May 2007

Dear Brethren,

I'm not sure where to begin with this mission letter. As many of you may have already heard, we said good-bye for a while to one of our dear members. His name is Josh Krause, a young man, faithful minister, and hard worker. He will leave emptiness in many lives, and a gaping hole in the mission work. I know, however, that God has planned it for our good. Before his departure, he had a testimony that he pleased God. Many people filled our building upstairs and down; others filled the parking lot to listen to a loud speaker of the memorial service. Many have heard the Gospel and seen the light of Christ through Josh and the mighty grace that God has given to his parents and family. It has wakened the hearts of many at the mission, and broken fallow ground.

On other fronts, we continue to battle false doctrine that would destroy the hearers and sin that would corrupt from within. Satan's attacks seem ever more frequent and longer lasting, with greater force. We are confident though, that where sin abounds, grace does yet much more abound. Though Satan would do much damage Christ would do much more to build. Pray earnestly for our sheep now more than ever.

I continue to preach many funerals for the un-churched in Cadillac. I can only believe that God is preparing great grace and a great harvest to have had the Gospel preached to so many. It is very comforting to know that His strength is perfect in our weakness. We are very small and unskilled and God shines bright with all the glory and praise in whatever he does.

On the building, we have been putting in a larger nursery. I have taken the smaller one as my office and study. We have had many children, with three more babies due between July and December. This weekend, I will be going up to Traverse City to the new building of our mother church, (or sending church if you will). My father-in-law and I will hopefully finish all of the electrical that we roughed in last December.

At home, we are doing well. Isabel was up to twenty pounds, but had a bad intestinal virus that has set her back to nineteen pounds last week. Nicole and I are expecting a baby boy to be delivered, Lord willing, on September 27th. That will be almost twenty years to the day since the Lord saved me in a revival meeting as a boy.

Our greatest need would be prayer. If we cross your hearts this month, I would petition you to stop as a church for a moment, and pray for our people. Some are grieving, some are battling great temptations, some are making huge decisions, and some are lost. Thank you again for your prayers and support. I also want to thank those who helped us last month in many ways with encouraging words and gifts to our people.

Love In Christ

Mark S. Clark II