness the approach of a tempest: to note the forewarnings of the storm; to mark the birds of heaven as they droop their wings; to see the cattle as they lay their heads low in terror; to discern the face of the sky as it groweth black, and look to the sun which shineth not, and the heavens which are angry and frowning! How terrible to await the dread advance of a hurricane--such as occurs, sometimes, in the tropics--to wait in terrible apprehension till the wind shall rush forth in fury, tearing up trees from their roots, forcing rocks from their pedestals, and hurling down all the dwelling-places of man! And yet, sinner, this is your present position. No hot drops have as yet fallen, but a shower of fire is coming. No terrible winds howl around you, but God's tempest is gathering its dread artillery. As yet the water-floods are dammed up by mercy, but the flood-gates shall soon be opened: the thunderbolts of God are yet in His storehouse, but lo! the tempest hastens, and how awful shall that moment be when God, robed in vengeance, shall march forth in fury! Where, where, where, O sinner, wilt thou hide thy head, or whither wilt thou flee? O that the hand of mercy may now lead you to Christ! He is freely set before you in the gospel: His riven side is the rock of shelter. Thou knowest thy need of Him; believe in Him, cast thyself upon Him, and then the fury shall be overpast for ever.

I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing. Ezekiel 34:26

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Here is sovereign mercy--"I will give them the shower in its season." Is it not sovereign, divine mercy?--for who can say, "I will give them showers," except God? There is only one voice which can speak to the clouds, and bid them beget the rain. Who sendeth down the rain upon the earth? Who scattereth the showers upon the green herb? Do not I, the Lord? So grace is the gift of God, and is not to be created by man. It is also needed grace. What would the ground do without showers? You may break the clods, you may sow your seeds, but what can you do without the rain? As absolutely needful is the divine blessing. In vain you labour, until God the plenteous shower bestows, and sends salvation down. Then, it is plenteous grace. "I will send them showers." It does not say, "I will send them drops," but "showers." So it is with grace. If God gives a blessing, He usually gives it in such a measure that there is not room enough to receive it. Plenteous grace! Ah! we want plenteous grace to keep us humble, to make us prayerful, to make us holy; plenteous grace to make us zealous, to preserve us through this life, and at last to land us in heaven. We cannot do without saturating showers of grace. Again, it is seasonable grace. "I will cause the shower to come down in his season." What is thy season this morning? Is it the season of drought? Then that is the season for showers. Is it a season of great heaviness and black clouds? Then that is the season for showers. "As thy days so shall thy strength be." And here is a varied blessing. "I will give thee showers of blessing." The word is in the plural. All kinds of blessings God will send. All God's blessings go together, like links in a golden chain. If He gives converting grace, He will also give comforting grace. He will send "showers of blessing." Look up to-day, O parched plant, and open thy leaves and flowers for a heavenly watering.

He Hath Said - Hebrews 13:5

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If we can only grasp these words by faith, we have an all-conquering weapon in our hand. What doubt will not be slain by this two-edged sword? What fear is there which shall not fall smitten with a deadly wound before this arrow from the bow of God's covenant? Will not the distresses of life and the pangs of death; will not the corruptions within, and the snares without; will not the trials from above, and the temptations from beneath, all seem but light afflictions, when we can hide ourselves beneath the bulwark of "He hath said"? Yes; whether for delight in our quietude, or for strength in our conflict, "He hath said" must be our daily resort. And this may teach us the extreme value of searching the Scriptures. There may be a promise in the Word which would exactly fit your case, but you may not know of it, and therefore you miss its comfort. You are like prisoners in a dungeon, and there may be one key in the bunch which would unlock the door, and you might be free; but if you will not look for it, you may remain a prisoner still, though liberty is so near at hand. There may be a potent medicine in the great pharmacopoeia of Scripture, and you may yet continue sick unless you will examine and search the Scriptures to discover what "He hath said." Should you not, besides reading the Bible, store your memories richly with the promises of God? You can recollect the sayings of great men; you treasure up the verses of renowned poets; ought you not to be profound in your knowledge of the words of God, so that you may be able to quote them readily when you would solve a difficulty, or overthrow a doubt? Since "He hath said" is the source of all wisdom, and the fountain of all comfort, let it dwell in you richly, as "A well of water, springing up unto everlasting life." So shall you grow healthy, strong, and happy in the divine life.

