| IRAQI MISSION TRIP |
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February 5th through February 21st MISSION: We have been invited by Robert Lewis, Director/Missionary, Global Resource Group (ministry of Blackstone Valley Baptist Church, Cumberland, RI)…a ministry of helps to mission works worldwide; to go to Baghdad, Iraq. There, we will be assisting in the birth/beginning of the Baghdad Baptist Church of Baghdad, Iraq.  An Iraqi national, who has been training under the guidance of Robert Lewis, will be ordained as the pastor of this church, while we are there. We have and are printing 100,000 Gospel Soul-winning Booklets of the Books of John/Romans in the Arabic language for this church to use in Baghdad and wherever else they wish to evangelize their country. OUR GOAL IS TO PRINT AT LEAST 1,000,000 by years end. We will also be ministering to the US Military stationed within Baghdad and the Baghdad International Airport. We will have worship and Bible study services scheduled with the US Military while in country. We’ll be distributing the “Military Edition of the John/Romans Soul-Winning Booklets” to those men and women that are stationed in the area as well. We’ll also be a part of conducting Bible classes not only for those attending the church, but also for those Christian Iraqi men who have indicated a desire to serve the Lord as teachers and potentially as pastors of future independent Baptist churches within their own country. This will all be under the leadership of Robert Lewis, Director/Missionary of Global Resource Group. Update From Iraq, 7 February, 2004 Dear Friends, Family and Fellow Pastors, 
We arrived in Baghdad on February 7th. We had very good connections from
South Dakota to New York to Amman, Jordan. The van trip to Baghdad was a
good, fast ride going 90 to 100 MPH all the way. The highway was excellent
except for one portion that was bombed out during the war.
The people are friendly and appreciate our being here. We are in the
process of securing a place for the Baghdad Baptist Church to meet. We
should know this afternoon about securing a one year lease. It is an
excellent location. A former residence of Saddam Hussein's relative who is
currently in prison. Wouldn't it be just like our God to provide a place of
hope where there was nothing but fear and death before?Jimmie and I are doing well. We are having a great time putting up with each other. The weather is very pleasant with temperatures between 60 and 65 degrees during the day with cool evenings. 
The people here look at you with such blank stares at first as if they
have no hope. Then when you reach out your hand to greet them and identify
yourself they gladly open up and are so happy we have come. There are a few
who seem hardened but, I believe the love of God, shown sincerely, can win
the hearts of many, even the hardest hearts. Remember they have lived with
fear and intimidation for years. The Iraqi people are hopeful all will work
out in restoring their freedom and well being.We have been meeting with Ronnie George, the Iraqi Pastor, for the past two days. A good, good man who wants so badly to see a solid work established in Baghdad. He already has plans within the next two years to see another work established just outside of Baghdad across the river as well as works in the southern and northern parts of Iraq. He is a man with a vision for his country to be reached for the Lord. Update From Iraq, February 17, 2004 Dear Friends, Family and Fellow Pastors, 
Attached you will find a photo showing the Baptism of Pastor Ronnie George [his wife and another Iraqi husband & wife were also baptized during this service]…the baptismal service was conducted under the authority Blackstone Valley Baptist Valley Baptist Church, by Robert Lewis, Pastor-Emeritus and Director of the Global Resource Group, Monday afternoon, February 16thAlso you will also find photos of the van that was carrying the four pastors near Babylon, when it was attacked by terrorists two days ago. 
