March Newsletter 2023

At Old Paths: The theme at Old Paths for this year is “Search The Scriptures Daily”. Our Theme verse is Acts17:11, “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Based off this theme we provided some Scripture Reading Plans for the year and Little Yellow Note Pads from Sam’s Club. During the Adult Sunday School hour I am teaching on the Topic of God’s Word and Psalm 119. The little yellow note pads we call our “Scripture Pads”, I have encouraged them to write down some things the Lord has shown them during the week of their personal Bible Reading and Devotion time. As Christians we should read God’s Word, but not to just complete a year of reading through the Bible, but to listen and meditate on what the Lord is speaking to us about. On Sunday Evening we have been having a time of testimony with our “Scripture Pads”, sharing what we have written down, and then I’ve been speaking on the Lessons that I have Gleaned from the week’s reading.  Some of the topics I have preached on at Old Paths for Sunday morning have been about: Searching the Scriptures Daily; Our Faith, Our Fasting, and Our Resilience. I have started Discipleship with one of the men in the church. Jackie will begin this Wednesday with two ladies that attend there, a Mother and a Daughter. Wednesday night, I am teaching on I Peter.

 

Travels: With taking Old Path’s services I have been trying to take only one Sunday a month for traveling. Our traveling to other churches and Pastor Fellowships are for the purpose of Updating those who have supported our Church Planting in Ghana W Africa, to Retain our support Retooling for missions in America Planting, Establishing, and Strengthening churches here in our Country. In January we traveled to Hilltop in New York; In February I got to speak at a Valentine’s Banquet at Ambassador Baptist, in Wadsworth, Ohio; We were at a couple of Mission Conferences, one was at First Freedom, in Brimfield, Ohio and the other at Bethel Baptist in Pekin, Illinois. On Tuesday the 28^thwe joined Bible Baptist, in Sandusky OH, with their new Pastor and had a good evening with them. It is so good to see those faithful people we’ve known for over 20 years still in church and serving. It was an encouragement to be with them all. We thank the Lord for each of you and the pouring out of Blessings on top of your Financial gifts and Support! We are Loved and we are Blessed! Thank You!!! The meetings we had in February were many, but only one Sunday service was taken from my preaching and teaching at Old Paths. Many of the meetings I have had were off days like Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and close in proximity. Thank You For Helping Me Help Them! I cannot do it alone. You are very Important to our Missions work in America!!! I would Like to See the Lord doing Great Things at Old Paths!

Prayer Requests:Please continue to pray for Pastor Dan Dornbirer and that his body responds positively to the cancer treatments; Our Work at Old Paths Baptist Church; Our Travels; and for Supporting Churches

 

Bits Of Bread: “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” – Lk 7:47 (7:36-50)In reading this parable Simon, the pharisee who invited Jesus to eat with him had a problem with a woman in the city, which was a sinner, for she loved much and he loved little! “The parable does not deal with the ‘Amount’of sin in a person’s life but the ‘Awareness’of that sin in his heart.” (W Wiersbe)                                                                                                                                Matthew J Siekbert

January 2023 Newsletter

 At Old Paths

Since December my wife, my son Nehemiah, and I have been at Old Paths Baptist Church in Bucyrus Ohio. Because we are/were their missionary in Ghana we are acquainted, but now we are learning to know them better and their families. It truly has been a joy being used and serving the Lord there. I have taken all of the services while Pastor Dornbirer is dealing with cancer. We pray for Dan, his wife Kathy and their family during this difficult time. We pray for his healing. The church loves him and you see the hurt they are all going through. We thank the Churches who still see us as missionaries and that are continuing to support us. AMERICA IS A MISSION FIELD and CHURCHES NEED PLANTED, ESTABLISHED, and STRENGHTENED! Here are some things that I have been told: I. By Layman In America, “We need Missionaries here in our country”; II. By Pastors In America, “If we do not have strong sound churches here in America, how are we going to send out foreign field missionaries with conviction?” No Biblical Churches, No Biblical Missionaries! God commanded in the Book of Genesis chapter 1 that we should Reproduce after our own kind!; Concerning missions in America another Pastor told me this, “The Bible tells us to Go ‘Both’ in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”; “A need seen is an assignment given.”; III. By The Bible to be Lived By In America, It tells me in I Cor 8-10, Mission Giving Principles are Based off helping the Brethren; At this point my family and I are helping to Establish and Strengthen the Planted. We are answering the calls the Bible tells us of! Thank you to those who are continuing our support as missionaries in America. Our Missions support is still to be sent to Chippewa Lake Baptist Church.

