2025 May Newsletter

March, Finishing Missions Month at OPBC:                                                                                             In March we had our Missions Month at Old Paths Baptist Church. The Theme of our Missions Month was “Our Need and Our Fruitfulness”.  During this month many things took place: 1) On March 1st, Olivia, a teenager of a family that started coming in October 2023 received Christ as her Savior. This Teenager is the reason that Gary and Regina first contacted me at OPBC and started coming. As mentioned in March’s Newsletter the Lord has done many great things that transformed this family. (Read March’s Newsletter if you missed it!, it is a testimony of God’s Goodness and Greatness!!!); 2) During our Missions Month, We had Brother Brian Starre and his wife, Diane Starre come to OPBC to do an Outreach and Inreach session. They are missionaries helping Encourage and Strengthen churches. When I think of Brother and Sister Starre and the “HEART MINISTRY” that they have started I think of the first part of Proverbs 21:5, “The thoughts of the Diligent tend only to plenteousness;…”.They  spent the morning with us, teaching us about Outreach and In-Reach into our community, then we had a delicious potluck lunch the church folks brought in. It was a good time of Edifying the church, with fellowship, and Food! The Starre’s Ministry reaches worldwide with free online materials that can help individuals and churches in their growth with the Lord at: https://www.kjvhearthelps.com/; 3) After our morning services on March 30th I had the privilege of Baptizing Olivia, the teen the received Christ on March 1st; 4. On the first Sunday of January at OPBC was our Vision Sunday and I presented our theme for the year, which is, “Going Forward with Christ The Lord” using that theme, our theme verse for the Year in Matthew 26:46, “Rise, Let Us Be Going”and It’s provoking thoughts. One of those plans were the bringing in of a new pastor, so in the evening of March 30th I had an Installation Service for their new pastor, Pastor Chris Caley. Pastor Chris Caley and his wife Natalie have six children, their oldest married in September 2024. They are a fine family that went to Massillon for Bible School. They are excited in doing a work for God at OPBC. In April we transferred church accounts, emails, and other needed information concerning OPBC, and we were able to go visiting with the new Pastor and the church for their Easter 

Bro. Starre

 Mrs. Starre with the ladies

APRIL and MAY, Furthering Ministry Outreach:

There are 2 Letters attached along with this Newsletter: 1^st, a Letter from Pastor Royalty of Broadview Heights Baptist Church which our ministry is now under, where Bro Brian and Diana Starre are members with the HEART Ministry; 2^nd, a Description Letter of our ministry, “HEART For The LOCAL CHURCH”. We are thankful for your continual support in every ministry move the Lord has led us in, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT CHRIST and HIS CHURCH, whether in SERVING the small CHURCH at Chippewa Lake as an assistant pastor, later going to CHURCH PLANT as their 1^stsending missionary, then returning to PASTOR the struggling Old Paths Baptist CHURCH of a pastor dying of cancer; to Now, this new work, as an extension associated with the HEART Ministry, “HEART For The LOCAL CHURCH”. A ministry in short as the Apostle Paul said, “…the Care Of All The Churches”- II Corinthians 11:28. This ministry is a helps ministry. It is designed to Help, Encourage, and Strengthen churches, pastors and their families. It is to assist with church re-starts and new-starts where needed, and to help each church carry out the Great Commission. There are many churches that need help. There are at least 60 smaller independent Baptist churches within an hour of our location in Medina. As missionaries we will be focusing our ministry on Northeast, Mid-Ohio and Beyond. We have had some churches take us on already with other pastors and speakers saying that they will spread the word of our ministry “HEART For The LOCAL CHURCH”. The Lord has been working on me about furthering our ministry for quite some time. Every time the Lord moves us in a ministry direction He has given me a Bible Passage/Verse and a Replacement for ministry opportunities He has afforded me to be involved with. The Mailing address for all future support is: Broadview Heights Baptist Church, 9850 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights, OH 44147. Checks are to be written out to Broadview Heights Baptist Church with a Note in the Memo that the Supportis for Matthew Siekbert/ or “HEART For The LOCAL CHURCH”. Chippewa Lake  Baptist Church will be forwarding the support they receive for us through this transitional period until all is clear. We will be in contact with our Supporters. We look forward to your continuing with us as God has always worked through you and the ministries He has had for us to do. We need time and room for adjustment and development, but the Lord is already at work. Thank you for your help and patience in this transition. God Bless you and your Faithful prayers and financial Support!!!!

