Jones Family May 2020

Jones Family May 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope you are all doing well. These last two months have been different for all of us! We all have had to make changes and with those changes struggles have come our way. I would not be sending out this letter without praying about it. During the month of March, our support level dropped 20%, in April our support level dropped 32%, and now in May, our promised support level dropped 53%. I know we all have had to cut back, but at the same time God’s work needs to go on! We are in need of financial help. If you can give, we would greatly appreciate it! If not, we understand. We love you all! 

Here are some prayer requests we have at the moment:

*Pray that the reservations will reopen. Praise the Lord, there are no cases of Coronavirus on the Cocopah reservation. 

* Pray for the kids and teens in our church. A lot of them are getting into trouble. A lot of them do not have someone to love them. We only get to see them for a few minutes each week. We give them care packages and tracts, but they need that social interaction with us. 5 minutes a week is not enough. 

* Pray for a Cocopah lady named Elena we’ve been able to reach through online ministries who is living away from here. Her fiance has liver issues and they are both battling to stay sober. 

* Pray for a Cocopah lady named Desiree who reached out over our church Facebook page for Bible studies via correspondence

* Pray for our online services. We are doing everything by the way of the internet. President Trump declared churches to be essential and our Constitution gives us the right to worship freely, but on the reservations, they are a sovereign nation and it’s the Tribe’s call on us having service. On Monday, June 1st, the Cocopah leaders will be deciding on if they should reopen in June or postpone the opening. Please pray that they will reopen. As I mentioned before, there are no cases of Coronavirus on the Cocopah reservation at this time. 

*Pray for us financially. We were at 74% promised support. Our support level went down by 53% this month. If you would like to help, you can send support directly to us or to our Mission’s finance office. (Both are listed below)

Thank you so much for your continued prayer for us and for your generosity!
In Christ, 
Jacob, Lydia, and Samuel Jones

Colossians 1:18 “And he the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

Veldhuis May 2020 Prayer Letter

Dear Family and Friends in Christ,
Federal and local “shutdowns” or quotas on meeting sizes impose static limitations on Biblical missions, but could never

alter the eternal truth that “ it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” ( I Corinthians 1:21 b) How grateful we are for our Lord’s eternal fruit through the undiminished prayers and support as well as the providential

timing of our February 10-12 revival with Pastor Joe Doyel just prior to the shutdown and the disbursement of the huge annual Cocopah Casino checks.

To God be the glory for blessing the preaching to natives from all three reservations with a more reverential overall atmosphere and the glorious salvation of 45 year old Salvador and rededication of his girlfriend Lorie the final night! Both of them are growing through Bible studies and work around the church, which we trust will soon lead to his baptism and their marriage or relocation.

The baptistry/ fellowship hall section of our building was marvellously expanded through a group from the E. Free Church of Gaylord, Michigan’s whirlwind construction of a gorgeous 14X24 storage shed, February25- March 4. Though time did not permit sightseeing, they were blessed to attend our Native services and contributed further to saving souls from the ravages of the February 15 casino windfall and the third world culture they’d witnessed firsthand.

Massive Navajo Covid 19 outbreaks miles away accentuated the prudence of the closure of all Cocopah reservations and schools in early April. This meant delivering Resurrection Sunday lessons and treat packs to homes (at a six foot distance), airing video Bible studies and stories , and live streaming church services until at least May 17th. P.T.L. even saved Cocopah who’ve moved far away have profited from these new ministries!

Miraculously, North Cocopah Reservation Bible clubs grew under the watchful eyes of tribal police to where parents began also sending children to our Sunday and Wednesday services 25 miles away. All are excited about ending the “shutdown” and resuming services, while some (saved on the other two more Godless reservations years ago) are talking of driving their children to church.

Help with the North Rez. church rides would be invaluable, as we are picking up all three reservations separately as well as keeping attendees far apart until the Covid crisis clears. Jacob and Dawn are taking turns with this route despite Dawn and Lydia’s extremely high health risks, but Jacob will soon be flying East for rescheduled deputation meetings.