 Continue to be in prayer for each of these men, as well as for the family of Pastor John Kelley, who was savagely murdered by terrorists when they attacked the van these pastors were riding in 30-40 miles south of Baghdad. OUR SAFETY BE ASSURED WE ARE SAFE and will be flying out of the Baghdad International Airport tomorrow, Wednesday morning to Amman, Jordan. By God’s grace and his touching the heart of the US Consulate, we were all able to secure seats on the only plane flying civilians out of Baghdad…normally; only those under contract with the US Government have this privilege. From a human point of view…the consulate was touched by what we were doing here in Baghdad and made sure that we were able to purchase these tickets, which normally would cost close to $700 apiece one way; for only $250 per ticket. Needless to say…at this point we would have gladly paid whatever to assure our safe passage to Amman, Jordan. These seats are at a premium…most government personnel have to be put on a waiting list for some time…in other words there are more people waiting for a flight…than there are seats available. Traveling, using ground transportation was out of the question…the military told us in no uncertain terms, it was too dangerous to travel on the highway we had come over from Jordan just 11 days ago. The terrorists have stepped up their attacks this past week; ever sense the UN contingent arrived in country three days ago. The terrorists are doing all they can to cause unrest, fear and intimidation; hoping our military will leave country; thus paving the way to take over the country. The terrorists are believed to be from Syria or Lebanon. THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED. The Iraqi people we have spoken to are so afraid we will leave TOO EARLY. They know it will take time to stabilize this country. As I share with our church, Liberty Baptist Tabernacle, Rapid City, SD before leaving for Iraq…this is a “Door of Opportunity” that we must go through now…we may or may not have this opportunity in six months…we just don’t know. Now, we are seeing the establishment of a scripturally planted independent BAPTIST CHURCH…established right where Sadam Hussein’s government once ruled with wickedness and murder and intimidation…who would have ever thought this would be possible a year ago. OH HOW CRUCIAL IT IS that we get the $30,000-$40,000 raised so that we can purchase the “Glue-Binder”, and then be able to print/bind complete Arabic Bibles to be given FREE to the Iraqi people. This is really the greatest need this country needs…where they too, can come to a Saving Knowledge of THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE! Pastor Ronnie George has expressed this NEED to me many, many times over & over again; over these past 11 days. Everyone else has told him, they will provide Bibles at a price…but they have not the monies available to purchase these Bibles…and they are costly…when you consider the volumn needed. GOD’S WORD was never intended to be sold…but given away free….and that is the heart’s desire of Lighthouse Baptist Press-A Bearing Precious Seed Ministry of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle…to provide this need, as God provides us the funds to purchase the paper rolls and supplies to print them for mission works…such as Baghdad Baptist Church. More photos will be posted of the Ordination Service for Ronnie George, as well as the chapel service we hope to hold at the US Army Base at the Baghdad International Airport Tuesday evening. Update From Rapid City, February 22, 2004 Dear Pastors, Friends and dear Family... Just wanted you to know that I am home SAFE & SOUND [some have debated the "sound" part...] As many of you know, one of our team members experienced a tragic, tragic death. John Kelley's death has certainly underscored our mission trip to Baghdad, Iraq. Yet, we now find comfort in remembering the love that John expressed many, many times for the Iraqi people. In fact the night before the terrorists attacked the van Pastor Kelley was riding in, as well as Pastors Dave Davis, Kirk DiVietro, and Garland Carey, John had conducted a Bible devotion time with most of us in his hotel room. He felt so overwhelmed by the love that the Iraqi people had already expressed to all of us. He was so happy that he had come to Iraq. He even stated that night during the devotion..."I wouldn't want to be anyplace else at this time...". He was so excited about seeing the Baghdad Baptist Church started and the ordination that was to take place for Ronnie George [the Iraqi pastor]. Some have asked, why wasn't Robert Lewis, Jimmie Mauller and myself in the van when the terrorists attacked. We can only explain that it had to be God's providence. Jimmie and I had gone to the US Army Command Base to secure contacts for conducting preaching services to the military, plus, we knew of one soldier who from Rapid City. That same day, Robert was meeting with Ronnie George [the Iraqi pastor] concerning the church location. Just hours after the terrorist attack; when many of the Iraqi people were made aware of John's death, they expected all of us to leave the country immediately. The three injured pastors were offered by the US Consulate, to fly out of country immediately. The three turned the offer down. We had made a commitment that we would all stay together no matter what the circumstances. One of the key thoughts John expressed during the devotion the night before, that we were on a "mission"...and those words rang in my ears as I reflected what the Apostle Paul stated to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7 "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I kept the faith;" John had stated in no uncertain terms that we had a mission to do. It was obvious much of his Marine training was coming through. Yes, we did have a mission to accomplish and that being the establishment of the Baghdad Baptist Church, with