Pitts' Sp•t

Sifting Through Stuff And More Calling

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:46:00 +0000

The last few weeks have been crammed with calls to pastors to set up meetings in churches. The calendar for the next year and half is beginning to fill up. Next week we are headed for our first trip to the Dallas region as we visit a fellow DBTS grad and the church he pastors in Paris, TX. From there we are visiting the folks at Community Baptist in Brighton, CO, again. We will be helping with a few practical needs and filling the pulpit while the pastor is on vacation. God is good to provide these opportunities to serve.

Those who follow us on Facebook or Twitter know that Jenny and I took a quick trip to Albuquerque recently to sift through storage. There's still lots of work to do before we've made all the necessary decisions on what comes with us to Kenya and what goes on sale. It's sad sometimes to part with items that often carry sentimental value, but we are excited to be making practical steps toward our departure to Kenya.

Speaking of departing to Kenya, my friends and coworkers, the Huffstutlers, will be leaving the country before my next update. They have finished raising support, and they are now completing the packing stages. It's so good to see them reach the end of their deputation trail and graduate to ministry overseas.

Please pray that we are able to continue to fill up our schedule and that our meetings result in more partners in our ministry to Kenyans.

Coming Around Again

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:22:00 +0000

Since we have been back from our tour of the West, we have been spending our time touching base with two churches where we made a few friends last year.

Two weeks ago, we returned to Northwest Baptist Church. If you have been following us for long, you'll know that Northwest Baptist became our home during the months leading up to Jonas's birth. We've seen much less of them since that time, so it was good to visit. We are so thankful for their partnership in the gospel!

Last Sunday, we visited Alameda Bible Church. This was the first church we visited when we moved to Albuquerque, and we have enjoyed continued contact with them since. It was good to see a number of familiar faces and a couple of new ones during our visit. Their friendly welcome and attentiveness to the word was encouraging to me.

I am currently filling my days with calls to pastors for more meetings. At any given time, I am working on a list of 50 churches. When I contact a church, I cross it off and add another to the top of list. It's exciting to see the Lord fill up the next year of meetings in the calendar and to anticipate the friendships he has in store for us in the near future.

Tour of the West

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 22:18:00 +0000

We just returned from our brief tour of the West. In the course of our journey we visited or traveled through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, California, and Arizona before finally returning to Texas.

First we went to Greeley, Colorado, for a missions conference at Westside Baptist Church. It was exciting to participate in the church's first mission conference and to watch as they planned their own outreach ministry to a local university. We had the privilege of sharing a number of meals with our fellow missionaries and a handful of the church members; it was encouraging to see their passion for Christ and for the nations.

After stopping overnight in Grand Junction, CO, we rolled into West Valley City, UT, where we stayed with Pastor Matt Johnson. It was neat to get to see Pastor Matt wisely build up the theological foundations of the church and unite them around the truth of the Scriptures. Jenny and I especially enjoyed the evening class he taught some of the members at Grace Baptist Church on Bible interpretation.

Next we stayed in San Leandro, CA, where we participated in the church-planters' conference of International Bible Baptist Church. The majority of the church members are of Filipino descent, so we had some delicious Filipino food while we were in attendance. It was so exciting to see the vision and passion of these men as they sought to fulfill the Great Commission by planting local churches that in turn plant local churches. Our shared commitment to the centrality of the local church was a recurring theme throughout the week. I was humbled to have the opportunity to preach and to present my ministry plans to these committed men and the church.

Finally we visited Hope Community Bible Church in North Hills, CA. We stayed with the pastor and his family while we were there. Pastor Leigh's commitment to understanding the Scriptures from the original languages spurred me on in my own studies. We were also thankful to get to know a family in the church who is preparing to go to Japan as missionaries. I was sad to have to leave these folks behind when Monday came around.

Please pray that we would be able to recover soon from the colds all of us caught on the road. We hit the road again 12-Jun. Continue also to pray for safety, more meetings, and more partners to help us to get to Kenya quickly.

Praise the Lord for safety and for bringing us into fellowship with his people all over the region.

2010 Spring Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:28:00 +0000

Here's an overview of the last handful of months (February through April). Text version follows the link to the print version.

Click here for a printer friendly version.

Making New Friends
On 14 February we visited Grace Bible Fellowship in El Paso, TX, for the first time. We have done our best to get to know some of the folks here when we are not out of town, and the effort has been richly rewarded. Jenny and I have been drawn to the gospel through their ministry and our new friends there are already becoming dear to us.

Proclaiming the Gospel to Others—and Ourselves!
One of the highlights of the last few months in El Paso has been the time that artist and Christian apologist Jay Wegter came to teach and train the folks at Grace Bible Fellowship for a weekend. Members of the church went with him to a local outlet mall to reach out to the lost and to put into practice some of his evangelism training. I found his method of opening the conversation especially helpful. I am eager to find more opportunities to employ the tools he gave us.
But it wasn’t just presenting the gospel to the lost he talked about. He also spent some time teaching about preaching the gospel to ourselves. Why should we do that? Well, the human soul seems to always run after some sort of performance-based approach to God. Even as Christians we need to continually remember that it is the gospel that gives us permission and boldness to approach God. The gospel cuts the throat of our ingrained arrogance; it stops us from thinking that our own performance is good enough for God. The gospel also shakes us out of our tendency to withdraw from fellowship with God because of a lingering guilty conscience for past failure.
Whatever our self-centered tendency is, the gospel is the weapon we need to conquer it. And it is this powerful gospel that we have the privilege of proclaiming to the nations!