God, that comforteth those that are cast down. 2 Corinthians 7:6

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And who comforteth like Him? Go to some poor, melancholy, distressed child of God; tell him sweet promises, and whisper in his ear choice words of comfort; he is like the deaf adder, he listens not to the voice of the charmer, charm he never so wisely. He is drinking gall and wormwood, and comfort him as you may, it will be only a note or two of mournful resignation that you will get from him; you will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let God come to His child, let Him lift up his countenance, and the mourner's eyes glisten with hope. Do you not hear him sing--

"'Tis paradise, if thou art here;
If thou depart, 'tis hell?"

You could not have cheered him: but the Lord has done it; "He is the God of all comfort." There is no balm in Gilead, but there is balm in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-rophi. It is marvellous how one sweet word of God will make whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the goldbeater, and can hammer that promise out for whole weeks. So, then, poor Christian, thou needest not sit down in despair. Go to the Comforter, and ask Him to give thee consolation. Thou art a poor dry well. You have heard it said, that when a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first of all, and then you will get water, and so, Christian, when thou art dry, go to God, ask Him to shed abroad His joy in thy heart, and then thy joy shall be full. Do not go to earthly acquaintances, for you will find them Job's comforters after all; but go first and foremost to thy "God, that comforteth those that are cast down," and you will soon say, "In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul."

Limavady Constitution

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Believing God

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Ladies Bible Study

November 18, 2011

7:00pm - 8:00pm

This will be a weekly study challenging ladies to have more faith and security in the Lord. Please make plans to join us as Angel brings this lesson. Don't miss!

Prayer Letter November, 2011

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September 2011 Prayer Letter

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September 3, 2011

Greetings:

Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy! Much has happened since our last prayer letter. We are leaving for Limavady N. Ireland in October 2011. We will be flying out via Dublin then we will take a bus into Northern Ireland.

Our visas are approved and in our hands as we speak. God has been good to us in the way of our visa process. Only a Thrice Holy God can arrange such a quick process through the New York City UK Visa Agency. Within two weeks we were approved for our visas. The visas are good for three years with the opportunity for renewal while in the country.

We are raising money to have a 20 foot shipping container shipped Door to Door via Southhampton, England. The cost of the container will cover all documentations, shipping, customs, and taxing for one price of $5,600.00. We will be using Happy Acres Transporting Missions of Woodstock, GA to help with shipping the container. We have an account setup with Prayer Baptist Mission for any donations and help with the cost of the container. The container will be mostly personal items and ministry materials. If there is anything thing you can do in the way of financial help, please contact our mission board at 864-599-5132 or P.O. Box 160849 Boiling Springs, SC 29316.

Please continue in prayer as we make this transition to Limavady to work with the great people of Roe Valley Baptist Church. Please pray for John and Mary Craig and their children William and Lisa Marie. John is battling some health issues and spiritual set backs. Also, pray for Russell and Katrina Averill and their two sons Mark and Craig.

Thank you for you faithful support and prayers in our behalf.

Prayer Letter for July, 2011

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Greetings to all, July 1, 2011

I am glad to report things are moving forward at a steady pace. Our support has increased to where we are able to depart to the mission field by October, 2011.

Personal: The summer will be busy with preparation in moving to Limavady, N. Ireland. We are busy with preparing a shipping container and finishing the approvals of our visas. We are in the second phase of the visa process in regards to the sponsoring paperwork. If all goes through we should have our visa within the next two months. We will be using Happy Acres Transport of Woodstock, GA to help with a shipping container to ship our personal affects to the field.

