Dear Soldiers of the Cross,
The week of July 4th the Lord blessed me with the wonderful opportunity to attend our Lumbee Homecoming. This is a time of gathering for our tribal members with lots of celebrations and lots of food. It was a blessing to see many of my family and friends and enjoy our Lumbee people. God has blessed our tribe tremendously, and we are so thankful.
As soon as the celebrations were over, it was time to get back to work. We want to thank Independent Baptist Church from Clinton, Maryland, for helping us with our VBS on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona. I, as well as our missionary, Bro Andy Magnarella, was very pleased with your outstanding work with the Bible school. The kids were thrilled with you as well. Bro Andy has already invited you back next year, so make your plans to join us again.
I want to thank North Hazelwood Baptist Church and Hoopers Creek Baptist Church for helping us with our VBS at Indian Wells Baptist Church on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. This is your 5th year to help, and I want to thank you for your faithfulness to Bro Justin Barnett and our Native people.
I want to thank Hualapai Baptist Church and Pastor Steve Deford and his wife for helping us with the VBS on the Fort Mojave Reservation in California. This is our first Bible school on the Fort Mojave, and also the first time that the Hualapai Baptist Church has helped us with a VBS. You all did an awesome job, and we are looking forward to having you back again next year. Missionary Bruce Williams was so thankful that you came. It’s my desire to see more of our Native churches get involved in Native missions.
God gave me the wonderful opportunity to fly home and preach in the last night of our home church Bible school at Hoopers Creek Baptist Church. God gave us much liberty, and the power of the Holy Ghost was present. Many responded to the invitation. What a joyous time it was!
Finally, I want to thank Hoopers Creek Baptist Church for stepping up once again for the 11th year and helping us with our VBS on the Fort Hall Reservation in Blackfoot, Idaho. Missionary Joe Copley and Ms Lela welcomed them back with open arms. The group does a wonderful job presenting the Gospel, working with the kids, and most of all, loving on them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has hands and feet, and this church knows how to use them. God will reward you for all of your sacrifices you make to get the Gospel out to a lost and dying world.
Please continue to pray for us that God will open doors of opportunity for us to labor for him, because we know we don’t have much more time.
As We Labor for Christ,
Gerry & Sheril Locklear
Missionaries to the Native Americans