the ordination of Ronnie John George, as its pastor! With that in mind, when the opportunity to leave Iraq 5 days early came...each one of us knew what John would have said...COMPLETE THE MISSION...and that is exactly what we did. Right after hearing of John's tragic death, Ronnie John George [the Iraqi man who was to be ordained as the pastor of Baghdad Baptist Church], came to us stating you must go now! We told him that John  would not want to us to leave Baghdad, without finishing what we came to do; to see the church established and that Ronnie be ordained. Ronnie immediately broke down in tears; knowing what it would mean to the Iraqi people for us to see this through and especially his church people.We were able to secure a beautiful building for the church to meet in for the next two years, with a two year lease; provided PA equipment, song books, chairs and all the things necessary to have church services. PLUS our Lighthouse Baptist Press-Bearing Precious Seed Printing Ministry was able to provide 2,000 Arabic Whole Bibles for this church immediately. This is in addition to the already shipped 20,000 John/Romans Arabic Soul-Winning Booklets. Needless to say, Pastor Ronnie George and his church family are overjoyed! Additional Arabic Whole Bibles and John/Romans Arabic Soul-Winning Booklets will be printed and shipped to Iraq later on in 2004. On another note, a dear Christian friend, that I had met some ten years prior, who was a deacon of an independent Baptist church in Missouri was also in Iraq. I was totally unaware of this. He was in the Missouri National Guard and holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonial. Col. Koontze immediately contacted me when he found out I was in country. He was made aware of my being in Baghdad by a pastor friend of his that he had spoken with in the states. Through his command intelligence office, he located the hotel I was staying at. When he came to the hotel, I was sitting outside with the other pastors on the hotel's terrace, waiting for Robert Lewis [Global Resource Group-Director], who was going to meet with us that afternoon. Col. Koontze must have had 15-20 soldiers with him; they literally blocked off the entire city block with tanks and humvees to secure the area. He then walked into the lobby asking if anyone could tell him where Pastor Furse was. As he was saying those words, he spotted me and immediately said, "It's good to see you again Bro. Furse". At first, I did not recognize him, until he took his helmet off. We spoke for about 20 minutes at one of the tables on the terrace of the hotel; all the while the tanks and humvees were being lined up and down the main street in front of the hotel. After renewing acquaintances, I had to tell him that it would probably be best if he and his unit left as soon as possible. The Iraqi people in the hotel and those on the street were to say the least, very concerned. I did not want to bring that much attention to the hotel; for fear that terrorists would target the area as well [over the previous four or five days, we had heard sporadic AK-47 gunfire going off just blocks away from the hotel]. Col. Koontze agreed fully with me on that assessment and ordered his unit to leave quietly and as quickly as possible. As he was leaving, Col Koontze let me know in no uncertain terms that we were now under secured status for the rest of our visit...and assured me that the US Army would do everything possible to assure that not only we were safe for the rest of our stay; but that the area where the church was to be started could be secured as well, if Pastor Ronnie George would wish it to be. Col. Koontze just wanted Bro. Ronnie to know his unit would protect him, if he desired this to be done. Later, we did speak to Bro. Ronnie about this; it was felt initially that it might be more of a hindrance to him; that it might bring too much attention on the church and his family. Col. Koontze and Pastor George each now have their respective e-mail addresses and will be discussing this further from a distance for now. The evening before we were to fly out of Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, Wednesday, February 19th, Col. Koontze invited me to preach at a special chapel service for the men/women under his command. Needless to say it was an honor and certainly a privilege to speak to our US Soldiers. The makeshift tent building was filled to capacity with great singing of the old hymns we all know and cherish. I preached a message from 2 Timothy 1:7 "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." I stressed to them, even though they had the very best training ever available to any soldier who has ever served; unless they had the power; the love; and the mind of Christ...they had nothing. God gave real freedom and many decisions were made. Being former military, there is a special bond that is established in the military amongst those who are serving and those who have served, that few others can really comprehend. After the services were over, one young man came to me and asked with a broken heart with tears running down his face; wanting to know how he could receive the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Because many others were wanting to speak  with me, I had Bro. Jimmie Mauller, a member of our church deal with this young man. After Jimmie took him though many, many scriptures concerning what it means to be "Born-Again" into the family of God, this young man claimed the promise of John 10:9-13 for his own personal salvation.This certainly was the capstone to all that was accomplished in Iraq... John Kelley's death was not in vain...WE DID COMPLETE THE MISSION!!! Again, we LOVE YOU...and appreciate your intercessory prayers over these past two weeks so very, very much. Tom Furse, Director Lighthouse Baptist Press-Bearing Precious Seed 1515 Space Avenue Rapid City, SD 57701 |
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