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