2026 May Newsletter

    Ministry Update:            

  We have been giving out some Outreach and In-reach folders to some of the newer churches that we  

   have been in these last two months. This material has the Christ-like Caring courses in it, Bible Study 

   courses of the book of John in it, and the Salvation Bible Study sheet that we put into some of the    

   John and Romans that we pass out while doing outreach visitations. This folder of materials is  

  part of what the Starre's have developed over the years in the Heart Ministry and a part of what Bro   

  Brian and Diana Starre went over with us last March at Old Paths Baptist Church during our Missions    

  month before I turned that church over to a new pastor and became an extension in ministry along 

  with the Starre's. We have used this material at Crusade Baptist Church in January as we helped them  

  in starting up an outreach/ visitation program there. If you are interested in getting involved with this 

  as a church, please let us know we would like to help your church in this endeavor getting your church  

  involved in the Great Commission. Also, this last month the Lord has used some people and churches  

  to meet some of our financial needs being a blessing to us and the Lord’s Work: a gas card for 

  ministry use (at gas prices, as of now, that is a huge help), $2,000 was given for a car replacement,  

  and $5,000 for Tickets to visit with our church plant in Ghana W Africa, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist 

  Church, Pastor Prince, and Pastor Koasi. Praise The Lord and to God Be The Glory! Thank you 

  Broadview Heights Baptist Church, the anonymous, and Chippewa Lake Baptist Church. We have   

  some additional needs for this trip that we would like you to pray about and 

  consider helping us with: Visas Expenses for Ghana is $407.09; Expenses Traveling by Plane inside 

  of Ghana, $900; Capital City, Accra Estimated Expenses with one night stay in Accra, is about     

  $340.69; Takoradi/ Sekondi Estimated Expenses (of taxis, eating, lodging) maybe $1,000; Plus,  

  Copies of the “Salvation Bible Study” at an Estimation of $120. The Estimated Total of these    

 Additional Expenses we need to raise funds for is $2,767.78. Please pray for us about this. I am sure  

 there are somethings I have not thought of or that may come up. However God lays these on your heart  

 to give towards these needs, we will be Grateful for!!! Our trip will be July 20^th– July 30^th. You can 

 write the check out to our sending church, Broadview Heights Baptist Church, and memo it for Africa  

 Trip Expenses. Their address is at the bottom of this Newsletter in the blue area. THANK YOU and 

 GOD BLESS YOU!!!

  

Ghana News:

We have been able to purchase airplane tickets and have just submitted our Visa applications for Ghana, and now we are waiting for them!!! This trip will be an encouragement to them, it has been a long time in coming, and a big Blessing to us to go see the Lord’s Work there! This is our tentative plan while we are there in Sekondi/ Takoradi, Ghana. At Cornerstone, Wednesday - Sunday, we are looking at holding a Bible Conference each evening 6-8 and visit each day in the 

mornings until about noon inviting and passing out John and Romans with a “Salvation Bible Study” insert in the John and Romans from the Heart Ministry.

At Cornerstone the Following Monday - Wednesday mornings from 8 am - 1 pm they are planning a VBS (It is a little different than in the States, there will be teaching sessions for the kids: Bible, Math, and English).

  

Family Update:

Our son-in-law, Joe and our daughter, Naomi gave us our first grandchild. Naomi gave birth April 17th to a boy and his name is Thomas Joseph. Please be in prayer for Naomi as she recovers from this birth as it came with some unusual trauma, for Joe and Naomi as hey are now new parents stewarding God’s gift to them. We are excited and thankful to be new grandparents that don’t know what all that means, but we pray that we will be good ones. After coming back from Bill Rice Ranch in Murfreesboro, Tennessee Joseph has joined Broadview Heights Baptist Church our sending church in Ohio.

