thegritts

 God is so good.  Since our last writing we have been continuing to jump through hoops on the way to our goal of getting started on our building.  We have re-applied with the planning people for an extension of time in order to get the funding sorted.  That application is still with them and they are now adding their own hoops!  We have to do a topological survey of the property to determine the number and position of the trees.  And, we have to have the parking area redrawn to accommodate secure parking for bicycles and motorbikes!  The fire people jumped on board as well and asked for some changes within the building.  So...more hoops and more fees!  I am sure that any of you who have gone through a building project can relate!

    God is good in that, though our people aren’t rich, they are still giving to the point that we can meet all of our fees and still make progress!  To date we have paid out nearly $30,000 in fees alone.

    So where do we stand?  The banks, too, are having us go through hoops.  We have given them five years of accounts, records of all descriptions, signed permissions, business plans, and builders information.  Our agent is still confident that he can secure the funding.  He says that three banks are interested in our project.  Well, truth is, only God knows for sure.  We stand in Him alone!  Our times are in His hands, and our project is in His hands as well.  We covet your prayers.

    The people at Temple are positive and active in their giving and working.  Since January when we initiated our Sock it Away fund raiser they have given nearly $22,000.  That is on top of their regular giving and not taking into account the nearly $20,000 that US churches have graciously given toward the project.  Each square foot is valued at $200. If you would like to participate, please designate your gift as Temple Building. Sending them to Tom Gritts at BBFI Missions, PO Box 191, Springfield, MO, 65801 (All US funds are held in a US sub-account with the Mission Office until the building project is officially off the ground.)

    This stage of the ministry is truly remarkable as we seek to equip and prepare the fruit that will remain!  Join with us in praise to our God, who truly is good!

In Him,

Tom Gritts

Well, we met with the bankers and we are going to proceed with the application.  Seems they are interested, but still not committing themselves.  The church took another vote on Sunday and they are still decided on moving forward by faith.  Seems we are in the hands of the Lord and on hold, but God knows why!  All around us different things are moving, so we know that God has a certain time for this and we are willing to wait upon the Lord.

Isaiah 25:9  "And in that day it will be said, 'Lo, this is our God, we have waited for him and he will save us.  Lo, this is our Lord, we have waited for him.  We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

What a grand day when we can point to what God has done and rejoice! 

We celebrated the entry of the New Year with our church family at Temple.  What a grand time as people gave testimonies about 2008.  For many of our folks it has been a very hard year.  Some with threats of cancer, some with loss of loved ones, some with spiritual trials, some with family trials, but we all rejoiced that though the past year had brought many trials, we were all still there and all still able to Praise the Lord.

Today I read a quote by Elizabeth Prentiss...."God never places us in any position in which we can not grow.  We may fancy that He does.  We may fear we are so impeded by fretting, petty cares that we are gaining nothing: but when we are not sending branches upward, we may be sending roots downward.  Perhaps in the time of our humiliations, when everything seems a failure, we are making the best kind of progress."

Temple's root system is definitely stronger from the trials of 2007-2008...and that sets us for the challenges of 2009.

We are moving toward our building project which is expected to break ground on February 14th, Lord willing.  We are still in great need of finance and God keeps giving us encouragement that He is able to provide.  Friendship Baptist Church in Owasso, Oklahoma sent us $36,000 this month!  That is simply amazing...we are so very thankful!  And so in wonder as how God is going to provide our need.  Please pray with us!  We will keep you posted.

Please continue to keep Mandy and her family in prayer.  She continues to go deeper.
Also, please pray for Steve and Pete to come to know the Lord.

We are looking forward to the end of this month.  We have one to baptize, and our baby church, Hope, has 4 to baptize.  This is always a wonderful time at Temple.  God is blessing with fruit and we praise His name.

First, let me apologize.  I have posted entries, but obviously they haven't taken hold!