Lydia and 14 month old Samuel, currently fighting their own tooth abscess and ear infection, appreciate your prayers for healing and strength laboring with us throughout Jacob’s absence. PRAY for additional helpers here if his mission meetings conflict with fluctuating dates for summer camps or Neighborhood Bible time.

Other than his ear problem, Samuel led the way health wise outgrowing his neck contracture without further therapy and learning to walk. Lydia fights food intolerances and cardiopulmonary weakness daily, but along with Jacob, Samuel, Dawn, and myself has so far experienced no Covid 19 problems. The Lord’s further grace toward year round ministries soon followed in the form of readily passed extensive C.D.L. physicals.

April/May 105 degree cloudless, windy days signalled the end of our two week 80 degree spring and initiated preparations for summer ministries. Gifts the magnitude of our sending church’s new HVAC system for our house together with your provisions for new Covid 19 labors, Michael’s glaucoma meds, vehicle tires, church lawn care, salvage bus restoration, and all camp and N.B.T. deposits can only begin to be thanked by promising our best possible stewardship.

We sincerely ask our gracious God to multiply and return each blessing to you as you further labor with us in prayer for:

PRAISES:

  • ●  All Cocopah contacts still eager to resume services.
  • ●  Strength and safety for new ministries and unavoidable social interactions.
  • ●  Jacob and Lydia’s 75% support level and remaining rescheduled 2020 meetings.
  • ●  Michael’s good March P.S.A. numbers and six month extension of re-evaluation. PETITIONS:

IBIMI ‘s future following our founder’s April Covid 19 death.
Comfort or the Thomas family after 45 year old Junior’s death.
Safety and eternal fruit through tentative camp and Neighborhood Bible Time dates of July 6-10, July 12-17, July 20-24, and July 27- August 1.
Safe resumption and fruitful operation of all church pickups and ministries.
Golding, Phillips, Sereno, Soto, Thomas, and White households’ salvation or repentance.
69 year old Millie’s salvation and she and 70 year old Faye’s enormous health needs.
Repentance, salvation, and growth of cold teens, Ammon, Cezar, Justice, Lilly, Satori, and Tyler

Messick April 2020

APRIL 2020

“For where two or three are gathered together in myname, there am I in the midst of them.” Matt. 18:20

Dear Ones in Christ,

We trust all is well with you during this unusual period in our world. Since our last letter, Gary purchased a transmitter enabling us to hold drive-in services in our church parking lot. As we called our church folk to let them know we would have church in our cars, the message coming through their radio, we thought of the above scripture and wondered if it would be just two or three gathering, but to our surprise and great joy as we have met this way the last three Sundays in April, we had around thirty-five attend each service! Due to the rise in temperature, we have begun meeting at 9:00 instead of 10:00 am.

Like us, I’m sure you miss the close fellowship with friends and family, especially grandkids! You can imagine our delight when, on the second Sunday, who should drive all the way from Phoenix to attend our services, but Kirt, Elida, Joseph & Micah!  It was so good to see them again, even if we did have to keep our distance, and believe me, that wasn’t easy! 

It is a great blessing that Naomi has been able to teach our ladies Bible study on Zoom.  It was so good to be in God’s Word together and fellowship, and even see each other “face to face” again! 

We are looking forward to seeing how God will work and bless the ministry when we are able to resume normal services. 

We are so grateful to the Lord for your faithful prayers on our behalf and the support that makes it possible to continue the ministry. 

PRAISES:

*Healing of the DeFord family from the virus

*For the technology to be able to have drive-in services

*For Baby Andrew’s continued progress 

PRAYER REQUESTS:

*Salvation of those on the Yavapai-Apache Nation

*Bev’s nephew, Eric, suffering with brain cancer

*That God might use these uncertain times to bring revival around the world

Jones May 2020

May 2020 Prayer Letter 
Dear Family and Friends,
     Thank you so much for your prayers and financial support these last few months. Currently, we are holding off on deputation until the summer time due to the COVID-19 virus. We are ministering to Natives by having online service, dropping off care packages, and encouraging them through social media. Lord willing, we will be able to come back to church and have church the way the Bible tells us to do. (Hebrews 10:25).