Christmas/New Year

This Thanksgiving and Christmas looked a little different this year with my mom being gone and us being back in the States. When we were home on furlough we always had Thanksgiving at mom’s. This Thanksgiving in the States Jackie cooked and our two youngest sons were with us. On Christmas Eve Jackie also made dinner and all our children where home…except Naomi…she was planning on coming, but then the snow and cold weather came and delayed her coming till the next weekend. In Africa where our children grew up we all were together, so this Christmas was something we looked forward to with us all being back together again. We thank all those churches and individuals who sent us cards, monetary gifts, and extra support for Ministry needs.

Good News from Afar!!!

Our Church Plant in Ghana, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church with Pastor Prince and the Anji Bible Study with Pastor Koasi have been able to secure another 2 years of renting the Anaji Bible Study Room. Amen! Bro Koasi has asked prayer for some new visitors there who have been coming. Cornerstone was also able to get their auditorium lights and install them. It is looking nice! God Is Good! After church on Christmas Day we got a FaceTime call from Pastor Prince, Linda, and little Matthew. Little Matthew is getting big, also Prince and Linda shared with us that they are expecting their 2^ndchild. We are super excited. We have been praying for them. Linda has some health issues in the last couple of years. 

 Travels and Prayer Requests

Please pray for Pastor Dornbirer, Old Paths Baptist Church, our travels there, and other meetings reporting on the completion of our missions work in Ghana and now our missions work in Bucyrus, Ohio; and our Continued Support.

Bits Of Bread  “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:” – Philip 2:5    There are calls from the Brethren to the Brethren about being “Like-minded” Having the mind of Christ – Phil 2:1-18; There are calls from Macedonia, perhaps another brother in Christ calling, “Come and Help Us” – Acts 16:9; There are calls from Heaven, “Who Will Go For Us?” – Isa 6:8; There are calls from Hell, “Send him to my father’s house:” – 

Lk 16:27.

 Matthew J Siekbert

 

2022 November Newsletter

MY MOTHER: 

On October 31 my Mother, Judy Siekbert unexpectantly went out to meet the Lord. My Dad and Mom were 1st generation Christians. They Received Christ on September 22, 1962 and that Changed/ Transformed their lives serving in church effecting their brothers and sisters, their children, grand-children and great grand-children. My Mother’s Life was and is a living testimony of the Change and Transformation the Lord can make, and the rippling effects of that change. My Mother, Judy Siekbert’s Memorial Service was at First Baptist Church of Milford, Ohio November 7th. It is posted on my Facebook. Love You Mom, We will See you soon!!! Please pray for us and Thank you for it. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” - III John 1:4

Pray for my dad, Jim

MY NEW MINISTRY: 

A few weeks ago I met with my Pastor, James Siekbert, and my former Pastor, Dr. Charles Keen, about the Lord’s leading in my life. I shared with them the burdens I felt and listened to their advice. After 5 years as an assistant, 23 years in missions and 19 of those years in Ghana, West Africa, we feel God would have us pursue other ministry opportunities. I want to thank each supporter of our ministry over the past 23 years. We feel God would have us continue to serve in His ministry in some way, whether pastoring or assisting in a ministry of some kind in a local church. As we wait for God to show us His perfect will, Jackie and I will be busy assisting a small church in Bucyrus, Ohio whose Pastor, Dan Dornbirer, has cancer and is struggling to stay healthy. Pastor Dan Dornbirer contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me, as he is struggling with his health, if the Lord would lead me into helping out his church stay afloat until he gets better. I do not know what all this means, but the Lord does and I know that they cannot support me. This church is a young church plant. We will still be maintaining our membership at Chippewa Lake Baptist Church. If you would like to continue partnering with our ministry until God reveals His exact plan for us, we would appreciate that very much. Support money should still be sent to Chippewa Lake Baptist Church. Should you decide not to continue our support, we thank you for all those years you invested in us. Should you have further questions please feel free to call myself at 234-802-5342 or my pastor at 330- 769-2790.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS & PRAYER REQUESTS: 

Thank you all for your Faithful Support Financially and Prayerfully!!! We look to Continue with you if the Lord Leads you in that. Starting this New Year we will be in the process of changing our Newsletter’s Letterhead. Be on the look-out! We are the same people, but updated look. Our New Ministry could save on some costs if we could email everyone who gets our newsletter instead of sending out a hard copy of our Newsletters. We could save on ink, envelopes, and stamps. If you get a hard copy and you do not mind getting an emailed copy instead PLEASE SEND ME YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO: SiekbertRomans828@gmail.com . Please Pray for Pastor Dan Dornbirer, his health and biopsy results; for our continued support; for our family, the Siekbert Family as our Mother passed away; The Heitman Family and his church, Bible Baptist Fellowship as Pastor Georg Heitman passed away; The Troell Family, missionaries to Iraq, as their Father was murdered over there.