Family News, Ghana News, Needs, and Prayer Request:

At the end of April we went to Bill Rice Ranch for their Bible college graduation. Our son, Joseph graduated with a 4 year degree; Our son, Nehemiah finished with a one year certificate. Joseph will be staying down in Murfreesboro; and Nehemiah has gone back to Bill Rice to be a camp counsellor for this summer. In Ghana, Pastor Prince and Linda Tackie had a baby girl on May 2^nd. He sent me a picture of the baby on WhatsApp saying, “Be The First Ones To Know and See”their baby girl, Rosemary Tostos Tackie. Pastor Prince’s Mother, Mary Tackie passed away Saturday, May 17^th; also, today, June 3^rdPastor Koasi called me about needing some help renewing rent on their Bible Study Room in Anaji, the need is $500. Please Pray for our boys, our Pastor’s in Ghana, and the Launching, Developing, and Support of our Furthered Outreaching Ministry, “HEART for The LOCAL CHURCH” 

 

Rosemary 

Joseph 4 year

Nehemiah 1 year

Bits Of Bread:  My Prayer and Plea is the Lord Establishing our Work for His Glory: “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.” – Psalm 90:17       

Matthew J Siekbert       

2025 March Newsletter

 Bowling and Baskets: 

In February, we at Old Paths went Bowling having some Pizza and Pop! We had two teams and the team that scored the highest won, but that team had a little help having the bumper guards up. We had a good time of fellowship. Also, in February the church collected two Laundry Basket full of Baby Items. There were two couples that I knew of
from Wynford Public School that had babies in late November and early December. The First Couple: They had a new baby girl named Blair, and have been married for about a year and a half. This couple teach at Wynford Public School and live right across the street from the church. He is the coach that I mentioned last year that has been very responsive in conversations we’ve had together. When we brought the Basket of Baby items, they were very appreciative and allowed me to give the gospel and mention to them that the children God gives us is a precious gift and we are to be stewards of His gift which we will give an account of. The Second Couple: They are some young teenagers that are living together with her mother. They both are connected with Wynford Public School. She is doing classes online to keep up with school. Pray that we would have more opportunities with them. Their baby’s name is Coralyn.

Salvation: Back in October of 2023 an unmarried couple called Old Paths Baptist Church and asked me to come over because they had some issues in dealing with her daughter, Olivia. Since then, as I’ve mentioned the Lord’s working in the last few years in their lives: through Gary getting saved, through Gary and Regina getting married, then baptized and joining the church, and faithfully coming to church. On March the 1^stof this year Regina’s daughter, Olivia asked Jesus to Save her!!!  Regina was concerned about Olivia’s Salvation and Regina had asked us to come over March 1^st. My wife and I went over to have pizza with them and share the Gospel with Olivia. It was a wonderful day to see how and what all the Lord has done for them!!!

 

The Start Of Our Missions Month At OPBC: Our main Emphasis this year is on our Community, our Jerusalem. We want to show the people that are all around us that we care. The idea is if we can get people around us to see we care for them and their situations, it may be that they might start caring about what we need to say and its importance. God is not willing that any should perish, but have Eternal Life, so we that are Saved need to be wise in Getting the truth out most effectively. As a Church and individual Believers, we should want to be affective and, I believe, showing others that we care will lead, in the long-run, to a better outcome. “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” - Mark 6:34; “And of some have compassion, making a difference:” – Jude 1:22

 

Prayer Requests:Steve and Debbie Wingard, Non-Member of OPBC, Steve was just Diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer last Friday, Steve made a Reassurance of his Salvation this Friday at the Hospital; Old Paths Baptist Church work and growth; Our Missions Month this month; My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana West Africa if you all would pray about helping us in that, we would need around $5000. We have been given $250 back  in September 2024, Thank you Calvary Bible Baptist Church.