     During the month of February, we were in the states of Texas, Florida, and Georgia. During the first week of February, Lydia and Samuel needed to stay home and rest a little bit while Jacob went to present in Texas for a week and a half. While preaching and presenting in southern Texas, he found that there was a church that was having their mission’s conference in the area. He decided to attend because he wanted to hear good preaching- not knowing that God was leading the pastor to have him as part of his conference! The church was very kind and giving and the Spirit of God was moving in hearts- including Jacob’s. After Texas, Jacob went home to be with his family and join in the 3 day Cocopah revival meeting. The guest speaker was Evanglist Joe Doyel from California. God was working in hearts! There was one salvation (Salvador) and a lady came to Pastor Veldhuis and told him that she needed to get a few things right with the Lord. Pastor Veldhuis prayed with her and she is on fire for the Lord! Her name is Lorie. Please pray that she stays close to God. This revival meeting was a huge encouragement for the Jones and Veldhuis families. After the revival meeting, Jacob was joined by Lydia and Samuel and drove back to Texas for a meeting and then drove to Florida for a meeting and to see Lydia’s extended family. After Florida, we presented at a church in Albany, GA. They were kind and down to earth. We loved that! The month of February was a great month for our family. One Cocopah got saved, another one gave her life to the Lord, we had a lot of generous givers, and we picked up 4 new supporting churches. God is so good! 

During the month of March, Jacob traveled and presented at 5 churches in the state of Colorado. On March 1st, Jacob presented at two churches. One in Elizabeth, CO and the other in Gypsum, CO. On March 3rd- 5th, he attended a Home Church Planter’s conference in Englewood, CO. for the first time. He didn’t know many people, and it was a great opportunity to be able to meet new pastors and other church planters throughout the United States. It was encouraging to see pastor and indviduals giving thousands of dollars towards church planting works. The preaching was wonderful and convicting. It was just want he needed! As a result of the conference, we were able to pick up 4 supporters! After the conference, that following Sunday, Jacob presented at 2 other churches in Thornton, CO and Fowler, CO. Both churches were a blessing!

On March 9th, he was traveling back to Yuma. While he was travelling home, there was word on the news about the COVID-19 virus’ spread throughout the U.S. When he called Lydia, she told him that her doctor said she had to isolate. If she got the virus she would not survive. Jacob prayed for God’s direction and help in knowing  what to do and how to handle this matter. A few days later, we got calls from churches that had to cancel with us due to the virus. Jacob prayed even more and after much consideration, decided that we will not be travelling until June. We had a few Bible clubs on the Cocopah North reservation and one on one discipleships during the middle of March.
By the end of March, we decided to just send out care packages and have online church livestreaming. We do not like this one bit but we were relieved to know that this was only going to go on for a short time. 
On March 28th, we celebrated Samuel’s first birthday. We are so thankful that God gave us him. We had a fun time with him!
In April, we spent a lot of time together as a family. Jacob did a lot of studying and we sent out care packages to the members of the Cocopah church. Please pray for Bible believing churches throughout the world. Everyone in the world is being affected by the COVID-19 out break. We need to get the gospel out asap. People are fearful, struggling finacially, and have no hope after death. They need the Lord Jesus Christ! Let’s pray for one another and call friends and family to give them the gospel over the phone or via the internet. Our job in spreading the gospel does not ever stop! Lord willing, this virus will go away and churches will be able to meet together. 

Prayer Requests:     Salvations- Mariella, Satori, Ayla, Cayden, Airus, Sherry, Stanford, Sylvia, Mary, Joe, Jessie.Spiritual Growth- Molly, Loren, Tyler, Lilly, Roxanna, Alex, Edward, Justice, Jasmine, Mya, Kayla, Vincent and Amon, Lorie and Salvador. Health: COVID-19 cases, Lydia, Baby Samuel, Sherry with possible tumor; Mary, Edward, and  Bro. and Mrs. Veldhuis with general health.Pray for Present Ministries* Bus
* Bible Clubs* Children’s
* Teen* Seniors* Soul Winning * DiscipleshipPray for Future Ministries * Bible studies on the Quechan reservation (Lord willing Oct. 2020) In a few weeks, I will be giving you all more of update on planting New Haven Baptist Church in Winterhaven, CA. Keep churches in your prayers daily please! Jeremiah 33:3 “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”  Currently, there are over 1.6 million Native Americans in the United States and 562 distinct, sovereign tribes. Many of these tribes struggle with substance abuse and poverty and have no Gospel witness. Please pray with us that God would help us plant churches and that He will send more laborers into the Native American field located right in our backyard.
 Personal Needs That more churches will take us on for support. As of now, we are at 74% of our support goal.  Thank you all who give and pray for our needs! Upcoming Events 