Meetings and Other News
• 3-Feb, Faith Baptist, Artesia, NM • We enjoyed our brief time with this visionary and growing church and have good hope of seeing more of them in the future.
• 6-Feb, Alameda Bible Church, ABQ • I was delighted to have the opportunity to see these folks again and to give a devotional at their Valentine’s Day Banquet.
• 28-Feb, Temple Baptist, Hobbs, NM • I was struck by the genuine care, trust, and fellowship shared by the pastor and flock here.
• 7-Mar, Manor Baptist, San Leandro, CA • I was encouraged to see how intentional this church is about making their missionaries part of their regular corporate prayer life.
• 10-Mar, First Baptist, Pinole, CA • I met a missionary to the deaf in the San Fran area during an update visit with this church. He was a memorable encouragement to me.
• 14-Mar, Community Bible Jackson, WY • It will be a long time before I forget the fraternity of spirit I enjoyed with the Edmondsons and the other members I was able to get to know from this church.
• 18-Apr, Grace Baptist, Farmington, NM • It's always good for us to see a church like this who knows and even visits their missionaries!
• 25-Apr, Western Avenue Baptist, Avondale, AZ • We love coming across churches like this who share our heart for both deep theology and deep fellowship within the body.

Kids’ Corner
While Jonas has been learning to crawl and cruise, Josiah has begun to explore music more and more. He loves to explore music websites like sfskids.org and has nearly memorized a number of songs that teach multiplication tables of all things!

The Pittsleys thank God for
• Opportunities to serve and to be encouraged at Grace Bible Fellowship.
• Safety over the thousands of miles travelled already this year.
• Good meetings and solid contacts.

Please pray with us for
• More meetings and partners for this year.
• Our ministry to be an encouragement to churches.
• Our health and safety for future travels.

Developing Relationships While Seeking Partnerships

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:32:00 +0000

After my last post, we had the joy of celebrating Easter with the folks from Grace Bible Fellowship across town here in El Paso. I've been trying to buy up opportunities while we are here in town to spend time with believers as they meet together or serve in their community. A few members and I went to the local outlet mall for outreach on Good Friday, and then the next week we met at the local state university, UTEP. This past week I had an opportunity to participate with them in a kids' Bible club at a park close to downtown. It looks like there will be more opportunities to do that in the near future. I'm excited about the multiple forms of outreach this church undertakes.

Early this month, I also finished up some work I was doing for Pastor Brock at Crossway Baptist in Bakersfield. In January we had been working together on a series of messages on the gospel, but I had never finished an appendix related to messianic prophecy. Looking through so many passages of the Law, Psalms, and Prophets to see God's redemptive plans and the person of the Messiah was so rewarding. I'd highly recommend the study.

This last weekend we travelled to Farmington, NM, to present our work at Grace Baptist Church. One of the pastors there is on deputation parttime to plant a church in Colorado. It was neat to connect with him and see his burden for that area. The church supports a missionary couple in Kenya who we will be working with a bit in the future, and the church was already familiar with our network of national pastors and the nature of the work there. It's always good for us to see a church who knows their missionaries!

Tomorrow we're leaving for a quick trip to the Phoenix area to present at Western Avenue Baptist Church. Pray as we get to know these churches that God would develop friendships centered on the gospel into gospel-partnerships. Pray also for our safety (and health) as we rack up the miles on the weekends.

Moving Along

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000

From northern California I left for Jackson, WY. On the way, I had a great opportunity to visit Matt Ortega, pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church near Salt Lake City, UT. I also added Idaho to the list of states that I've been able to visit during deputation; it took me a couple of hours to cut across the very southeastern corner of the state.

It will be a long time before I forget the fraternity of spirit I enjoyed with the Edmondsons in Jackson. I was able to present our ministry to their church, Community Bible, and take part in their Sunday evening Bible study. I came out of the weekend deeply refreshed and challenged in my zeal to know Christ and wishing for more time to get to know this couple and the church.

Since then I've been working on a few projects that had been waiting for a break in scheduled meetings. I moved loads of stuff from where we were staying in Albuquerque to storage and to where we are now staying in El Paso. (Please email me if you need a US mail address update.) Among the other things that came down with me, Jonas's crib has finally come into use. Over the last week or two, we have also been getting to know some new friends at Grace Bible Fellowship here in El Paso. We hope to get involved frequently at this church when we are not in meetings elsewhere.

We're so thankful for the way God has used his people to strengthen our faith and provide for our needs. We're also thankful that he has allowed us to recover from a recent round of the stomach bug. I think we all got it, but as of yesterday all of us are healthy again. Please pray that God would continue to use meetings for the mutual encouragement of his people's faith. Pray that time spent presenting the work and cultivating relationships would result in long-lasting partnerships that move us along to Kenya quickly.

From Eastern New Mexico to Northern California

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:44:00 +0000

The last few weeks have been full of travel for me. If you've been following us for long, you know that this is no news. What's different is that I've been traveling solo. With Josiah and Jonas coming down with a nasty cold and to ease our accommodation needs, we decided that I would do these last two trips alone.