I am writing tonight to request urgent and serious prayer for one of our teenagers named Mandy.  She left home, like the prodigal son, and has found herself eating from the dirt of the earth.  This weekend she visited with her family, but returned to the world.  We are praying for God to grip Mandy's heart and show her that He still loves her and is waiting for her to call out to Him for help.  Mandy's situation is very serious and dangerous.  Please pray for Satan to be bound and God's love to shine in and bring her home.

Also, a praise.  Today we went to Ashby Baptist Church to see Rhiannon Owens baptized.  Rhiannon is the daughter of Denise.  A lady that we saw saved nearly sixteen years ago.  Rhiannon was so excited to follow the Lord in baptism.  It was a great day.  And, her father, Alan, who is lost also came for the service.  Please pray for Alan's salvation.  And for Rhiannon and Denise as they follow on with the Lord.

The work continues.....Praise the Lord.

June 22 was the 15th Anniversary for Temple to be in their building.  We had a grand day with 84 in attendance.  Bro Dennis Jennings from the BBF Missions Office was with us.  This year also makes 25 years for us to be on the field.  As we looked at the DVD that had been prepared for our special day we remembered the years of labour that have gone into the establishment of Temple and the three other baby churches that have now grown out of this work and praised the Lord for his faithfulness to us.  He enabled us to stay and keep plodding!  Our prayer is that we may continue to plod on and watch Him do the work among us.  WE covet your prayers as Temple breaks ground in February 2009 on their building extension.  We desperately need the extra space.
Also, Bro Mike Stirrup has come on board to work with the teens at Temple.  This is another answer to prayer.
June also saw us celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary!  Overall, a great month!  Praise the Lord.

This weeks marks 25 years that we have been on the field.  It seems both like a short time and an eternity.  But we are so happy
to have made this landmark in our ministry. 
Gabriella Joy was born on the 12th to Chad and Jennifer.  That makes our 9th grandchild as well!
Our new prayer letter will be out this week.  It gives a short synopsis of each of the four works and the tax situation.  We so
appreciate your prayers.

Last weekend we went to Norway to visit with the Haukeland family who were sent from Temple June 2006 as tent maker missionaries.  What a joy to be in their family service on Sunday with 30 present.  They are beginning to reach a few adults now and are steadily making themselves known in the area.  A few weeks ago Bro Haukeland was invited to preach and sing at the State Church.  People commented that they had never heard the Gospel put so...and...never heard anyone sing with such heart and spirit.  Praise the Lord.  From that he began to receive calls and inquiries about his work in Askoy.  Please remember them in prayer.  Both he and his wife are working full time and have three teenagers!  That is no small task besides trying to plant a church.
The Lord has also provided them a home of their own.  They take possession in a few weeks, but the house needs much repair and renovation.  They are hoping to have the work done by Christmas.

Bro Buchanan went through the shuffle here from doctor to doctor confirming the cancer diagnosis.  Finally he winds up with the consultant and another biopsy is done.  This time, no signs of cancer!  None whatsoever!  It was a benign cyst and was treated with medication.  No surgery!  Dennis went back to work this week sharing his testimony and giving God the glory!

All the month of March we had a rebellious teen living with us!  When she faltered yet again the ultimatum was given and she returned home!  There is much work to do, but hopefully this family can be restored.  Please keep them in your prayers.  The hurts go deep and the changes will not be easy if this young person is to survive.

Meanwhile, the Lord continues to bless with souls saved and people being added to the church!

Dear Praying Friends,
 
We desperately need your prayers.  Due to drastic tax changes we are being forced to make the decision as to stay and face a possible $120,000 tax bill, or be out of the country before the 5th of April this year.  We are taking advice from our tax consultant here and trying to determine the best course of action. 
The government is trying to force people out who are rich and have off shore accounts, yet do not pay taxes on that money.  Unfortunately, the way the legislation is written, we missionaries fall into that category!  If only we did have off shore accounts full of money!  The new taxation would amount to paying taxes on all of our American income, including our work funds, retirement, real estate, etc, not just our personal salary as we now do.
The way to avoid this taxation is to be out of the country three years out of every ten.  This will greatly affect the works and is against the policies of the BBFI.  So, again we face that dilemma.  So we need your prayers for great wisdom.  For calm.  For God's hand in our lives.
We will keep you posted.
 