 

Bits Of Bread:  II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

                            

Thank you all for your Support in Helping us Do our mission, “Missions In America!”       Matthew J Siekbert

 

2025 January Newsletter

 Our New Theme For 2025 at OPBC:                                                                     

  In the New Year at Old Paths Baptist Church we have a New Theme: “GOING FORWARD WITH CHRIST THE LORD” –based out of Matthew 26:46 which says, “Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me.” In this verse we see that there are many that will betray you as you walk in the path of Christ, but that is not the Only Point in this verse that we can learn from. The first part of this verse gives us the MOST Important POINT when it says, “Rise, Let us be going:…”, this is our Emphases. This verse is also saying that there are other things to be accomplished, even though there are and will be set-backs and the Devil’s constant attacks do not let that detour you in following the Lord. I am looking forward to what the Lord can do here at Old Paths Baptist Church. There are Victories to be had ONLY if we keep following the path, Christ has trod. If we will Go through the betrayals and the Calvaries, we will get to the Victories, but we, as Christians, must go with Him along in His path!!! On Sunday, January 5th I set out some Goals, Plans, and my Vision for the Member’s at Old Paths Baptist Church that I believe can result in triumphs. I am looking forward to what the Lord can do here at Old Paths Baptist Church.

Our Old Theme For 2024 at OPBC:

In 2024 our theme at OPBC was “THE CHURCH THAT GOD BUILDS” – based on Psalm 127:1, “Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Building God’s House has got to be God’s Doing and has to be done God’s Way. Throughout the year I was able to teach and preach on this theme and it was exactly what the Lord demonstrated to OPBC through the events that took place throughout the year. That

was a pretty alright thing to see! In 2024 from January – July, we saw the Lord Do some Wonderful Things through: Two Families getting Saved, Baptized, and Added to the Church (Although Satan has Disrupted in it; God had His way in the other family through a God Designed Marriage, in them Continuing their Christian growth at OPBC. Throughout 2024, We have learned how God has Designed and Builds His Church through the Bible and the putting of it into action. That is a Big

Difference from how many, so called churches are built today!!! The Bible Is Our Blue Print and We Must Stick to it in order to be BIBLICAL!!!

November-December Activities:

Along with another church visiting us, we at OPBC on Sunday evening, November 10th we had our Service around Thanks giving and Harvest, the Blessings of God’s Bounty on us. During these holiday months my wife was asked to go and tell about Ghana W. Africa and our life there for 19 years at Wynford Public School where I head up a Prayer meeting with the other bus drivers every Monday morning, as I mentioned in our last newsletter. The school is about 3 minutes away from

OPBC. In the Country that is a big deal, because that is where you find the kids. Back at OPBC November was our Scripture Month where we were able to Raise $ 1,485 for Scriptures, $625. Of that was for the translation of the book of Jude into a dialect that does not have the book of Jude yet; and $860 of that money raised was for a Roll of paper to Print the Bible. Raising that money was a blessing to see in how the Lord worked in an unusual way at OPBC, even within the first week of

November of our Scripture Month. Amen and Praise the Lord! In December we Finished-up as whole at OPBC going over our “Continue” discipleship Book of 14 lessons in which we look to implement in this New Year. Please Pray for Them and Us as we GO FORWARD WITH CHRIST THE LORD!!!