Sunday, 28 February, was a long day for me. I left for Hobbs, NM, from El Paso, TX, late Saturday night and arrived early Sunday morning. During the Sunday school hour, I had the privilege of observing the relationship the pastor at Temple Baptist has with his people. Genuine care, trust, and fellowship seasoned the lesson time. After the services, the pastor's family treated me to steak dinner--a delicious surprise! After presenting the work in the evening service, I made my sleepy way home and fell asleep immediately upon reaching my pillow.

This last Sunday I was in San Leandro, near San Francisco, CA. In the AM service, Pastor Carruthers reminded the congregation of Manor Baptist Church about the importance of the doctrine of the inspiration of the Scriptures. I had an opportunity to talk to many of the members there in the morning, and presented in the evening. Repeatedly during my time there, I was encouraged to see how intentional they were about making their missionaries part of their regular prayer life as a church.

This week I have been staying in Pinole, CA, with a church we've visited a couple of times before. Yesterday, Pastor Baker took me up on my general offer to help him as needed. I had the opportunity to get involved in weeding and clearing an area of property next to the church, to help the pastor list some books online for sale, and to work the DVD player and data projector for a ladies' prayer meeting. The missionary has a broad and satisfying job description; I love it!

Please pray for the health of the kids and for my safety on the roads. After updating the folks here at First Baptist of Pinole tonight, I'll be headed to Wyoming tomorrow before coming home to the family next week.

God is keeping us safe and giving us opportunities to develop friendships here with a view toward finding ministry partners for the work in Kenya. Praise him for his faithful love and his zeal for his glory among the nations!

2010 Winter Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:18:00 +0000

Here's an overview of the last handful of months (October through January). Text version follows the link to the print version.

Click here for a printer friendly version.

Two Dishes Missing from the Menu

I had a well-appreciated opportunity at the beginning of this year to head back to Michigan briefly for an excellent missions conference at my sending church, InterCity Baptist. My own resolve for the mission was significantly strengthened by the worship, preaching, and workshops.

The conference opened with a realistic but hopeful challenge that concluded with words that still linger in my mind six weeks later: “Easy is not on the menu [of possibilities for our lives], but for the true child of God neither is ultimate failure.”

Christians can be confident that they’ll encounter hardship, but they can also be confident that their light afflictions in this momentary life will gain for them weighty glory in eternity (2 Corinthians 4:17). God is so good to grant us an eternally worthwhile mission!

Meetings and Other News

4 October, Santa Clarita Baptist: This church was very attentive to our ministry presentation, and I was able to discuss a number of good questions with members both during the presentation and after the evening service.
7 October, Pear Park Baptist, Grand Junction, CO: That night we were glad for the chance to take part in their prayer meeting. It was strikingly centered on praying for efforts to reach out to various unsaved friends and family of members.
11 October, Highlands Baptist, Colorado Springs: Two passionate commitments stood out as we visited this church: expository preaching and focused evangelistic training for the church membership. Though we had no previous personal connection with this church, I immediately felt the kinship we had in these common commitments.
21-25 October, Liberty Baptist, Dalhart, TX: We enjoyed big-time Texas hospitality during this missions conference in the heartland. They treated us to Christmas in October; Josiah was ecstatic!
8 November, Community Baptist, Brighton, CO: We were excited to see the Lord work among this church’s youth as they committed themselves to being bold as they shared the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
12-16 November, Calvary Baptist, Hollister, CA: The fellowship among the missionaries during this conference was especially sweet. The church's heart for missions and the cause of Christ was evident.
17-20 November, ETS Conference, New Orleans, LA: It was neat to present a paper and hear a few more, but the best part was seeing some of my professors and friends from seminary. I came back refreshed and recommitted to pursuing the treasures found in the Scriptures.
6 December, Lighthouse Baptist, Colorado Springs: We were thankful to visit this church because they were zealous about sound teaching and because the wise pastor works to keep the gospel central.
27 December, Sun Valley Baptist, El Paso, TX: I was grateful for the opportunity to serve between the holidays with this church; their ongoing partnership with us is a treasure we hold dear.
4-7 January, InterCity Baptist, Allen Park, MI: The SGI conference only happens every other year, so I was glad to have the opportunity to participate. The conference was followed by a helpful seminar for missionaries on learning a foreign culture.
10 January, Calvary Bible, Lucerne Valley, CA: It was invigorating to see what the Lord Jesus is doing there as his people are coming to a renewed zeal for proclaiming the gospel to their loved ones and friends.
24, 31 January, Crossway Baptist, Bakersfield, CA: I was pleasantly surprised to see how many in the church were not yet at Crossway when I presented there last year. I had the opportunity to present the work again as well as to preach to this vibrant congregation. They were an immeasurable encouragement to us.
31 January, Faith Baptist, Orange County, CA: This committed group of believers evidenced a deep-seated compassion for the lost in their own city and around the world. I'm thankful for their example.

Kids’ Corner

Josiah enjoyed his time with Addison and Sydney Brock while we stayed with the Brocks in January. He alternately acted the prince and the scary monster to the amusement of all.
Jonas found the newest Brock addition, Charlize, intriguing as well. She, however, wouldn’t give him the time of day. Oh well, plenty of other fish in the sea, I suppose.☺

Praise reports:

Traveling through Arizona, California, Colorado, Texas, and Utah, we’ve enjoyed some of the most beautiful landscapes in our nation. Praise God for these reminders of his majesty.
With the addition of Jonas to our family, we’ve needed to update our presentation and prayer magnet. We praise God for bringing friends across our path who have helped us complete the update--all working for free or at cost!

