September 2017
Dear Soldiers of the Cross,
September was a very busy month. We attended a Native American missions meeting at the Pine Ridge Baptist Church on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota were Bro Ken Trivette is the missionary / pastor. We had a wonderful time hearing how God was blessing his people from other missionaries on their reservations. Bro Larry Adams was our night preacher, and “oh how” God used this dear brother to bless our hearts. It was a joy for me to run the van route throughout the Wounded Knee community and have the extra time of fellowship with the Lakota people. God has truly allowed these dear folks to walk into my heart and become such dear friends.
On September 10th Ms. Sheril and I had the great privilege to attend the first service of a brand new Native American church started in Rapid City, South Dakota. God has sent a man, Bro Eric Schafnitz, to stand in the gap and preach HIS Gospel to the Native people of this city. We had 38 in attendance this first meeting with 5 Natives present. Please pray for Bro Schafnitz and his family as they labor among this urban Native group. This work is so needful.
Next, we traveled over to Eagle Wings Baptist Church in Sisseton, South Dakota, and visited and preached for Jerome Renville and the Wahpeton Dakota Sioux people. The Lord has given us great friends here, and we always have a joyful time with them. Please keep Bro Renville and his reservation in your prayers that God will send a mighty move among his people. Bro Renville carries a heavy burden for his people.
God gave us a blessed opportunity to preach a missions conference at Ephraim Baptist Church for the deaf in St Louis, Missouri. Bro Paul Strosnider is the pastor of the church. Most of the members of the church are deaf, so Bro Paul had to sign for us as I preached. This was very different for me, but what a blessing! God touched my heart for these dear folks in a special way that keeps on blessing. I have never been acquainted with a group of God’s people that blessed me any more than this group. I’m not sure all God did for them, but I know what HE did for me. I can hardly wait for my next visit with these dear folks.
Please pray for us as we are looking unto the Lord for guidance for next year’s projects. I trust you are praying and asking the Lord what he would have you do as well. Please consider going out with us to our reservations and taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ to our forgotten people. Please know the need is so great.
Finally, please pray with us as we are looking for a dually truck with a slide in camper and a 12’ or 14’ enclosed trailer that I can use out on the mission field when Ms Sheril is not able to travel with me.
As We Labor for Christ,
Gerry & Sheril Locklear