 

Bits Of Bread:In this portion of Psalm 119:97-104,We find the Christian is “The Greater Because Of God’s Word”

In Psalm 119:97-104 We find the Psalmist’s Emphasis and Expression of the Emphatic Love that he had for the Word of God because of the Greater Increase and Advantage It had given him over all others!!!“O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.”- Psalm 119:97; “How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” – Psalm 119:103  

       I. Through God’s Word, I GET MORE… v98;

       II. Through God’s Word, I HAVE MORE… v99; 

       III. Through God’s Word, I UNDERSTAND MORE… v100; 

       IV. Through God’s Word, I Have a BETTER DISCIPLINE, and a BETTER RESOLVE to Keep His 

            Word v101-102; 

       V. Through God’s Word, I HAVE MORE PLEASANT Experiences, than the best of nature v103; 

       VI. Through God’s Word, I GET TRUE UNDERSTANDING THAT CAUSES ME TO HATE EVERY 

            FALSE WAY v104

                                                                                                                                                              Matthew J. Siekbert

                                                                                                                 

2026 March Newsletter

 Ministry Update:             

Four Baptisms in Homerville: 

A Pastor, who has a church with a Methodist background, is teaching it in Biblical ways    

verses the Methodist ways. So, during a four-week vacation the pastor and his wife took at the   

ending of last summer he asked me to fill-in  for him at his church for those four weeks that he would be gone teaching and  preaching on Biblical Salvation, Biblical Baptism, Biblical Church Offices and their proper order, and Biblical Missions. On December 28^th the Pastor was able to have a “Baptismal Sunday with 4 being Biblically Baptized! Amen!!! I followed up and visited a couple of weeks later. In January we were invited to help start up a Visitation Soulwinning/ Community Outreach at Crusade Baptist Church; On Sunday evening the 11^th the pastor had me come preach on “Sowing Seed”, then we were with them for 4 weeks to begin their visitation/Community Outreach on Saturdays. I gave 15 to 20 minutes on some Talking Points, lessons and encouragements in knocking on doors, then we went out those first few weeks in January and into February having a few interruptions with winter weather, but non-the-less, obedience brings blessings. The pastor sent me a text that they had some first-time visitors the following weeks. The Lord is blessing their outreach there. The pastor had me come back the evening of March 15^th. I followed up with them preaching on “Serving the Lord and Commitment”. As First Baptist Church in Valley City was looking for a pastor, I was able to fill-in several times encouraging and challenging them on getting a prayed for pastor that the Lord is leading in. In the first part of January, they were able to decided on a new pastor there, and with joy and good reports of that decision. At this point in the New Year, along with speaking at a pastor’s banquet in February, we have filled in for 16 different churches so far and we have visited another 12 churches to encourage and let them know we are there to help where we can. We have been able to do some visits for Chippewa Lake Baptist, Crusade and Southwest Baptist. Thank you for allowing us to help fulfill needs, and encourage others in God’s Work!!!

Ghana News / Family Update / Prayer Requests:

 Traveling Plans out of the country to go to Ghana W Africa is our desire, but we are not set on the date     

 with events happening in the Middle East. We would like to visit Ghana this summer. We are seeing if   

 we can’t get a time set up for a visit with the church there, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church, Pastor Prince, and Bro Koasi; Van Replacement or Repair! My wife was in a small accident with no injuries, thanks to the Lord, but totaling out our 2012 traveling mini-van. We are in the process of buying my sons 2011 Honda Accord; March 30^this our 30^th Wedding Anniversary. Jackie and I are planning to go to Sight and Sound to see the play of “Joshua”; Our daughter Naomi will be having our first grandbaby on April 16^th or there about. She looks like she swallowed a beach ball!! She and the baby in this pregnancy are doing great, in good health and doing well, please keep them in continued prayer as she has a healthy deliver, and her and her husband start a family. 