Pray for Pastor Dan Dornbirer and his wife Kathy

BITS OF BREAD: 

Help The Brethren, and Strengthen The Church – “But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” - Exd 17:12; “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.” - Rev 3:2

~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING & HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Matthew J Siekbert

2022 September Newsletter

WRITTEN & CALLED:                                                                                                                              

We arrived in the USA July 9th, my father had his surgery July 12th, and by July 17th we had our July Newsletter sent out. We did not want to lead anyone on, but to notify all of our supporters that we have come back to the States. We have not quit the ministry or quit on God. Most every church and Pastor that I have spoken with or left messages with have responded in a very supportive way in continuing support throughout the year as we transition. The Bible tells us a few things about getting counsel: 1. No one is Beyond Listening to Good Advice, even a king can find help in counsel. “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 11:14; 2. God’s Leading and Direction is not likely to be found in rashness, but in “Common Denominators”. “Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude counsellors they are established.” – Proverbs 15:22; 3. Advice from those who are of understanding and in positions of consideration is wise and safest before pursuing the same. “Make” means: To Prepare; To Draw up; To Carry out; To Perform. “War” means: conflict; Strategically move to deal with, to sustain “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.” – Proverbs 24:6

TRAVELING:                                                                                                                                                               

Along with getting a multitude of wise counsel we have been having some meetings reporting to our supporting churches on what the Lord has started and has finished through us in Ghana W. Africa. It could have only happened with God at the helm. He is our Safety, our Helper, our Deliverer, our Guide, our Mighty Fortress, and our Victor. Our Fulfillment is in Him.

TRANSITION WAITING:                                                                                                                            

The “Common Denominators”: Advice from the Bible; Advice from supporting pastors I’ve Written and Called; and Advice from My Own Conscience, NOT an undisciplined desire, is to WAIT ON THE LORD, so we are waiting for the decisive direction. To some our leaving Ghana W Africa may have seemed to have been a quick, and some may even think it was a rash decision, but let me assure you it only seems that way to those who did not know of our leaving because we did not advertise that. Although we did not know the actual date and time of our leaving at the beginning of this year, we did know for a long time that this day would come and I often told the young men that have been trained as pastors in Ghana W Africa that it will come. At least a year before we decided to finalize our leaving we were praying and deliberating about the right time to leave. We want to be where the Lord wants us to be in ministry and position. It may be a pastorate, evangelism, planting a new church, taking a position in a church, or letting God work where we are at. We covet your continued prayers about God’s leading. We will update you in our November Newsletter.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS                                                                                                                     

Praise & Prayer Requests: When we left Ghana we gave Pastor Prince and Bro Koasi copies of the notebooks of materials and subjects that we studied together through the years in discipling, teaching, training at church, in Bible school, and church/pastoral training of them and the church folks at our church plant in Sekondi, Ghana W Africa, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church; After we left Pastor Prince demolished his vehicle that he uses for Taxi service. His son had to go to the hospital because of being battered and bruised, but nothing broken or fatal; My father’s surgery on his clogged artery went well; I had some hospital procedures done in August and in September which turned out well; Our son Joseph started his second year of schooling at Bill Rice Ranch Bible Institute. The day the students returned to school at Bill Rice Ranch their Administration building caught on fire and burned. Bill Rice Ranch has a place that one can give towards that lose. The link is https://billriceranch.org

BITS OF BREAD:                                                                                                                                             

“I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. – Psalms 52:9 Comments on this Verse: “None ever followed his guidance but it ended well.” - by Matthew Henry; “The phrase “wait on thy name” (v. 9) means to hope and depend on the character of God as expressed in His great name.” - by Warren Wiersbie

  Matthew J Siekbert

2022 July Newsletter

DEDICATION SERVICE AT CBBC:                                                                                                                Our Dedication Sunday was an exciting time for our church in Sekondi, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church. It was a milestone moment. Pastor Prince preached the Sunday school hour, I preached the main service. At the end of the service Bro Koasi, Pastor Prince, and I prayed and dedicated the building to the Lord. After the service we ate rice and chicken there having a 430 picture slide show Jackie put together showing the start to Dedication Sunday of our Bible Studies there in Sekondi in July 2004, the meeting places of our church services, ministry involvements, activities, many other special times through the years, and our construction work on the building for CBBC. Things you invest in, especially, the things that are of God are things that take your time, your sweat, your tears, your all, and God’s grace, but also fulfill. “And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” – Lk 10:27-28. Sometimes it does not feel so rewarding, but yet, it is so rewarding. I. Dedication Stems From A Desire - II Sam 7:1-3, 4-11, 12-17; II. Dedication Takes Determination – II Chr 2:1-6; 3:1-2; III. Dedication Is A Designation – I Pt 1:19; I Cor 10:31. Thank you Cornerstone for giving to CBBC. 

