The Contenders For The Faith

To start, we had a wonderful fellowship meeting this past Feb.This was the 14th year we've been holding these meetings and every year has been a time of refreshment and encouragment. This year was no exception. God allowed us to be blessed through the singing and preaching of the Karpenko family and Pastor Robin Wright. Attendence was great, and the spirit was sweet. The Lord allowed us to make some new friends by meeting Pastor Gary Johnston and his family. What can I say more about these meetings, except that tears were shed, hearts drawn closer to Christ, and most importantly the Lord Jesus Christ was exalted as Lord of Lords and King of Kings!!!!!!!

A couple of weeks ago the Lord gave us the privilege of being apart of the Lordship Conference at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Union City, IN. It was good to see my best friend Pastor Keith Hoover and his family. What a time of blessing! The preaching was what my family and I needed to hear. Thank you Pastors Mike Hoover, Tony Garrisi, Ben Townsend, and Bro Shepherd for being sensitive to the Spirit of God when you preached. It was also good to see many familiar faces, like Pastors Jim Beatty, Paul Beatty, and Steven Beatty. The church folks were very hospitable and dear to us, thank you as well!

From there we headed to the Church at Stamper's Creek in Paoli IN. My wife Christy spoke to the ladies on a Monday, for a special Tea Get Together. There were over thirty ladies in attendance thanks to Alesia Hoover. I don't know how it went since I obviously did not attend.(at least not till after so I could snatch the leftover snacks.) All in all it was good to see all our family on both sides. I enjoyed it so much, that I convinced my mother-in-law to ride back to AZ with us. (Ha! Actually I was desperate for an extra driver. Besides if there is anyone who can keep me awake its my mother-in-law;)

Its been an exciting first half of 2009 and I'm looking forward to more exciting things the rest of the year.

Lord Bless

Pastor Garrisi