  

The Starre's and The Heart Ministry:

Meeting up with the Starre's, in January, Diana Starre, my wife and the ladies were going to make some visits, but first they had to have breakfast. But because they were going to take Pastor Roller out, an older and former pastor out they asked if I would join them so Pastor Roller wouldn’t be out numbered. I gladly accepted. I took Pastor Roller home while Jackie went with Diane and Geri (Diane’s mom) and Emily to make some visits. This past Saturday the Starre's took my wife and I out for our 30^th

Anniversary, with also talking over what the Lord has been doing in the ministry. They are a wonderful couple that we are glad to be a part of!!! Please pray for Diana Starre as she will be having a heart oblation on April 8^th.

 

Bits Of Bread: “And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.”“And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by 

them.” – Mark 6:45, 48(V 45-52)        

The Lord Leads Us into “Contrary Winds” for a Reason, or Reasons:

  1. Contrary Winds, Helps Us Balance Out Our Spiritual Highs; 

  2. Contrary Winds, Remind Us of Our Frailties; 

  3. Contrary Winds, Show Us Our Weaknesses in Character, and in Commitment; 

  4. Contrary Winds, Builds Our Faith and Trust in 

      the Lord; 

  5. Contrary Winds, Illustrate to Us that Doing Right, Obeying and Following Don’t Come Without     

      Controversy;                

  6. Contrary Winds, Help Us Step Back and Assess Ourselves to See if our Situation is Self-Inflicted, 

      or God Directed!   c/w Acts 27:20-21                                                                                                                                        

Matthew J. Siekbert

 

2026 JANUARY Newsletter

 Ministry Update:             

In November and December I preached for First Baptist Church of Valley City as they are looking for a pastor. Also, I preached at Liberty Baptist Church in Elyria as their pastor and his wife had their anniversary. We went to a supporter of ours, First Baptist Church of Garden City, Michigan and preached there. Their pastor was celebrating his birthday and has been at the church there for 37 years. During some of the Christmas festivities, we were invited to Old Paths for their church Christmas party where they gave us a Big Thank You and some gifts for pastoring them. They are some special people and it is evident that God is at work there. There have been Salvations and folks joining. We enjoyed a meal and some fun Christmas games together. Old Path is seeing new membership and people growing. A faithful man there that we love and have been praying for received Christ as his Savior. We thank the Lord!!! Some plant, some water, but God gives the increase. Pastor Caley is doing a great job and it’s encouraging to see the Lord working. Some more special people in the Bucyrus area is the Wert family. We took Pastor Wert and his wife out to eat. He will be celebrating 50 years at his church this coming November. We enjoyed being at our home church, Broadview Heights Baptist Church for the Christmas Eve service and also for the New Year’s Eve Service. In 2025, we were in several churches helping, encouraging, and stirring them in the work of God. Many of those churches were repeated visits, filling the pulpits where there is no pastor, or where the pastor has been out of town or had a medical need. We have also helped with visitation and special events Blitzes. Thank You All for faithfully Supporting us in Caring for the Churches! “Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”  - II Cor 11:28

First Baptist, Valley City

Old Paths, Christmas 

Old Paths, Christmas 

Most of our supporters have made note of our Church and Address change in sending support to us, but if you have not, it is: 

Broadview Heights Baptist Church, 9850 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Checks should be made out to: Broadview Heights Baptist Church with “Matthew Siekbert” designated on the memo line.

 Ghana News / Family Update / Prayer Requests: 

We heard from Prince and his family as they sent their Christmas greetings. It is hard to believe how grown up their kids are already. Matthew is going to be 8 years old, Jackie is 3, and Rose Mary is 8 months old. My wife Jackie and I are planning a trip there in June of 2026. We are working out the exact dates and schedules. The round-trip tickets alone will be about $5,000, plus additional expenses for a rental car, gas, food, and hotel. Will you please pray and consider helping us with our trip to Ghana W Africa. It will be the first part of June. We are excited to see our church family there and be an encouragement to them preaching and serving. We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year 2026! We were able to spend Christmas with our children. Joseph was in from Tennessee. On Christmas Night after the festivities and all the good food, Joseph woke us up at 1:00 AM saying, “Mom, I think it’s my appendix”. We woke up and got dressed and headed to the emergency room. It was his appendix. They were able to get him into surgery by 9:00 AM and we were home by 12:00 PM. We are thankful he was in Ohio when it happened. He also stayed another week with us as he recovered.

