Dear Praying and Faithful Brethren,
Greetings in Our Lord Who always causeth us to triumph in Christ Jesus (II Cor 2:14).
I had mentioned that I was going to do some exams to see how my Multiple Myeloma is going. I received the results the week before last. They revealt that I have an higher than normal level of calcium in my blood stream in comparison to my previous blood exam. The exam also showed my hemoglobin count going down a little. But the “numbers” of all the other important specifics were still good. So I am still in remission and will be until the Lord deems it best to do otherwise. My hope is in Him. Thank you for your faithful praying for my family and me. You never know when your intercessions will be put in effect.
The church in Presidente Prudente is going through some growing pains. There was a change in the leadership and this has caused some turmoil among the members. Over all, everyone seems to be growing through the problems and survival can be seen at the end of the tunnel.
The church in Bataguassu is discouraged. The leadership is slow to take measures that are needed so the dreaded face of discouragement shows itself. The church in Jacipor is going well. They are in a construction phase. But there is one factor that is needed in all of the churches: active evangelism. As they/we are active in telling the Gospel to others, many problems solve themselves before getting in our way. The care of all these churches weighs heavy on my thoughts and are the subject of many of my prayers. Bro Benjamin was such a big help to all of them in this area when he was here. His ministering is surely missed.
This week I made an important step in the work. I finished verifying the translation of the first three parts of John Gill’s book, The Cause of God and Truth. Now I send it away for the grammar review. Pray that I have the strength and wisdom necessary to do the work before me.
We should have had a special service or something to mark an important change in my life. The print room with all of its machines, paper, light box, tools, spirals for binding the books and misc. items have been passed to the next generation. This month a moving truck pulled up early at my house and carefully loaded all the contents of the print room, and tied everything down secularly. He then delivered it to Joy and John’s house about three or four miles away. Joy sent me a message of thanks and told me that everything was delivered in working order. She receives a lot of orders for tracts through her online Book Store. Now she can whip them up in a jiffy and send them out to the churches much faster. Thank you all for your faithful giving through the years that has made it possible to have a Print room. Those who give special offerings for paper are still needed and these funds will continue to be channeled to these needs in both her house and in mine. My laser printer in my office will print small books and tracts as needed too.
Thank you again for all your encouragement in your faithful giving and prayers.
Yours in Our Lord,
Bro. Calvin G. Gardner