Field: We have already found a house in Limavady to rent for a great price. The house is now ready for us move into and is reserved for our arrival this fall. We are grateful for the Lord’s blessings and abundant mercy in our behalf. We are blessed only through the prayers of the saints and the faithful churches willing to sacrifice the support needed. Please continue to pray for the people of Roe Valley Baptist Church to stay strong while we are preparing for our arrival this fall. A special prayer request for John and Mary Craig of Limavady. John is battling some personal health issues and diabetes. Mary, his dear wife, is having to carry the load as his caretaker. Satan is working hard in the efforts of destroying this home and family physically and spiritually. Please continue in prayer for our move and the finances needed.

Jan, 2011 Prayer Letter

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Greetings praying saints,

Here it is finally 2011, a new beginning. Every fiftieth year among the Israelites was known as the year of liberty, or the year of jubilee. The Hebrew word for “jubilee” means “to be jubilant” or “to exult or praise.” The jubilee year was a great leveler in Israelite society. It gave the poor and unfortunate a second chance. It also demonstrated God’s concern for the justice and fairness among His people. During this year any Israelite who had sold himself into slavery to a fellow Israelite to pay off a debt was released from his indebtedness and set free. Land that had been lost from a family since the last jubilee to pay a debt had to be returned to the original owners. May this year of 2011 be a year of jubilee or a year to renew and start fresh a lasting relationship with our Lord.

In our ministry across America we have seen a lot of fruit to our labor. After spending time with family for the holidays, we had opportunities to pick up more support. We had a wonderful privilege to work the food bank ministry of East Mesa Baptist Church of Mesa, AZ. There we seen over three hundred Adults and children receive turkeys and all the trimmings for Christmas dinners. For the children, each received a toy of their choosing. As a result of this labor, we calculated thirty-five souls received Christ as their Lord and Savior! Though there may have been gifts handed out and gifts received but the most important gift was the gift of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Christ shed His innocent blood on Calvary’s hill so we all can have the remission of our sin. Oh the precious blood of Christ, what a gift!

Please continue to pray as we line up meetings and raise support for the mission field. God has been very good about meeting our needs because of the fervent prayers of His saints.

Serving in His name,

Stephen P Kennedy, PS 46:10

2010-11-06T07:32:00.003-05:00

November 1, 2010

Greetings Praying Friends,

Once again the Lord has brought to us another wonderful month. We have seen a mighty providing hand as the Lord gives us provision. We have traveled all summer through most of the New England states and some along the east coast. This November we have officially been full time on deputation for one year. In the past year we have traveled twenty-eight states, driven thirty-four thousand miles, and have visited nearly two

hundred churches. We have seen God’s wonderful grace and His provision in providing every need in our behalf. Deputation in the last year has increased our faith, prayer life, and our relationship with the Lord. Deputation has also strengthened our family and personal relationship with each other. Seeing God’s goodness on deputation makes me want to see how much more He will provide while we are serving Him on the mission field.

In our last letter we ask for everyone to help with providing a travel trailer for us to travel with more ease. Once again I can proclaim another answered prayer. The Lord

has provided for us a 25 foot 2004 Jay Feather. The travel trailer sleeps eight people and has all the accessories as a small size apartment. We are very thankful for the prayers and sacrifice of the saints in our behalf. Once again, seeing how well the Lord provides on deputation, I can’t wait to see how well He will provide on the mission field. Please continue praying in our behalf as we continue traveling and visiting churches to gain more support. This winter we will be traveling back west into Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

Please pray for traveling mercies and good health on the road. One of t

he attacks of Satan to God’s people is toward the health and well being.