Lord willing…June
2nd Highlands Baptist Church Boone, CO
3rd Fountain Independent Baptist Church Fountain, CO
7th Crystal River Baptist Church Carbondale, CO
14th Cross Road Baptist Church Buckeye, AZ
22nd- 26th Junior Camp week at West Branch in Williams, AZ

July 
6th- 10th Teen Camp week at West Branch in Williams, AZ
12th Heaven View Baptist Church Arizona City, AZ
15th Faith Baptist Fellowship Church Villon, AR
19th Liberty Baptist Church Trenton, MO
22nd Lighthouse Baptist Church Rock Island, IL
26th Assurance Baptist Church Inglewood, OHWe want to thank you all for your prayers  and financial support!Take Care and God Bless Sincerely In Christ,Jacob and Lydia Jones Missionaries to the Native AmericansCell: (928) 315- 5057Email: [email protected]II Corinthians 4:3-4“But if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto.

Grammer April 2020

April 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,

Are you Trembling or Trusting?  Panic and fear are contagious but as Christians we can trust our Heavenly Father.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.  He has a plan for each of us, He is able to carry it out and He has a purpose for good (Rom. 8:28).  

In last month’s letter, we told you that our mission founder and former director, Dave DeFord had the virus, as well as his wife, his son, his son’s wife and their 2 daughters.  All have now recovered. However, Dave’s recovery was into the arms of Jesus!  We are so thankful for his testimony and ministry over the years and rejoice that He is now in Heaven.  Please do pray with us for his family as they adjust to life without him.

All of this has made changes to our ministry here in Arizona.  Local nursing homes are still are prohibiting visitors.  The Easter services on the Navajo Reservation were cancelled and presently no-one is scheduling meetings.  Also the annual Navajo Family Bible Conference held here in Flagstaff in early summer has been cancelled.  

The Navajo nation has been hit rather hard and the past couple of week-ends, they have gone into total lock-down from Friday night until early Monday morning with tribal police and the National Guard manning roadblocks.  If caught out of your home, it demands 30 days incarceration or $1,000 fine!  It may be a while before this area is open for us to visit-or for visitors from there to come to us. 

Thankfully, we still have contact through the phone and internet and are able to encourage and counsel some.  Thank you for helping us financially so that we can pay our bills and have these services available to us. 

Pray with us that things will start opening back up before the scheduled trip to Alaska in August to work on the radio station.

We are all experiencing difficulties and changes right now.  As Christians, we need to obey those in authority and take sensible precautions, but beyond that, don’t fear but trust in our loving Heavenly Father to work out His plan.

Thank you for your financial gifts and support in our ministry-especially your prayers. 

II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”