Tom Gritts

 

Today, Bro Buchanan had another visit with the doctor.  On Sunday we were very concerned because they could not get the sore on his back to stop bleeding.  However, today, the doctor said it is definitely NOT CANCER.  He requires no surgery.  It can be taken care of by medication.  It is a benign cyst.

Dennis said, he is giving God the glory because from the first doctor they have all  used the cancer word and the biopsies had lead to that conclusion.  Only God can change the prognosis!

Well, Bro Buchanan received good news this week.  The consultant is very confident that the surgery will not be as extensive as first estimated.  He even doubts whether it really is cancerous and has really encouraged the Buchanans to rest at ease.  There is no date set for the surgery yet, but we are all praising the Lord for a much better prognosis!  Meanwhile, Dennis is with his church family every service playing his guitar and being an encouragement and witness to others!

On Monday, March 3rd we added to our collection of grandchildren!  Titus Steven Askins was born weighing 6 lb 12 oz.  Steve and Carrie (Gritts) Askins are the proud parents.  This makes their third child.

We would request prayers for one of the teenagers in our church named Mandy.  She is having difficulty with teenage rebellion and is currently living with us as we try to help.  Pray also for her mother and siblings.  Family strife is a hard thing for everyone.  Pray that God's love will be able to penetrate Mandy's heart and we will be tools fit for His use.

One of our faithful men, Dennis Buchanan has just been diagnosed with Cancer.  Please pray as he goes into surgery next week.  It is a cancer attached to the muscle in his back.

On Sunday, Feb 10th, we commissioned Bro Ian Hutchings to start a new work in Huntington, Cannock.  He has about 15 people interested in starting the work with him.  Missionary Barry Dunmire is also walking alongside as this new church begins!  Bro Hutchings has been serving at Temple as the Associate Pastor for the past four years.


Also, a matter of urgent prayer.  The government here is amending the tax status of foreigners who reside in the UK and we are all bracing ourselves for a huge tax bill.  It may mean that many will have to leave the field.  They are proposing taxing us on not only what funds we bring into the country here, but also on all of our missionary funds, both salary and work fund.  And, on all other forms of income, i.e. rental property, retirement funds, etc. held in the US.  With the rate of exchange cutting in deep to our budgets, most will not be able to handle the added tax burden.  So, please pray for your missionaries and for some sort of common sense to reign in the government here!

Their real target are rich foreigners who live here without paying any tax.  Most missionaries file taxes on funds brought into the UK.  These people, however, are hiding here as a tax haven and most likely illegally.

 

The church was full and the spirits high as we attended our first services back in England.  What a blessing to see the growth in the people spiritually!  And, to see new people who had joined while we were away and get the opportunity to talk to more new ones who had been saved and are seeking baptism!  The men have stepped into leadership and done a grand job!

We have returned by faith and found that it IS really going to take some faith financially to work through all the changes here.  Petrol prices are $1.60 higher per gallon than when we left.  Gas to heat the house has doubled in the past year.  Both cars need work from sitting on the drive for nine months.  We need to get tags on one car and that is $400 for a year tag!  One needs tires; another $800, and so it goes!

This week will be filled with catching up with people, visiting my elderly, setting my schedule for the college work, school assemblies, etc., and recovering from jet lag!  But it is all good!  God is good!  And He is able to do the things I can not!  As I was reading today, God is not capricious (random and unstable), but soverign.  My times are in His hands and He has a plan in it all!

Tom

This is the first post on thegritts blog. Tomorrow they fly back to England. We (their kids and grandkids) hope it is a safe trip and it all goes smoothly.