Serving in Christ’s name,

Stephen, Angel, Taylor, and Caoimhe Kennedy

St. Patrick - Baptist

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For centuries Roman Catholicism has laid to the supposition that Patrick of Ireland was a Roman Priest. However, over 100 years ago W.A. Jarell, much respected author and church historian, put into print what had been known by Baptists since the very beginning, that Patrick was not a Catholic Priest, but rather a Baptist Missionary. It is because of this much neglected fact that we put into print this material so that this present generation may know the truth and great heritage of this early Baptist Missionary to Ireland. So zealous were these historians of the 1800s and so spirited was their conviction to this that one wrote, "Rome's most audacious theft was when she seize bodily the Apostle Peter and mad him the putative head and founder of her system; but next to that brazen act stands her effrontery when she annexed the great missionary preacher of Ireland and enrolled him among her saints" (A short history of the Baptists {1907}, Henry C. Vedder, pg 71-72).

Most church historians agree that Patrick, originally named Succat (or Succathus) Patricus, was born sometime between the years 360 AD and 387 AD, probably near what is now Dumbarton, Scotland. It's also generally accepted by those knowledgeable of the subject that he lived to a well advanced ago, some placing him at over 100 years old at the time of his death.

Cathcart, the dean among the Baptist apologist, suggests that Patrick is not his name, but rather a title of honor meaning noble and illustrious and bestowed upon him by his grateful admirers (The Baptist Encyclopedia {1881}, by William Cathcart pg 886). His writings reveal that his father, Calpurnius, was a deacon in a Baptist church (we know that there were Baptist churches in British Isles as far back as AD 63, (History of the Welsh Baptist (1770) by J. Davis, pg 14), having apparently been converted to Christ while on a business trip to Rome as he also served as a Roman civil officer. In spite of being reared in a godly home and taught the ways of the Scriptures, Cathcart also states that the young Patrick was "....wild and wicked until his sixteenth year...." when while working on his father's farm, he and several others were seized and carried away captive by a band of pirates to Ireland, where he was sold into slavery to a petty cash Irish clan chieftain, For over five years he suffered the atrocities of slavery. Later, however he would recount that it was during this most dark period of his life that he, himself, was converted to Christ remembering the Christian training he had received from his godly father while but a child. Regarding this, W.A. Jarrel wrote over one hundred years ago,"....the truth which saved him when a youthful slave in pagan Ireland was taught him in godly home of his father" (Baptist Church Perpetuity or History {1894} W.A. Jarrel, pg 472).

Prayer Letter

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September 1, 2010

Greetings praying friends,

We praise the Lord for another good month serving Him. In the past two months we have traveled through eight states and have been in more than thirty churches and meetings. Our support level has been at a standstill for the summer months. Summertime is a difficult time to raise support in relation that summer is a time for church families and pastors are busy with holidays, vacation bible schools, and camps. Although it may have been difficult, we have had no problems with helping in these ministries. Deputation isn’t what a missionary can get out of the church; it’s what the church can get out of the missionary. The Lord is very clear in His Word that a minister of the gospel of Christ is to be a servant to those in need.

Just recently we had the opportunity to help with missionary Stephen Brock, whom serves in Salem, MA, with his first church service. He has labored very hard for the last three months by knocking on 9,000 doors in the greater Salem area. As a result, the first service had in attendance nineteen people which resulted in two souls receiving Christ as their Savior. Salem has a reputation as being the witchcraft capital of the world. There are many witchcraft, Satan supporting, and demonic shops that specialize in magic potions and devil worshiping. Every year for Halloween downtown Salem is flooded with devil worshipers and a large group called “Satan’s Army” from all over the world. Halloween isn’t just a time for children to dress up and receive candy from neighbors. It’s a time that Satan shows his face every year in Salem, MA and worldwide. All this is happening right under our noses in America.

Also, we are still in need for donations for the travel trailer. We have a travel trailer waiting for us in Elkton, VA by some very good honest Christians. We have had a good response from the previous letter and are very thankful for those sacrifices. We are praying to have the travel trailer by the end of September. If anyone feels led to help, there is an account setup for us at our mission board (address at bottom). All donations through mission board are tax deductable.

Thank you all for your continue prayers and support in the effects of seeing the gospel reach the people of Ireland and now presently the people in America.