Prince and Linda, Jackie, Matthew and RoseMary

Joseph

  

  The Starre’s and The Heart Ministry:

When I think of Bro Brian and Diana Starre and The Heart Ministry, I think of Proverbs 21:5a, “The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness;…”. We are Grateful to them and their ministry. We are very much an extension of them and their ministry outreach. They have a top-notch ministry, the Heart Ministry of 26 years. Their ministry is described as: Helping, Encouraging, and Refreshing Together, and that is their Heart also. They are a model in ministry activity that is successful. Along with their activities in ministry, they have diligently developed through years of experience at least 74 different Bible Courses that are free, of no charge on the world-wide web at: https://www.kjvhearthelps.com/

Bro. Starre and Bro. Siekbert 

Bits Of Bread: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” 

Yielding to God’s Word will make a difference in your life, God’s Word improves one and makes one wise.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Matthew J. Siekbert

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

2025 November Newsletter

 Ministry Update: 

Within the last six months we have gotten to know the Newman family, he pastors at Hinckley Ridge Baptist Church. At the end of September, I preached for Pastor Newman at Hinckley Ridge. A few years before this Pastor Newman and his family got to know a man from Ghana, Martin. The connection was made with the Pastor’s daughter who went to the school Martin’s wife taught at. Martin, who grew up in our church plant in Ghana W. Africa moved to the States about 6 years ago, got married, and now has 2 small kids. Making it somewhat special for Jackie and myself, Martin and his family came and visited with us at Hinckley Ridge Baptist Church that Sunday that I preached. We prayed with him, met his family, and reconnect after the services with some food and fellowship. We helped Mission Baptist Temple in Stow, Ohio on October 10th. We had great weather and a few other churches came to help out also in some canvassing. A few weeks prior to this canvassing I was there at Mission to share an update of the ministry. October 19th I preached for Ashland Baptist Church in Ashland, Ohio. We had a great day of services with them. October 25th we helped Calvary Baptist Church in Akron visit for their special “Family and Friends Day”. We have visited many other churches being in 21 churches these last two months. I had the privilege to preach at our home and sending church, Broadview Heights Baptist Church, on October 26th. We gave an update at a supporting church in West Virginia at the beginning of November. Please be in prayer for us as we travel, I update, teach and preach. As we are helping, encouraging, and stirring up those “…that have obtained like precious faith…”- II Pt 1:1b 

Martin and family

Pastor Newman’s girls singing 

Old Paths, Ghana News / Prayer Request, Family Update: 

Old Paths Baptist Church in Bucyrus, Ohio had someone join the church in September. Family news: Our daughter Naomi and her husband Joe, are expecting a baby due in April. This is also our first grandbaby. Naomi is having a little boy. Please keep her in your prayers. Please continue to pray for my sister-in-law Debbie Siekbert, after her cancer surgery and radiation treatment. Also, pray for us in continued support and as we are scheduling to be in some of our supporting churches with updates, new churches, and churches we are helping fulfill the Great Commission, teaching and preaching in. I know of 3 churches looking for a pastor: First Baptist Church of Valley City; Loudonville Baptist Temple; and Maranatha Baptist Church of Hayesville. I have contact information if you are interested.

NOTING ADDRESS CHANGE: 

Please start sending your support for us to Broadview Heights Baptist Church Since June our new sending church has been Broadview Heights Baptist Church, the mailing address is: Broadview Heights Baptist Church, 9850 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Checks should be made out to: Broadview Heights Baptist Church with “Matthew Siekbert” designated on the memo line. Chippewa Lake Baptist Church will be forwarding the support they receive for us through this period until the transition is complete. They would like to close out the banking account designated for our ministry by the end of the year. We look forward to your continued support for the ministry God has led us to do. The Lord is doing a work! God bless you for your faithful prayers and financial support!