Prayer requests:

Continued safety in travel
Continued health
Godly and wise parenting
Fruitful stateside ministry
More partners in prayer and financial support

A Few Meetings in California

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:35:00 +0000

Directly after our last update, we travelled to Bakersfield, CA, where we would be staying most of the month. We have been so grateful for the Brocks allowing us to stay with them while we visited area churches.

My first visit was to Calvary Bible Church in Lucerne Valley. I had travelled a number of miles to be at the service, so I remember arriving a bit tired. But it was invigorating to see what the Lord Jesus is doing there as his people are coming to a renewed zeal for proclaiming the gospel to their loved ones and friends. I was glad to have been among them.

During the month I was able to work with Pastor Mark Brock of Crossway Baptist on a series he is preparing to use for outreach. Jenny and I enjoyed having opportunities to serve and help where we could. And they were an immeasurable encouragement to us too. It was pleasantly surprising to see how many in the church were not around when I presented last time. Pastor Mark gave me the opportunity to present the work again as well as to preach to this vibrant congregation.

Last Sunday we were given the chance to present our mission to Faith Baptist Church of Orange County. We were surprised to meet a number of people there with whom we shared friends and acquaintances. This committed group of believers evidenced a deep-seated compassion for the lost in their own city and around the world. I'm thankful for their example.

Please pray for us as we travel today and throughout February. We need safety, and we long to find ministry partners. Pray also for productivity and skill as I attempt to get our information packet updated and sent out to potential partners.

Praise the Lord for a good month of meetings and for being our Shepherd every mile of the way.

Holidays and SGI

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 02:49:00 +0000

The Pittsleys have enjoyed a restful time over the holidays. At the beginning of December we presented our work to Lighthouse Baptist Church in Colorado Springs. I will long remember being thankful to visit this church because they were zealous about sound teaching and because the wise pastor works to keep the main thing (i.e. the gospel) the main thing.

In between the morning and evening service at Lighthouse Baptist, we took the opportunity to visit the believers at High Country Baptist Church during their afternoon service. The weather prevented us from spending long there, but in the past I've enjoyed the doctrine class they do for adults in the afternoon. This visit was no disappointment! Solid doctrinal depth strengthens the soul for the task.

We spent Christmas and New Year's in El Paso, TX. We were showered with gifts from family and from churches who are partnering with us. God has been so good in his lavish care for us through you. Thank you all who were a part of it.

I just returned from an excellent missions conference at my sending church, InterCity Baptist. My own resolve for the mission was significantly strengthened by the worship, preaching, and workshops. Interestingly, one of my future partners has recently been picking up some of the same lessons through Kenya's drought that I've been learning here:

I learned a valuable lesson from the drought. You see, when the soil is rich and the rains are good, the trees on the property are healthy and strong.... When the drought comes, the trees are stripped to their bare minimum - it is survival mode. Anything that is not needed is cast off. Some of the trees lost all of their leaves in order to survive.... Now a few months later, they are full of leaves and flowers. The trials this past year have made me re-evaluate what is important and what is necessary.... Just like the trees, if you make it through this period, you can come out stronger and possibly bear even more fruit than before because you have focused on making the tree stronger.

Tomorrow morning we're taking off for California. We have meetings there all the way through the 31-Jan. On the weekdays during the rest of the month, we'll be staying with the Brocks and helping out where we can with Crossway Baptist Church. We're eager to get involved directly in local church ministry and thankful to the Brocks for the opportunity.

Please pray for health and safety, for more ministry partners as the church's we visited last year determine their budgets, and for our own growth in holiness and Christlikeness.

Fun Times and Beautiful Scenes

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:00:00 +0000

We're spending a bit of time right now in El Paso, TX, where I grew up. As I mentioned in my Thanksgiving post, we are thankful for the opportunity to spend some time with my family during the holidays. In typical El Paso fashion, it snowed most of yesterday, but the snow's nearly gone now. The nearby mountains have kept some of their snow.

Before coming here, I flew from San Franscico to New Orleans for the national ETS conference. I enjoyed a number of the lectures I heard, but the best part was seeing some of my seminary professors and friends from seminary. I came back spiritually refreshed and recommitted to pursuing the treasures found through rigorous mining in the Scriptures.

Before that, Jenny and I enjoyed getting to know Calvary Baptist Church of Hollister during a missions conference there. The fellowship among the missionaries during this conference was especially sweet. The church's heart for missions and the cause of Christ was evident.

Pray for continued health and safety as we round out this year's meetings. We will be traveling to Colorado Springs at the end of this week.