In Christ’s name,

Stephen, Angel, Taylor, & Caoimhe Kennedy

July 4th, 2010

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We praise the Lord for another great celebration of our great country here in America. God has truly blessed this nation over the last two hundred years. There has never been a nation in world history that has done so much for the cause of Christ and the gospel. America is the only country that goes to war for the purpose of peace not to conquer land or people.

We have been in Franklin, PA for the holidays and I can honestly say that this town is a picture of America. It's a small town with small town values. Everyone know you and waves to say hello on the streets. Here is a 20 minute video of one of the best fireworks display I have seen in a long time. I hope you enjoy it.

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July, 2010

Greetings to all,

Praise the Lord for another wonderful two months He has brought our way. We have covered five states and have been in thirty churches and meetings. We have increased our support by bringing in four new supporting churches.

For the month of June we attended the annual missions school for Prayer Baptist Missions Intl held by Gateway Baptist Church of Boiling Springs, SC. There was a great turn out for the school with good preaching and teaching in preparation to better serve the Lord on the mission field.

For the summer months we will be spending much of our time in the New England states. We will be covering much of Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and New York. Your prayers for safety and may the Lord open the hearts and minds of the people for the cause of world wide missions are coveted. Also, we are in need of a travel trailer to pull behind our van. This travel trailer needs to be no more than 7,000 lbs in weight and road worthy. We are needing this trailer so we can cover more states and cities for the purpose of raising support quicker.

We praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy in providing our every need. Please keep us in your prayers that God will have His way and will in our deputation journey.

May Prayer Letter

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May, 2010

Greetings to all,

I pray all is well in your dwelling in which you are reading this letter. Much has been happening with the Kennedy family in the last five months. As we had said in previous letters, the Lord saw fit for us to go into full-time deputation and continue our journey to the western parts of the United States. During this wonderful journey, we have seen our support increase dramatically (25%). Some, whom have been through similar journeys, told us when we get to the 50% mark then we are a the top of the hill and the rest is down hill from there. I pray that the hill is a steep one to go down. It seemed like a steep one going up and now we pray it’s steep going down. Deputation is some parts have been heartache but all in all it has been a wonderful blessing to see the God of this universe work in our behalf. He has sent people in our way to whom have showed us great mercies and blessings. There has not been one time where we have ever felt the Lord wasn’t there. He promised us in this Word, to those that are saved, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We praise Him for that!

We are now in the process of working with Northwest Baptist Church in Londonderry, N. Ireland, pastored by Travis Snode, in getting our Visas. Travis is working on sponsoring us while we are in the country. It’s a long and tedious process so your prayers are in much need through this process. It will take time and money to see this through. POLITICS!

Angel and the kids are doing well. The kids are now working on finishing the school year out with their home schooling. Last week they just finished the achievement test with the ACE curriculum.

We praise the Lord for an answered prayer. In previous letters we had mentioned we were in need of a cargo trailer to pull behind our van. This trailer would make it easier and less crowded for our travels. Praise the Lord He provide us a trailer through my Uncle Dwayne in El Reno, OK. God provide the money through His people and God provide the person and trailer that we needed. God is good!

Please continue in prayer as we prepare for the mission field. Our goal, I’m confident the Lord will see us through, is to be on the field or making final departures in January of next year. Greater is he that hath believed but not have seen. That’s faith-promise.

Serving in Christ’s name,

Stephen, Angel, Taylor, and Caoimhe Kennedy

2010-02-24T12:43:00.006-06:00

There are times in our lives as Christians we go through trials and tribulations that we may not understand at the present time. But, there will come a time when God will reveal his mighty hand at work. We had a one of those times in our personal lives.