News From Ghana, W. Africa:

Thank you for your prayers for Pastor Prince and for Pastor Koasi as they are pastoring in Ghana at the Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church and the Anaji Bible Study there in Ghana W Africa. Pastor Prince has mentioned to me that his wife is expecting in about May their 3rd child. Which he would like me to come over for and do the Naming Ceremony; Also, he mentioned a burden and need to me. His mother, Mary Tackie, She has some tumors that are affecting her liver that needs to be removed. He has asked prayer in being able to fund that. It is about $1,400 as I know of right now. If anyone would like to help with that I know that they would appreciate that. If there is any surplus, I would like to put that towards going over for the Naming Ceremony if that would workout.

Prayer Requests: Our sons, Joseph and Nehemiah in College at Bill Rice Ranch Bible Institute and traveling back; Old Paths Baptist Church work and growth; My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana, West Africa.

Thank you to all those who have sent us cards, Faithfully Supported us Prayerfully and Financially in our Missions Here In America!

Bits Of Bread: “Going Forward With Christ The Lord” “Rise, let us be going:…” – Matthew 26:46a

I. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Is What the Spiritual Will Point You To – Jn 1:35-37;

II. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Will Bring Glory To God – Mt 5:14-16; I Pt 4:14;

III. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Whatever that Maybe or May Consist Of??? Takes More Than Words – Mt 26:33,

35; Takes Being Resolved – Mt 26:42b; Takes Complete Trust, Unwavering Faith – Mt 26:42, 44;

IV. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Is Not Always Seemingly, Something You Look Forward To – Mt 26:46b-47;

V. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Can Be Done Even Though You’ve Failed – Mt 26:40, 43,46, 56; Lk 22:32; Mt

26:69-75

VI. Going Forward With Christ The Lord, Will Always End in Victory – Mt 28:5-6; Romans 8:37; Phil 4:13

Mathew J Siekbert

2024 September 2024

 July Activities: 

As our Theme for the year has been “The Church that God Builds”, we have been learning in our Sunday School classes about the Parables of Jesus from Matthew 13. We have learned that the first four Parables speak about what the Devil is Doing in the World and to the Church between Christ’s 1st Coming and his 2nd Coming. But also, in the 5^thand 6^thParables of Jesus of Matthew 13, we are Learning what the Lord is Doing during this time period, the Church Age which concerns Israel (the Jews), the Gentiles, and the Church. Sunday Evening, July 7^thLighthouse Baptist Church came over to our church and we had a Singspiration/Ice Cream-social. It was refreshing and of a good spirit. This being our 1^stSingspiration for us at Old Paths some of us volunteered to do some specials. Some with talent and ability, Some without talent and ability!!! Tammera and myself sang a song selection (And No One Left!!!), My wife and Tammera, one of our teens played their flutes, and Lauren Dornbirer, a professional, played for church our specials and also a piano special of her own. Then Lighthouse had specials and everyone in attendance gave testimonies and had some song selections to sing together as a congregation. We all enjoyed the services and then we went downstairs to eat and have Ice Cream. It Was Good!!! As we talked about in our last Newsletter in July, Gary and Regina finished up with the Baptism/Membership Classes my wife and I had with them and on Sunday July 13^thafter our morning services they were Baptized and added to the church here at Old Paths Baptist Church. Amen!!! July 8-13 two of our teens went to Bill Rice Ranch with Chippewa Lake Baptist Church. They came back with testimonies and the Lord working.   

 

August Activities: 

Wednesday evening, August 14^th the teens had a “Back to School” night downstairs. We had about 8 teens in attendance. They had, Pizza, Pop, and some Games which really brought out some talent (Ha, Ha!!!). While my son Nehemiah was upstairs with the Adults leading singing I was downstairs giving a devotion. The teens were listening and so was the Devil. It seems that when you challenge others with things of the Lord, the Devil tries harder. The Lord has been working on the men in the Church along with the Devil. Joe, one of the men in the church who is not saved, has times of being uncomfortable, seeing all of how God is working through his family and friends at church. He is faithful in coming with his daughter Tammera and his wife that have been saved, baptized, and have joined the church last November. Joe, wanting and willfully, does the church lawn and any maintenance that needs done at the church. Pray for him. One Sunday in late July, early August Gary, who just got saved, married, and baptized, got real sick at church and needed help getting out to his car. Joe was there to help him with concern in his face about Gary making it. In August after our evening services we have been going downstairs to stuff some 800 packets/door hangers with tracts, flyers about our special day, and a John and Romans for our Friends Day coming up on September 22^nd. Joe has gone from just sitting there to helping put them together. Joe, along with his daughter and his wife, has also been coming out on visitation with us to leave these packets at each door we visit. His visitation with us has gone from his just walking with us to his hanging the packets on the doors while I am on the other side of the street doing the same thing. Maybe I am reading into it too much, BUT I am Hoping, Praying, and Talking to him about his Salvation and Savior.

