September 2023
The book, ‘Hard Places in the Ways of Faith,’ by A. B. Simpson, reads: “God’s promises and His providence do not lift us from the world of common sense and everyday trials, for it is through these very things that our faith is perfected.” This is an insightful thought for believers today. We need the reminder that our belief in Christ will not exempt us from daily struggles that come for the testing of our faith. In God’s eternal plan, ordinary people like you and me are intended to make an impact by doing little common-sense things that honors God and benefits the cause of Christ. Everything we do counts. Hence, we are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5. Although it is difficult to trust the Lord in times of uncertainty, we are commanded to do so by our loving eternal God.
Summer update
My wife Flo and I made a trip to Jamaica to see our children and attend the wedding of our eldest daughter, Kehlesia. We now have a wonderful Son-in-law. He is a wonderful believer who by God’s grace will someday raise godly children with his wife. Pray for newlyweds Raniel and Kehlesia.
During my trip, I was able to visit a national church planter who is establishing a new work. I also preached in local churches, distributed additional VBS curriculum, and conducted Vacation Bible School training. I am happy to inform you that I have reports of forty-three (43) children that were converted. These salvation decisions were from churches that participated in the IGM Vacation Bible School training in May 2023 and were recipients of the Vacation Bible School resources that were shipped to Jamaica. Thanks to all those who gave so these recycled resources could be used to reach these precious souls for Christ.
Sadly, during the summer, I received reports that the pastor who led me to faith in Christ, Pastor Delroy Campbell, went home to be with the Lord. I was summoned to speak at his funeral service, which was both a challenge and a blessing. Although there was much grief, there was equally joy in knowing that his life glorified God by the sacrifices he made to reach others for Christ. I stand as a witness.
Since my return to Florida, my wife and I had relocated within the city of Spring Hill. Our new address is: 2030 Escobar Avenue, Spring Hill, Florida 34608.
Fall Effort
As we approach Fall 2023, I have been kept busy trying to book meetings for an IGM national pastor that will be visiting Florida during the month of October. I have also been visiting churches to raise awareness about the important ministry of IGM. Our ministry has positioned itself to fill the supply chain with needed resources to nationals that are fulfilling the Great Commission.
Please stand with me in prayer as I continue to raise my personal support. I am just about 25 to 30%. Additionally, in November and December I will increase the effort to advocate for national church planters and pastors needing monthly support to help in their ministry. God bless you as together we cooperate and serve in the supply chain bringing the gospel to the “end of the world,” Matthew 28:20.
Yours truly,
Rev. Leroy E. Thompson
IGM Missions Field Coordinator to the Caribbean and Underserved.
March 2024, Prayer Letter
As we welcome Spring and celebrate Easter, it is difficult not to think of rebirth. I recently read this quote in a devotional by J. R. Miller, “Christ is building His kingdom with the broken things of earth… and there is no “bruised reed” (Isa. 42:3) that Christ cannot take and restore to a glorious place of blessing and beauty. He can take a life crushed by pain, Sin, and sorrow and make it a harp whose music will be total praise.” Miller’s quote would be missed-placed without acknowledging that God brought this restoration through the death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. Spring and Easter remind us of this fact. Especially the fact that our faithful God delights in taking broken people and making them whole again. Easter, then, is a delightful time to share the gospel in a broken world.
Update
Since the beginning of 2024, I have continued to pray and reach out to churches of like-faith in Florida. My intention remains to build cross-cultural partnerships between the churches of Florida and ministries of approved national pastors in under-resourced places of our world. The goal is to initiate and encourage cooperation among Christians working to fulfill the Great Commission worldwide. Thanks to the pastors who have responded already and those who plan to respond in the coming weeks and months. The saying is true for missions, “We can do more together than by ourselves.”
I must also report that I received opportunities to speak and share the ministry of IGM in mission conferences and church services. I am happy to acknowledge that the leadership and members of the churches I visited have expressed appreciation for our ministry to their congregation. My wife and I have been warmly accepted, embraced, and encouraged to continue our work of building these essential partnerships between US churches and national pastors for whom we advocate.
The Lord has blessed and opened the door for an IGM national pastor, Brother Anderson Gibson from the Caribbean Island of Grenada to visit us in April. I have been busy booking meetings for him to visit churches and share his ministry during his stay. Thanks to all the pastors and churches who have agreed to accommodate us. Pray for us as we will spend many hours on the road traveling.
