April 2005

Special Prayer Request
After several years without any contact from Lighthouse Baptist Church 's landlord, he suddenly contacted us for a meeting. We thought it would be to discuss raising the rent since it had gone unchanged for nearly five years. However, much to our surprise, he announced that he would be selling the building. He did say that we could have the first opportunity to purchase but at US$290,000 that doesn't seem possible unless the Lord works a miracle. We have already been searching the area with the aid of a real estate agent but nothing suitable and affordable has been found yet. We ask you to earnestly pray that God would provide a building or change the heart of the landlord to let us continue renting. One of the problems with finding another building is also the main reason that we felt led by the Lord to start the church in the area. Taichung city is expanding outward and the area for greatest growth is the area of our church. This is causing people to scramble for real estate and is also driving once moderate prices very high. Many adults, teens and children are counting on the church's continued outreach – many are weak Christians while others seem on the verge of accepting Christ. Below is the brief account of one of those who seems near salvation.

Which Comes First?...
Winter (Lin Dien-shuan) , a teenage girl has recently been under conviction and sincerely asking some great questions concerning the Lord and the Bible. Being raised in a Buddhist society and an unsaved home, she is struggling with complete faith. In an email she asked, “Which should come first-becoming a Christian and then learning to believe the deeper things or first believe fully then become a Christian?” As an eleventh grader attending our church, she heard for the first time that she was created by an Almighty God and not a product of evolution. This has greatly impacted her thinking. Please pray for her salvation.

New Arrivals
We praise the Lord that two new independent Baptist missionaries have arrived in Taiwan and are preparing to serve the Lord. We have the privilege to assist them during this time and, hopefully, we can all work together in some manner to reach more people in Taiwan for Christ. Please pray for their language study and adaptation and also for much needed Chinese co-workers.

Thank you in advance for your prayers about these important things. In the next few months we hope to report some progress and victories to you. May the Lord bless you for being faithful to His work!