EDIT: I'm supposed to remind my supporting churches of two things:

Please send all support checks payable to Grace Baptist Mission with my name in the memo blank.
Please consider attending an exciting conference for college age students: SGI 2010

Stream-of-Consciousness Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:58:00 +0000

Here are a number of items I don't deserve listed in the order that they occurred to me:

That my penultimate destination, Kenya, has good coffee.
That my ultimate destination has Jesus.
That all I needed to qualify for the gospel call is to be a sinner.
That my wife loves me.
That I'm home for the holidays.
That I'll have the chance to get to spend some time with old friends in the new year (DV).
That I won't be hounded by my old ways in the new earth.
That the gospel has saved/is saving me from the futility of multifarious idolatries.
That four churches have decided this year to partner with us for the progress of the gospel in East Africa.
That my work on the foreign field will benefit from the influence of experienced missionaries and national pastors.
That Josiah finally ate all of his turkey.
That my boys still seem to like having me around.
That Jenny and I love our in-laws respectively.
That our in-laws love us each respectively.
That my dad and I share appreciation for a good cup of coffee.
That my brother works for Starbucks.
That so many people have been willing to give themselves to forming my mind in accordance with the lordship of Christ.
That I can enjoy time with family without all the drama that family gatherings often entail.
That grace in Christ frees us from the penalty of sin.
That grace in Christ secures the smile of God.
That grace in Christ cracks the skull of our old master, sin.
That grace in Christ affords an eternity of wonder and joy in God's presence.

California and Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:46:00 +0000

We've already had three meetings this month, and we're looking forward to a missions conference later this week.

Our first opportunity to present our ministry was Sunday evening, 4-Oct. We got into California a day or two earlier than we needed to be there, so we decided to visit our friends in Bakersfield. The afternoon we arrived in Bakersfield, Phil Elie, one of my contemporaries in seminary, happened to be doing a bit of caulking work on the house they recently purchased. So I decided to offer my help in exchange for some valuable on-the-job training. Together, we got all the windows sealed quite quickly.

The next morning we were challenged by Pastor Mark as he continued a series he is doing on the gospel. That morning's message was from 2 Thessalonians 1, where Pastor Mark made the point that the destiny of the unsaved is the wrath of God, being separated from his glorious presence and from every good thing he brings into our lives. We were challenged to take to our neighbors the only message of hope available, the gospel of Christ.

That evening we traveled closer to Los Angeles to present our work to Santa Clarita Baptist Church. I was pleasantly surprised to find some friends from Northland there; it's always nice to see familiar faces. The church was very attentive to our ministry presentation, and I was able to discuss a number of good questions with members both during the presentation and after the evening service.

We got off to a late start Tuesday morning, and we had a long drive ahead of us. We didn't arrive in Grand Junction until the early morning hours, but when we got there, we were greeted by a beautiful guest home directly adjacent to Pear Park Baptist Church. That night we were glad for the chance to take part in their prayer meeting. It was strikingly centered on praying for efforts to reach out to various unsaved friends and family of members.

We went through our first snow of the season on our way to Denver the next day. My parents had arrived in Denver the day before we got there. It was neat to have a chance to spend a bit of time with everyone. I also took the opportunity to spend some time studying at a local seminary library.
That Sunday we attended Highlands Baptist Church. They support some friends from seminary who are also currently on deputation. Two passionate commitments stood out as we visited this church: expository preaching and focused evangelistic training for the church membership. Though we had no previous personal connection with this church, I immediately felt the kinship we had in these common commitments.

I have been having computer problems lately; I'm currently typing from a public library computer while my laptop sits in the shop. That's why I have not been able to make the progress on the newsletter that I intended. Before the end of the week, I hope to be able to send out print copies of the Autumn newsletter and upload the requested lite version of the newsletter for easier download. I will update this space when I am able to complete those objectives.
Please remember us in prayer through the next two months. Autumn is typically a season for missions conferences; and missions conferences are typically our best opportunity to find ministry partners. Each new partner is a step toward ministry in Kenya.

God has been good to keep us safe and healthy, especially during this particularly vicious flu season. That's always a concern with little, little ones like Jonas. Thank you so much for praying.

2009 Autumn Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 05:49:00 +0000

The autumn newsletter is ready for download. Print versions will be going out to our churches in the next week.

Click here for printer friendly version.

A Bit of Time Back in ABQ

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:03:00 +0000

We just enjoyed the first Sunday home since mid-August. It's been good to catch up on mail and rest and other home responsibilities. I just finished writing a few pastors that we've visited recently, expressing our gratitude for making deputation such a pleasant experience for us.

We were so grateful for good meetings over the last few weeks. First, we met with Lighthouse Baptist Church in Eagle Mountain, UT. I enjoyed reconnecting with Matt Ortega and meeting his family for the first time. He shared with me some of the challenges of ministry in a primarily Mormon context. At the end of a long conversation on the point, he reminded me that, while detailed critique of Mormonism has its place, the gospel is what the people of Utah need, just like the people of Kenya, and anywhere else. He encouraged me to take a visit to the LDS headquarters in Salt Lake City, and I took him up on it. I'm glad I did, what an enlightening experience!

Next, we were back in California for a meeting with First Baptist Church in Pinole. I was excited to have an opportunity to teach the adult Sunday school in addition to the regular preaching time in the evening. They were very attentive and asked some excellent questions about the lesson. (The lesson was on mining truths from narratives, using 1 Sam 15 as a test case.) I am eager to have this kind of opportunity every week when we reach our destination!

I should be posting an Autumn newsletter soon, so watch this space!

Please pray for:
(1) Safety as we travel again to California and then to Colorado in the coming weeks.
(2) Autumn is typically a time for allergies for us, and flu season is supposed to be especially bad. Please pray for our health.
(3) Pray for God's timing and provision for getting to Kenya.

4204 Miles Later

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 20:47:00 +0000

It's been too long since my last update. We had two rescheduled meetings at the beginning of August, so I didn't have much news to share at that end of the month. Then with back-to-back meetings and lots of travel, I haven't made time to sit and update things.

