First, let me apologize for the late second quarter update. It has been quite a busy year for me so far. Since my last update, I have started working on my home to repair the damage from the flooding back in March. Thankfully, my insurance covered much of the cost but to keep the numbers low, I have been doing most of the work on my own. The time invested has been crazy but the savings has been worth the effort. Thanks to all of you that prayed and helped with the work.

On to the summer…

On top of my little construction project, I am now in the jaws of a very busy summer schedule. First, praise God, we were able to find a block layer and a few more teenagers to go on the trip with Gary Moore to Honduras. Finding a block layer was a big prayer request for this trip where they will be laying the foundations for a building there at the orphanage. Second, my home church, Elmwood Baptist in Barboursville, WV just finished up Vacation Bible School. Several decisions were made for Christ and we were able to do a great job reaching many that were previously “unchurched”. Also, there have been three teenagers that have accepted Christ as Savior at the Barboursville School. Praise the Lord!

As I type this, I am looking forward to the next two nights as I will be at Teays Valley Baptist Church for the annual West Virginia Jubilee. This meeting is one that I am ALWAYS sure to attend. I’m especially thankful for it this year as I was not able to make it to the Gospel Preachers Association national meeting that was last week in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Jubilee is always a blessed time of refreshment and I’m counting on the next couple of days to be awesome. After a short break, I will be heading to Chicago once again. While there, I will be visiting Welcome Hill Baptist church and hopefully start planning a fall youth rally with Mike Wagner, GPA Missionary in Gary, Indiana. In July, Elmwood Baptist will be hosting P.H.A.T.T. Camp 2009 in Blaine, Kentucky. Please pray that God will do a great work there (He always does). Then, on July 13th, I will be headed to National Harbor in Washington, DC for a 3 day conference. Lastly, please pray especially for the last week of July as a group from Poston Baptist Church in North Carolina will actually be taking a mission trip to MY neighborhood. I am working with this group to organize a Back Yard Bible Club in the subdivision where I live. Please pray that all of the details will come together with the Home Owner’s Association so that we are able to use the community park without any problems. I’m expecting this to be a great week.

As you can see, Summer is, once again, a busy time. I’m still disappointed that I was not able to go to Honduras as reported last month on my website (operationwatch.com) but God knows what He’s doing.

Amazed by Grace,

T.J.

PS – I am now trying to book meetings for the Fall. I would love to come share my ministry with your congregation.