Bits Of Bread:

Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; - II Peter 1:12-13

                                                                                                                                                                           Matthew J. Siekbert

                                                                                                                                                                    

Have a Great Thanksgiving!!! And a Merry Christmas!!! 

2025 September Newsletter

 Ministry Update: 

We hope you had a good summer. I can’t believe Fall is upon us. I love this time of year and the color of the leaves changing. We didn’t have this season, nor winter season in Ghana W. Africa. I have been able to Fill the pulpits of a few Pastors and their churches when they needed. I am so thankful to be used in this way. Faith Baptist, Pastor Barta, asked me to fill in for him on a Sunday Evening. We had a good service and enjoyed Pastor’s birthday with cake and ice cream. Pastor Workman is helping a church in Homerville Ohio, and asked me to fill-in while he and his wife went out West for a vacation. I was there for the last 4 Sunday mornings. We finished our last Sunday with a Pot-luck following the morning service. We also went on visitation for this church a couple of times. Encouraging the church in Valley City, Ohio, as they go forward with the Lord as they are currently without a Pastor. Our many visitations found us visiting for Homerville, Calvary in Akron, visiting for their VBS outreach. A couple of teen girls joined us from another church and we stopped for lunch afterwards. Broadview Heights Baptist was at the Cuyahoga County Fair in August, for the Hope for America Crusade happening in September. We took a turn at their booth on a Wednesday inviting folks to the Hope for America Crusade (HFAC). We also went door knocking in Berea Ohio, for the HFAC earlier this month. We also passed out 6 Appreciation Boxes to local Police/Fire Stations in North Royalton and Strongsville inviting them to the HFAC. Each box was filled with individual invitations with a little candy taped to them. It was well received. HFAC will be honoring first responders on Wednesday evening of the Crusade. Many local churches did this as well inviting their local departments. We met several people from Africa and Pakistan as we knocked on doors for Crusade Baptist in Akron. We were able to talk with them and invite them to church just around the corner. We are not done with visiting this complex so we will be back to finish up. We passed out 180 tracts just in this complex alone. 

Old Paths, Ghana News / Prayer Request, Family Update: 

Pastor Prince in Ghana, had his mother Mary’s funeral September 13th. Mary had a good testimony for the Lord. Prince is a result of his mother’s and father’s faithfulness being in church. Prince along with my wife and Mary all had birthdays around the week of the funeral. Jackie always celebrated the three of their birthdays being so close. Old Paths Baptist, held their VBS the end of July. We attended the first day of VBS, it was encouraging to see the VBS happenings. Jackie and Mrs. Caley (Pastor’s wife at Old Paths) went to a lady’s fellowship the beginning of September at Maranatha Bible Baptist, in Shelby Ohio. Mrs. Matthewson had another great lady’s fellowship. Family update: Our kids came over to celebrate Jackie’s 50th birthday. Jackie requested taco’s and all the fixing’ with a time at home and family. 

Prince’s Mom, Mary

Evan, Mary, Linda and Prince (Prince’s parents)

VBS at Old Paths

Ladies Fellowship at Maranatha

Game time (Mrs. Caley)

PLEASE NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE: As was mentioned in our last newsletter, our new sending church is Broadview Heights Baptist Church. The mailing address for all future support is Broadview Heights Baptist Church, 9850 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Checks should be made out to Broadview Heights Baptist Church with “Matthew Siekbert” designated on the memo line.  Chippewa Lake Baptist Church will be forwarding the support they receive for us through this period until the transition is complete. We look forward to your continued support for the ministry God has led us to do. The Lord is doing a work! Thank you for your help and patience in this transition. God bless you for your faithful prayers and financial support!