On October 20th, 2008, after returning home from a meeting with Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK. We decided to take a short nap to help with the “jet lag” after flying into Atlanta. After the short nap, Angel and I started unpacking while Taylor and Coaimhe went outside to play with the neighbor kid. Within a short time Taylor come into the house crying and complaining of his left side was in a large amount of pain. He then explained that he and the neighbor were jumping from the bed of a parked pick-up in front of the house. The last jump Taylor didn’t make it all the way and caught his foot on the inside bed and fell straight down onto the street curb. With that, I thought at the most he had broken his rib on the left side. After much persuasion from Angel, we decided to take him to the local urgent care facility. The doctor quickly realized it wasn’t a minor broken or bruised rib but something much more serious. His paperwork was filed and faxed to the nearby hospital and we were strongly instructed to make our way to the emergency room.

Soon after we arrived at Henry Medical Center’s emergency room, the nurses made preparations for a CT scan. It didn’t take long for the CT scan and within 10 minutes the results were in and the doctor was in the room. The results from the doctor wasn’t good and the hospital had already called for an emergency Medi-flight helicopter to take Taylor to Children’s Hospital in Atlanta, GA for emergency survey to remove his left kidney that had been fractured in two pieces.

After much prayer and a very long prayer chain stretching from nation to nation all around this big world, the doctors noticed an unusual blood clog had formed between the two fractured pieces and the surgery was put off until further notice.

(refer to the picture above)

Children’s Hospital of Atlanta decided it would be best for us to stay in the hospital for at least a week for observation. During that week we stayed in constant prayer and communication with the team of doctors. A few more CT scan were performed and with every scan, the doctors were in unbelief, the kidney was improving. With all the improvements and a week long observation we were released to go home (with strict instructions of course). The doctors wanted to see his progress next year and with much pessimism informed us the kidney will be removed due to puberty. The doctors didn’t see much of a chance for full recovery when his hormones and blood pressure starts to increase as he is going puberty.

As the year was moving along we have made major changes in our lives. During the past year we have flown to the mission field and labored for two weeks, moved from our house into a conversion van to start our deputation full time. We have traveled from the east coast to the west coast and have been in nearly 250 churches presenting our desire to be in Ireland as missionaries. During the last year we were always in prayer and mindful of Taylor’s condition, but we knew we were in the center of God’s perfect will for our lives and fully trusted Him with everything.

On January 30th, 2010 another CT scan was done and the results were much different now! Are you ready?………The scan showed the same left kidney was now a fully functioning kidney and has restored itself to a full operational organ.

A secondary opinion was made by using an ultrasound and again the ultrasound showed a good amount of blood flow throughout the kidney.

The reason for writing this letter was only to give the glory to a Trice Holy God that still has His hands in all affairs of man. God only wants the best for His children but at the same time God wants us to grow in His grace and His perfect will. One must be saying now, “But I love God and I’m in His perfect will for my life and all I have been seeing is trials and tribulations”. Psalms 46:10 says: “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Never forget that there is a God in Heaven that so loves the world that He gave His all so that we (weak and inferior) would spend eternity with Him in His majesty. It’s a promise and truth when the Lord tell his children that He will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

God's Amazing Power!

2010-02-10T19:41:00.002-06:00

As probably most knows that Taylor had an accident a year and half ago and split the left kidney in two!
He has done very well afterwards! The doctors told that it would not regenerate nor have a lot of blood flow in it! Eventually we would have to remove it! The kidney was being held together my a small blood clot!
Since have been on the road and doing more, he has complained of his back hurting and soreness! So when we were in El Reno, Ok. visiting family for the holiday, he was not feeling good and hurting so Steve took him to the hospital but they could look at him because of insurance being out of state!
We did the best for him and just watched him for a few days! We decided that would make him an appointment when we returned to Georgia!
We our next stop was Arizona! Steve has an aunt, cousin, and other family in Arizona! Steve wasn't sure whether to stop or not! It has been many years and it didn't know what it would be like! We stopped and he started talking to his cousin, Ronnie, and come find out that he is a CT, X ray, and Ultrasound tech!
Ronnie told to bring Taylor to the hospital where he works and he would scan Taylor for us!
(ready to shout yet, wait it gets better!)
The kidney is slowly growing back together and you can hardly see where the split is! There is a slight dent in the kidneybut there is blood flow! The kidney is about the same size as the other kidney and looking good!
We are so excited, he won't need it removed and every day the kidney is healing in a positive direction!
I am so glad we stopped to see family!!!!! Not only did we get Taylor scanned and not cost us a thing but we meet family that just loved us and took very good care of us for a week!
God is so good!