The beginning of August was spent in El Paso, TX, helping a couple of regular financial supporters (who also happen to be responsible for my genetic fabric) with a big painting project. They enjoyed the company of their grandchildren, Josiah and Jonas. I enjoyed another manual labor project that will help fill up what is lacking in my mostly theoretical missionary education. A rescheduled meeting allowed us to spend more time on the project than we had planned. That turned out for the best because equipment issues made the painting project take longer than anticipated.

We were able to catch two meetings before the end of the month. The first meeting was at Seacoast Church, Redondo Beach, CA. The pastor there worked at my church in El Paso when I was young. It was at his house, during a summer backyard Bible study, that I was converted. It was neat to share some old fond memories with them and to get to know this congregation of believers. Pastor Huddleston was in the middle of a series on the glory of heaven. A quote he brought from Puritan pastor John Owen stuck with me. He didn't give the specific reference for Owen in the sermon, but I think this is where the quote came from with some of its context: "We know that they who like not grace here, neither do nor can like that which is glory hereafter. No man who is not acquainted experimentally, in some measure, with the life, power, and evidence of faith here, hath any other heaven in his aim but what is erected in his own imagination" ("Of Spiritual Mindedness," The Works of John Owen, vol. 7, p. 338).

The next week, we were in Tucson, AZ, at Continental Baptist Church. Pastor Mike Gradwell welcomed us into his home. That Sunday morning, he challenged his church to be wary of the hour and power of temptation from the story of Joseph in Genesis 39. We appreciated the reminder, especially as Pastor Gradwell brought it back in the end to our need for grace in Christ to resist temptation. While we stayed with the Gradwells, Josiah enjoyed a fun time with their four delightfully active young boys. Needless to say he was sorry to leave as soon as we did.

After a day or two back in Albuquerque, we attended our first missions conference of the year. In Sonora, CA, we were challenged by one missionary who is working in North Africa and another who represents a mission board with missionaries around the world. The missions conference, though it was short, did afford us some extra time to get to know some of the people of Grace Baptist, and we were grateful for the opportunity.

This week we're in American Fork, Utah, presenting to a church planted by one of my friends from Hebrew class in seminary. We're looking forward to touching base again with friends and getting to know this church. Next week takes us to Pinole, CA, and then we'll have some back time in Albuquerque.

We praise the Lord for (1) an emerging, workable rhythm in travel with the kids, (2) health and safety on the roads, (3) several good meetings and good hope for future partners, and (4) the generosity and hospitality of God's people in the churches we have visited recently.

Pray with us for (1) wisdom in parenting, (2) continued health and safety, (3) more churches to partner with us, and (4) mutual encouragement of faith in our meetings and conferences.

1000+ miles and 2 meetings

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:58:00 +0000

It's hard to believe that it's been less than three weeks since I last posted. That was over a thousand miles and two missions presentations ago! We're so glad to continue to gain momentum in this pre-field ministry.

On 12-Jul, we presented our ministry at Grace Bible Church in Colorado Springs. We had a great time sharing the service with a special music concert given by a traveling family group. Although we hadn't made explicit plans for it, the service came to be centered on the gospel. Their music and testimony was a challenge to us to make family life centered on the cross of Christ. Their message segued nicely into ours: the gospel of God is so good, it should be spread beyond our nation to the ends of the earth.

We also had the privilege of diving into ministry with this church as we helped them with vacation Bible school. Each day we had an opportunity to relate the day's theme (Following Christ, Worshipping Christ, Confessing Christ, Serving Christ, Obeying Christ) to our mission as a family and to missions in general. I took the opportunity to expand my own knowledge by teaching the kids some Swahili vocabulary and John 20:21 in Swahili. We had a blast!

On the 19th, we served at High Country Baptist Church. It was good to see the Parkers again. We overlapped some during our time in seminary. Their joy in ministry was evident as they continue working in this new church plant. Like with Lifepoint Baptist in Apple Valley, CA, we were encouraged to see God providing the church with gifted and grounded leadership for equipping this new body of believers.

As a bonus, we enjoyed a brief visit with my brothers in Denver. We have seen very little of them since I started seminary, so I've been very glad for the chance to reconnect. My brother Jordan, his girlfriend, Alexis, and Josiah enjoyed an afternoon at the Denver aquarium on Monday. It's great to be back out West!

Next week, I will be making some more phone calls and preparing for upcoming meetings in Arizona and California. Pray that I am able to connect with more ministry partners and that God keeps us all safe and healthy as we seek to serve him here in the Southwest. We praise him for the grace he has given in caring for our needs and granting us joy in his cause.

Serving at Northwest Baptist and New Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:50:00 +0000

I wanted to give one more update before we leave on our first series of meetings since Jonas's birth. We are excited about the prospects of working with Grace Bible Church in Colorado Springs, CO, as they put on a vacation Bible school for the children in their community. Our work there will begin 12 July; we will leave Friday, Lord willing.

While Jenny has been recovering, I have been glad for the opportunity to teach at Northwest Baptist Church. They were very receptive as I taught through a three-part summary series of 1 Timothy. They also allowed Jenny and me to take on junior church responsibilities during these weeks that we couldn't be away on meetings. I have been so glad for these opportunities to serve.

We've produced the summer edition of our newsletter. It's available for download here.