In Christ,
Sam & Janet Grammer  

Grammer March 2020

March 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
Is. 26:3-4 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.  Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Also,  in Philippians we are told to not be full of care for anything but to take it to God in prayer and He will give us unbelievable peace. (Phil. 4:6-7)  As the world around us responds with fear and panic, we can have peace as we trust God.  We trust that He has a plan and that He is in control.
We do not trust that He will withhold all difficulties from our lives but will be with us through them.  Last Thurs., Dave DeFord, our mission founder and former mission director was admitted to the hospital with pneumonia and tested positive with COVID-19.  Pray with us for the family as they can’t even stand at his side through this, yet we know that God never leaves us alone and is there for him.  What peace can be found by trusting God!
Several of our family and friends have been checking up on us.  We are doing well and were stocked up before this “social distancing” began:  full pantry and freezer (and even tp on hand!-though eggs are a bit hard to find).  We haven’t had many visitors though one family came to town for medical appointments and ate in our home as restaurants are closing their doors temporarily. Another spent the night as he was passing through on his way home.  Internet and phone seem to be the method of reaching out and ministering  these days.
Nursing homes are prohibiting visitors.  Praying with one dear lady over the phone, she told us that her family had forgotten her.  We reassured her that they hadn’t forgotten but no visitors were allowed.  She most likely won’t remember what was said or understand the effect this virus is having all over the country, but for now our visitation is by phone.  Remember to keep in contact with your elderly family and friends during this time and pray with and for them.
Last fall, we helped a missionary family on the Hopi reservation when they had to be away.  A little girl was born to their family this past month and they wanted to get away for a couple of weeks as a family and we agreed to fill in again for them.  This is a small group (2-3) meeting in their home and then Kid’s church in the afternoon (6-7?).  We are traveling to Hopi land each week-end for the last 3 weeks of this month.  Pray for this missionary family (Andy & Nancy) as they work among the Hopi people. 
We were scheduled to be on the Navajo reservation for Easter services but not sure whether this will come about.  This is a much larger group and we aren’t sure when the state will decided to lift their restrictions.  Once again, it is good to know that God is in control-even of our scheduling.
We realize that many of you are having services via the internet these days. Thank you for your prayers for us and know that we often pray for you.  Thank you for your financial gifts and support in our ministry. 

II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”

Jones March 2020

Dear family and friends,

As you all know, the Corona virus outbreak is happening in America and the world. I also know that this viral outbreak has affected every church in some way. It might be affecting fellowship gatherings, causing low church attendance, dealing with health problems in your church, and people fearing the unknown.  As we deal with these things, we all need to remember that God is in control. We need to remember that we are commanded to walk by faith and not by sight. (Heb. 11:1; Romans 1:17). This is a time we need not to doubt God but need to all be doing our part in helping with this situation. We need to pray for one another, encourage one another, help one another and trust God with everything that is going on. I love this verse, Proverbs 16:20 “He that handles a matter wisely shall find good; and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.” Reading this verse helped me with my judgement in making this decision. Due to this virus and the safety of my family (especially my wife who has a low immune system) I believe that it is best for my family and I to hold off with deputation for now until the summer. Lord willing, the heat in the summer will help slow down the spread of this virus. We are now 72% supported. Praise the Lord! At this time, I am planning to spend more time with my family, studying the Bible more, helping the members of our Cocopah church, and doing more one on one Bible studies. Keep us in your prayers as we pray for you all. Take Care and God Bless You AllSincerely, The Jones family Missionaries to the Native AmericansCol. 1:18(928) 315-5057

Grammer Feb 2020

Feb 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,

Some of you have asked how the modular system is working out with the Dine Bible Institute where Sam teaches.  It  appears to be working out well.  Because so many lessons are scheduled for one day, it is important that no class days are missed.  

One of the students had to miss a class because of a witness opportunity! A man from a family that follows traditional Navajo beliefs was quite sick and is now much better.  However, while sick, he heard Jack give the gospel message and accepted Christ.  He invited Jack to attend a gathering to share the message with his extended family.  We have been praying for this student and hope to hear a good report this week-end as the next class is scheduled.  

Plans are now being made for this summer’s work in Thorne Bay, Alaska for the radio station for late July and August.  Please continue to pray with us that the power company will put in power lines to the property.  If not, a generator will need to be used.  After the initial cost, there will be the cost of fuel to keep it running and will restrict the amount of time on the air.

We had an answer to prayer this past month.  Janet’s hearing aids are close to needing replacement and the cost given to us was almost $6,000.   A Christian friend showed us a sale in his newspaper that we were able to take advantage of if we drove to Prescott (1 ½ hrs away from Flagstaff) and dealt with another company.  This saved us $4,000! 

At present, Janet has no piano students but stays busy as she visits some of the elderly ladies that we have ministered to in the past and that are presently living in Flagstaff in nursing homes.   She also does child-care for a local ladies’ Bible study.    

Thank you to each of you for your prayers on our behalf as we serve here among the tribes.  We are very aware of your part in our ministry and you are appreciated!   Thank you also to each of you that help us financially.

II Cor. 2:11 “Ye also helping together by prayer for us.”

In Christ,
Sam & Janet Grammer