Another Blessing

2010-02-10T17:47:00.003-06:00

Since we have been on the road full-time, we have seen many many blessings only God can bring. Today we received a blessing with a free oil change and Transmission tune-up with the great people at Transmission Dr. Plus in Bakersfield, CA. Go to my "Sponsor Link" to their website. Thank you to the fellows at Transmission Dr. Plus.

2010-02-08T21:14:00.000-06:00

Greetings to all,

Thank you all for your prayers and support in our behalf. The deputation trial has brought much support and abundant love and care. In the last two months we have crossed seven states. Within those seven states we have had to opportunity to share the gospel with many people. The last two months we have been in twenty-four churches and I have preached the gospel in most of those. As a result of the meetings and door to door soul winning we have seen five souls come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior.

Every month we are seeing an increase in our monthly support. We give the Lord the glory for all He has provided. The children are adjusting well by maintaining all their home schooling studies while being on the road.

I must brag about a great group of God fearing Christians in Oalthe, CO. The church is made up of four families and no pastor. The church believes the only way for God to bless them and for them to grow is to support and love missionaries from all over the world. We were their first missionaries to come and now by their sacrifice these four families are supporting us for a monthly support. It’s these kind of people and churches that make America strong. The reason why we live in the greatest country of all the world is because of churches like this whom love God and God’s saints. They are small but God is much bigger than all our problems. He can reach down farther then we can reach and He can lift us up farther then we can lift ourselves. Thank you Lord for being such a great God!

Please continue in prayer and fasting as we continue in the battle for the cause of Christ. A wise old lady once told me, “people don’t walk close enough to the God these days to know your needs, you need to tell them your needs”. With that we do have needs while on the road. We are in need a of a box trailer, no longer than a 6X12 foot box. At this time we are traveling in a 1993 Chevy Conversion Van with all of our luggage and things tied down to the top and back door of the van. With the trailer we could eliminate a lot of clutter and space for easy travel. Also we are need of much prayer for safety while on the road. We have seen a large number of fatalities on the Highways and Byways in the last month. We thank the Lord for his Angels protecting us!

Once again, please do not forget us in your prayers and support. Our hearts desire is to be in Ireland laboring for our Wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Serving in Christ’s name ,

Stephen, Angel, Taylor, and Caoimhe Kennedy

2009-12-06T15:21:00.000-06:00

Greetings to all,

Thank you all for your prayers and support in our behalf. Since we have gone full time deputation on the road, the Lord has truly blessed us and shown us His unlimited mercy and grace. We thank the Lord for His bountiful love and care. The Lord has been faithful in providing every need and want for which we have asked. He has allowed us to cross paths with some of the greatest people, seen some of the most beautiful places, and we have eaten some of the tastiest food. It is truly wonderful to serve an Almighty God. To just think that The God of the universe would have us to be a part of His employment. By the way, we have the best boss!

Since our last letter, God has provided us with an additional 10% of support. Last month we picked up five supporting churches. Last month we had the opportunity to be a part of the six week revival at the Happy Valley Baptist Church in Asheville, NC. As a result of the revival, the church climbed from an attendance of 3 to now running over 100 on Sundays. God is truly wonderful and He is still in the saving and revival business. Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Here the Lord is saying that He will pour water upon him that is thirsty. If we could show the Lord how thirsty we are for His love, His guidance, His grace, His mercy, and His salvation through Christ, then I believe we will see revival in this country.

Once again, please do not forget us in your prayers and support. Our hearts desire is to be in Ireland laboring for our Wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.

Serving in Christ’s name ,

Stephen, Angel, Taylor, and Caoimhe Kennedy