Praise Report:

Great time of teaching and serving at Northwest Baptist
Northwest Baptist has agreed to take us on for financial support
Jonas and Jenny's continued health

Prayer Requests:

Mutual encouragement of faith through missionary presentations
Health and safety
More meetings to present our work in 2010
God's provision and timing for our departure to Kenya

Reaching Toward the New Normal

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 07:03:00 +0000

We are so thankful to God for answering all of your prayers and ours from the last few months! Baby Jonas Liam (LEE-um) Pittsley came into the world at 9:42pm on 2-Jun! Based on Josiah's size (8 lbs 8 oz at birth), Jenny's doctor decided to induce labor on Jenny's due date this time around. We're glad she did because Jonas was 8 lbs and 15oz, 20 inches! Mom and Baby are both recovering nicely as we reach the two week mark. Other than marginally quick breathing, which calmed down while we were still at the hospital, Jonas gave the doctors and nurses no cause for concern. His first doctor's appointment last Friday went well too. Praise the Lord!

Lately, I've switched to the night shift, covering for Jenny while she sleeps. My aim has been to use the quiet night hours to prepare messages for upcoming meetings. Jonas hasn't been entirely cooperative with me here. (What was I thinking, "Quiet hours"?) Babies have a tendency of interrupting plans and wrecking thought trains; it's good preparation for the mission field!
Jonas is particularly interested in cuddling up and making a pillow out of my shoulder. And, of course, I find it hard to say no. Nevertheless, I have been able to continue making calls and set up meetings during the day, and progress continues to unfold on that front.

Pray for us as we try to establish a new normal with the baby around. I've meetings scheduled through the end of this year, but I would like to have at least Jan-Mar of next year done before our return to regular meetings and travel on 10-Jul. I would also like to complete a series on the sermons in Acts by that point and make significant progress on a Hebrew research project that needs to be ready for this autumn.
Now that Jonas is two weeks old, we will be transitioning to a more disciplined schedule with him. Pray that the schedule takes easily, and pray too that he is able to travel well with the new structure we're trying to build into his life. This is going to be an adventure, and at every point we are reminded of our need for God's help.

Still Waiting

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:46:00 +0000

There's not really much new to report from the last couple of weeks. Everything may be summarized in a few bullets.

Jonas has not come yet. At Jenny's appointment today they told her that they would discuss induction at her Monday appointment if the baby has not yet come. Pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby.
I am preparing to set up meetings for this year and next. Pray for God's timing in getting us to the field. We would still like to make it before the end of next year.
I have the opportunity to teach adult Sunday school and junior church while we're here in Albuquerque waiting for Jonas. I'm very happy about the opportunity to serve.

I'll be sure to update everyone with Jonas news when there is something new to report.

Calling Contacts and Email Subscription

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:16:00 +0000

The last couple of weeks have been generally uneventful as Jenny continues her weekly doctor visits, and I continue to make calls to set up meetings with pastors. All of Jenny's check-ups have been normal. It's hard to imagine we'll have a baby around in three weeks or so! I may get one or two more meetings squeezed in for this year, but now I'm working mostly on next year's meetings. It has been good for me to see God provide in these ways.

I was able to attend a regional pastors' conference here in Albuquerque early last week. The pastor I grew up under at Sun Valley Baptist introduced me to a number of new contacts there. I am now working through all of the churches in that fellowship and contacting many of their pastors. I think of it as a hunt for those churches that God has planned for us to partner with. I always have to remember that, though God uses means to accomplish his wise plan, our trust should not be in the means, but in the God whose plan can never fail.

In other news, I have finally set up an email subscription form. If you are interested in partnering with us in prayer, please type your email into the form here on the right sidebar of my blog under "Subscriptions and Your Email." You will receive by email these blog posts and the quarterly newsletter; I will not use your email address for any other purpose. If you have already contacted me with this request, you will have received a verification email from Google's Feedburner today. Simply verify your email address to begin receiving email updates from me. We have already seen the grace of God in our lives as he works on behalf of those who call on him for our sake; thank you for partnering with us in that way.

Newsletter and Brief Cali Tour

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 20:56:00 +0000

The last couple of weeks I have continued making calls to set up meetings. I'm over 20 meetings for this year now, and I also have 2 meetings set up for next year. Sometimes making the calls can almost feel like going to dozens of job interviews each day. But God has been good in answering prayers as I've been able to get more accustomed to the peculiarities of this work and as more pastors have welcomed us into their churches. Here's an article that summarizes many of the thoughts I have been preaching to myself to help me readjust my perspective. Before we left for California, I also gathered some pictures and published our first quarterly newsletter. The newsletter is available as a .pdf for download here.
It was exciting to see how God has provided so many well-grounded believers who are willing to serve as members in this recent church plant. Pastor Bryan's long term ministry goals pointing to a self-replicating church planting movement in Southern California match our own mission for Kenya; what an encouragement to be with like-minded coworkers in God's field!

Next we went to Calvary Baptist of Marina. This kind church with broad missions interests put us up for a few days and even gave us a pass to a nearby aquarium for while we were there. Josiah loved it. A visit to the nearby beach also made these few days memorable for us. The assembly of believers there encouraged us by their faithfulness to Christ's cause even in the face of local opposition in their community.