Bits Of Bread: “But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God,

that I may declare all thy works. - Psalm 73:28                                                                                                                                                                           Matthew J. Siekbert

                                                                                                          

July 2025 Newsletter

 CLII - July Newsletter 2025

Ministry Update: We have been in 36 churches since our transition into our new ministry of local church helps and encouragement, Heart for the Local Church. We’ve gotten to meet the pastors of these local churches and have begun to reach out to be an encouragement to them. The need for this supportive ministry is great. Just in this short period of time I have filled in for five pastors who needed someone to take their Sunday or Mid-Week services. One of the pastors, his wife, and family had an out-of-town wedding for one of their kids; another pastor I filled in for had a medical need to take care of; one pastor’s mother was actively passing away; another pastor and his family had just lost one of their kids to death; and another pastor and his wife went away on vacation. We all have needs, weights, and burdens and we can all use help carrying them. We all have differing circumstances, we all have differing abilities, but we all have gifts to use and show Christ and His love! The Apostle Paul gave of what he had spiritually to give, and he compelled others to give what he lacked out of what they had. Your supply can be someone

else’s help! The Apostle Paul didn’t go to burden, but sought for an equality! – II Cor. 8:11-14. Paul was addressing supplying for a need, especially for the saints to the saints/brethren. I have presented the ministry to five churches and have been called up to briefly share our ministry while just dropping in for nine other services. I taught Sunday School for one pastor we visited. Jackie has played the flute a couple of times and has also taught Sunday School for the kids. We helped to canvas for a church’s

“Community Celebration Day” for their Life Month in June (a day those in the community were invited to come hear the gospel, and have food and outdoor activities on the church property). They had a good turnout. We have passed out hundreds of tracts for six churches in areas nearby. We also attended Broadview Heights Baptist Church’s VBS. It was a fun week! Jackie and I have been visiting along-side Brian and Diana Starre twice a month. Jackie and Diana have visited shut-ins and widows. They also visited an elderly couple whose sister was dying, and were able to pray with them. Their visits included meeting at Dairy Queen for a cool treat with some widows who live in the area. And you can’t forget donuts; bringing a family of 13 donuts is very exciting to the recipients! Jackie and I also had a meeting with a supporting church of ours in Greenville, PA. They were having a Missions Sunday, as one of their young ladies in the church was taking a mission’s trip to Guyana, South America. I preached all day on Sunday and also at a nursing home service. We had a wonderful time with them, as always. People have gotten saved and others have been stirred about doing God’s will! During our travels our car has needed some attention, so a mechanic from Chippewa Lake Baptist church helped us get it repaired so we could keep moving, THANK YOU!

Old Paths, Ghana News / Prayer Request, Family Update: We received some good news from Pastor Caley of Old Paths Baptist Church in Bucyrus. Their church did the Crawford County Fair in Bucyrus last week and saw 123 professions during their fair week. Also, their church and another church took us on for support, praise the Lord! Pastor Prince’s mom Mary died in May; her funeral will be held in September. Please pray for the family. Prince and his wife Linda named their baby Rosemary, after both Linda’s mother, Rose and Prince’s mother, Mary. (For those who are new to us and our newsletter, Pastor Prince is the pastor of Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church, a church we planted as missionaries while in Ghana, W. Africa). Our son Nehemiah has been a camp counsellor this summer at the Bill Rice Ranch, which was part of his Bible College training this year. He will be coming home in the early part of August.

PLEASE NOTE ADDRESS CHANGE: As was mentioned in our last newsletter, our new sending church is Broadview Heights Baptist Church. The mailing address for all future support is Broadview Heights Baptist Church, 9850 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Checks should be made out to Broadview Heights Baptist Church with “Matthew Siekbert” designated on the memo line. Chippewa Lake Baptist Church will be forwarding the support they receive for us through this period until the transition is complete. We look forward to your continued support for the ministry God has led us to do. We will need time for adjustment and development, but the Lord is already at work! Thank you for your help and patience in this transition. God bless you for your faithful prayers and financial support!

        Bits Of Bread: “Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2

       Matthew J. Siekbert