 

Prayer Requests: My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana West Africa, but we still need to raise the funds for that; Church Growth at Old Paths; Our son, Nehemiah as he is now at Bill Rice Ranch for their Bible institute for a least a year.

 

Bits Of Bread:     The Lord Uses Select People for Select Jobs– Through Jehu as Anointed King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel God used him to Execute God’s Judgment on Ahab’s House for killing Innocent People as Prophesied by Elijah,  he Executed the Pagan Priests and Worshippers of Baal out of Israel and much more. (II Kgs 9-10)

“Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.”– II Kgs 9:3

                                                                                                                                                

Matthew J Siekbert

 

2024 November Newsletter

 September – October Activities: 

Sunday, September 8^thwe had “Picnic In The Park Sunday”. After our Sunday morning services we went to Aumiller Park and had  our cook-out of hamburgers and hotdogs. We enjoyed playing Corn Hole as a church family, not doing too bad of a job scoring. I think it might have been my first time at actually scoring!!! Wow!!! Then we concluded with an early evening service there at the Park. After we started teaching through the Discipleship book from Paul Chappell called “Continue”, I have been trying to do one lesson a week with a few exceptions. The “Continue” book offers 14 lessons, we have completed up-through lesson 9. For Sunday School I have put on recess our lessons on the Parables of Jesus from Matthew 13 with plans to resume them once we finish with our Discipleship lessons in the “Continue” book. With most of the Church folks having their own “Continue” book it helps them in being able to actively fill-in the answers along with giving them a daily devotion for each day of the week after we have gone over that week’s lesson. This book has been good for our church folks. It has strengthened their understanding. 

Sunday, September 22^nd we had “Friend Day” at Old Paths Baptist Church. We learned about “Friendship With The Lord”: 1.TheFriends Of Jesus Are Favored  By The Lord– II Chronicles 20:7, “Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever?; 2.Friends Of JesusKnow Him Personally In A Fellowship With Him– Exodus 33:11a, “And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. …”; 3. The Friends Of JesusListen/ Obey What He Says– John 15:15, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”; 4.The Friends Of JesusTrust Fully In The Lord– James 2:23, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.”Sunday 

October 6^th Old Paths Celebrated their 10^th Anniversary giving out to every family in attendance a small Cutting Boards with the Church logo on them. Following the morning services we had a potluck lunch down stairs. Please be in Prayer for Old Paths Baptist Church in its growth and our Family as we do Missions In America. As mentioned previously, being involved with the Wynford School District only 3 minutes away from Old Paths Baptist Church allows me to see the dire need of an American world without God that misinterprets and takes out of context the Separation of Church and State. On Monday mornings I’ve been asked by some of the other bus drivers to head up a prayer time for the new week. One of the bus drivers that has not come before to our prayer time came just this week asking prayer for his grandson that will need kidney surgery in a few months; also, some of the kids have been opening up and seeing someone that will actually talk with them, and care enough to pray for a need that has come up. Pray as the Lord is at Work in ways we do not always understand. Thank you all who have Faithfully sent us cards and have Faithfully Supported us Prayerfully and Financially in our Missions In America!

 

Prayer Requests: Our sons traveling back home from Bill Rice Ranch Bible School, Nehemiah and Joseph; Old Paths Baptist Church work and growth; My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana West Africa. 