Finally, I returned to Crossway Baptist Church in Bakersfield. Jenny and Josiah weren't with me last time I came, so I wanted to give the church an opportunity to meet them. We had such a profitable time of fellowship with the Brocks and Elies while we were there! I also enjoyed my talks with Tom Zartman, Juliana's dad and missionary to Mexico. His vital love for God's Word and zeal for Christ's mission was a shot in the arm.

Praise Report:

Good meetings in California
Profitable fellowship with friends
Safety in travel
Jenny's continued health

Prayer Requests:

Profitable fellowship with pastors at an upcoming regional pastors' conference
Jenny's and Jonas's continued health
More meetings to present our work in 2009 and 2010
God's provision and timing for our departure to Kenya

Alameda and Sun Valley

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 22:21:00 +0000

The Pittsleys have returned to Albuquerque from a couple weeks in El Paso, TX, home of the inimitable Chico's Tacos. We had a great time visiting with Sun Valley Baptist Church for three Sundays. This was the church I grew up in. Some of my earliest and fondest memories are from that church and from Northeast Christian Academy, one of Sun Valley's ministries. We were challenged by Sun Valley's commitment to biblical doctrine, to God's holiness, and to preparing for Christ's return. Staying with my parents for a while was also enjoyable. My dad is making sure that before I leave I know how to do all the handy-man stuff I was too dense to pick up while growing up. I also enjoyed seeing my brother, Jordan, for the first time since 2006; he was there on his spring break for part of the time.

Before our trip we spent a Sunday with Alameda Bible Church here in Albuquerque. We were encouraged by their long-standing commitment to Christ and his word; the week before we came, they recently celebrated their 70th anniversary. The pastor spoke about the possibility of helping with the spiritual emphasis week their Christian school has at the beginning of the school year. That would be a fun opportunity.

Praise Report:

Good meetings at Alameda and Sun Valley
Sun Valley pledged financial support

Prayer Requests:

Jenny's health as she enters the last two months of pregnancy
Continued success in setting up meetings

Crossway Baptist and TMAI

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:18:00 +0000

It's been a busy few weeks on the deputation trail for the Pittsleys. I spent much of the week of 22-Feb continuing to call pastors to schedule meetings. I'm making progress on that front, but it's an ongoing project and prayer request. We need more meetings and more supporting churches to be able to start serving in Kenya. I also spent a good deal of time preparing for a week-long trip to California that I took last week. In addition to the normal planning and packing, I needed to track down and purchase a couple pieces of equipment that would allow me to do my DVD presentation in small churches that do not own a data projector and DVD player.

Last Sunday I was able to present our ministry to rossway Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA.The young church had never had a missionary in to present his ministry before, so it was a neat opportunity to introduce them to the worldwide cause. Pastor Mark Brock challenged the congregation from Romans 10 and the church's responsibility to worldwide missions. We're so thankful for the welcome and astounding generosity of this young church.

I knew both Pastor Mark and Pastor Phil Elie while I was in seminary, so it was also nice to be able to reconnect with them and visit with their families during my visit. We hope to have an opportunity to visit again as a family when we're on our way back through from other meetings.

Monday and Tuesday were the last two days of a symposium for The Master's Academy International. TMAI is an organization that facilitates the creation of theological training schools all over the world. It has come to incorporate a network of 15 like-minded theological schools and teachers around the world. It was a privilege to be invited to observe as the teacher-missionaries presented their ministries. I was so glad to have to opportunity to listen to people experienced in the same tasks that our team plans to be involved in. I'm certain that hearing their joys and challenges was a foretaste of what is in store for us in the future.

At the end of last week, I was able to meet up with my ministry partner Dan Huffstutler at a pastors' conference where we were both able to meet some new contacts and reconnect with some old friends. We stayed with the Dunhams while attending the conference. Kyle Dunham has been a teacher at one of the spiritual leadership conferences that we've held at the Weavers' camp near Nairobi, Kenya. I had one class with Kyle in seminary, but I never really got to know him or his family, so I am glad I had the opportunity to deepen the acquaintance.

Praise Report:

Safety in travel
Great meeting with the Brocks
Good time to reconnect with Dan H. and the Dunhams

Prayer Requests:

Continued success in setting up meetings
God's timing in picking up support
Family health (especially with Jenny due in June) and safety in travel

Meeting at Northwest Baptist and More to Come

noreply@blogger.com (Pittsley) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:00:00 +0000

Someone had asked if I could update the blog again so that a ladies' group from our home church could knowledgeably pray for our deputation endeavors. I am more than happy to comply.

Yesterday was our first meeting out here in the Southwest. It was also the first time (though I'm sure it won't be the last) that I had an opportunity to do all three services. My admiration for pastors who do three services every Sunday grew appreciably! We had a wonderful time sharing with the believers at Northwest Baptist Church our desire to know God and to reach Kenya.

I was also able to set up a meeting last week with rossway Baptist Church in Bakersfield, CA. I went to seminary with the pastor there, Mark Brock. He said that I would at least be able to present the ministry on March 1 and that I may also be preaching. I hope that this won't be the only time we get to visit the Brocks and this church while we're here in the Southwest. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

I'll round out this note with a few requests:

Pray for wisdom as two churches (Northwest Baptist here in Albuquerque and New Testament Baptist in Syracuse, NY) make decisions about our support.
Pray for more meetings as I talk to pastors about presenting our work.
Pray for safety and provision as we travel to these churches.