Pray also for our effort to help national pastors train their Sunday school workers in time for their Vacation Bible School (VBS) outreach this summer. We will be conducting our IGM-approved VBS training workshop in the second week of May. So far, we have national pastors from the Caribbean, the Philippines, and the country of Kenya who have confirmed attendance.
Another important plan we ask you to pray about is our effort to ship VBS and Sunday school resources to the Caribbean, and electronic codes to the Philippines. Our aim is clear. We are providing needed support and resources to faithful men and their ministries who are proclaiming the gospel to adults and children but need our support. Thank you for praying and supporting us in this venture.
Special Prayer Request
Please be praying for the country of Haiti along with the national pastors there. The report we received is that these pastors are holding the fort, standing with their people amid the mayhem. Some churches in Port au Prince can only hold services during the day because of the security issues at night. Despite all the chaos, they are ministering the gospel while taking the necessary precautions to protect themselves and their people. Pray the Lord will open doors for relief to be brought to them in the scarcity that comes in the anarchy taking over their land.
Family
My wife, Flo, and I are rejoicing in God’s blessings. We celebrated twenty-nine years of marriage on February 11th. Praise the Lord, we continue to enjoy each other’s company as we support one another in whatever work we have. Our children back in Jamaica are doing well. Thank you for faithfully standing with us in this ministry.
Have a blessed Easter and may the Lord continue to add His rich blessings to your family.
Yours in His Service,
Rev. Leroy E. Thompson
August 2024, Prayer Letter
“Some people are changed when they see the light, but others will not change unless they feel the heat.” The reality of this statement encourages us to continue doing what the Apostle Paul did in Colossians 1:27-29. He presented Jesus Christ, the light, so people could change. This is what our current ministry of working with national pastors and church planters seeks to do. We build strategic partnerships between US churches of like-faith and nationals in the Gospel ministry. Our aim is for brethren to work together presenting Jesus Christ, the light, thereby fulfilling the Great Commission.
Quarterly Update
For the past months, the Lord allowed me the privilege to advocate for six national pastors. As a result, I helped a Caribbean church planter connect with ministries in Florida for support. My responsibilities further led me to help facilitate online VBS training for nationals in the Philippines, Africa, and the Caribbean with personnel from Independent Baptist Churches in Florida and New York. Additionally, my wife and I and brethren from one of the churches shipped needed resources to national pastors in the Caribbean. I was able to engage in these ministry opportunities while making mission presentations and preaching in different churches weekly. This excites me because we can help believers in different parts of the world cooperate so the lost will be saved when the resurrected Jesus, the light, is presented to them.
Hurricane Beryl
Although some plans for the summer did not materialize, much was still accomplished. Originally, we planned to visit our national pastors on the island of Jamaica and attend various Vacation Bible Schools that participated in our VBS workshop. Hurricane Beryl came and caused some devastation on the island. Many people in the Southwestern part of the island were badly affected. After the hurricane, we were able to visit some of the churches and saw some of the damage. I was also able to connect with other pastors to get an assessment of the damage done in their church community.
There were other Eastern Caribbean Islands that suffered greatly from the passage of Beryl. Our pastors on these islands are helping with recovery efforts in their communities with whatever resources they have. Some distribute food while others help with repairing damaged homes of members and community people. Amid these recovery activities, they are using opportunities before them to share the gospel of Jesus with their people. Please remember to pray for the effort of those ministries to reach their people amidst the disaster of Hurricane Beryl.
Summer to Fall
My wife and I were happy to see our children and parents. Praise God that our children are managing on their own. Our parents/guardians on the other hand are not as strong as they used to be and now need care. We crave your prayers for their well-being.
Since we came back to Florida, I started preparing for the Fall outreach. I am now in the process of booking meetings for a national pastor and Church planter, Jutike Rao, from India. He will be staying with us from September 16th to October 24th. We will welcome your invitation for us to come and visit your church so Pastor Rao can speak about evangelism efforts in India and the nature of the persecution affecting people who follow Christ in their culture.
Thank you for standing with us and please continue to pray for our efforts to reach all ethnic groups with the gospel.
Yours in His Service,
Rev. Leroy E. Thompson