OUR VISITORS, VBS, & SALVATIONS:                                                                                        Wednesday, May 18th Emmanuel and Nehemiah at our Anaji Bible Study taught their VBS lessons to us during the service for preparation. May 20th the Cahill family came and spent two weeks with us during CBBC’s May 23rd - 27th VBS and our Dedication Sunday. Monday Emmanuel taught VBS; Tuesday and Thursday Benjamin taught, Wednesday Kyan Cahill taught, and Friday Nehemiah taught. During the Cahill’s visit we went to the “Swing” Bridge Walk and the Slave Castle in Cape Coast, and the Stilt Village in the far Western Region of Ghana. On May 31st during soulwinning/visitation at the Anaji Bible Study Kyan and I with Bro Prince got to lead two young men, Charles and Kalvin to the Lord and just last week I was able to lead an older man to the Lord named Mr. Mensah. When I got to Mr Mensah’s door I asked him if he would go to Heaven when he died, he said, “I do not think so because I have not structured my life for Heaven?” Then I mentioned to him about thieves who died with Jesus, how that one rejected Jesus and that how one through a repented heart received Jesus. After about 45 minutes to an hour of speaking to him he received Christ as his Savior by Faith and Trust in Christ only without the Law/Works – Romans 3:20-26. Thank you Calvary Independent for giving to CBBC from your annual VBS “Penny” Offering.

Teaching at Anaji School

VBS

Canopy Walkway

Charles & Kalvin Soul winning

TURNED OVER & LEAVING:                                                                                                                       I believe “IT IS TIME” for us to leave Ghana West Africa so on this past Sunday, July 3rd I Preached again at CBBC a challenge to them in Growing their Faith and Going Farther into Missions taking the Anaji Bible Study on as their Judaea. I preached to them about their “VISION” in Proverbs 29:18, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Speaking to them how that their vision needs to be wrapped around what the Lord Jesus wants and what he said. That will keep us thriving spiritually and that will keep us happy and fulfilled. Then I spoke to them on their “GROWING” in II Corinthians 10:15-18, What I Would Like To See (v15-16), “Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, To preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's line of things made ready to our hand.” As Cornerstone’s Church-Planter I challenged them to take on the Anaji Bible Study as their Judaea growing CBBC in their mission endeavors and possibilities of planting another church. Then lastly, I spoke to them about our “LEAVING” 1. How It Is Expedient - Jn 16:7. Expedient means to urge forward; fit or suitable; profitable. Jesus going was for his followers’ profit and the furtherance of their faith; 2. How It Is With Concern and Warning – Acts 20:28-30, 31 of their failures, feed the flock, and others pulling them away for themselves; 3. How It Is Of Commending and Praying – Acts 20:31-38 (v32), “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Commending them to the Lord and Parting in Prayer. 

Last Sunday @ Deaf School my student helpers

Deaf School

Nehemiah and student helpers in front

Giving challenge to CBBC last Sunday

Pastor Prince Tackie Family and Siekbert's 

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUEST:                                                                                                                      My father had a clogged artery in his neck of over 95% and surgery was done on it Tuesday of this week. The surgery was a success. My family and I arrived back in the States last Friday evening. We are in a time of transition. We do not know the next step God has for us as of yet, but we are asking that our supporting churches will keep us in prayer and continued support for the next 6 months as we seek God’s direction. We have been involved in missions for almost 23 years and on the mission field for almost 19 years. We need to get acclimated back into society here, setup housing, get doctor check-ups, and etc. When we left Ghana we told our church plant CBBC that we need to go back and be missionaries in our own country now that they are established. This is a big concerning step for us now that we have worked ourselves out of a job. It took faith for us to decide and go to Ghana, now it is taking faith to make the decision and come back from Ghana. THANK YOU FOR YOUR LOVE FOR GOD and FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS TO US. I will update you in our September Newsletter. My new contact number is: 234-802-5342

BITS OF BREAD:                                                                                                                                    …“;but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” – Psalm 15:4b 

 Matthew J Siekbert

2022 March Newsletter

COMPLETION FOR DEDICATION:

On Cornerstone’s new church building they have run some thick gaged wire up the outside of the building for the meter box we hope to get soon; they have covered all the light switches and the plug sockets; CBBC still need banisters for the staircase, lighting, construction of the bathrooms in the back of the property, preparing of the grounds, and entrance gates. It would be great to see it completed by the time we have our Building Dedication which will be May 29, 2022.  Thanks to Calvary Baptist, Bible Baptist, Church at Troy, and First Baptist for giving to these projects.     