 

Bits Of Bread:    “Giving Thanks To God”– Psalm 100:1-5, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.” “Servethe Lord with gladness: come before his presencewith singing.” “Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” “For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

1. For the Lord is Great and Good – Psalm 95:3, “Forthe Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”; Ps 100:5

2. For We Get to Serve Him – Psalm 100:2

3. For We Get To Go into His Presence – Psalm 95:2; 100:2, 4

4. For the Lord is Merciful and Delivers us from Self-Inflicted Situations – Psalm 100:5; Jonah 2:7-9, 10

5. For the Angels in Heaven Do – Rev 7:12

Have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

                                                                                                                                                                      Matthew J Siekbert

 

2024 July Newsletter

 July Activities: 

As our Theme for the year has been “The Church that God Builds”, we have been learning in our Sunday School classes about the Parables of Jesus from Matthew 13. We have learned that the first four Parables speak about what the Devil is Doing in the World and to the Church between Christ’s 1st Coming and his 2nd Coming. But also, in the 5^thand 6^thParables of Jesus of Matthew 13, we are Learning what the Lord is Doing during this time period, the Church Age which concerns Israel (the Jews), the Gentiles, and the Church. Sunday Evening, July 7^thLighthouse Baptist Church came over to our church and we had a Singspiration/Ice Cream-social. It was refreshing and of a good spirit. This being our 1^stSingspiration for us at Old Paths some of us volunteered to do some specials. Some with talent and ability, Some without talent and ability!!! Tammera and myself sang a song selection (And No One Left!!!), My wife and Tammera, one of our teens played their flutes, and Lauren Dornbirer, a professional, played for church our specials and also a piano special of her own. Then Lighthouse had specials and everyone in attendance gave testimonies and had some song selections to sing together as a congregation. We all enjoyed the services and then we went downstairs to eat and have Ice Cream. It Was Good!!! As we talked about in our last Newsletter in July, Gary and Regina finished up with the Baptism/Membership Classes my wife and I had with them and on Sunday July 13^thafter our morning services they were Baptized and added to the church here at Old Paths Baptist Church. Amen!!! July 8-13 two of our teens went to Bill Rice Ranch with Chippewa Lake Baptist Church. They came back with testimonies and the Lord working.   

August Activities: 

Wednesday evening, August 14^ththe teens had a “Back to School” night downstairs. We had about 8 teens in attendance. They had, Pizza, Pop, and some Games which really brought out some talent (Ha, Ha!!!). While my son Nehemiah was upstairs with the Adults leading singing I was downstairs giving a devotion. The teens were listening and so was the Devil. It seems that when you challenge others with things of the Lord, the Devil tries harder. The Lord has been working on the men in the Church along with the Devil. Joe, one of the men in the church who is not saved, has times of being uncomfortable, seeing all of how God is working through his family and friends at church. He is faithful in coming with his daughter Tammera and his wife that have been saved, baptized, and have joined the church last November. Joe, wanting and willfully, does the church lawn and any maintenance that needs done at the church. Pray for him. One Sunday in late July, early August Gary, who just got saved, married, and baptized, got real sick at church and needed help getting out to his car. Joe was there to help him with concern in his face about Gary making it. In August after our evening services we have been going downstairs to stuff some 800 packets/door hangers with tracts, flyers about our special day, and a John and Romans for our Friends Day coming up on September 22^nd. Joe has gone from just sitting there to helping put them together. Joe, along with his daughter and his wife, has also been coming out on visitation with us to leave these packets at each door we visit. His visitation with us has gone from his just walking with us to his hanging the packets on the doors while I am on the other side of the street doing the same thing. Maybe I am reading into it too much, BUT I am Hoping, Praying, and Talking to him about his Salvation and Savior.

 

Prayer Requests: My wife and I would still like to go visit our church plant and Pastors back in Ghana West Africa, but we still need to raise the funds for that; Church Growth at Old Paths; Our son, Nehemiah as he is now at Bill Rice Ranch for their Bible institute for a least a year.

