“Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it…” Psalm 127:1

Nacogdoches Relocation
The relocation of the Nacogdoches mission is nearing the final stages. According to recent conversations with builder, Danny Powell, the re-survey and engineering, required by the City, has been completed, and clearing of the immediate site should take place this month. Watch the newspaper for an announcement about groundbreaking ceremonies.
This because, after months of prayer, Bro. June believes that while we’ve been waiting on God to provide the necessary funds to relocate, God has been waiting on us to move forward in faith, even though we do not have the funds necessary to complete the entire project. With the firm belief that this move is God’s plan for GODTEL, we are stepping out in faith, trusting Him to supply, in His time and in His way, all we need to complete the task.
After having proposed to Mr. Powell that we build one building at a time, he recalculated the cost of the buildings individually. At that time we had just over half the amount needed to complete construction of the smallest unit. Within an hour after one particular conversation between Bro. June and Mr. Powell, during which the needed funds were discussed, and at the end of which Bro. June gave the “go-ahead,” we received a visit from Gary Lee Ashcraft, Executive Secretary of the Nacogdoches County United Way. Mr. Ashcraft mentioned having been contacted by someone who was interested in contributing a sizeable amount to GODTEL’s Relocation Fund. (They did contribute $50,000, which gets a long way toward what is needed to complete the first building.)
We praise God for Who He is and for His guidance, His provision, His power, His protection, and His unfailing love. Please continue pray for our move and to seek Him in your living and your giving. Be assured that if you send any contribution to be applied to the relocation project, we will apply those funds strictly to the relocation/building fund.

Farewell, Dear Deborah

For the past six years, Deborah Carlock has lived and worked with us at the Livingston mission. Among other tasks, she faithfully did the laundry for most of that time. Her father died recently and, as part of her inheritance, her brother has agreed to let her live in the house owned by their dad. We rejoice that Deborah has a “home of her own” at last. We miss her already and ask that you would pray for her as she adjusts to living away from the hustle and bustle of GODTEL.
Thanks, again, Deborah for all the years you labored here with us. May God guide you daily and teach you continually about His ways and His great love for you. (Don’t forget to read your Bible daily as we’ve taught you to do.)
One Step Back
I am saddened to report that the young man I wrote about last month became, shall we say, overconfident (“Take heed when you think you stand, lest you fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12), and allowed himself to make some really bad choices. He left GODTEL for a couple of weeks but came back declaring that he really wants to change and do right. So, with some restrictions on his freedom, we have allowed him to return. He is in a very difficult struggle, so please hold him up in prayer.

Touching Gift

As you may beaware, several of our GODTEL staff and volunteers have a ministry writing toprisoners. Pegi (Bro. June’s sister) and Shana (a dear friend of Pegi’sdaughter) have both been writing to one particular prisoner who recently sentthem each a lovely hand-crafted wooden necklace with a wooden cross suspendedfrom it. They were both deeply touched and appreciative, and all of us in theoffice were amazed at all the time, effort, talent, and loving care thatobviously went into the constructing of those gifts.
However, as the accompanying letter was readwhich detailed the components, the construction, and the mailing of thoseprecious gifts, we became aware that prison rules forbid some of the activityinvolved and, at the very least, these items would have been confiscated hadthey been discovered. This made us sad to feel that we had been a part of“breaking the law” and, more than ever before, we understood what God meant whenhe said, basically, “Gifts are no substitute for, nor or they more desired than,obedience.” (1 Samuel 15)
Understanding God’s desire for us to submitourselves to the authority over us, we would rather know that our friends,family, and fellow Christians were being wholeheartedly pleasing to the Lordrather than have them “cut corners,” or tell “white lies” (of which there is nosuch thing), or break laws, or violate rules, especially on our behalf.(Ibelieve that any Christian should be troubled when laws/rules arebroken.)
When Pegi wrote back to thank the prisoner forthe gift and tried to explain the way she felt, the prisoner was greatlydistressed and deeply hurt. Perhaps he feels that he himself has been rejected,rather than realizing that this particular effort to please us has failed. Wepray that he can come to a place of understanding and peace with God, primarily,as well as peace with himself. We also pray that we all will learn a valuablelesson from this experience and be able to move on. That’s what Christians dowhen they “stumble.” They admit their wrong, they ask forgiveness (and the otherforgives), and they move on in brotherly love and harmony. True forgiveness is awonderful thing. I praise God that He offers a whole new life to any and all whowill simply:Admitthey have failed to live up to His standards,Believethat Jesus is God and that He died and rose again to pay for their failures andto enable them to have an abundant life on earth and spend forever in Heaven,andConfessto the world, (friends, family, strangers, and neighbors)—in word and deed—thatJesus is Lord (our boss) by doing what He tells us to.
Nancy Gentry