                                                    

THE BIBLE HAS THE ANSWER:

In Our Visiting the Bible has the Answers! On our soulwinning/visitations efforts in Anaji and in Sekondi we are passing out John and Romans some refuse but most take. At the last of January visiting down in Sekondi with CBBC my wife got to lead 2 teenagers to the Lord, a brother and sister, Eric and Anthea and I got to lead a teenager to the Lord, Esther. Up in Anaji during our visiting for the Anaji Bible Study we notice a little bit of a change in having a more “elite”attitude in some places. Jesus making reference to the religious, self-righteous Pharisees in Matthew 9:12-13said, … “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”We are faithful in doing our job because there is someone out there that knows they are sinners and will repent. There are 2 men that within the last 2 weeks I have met from 2 different parts of town. They both have given me some of their background and are looking for an answer. Please pray for them. Their names are Asamoah and Richard. I’m not sure how far it will go. With that being said there are some that are afraid to speak in favor of us and even come to us for fear of others in what others will say or do like ostracizing them from the African Society. The Bible says in John 7:13,“Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.”

Eric on left, Anthea on right end, brother and sister in between

Esther (middle)

In Our Teaching the Bible has the answers! It is a joy to be back teaching Bible on Fridays during the Anaji school’s worship time. My wife teaches the 1^stgrade, Nehemiah teaches 2^nd-3^rdgrades, Bro Prince teaches half of the 6^thgrade, and I teach the other half of the 6^thgrade. We would like to teach every class, and I believe we would have that opportunity, but since COVID there are restrictions on class sizes and the class rooms have been adapted to smaller sizes although we stretch that. We have given the 6^th grade New Testaments, the teachers and the headmistress whole Bibles in the classes Prince and I teach in. We have Sword Drills, questions on the previous Bible lesson and then teach the days lesson. Sometimes even the teacher asks questions! God is working! I believe that I am getting across to them that the BIBLE is what is to govern the Christian, It has our answers, and It is our guide. And then off to the K-School to teach. 

Another joy we have is going to the Deaf School of Sekondi Sunday Mornings before our regular services in Anaji at the Anaji Bible Study. Sometimes I think more of the Bible sinks into the Deaf than the hearing. Jackie’s class is 1^st–3^rd, Nehemiah’s class is 4^th-6^th and my class is the Junior High grades without limitations of Covid Restrictions. We also gave out Bibles at the Deaf School. During morning worship. I have a student write out the lesson that I have prepared for them while I write out some questions from the previous week’s lesson. On the previous lesson taught many of them have written down the lesson and look over it during the week then when I get there and ask questions many 

looking in their Bibles that we gave them and find the answers. After the Bible Lesson of that Sunday is signed and taught, then I have them go over the lessons learned from that days Bible Story. God is at work there! In Our Church the Bible has the Answers! In my teaching of ABS’s Evening Bible Classes we have finished up through chapter 4 in I Corinthians. It has been hard, but many lessons are being taught from this most valuable book! Eph 5:26, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,”

                 

Linda/Jackie visiting

Mack, Prince, Ben, Emmanuel going out visiting

 PRAYER REQUEST:

Please pray for a friend of mine and Pastor in Bucyrus, Ohio, Dan Dornbirer. Dan  and his family need some special prayer the next few days, 1st for God to miraculously remove his tumor by March 15th and if not that all will go well in the surgery removing his tumor scheduled for the March 15th. The surgery is very intense and serious. The tumor is setting practically on his heart and the surgeons may also have to remove his lung. This could prove to be fatal. Pray that God will give them peace and comfort in this situation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

BITS OF BREAD: 

 As John the Baptist Immersed people with water, we spiritually need to Immerse people with the Water of the Word In Sowing It, In Teaching It, In Preaching It, and In Living It! Immersing people into the Word of God is helping show people Christ and God’s Way as the Right Way! “And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.” – John 1:31

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Matthew J Siekbert~~~~~~~~~~