 

Bits Of Bread:     The Lord Uses Select People for Select Jobs– Through Jehu as Anointed King of the Northern Kingdom of Israel God used him to Execute God’s Judgment on Ahab’s House for killing Innocent People as Prophesied by Elijah,  he Executed the Pagan Priests and Worshippers of Baal out of Israel and much more. (II Kgs 9-10)

“Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.”– II Kgs 9:3

                                                                                                                                                    Matthew J Siekbert

 

2024 May Newsletter

From the Ocean to the Trough:                                                                                                                                                              In March we finished up our Baptism/Membership classes with the Evans family, the family that I wrote about in our last newsletter that Received Christ as their Saviour at the end of January and the beginning of February. In Ghana, West Africa, when people from our church plant there got Saved, we would go to the ocean for our Baptismal Services. On Easter Sunday they, the Evans family, all got Baptized in a holding tank/ trough that you would use on a farm. To me that was pretty sharp!!! It has been exciting for the church and those who come and are not yet saved, or yet have decided to become members to see a whole family getting Saved then getting Baptized and joining the church.

Gary Got Saved:                                                                                                                                                                     Since last October there has been a couple coming with her teen daughter. The couple, Gary and Regina, back in October called me at the church here at Old Paths for some help and counsel with Regina’s daughter. After they called me, I went over to visit and talk with them about their situation and getting Saved. Regina had already gotten Saved a long time ago, but Gary was not and he told me that. But they have been coming faithfully ever since October. On Saturday, April 20^th of this year, Gary got very sick and was taken to the hospital’s emergency room. By that afternoon I went to visit him and Regina there. It was a good hour’s drive and all that I could think is, “That He Needed To Get Saved!” So, when I arrived and got to his room everything seemed to be fine, but his blood pressure was very high, at times it was over 200. I started with some small talk and questions on why he thinks that he was there (God Knew). Then I asked him about getting Saved, he was under conviction and really wanting to get Saved, but in his mind he was just uneasy on how to do that and go about that. So, when I asked him, he said, “O, I will do it tomorrow at church (Sunday). Regina sitting across from me said to Gary, “What If You Don’t Make it till tomorrow?” Then I looked at him and said, “she is right, you are not guaranteed tomorrow.” We then did a little-more small talk and then he said, “Well, maybe I’ll get saved on Wednesday evening?” All the while wanting to get Saved and knowing he needed to get Saved, he in his mind was just uneasy on how to go about it. I asked him, “Who is going to win today, You or the Devil, there is nothing stopping you from getting Saved right now, you do not need to wait to get to church.” He, then said, “I will, I will get Saved after they let me go to the restroom.” When Gary got back to the room he was laying in I got to lead him to the Lord!!! Gary told me after he got Saved what was going on in his mind that he wasn’t sure and uneasy of how to go about getting Saved. He also said, “I should have done this 60 years ago.” “I told him, it is better late than never!” Thank you all for your faithfully supporting of us financially and prayerfully in our ministry at Old Paths church planting, Establishing, and Strengthening, God Builds His Church and more is in the works!!! The Lord Orchestrates, We Must Just Follow!

Regina front left, Gary next to her and then Bro. Siekbert

Prayer Requests:                                                                                                                                                                       

My wife and I are looking to go back to visit and encourage our Church Plant, Cornerstone Biblical Baptist Church with Pastor Prince, and the Anaji Bible Study with Pastor Koasi in Ghana, West Africa. We are thinking around September/ the fall time, but we need to raise funds for that; Our son Nehemiah is graduating from High School on May 18^th, for our family as we travel to Florida for that; Our continued church growth at Old Paths. The Lord is at Work!

 

Bits Of Bread:                                                                                                                                                 

It Is Quite Amazing To Look Back At How The Lord Orchestrates His Mercy for Our Salvation!!! “Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?” – Romans 11:12  (11:1-36)                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                           

 Matthew J Siekbert