I love worshiping in Haiti!  Take a listen!

CIO kids practicing their wedding song

Worship in Haiti 1

Worship in Haiti 2

Worship in Haiti 3

Worship in Haiti 4

Sermon at Carrefour Declos December 2011

All,

For weeks, many of you have been asking about my reinstatement process.  Up to yesterday there had been nothing to say.  But, yesterday, I received a letter from Rev. Dr. Larry Stoterau.  He is the President of the Pacific Southwest District of the LCMS and also the Chairman of the Council of Presidents for the LCMS.  He has appointed a committee consisting of Rev. Ken Hennings (President of the Texas District), Rev. Tim Scharr (President of the South Illinois District) and Rev. Gregory Walton (President of the Florida-Georgia District).  These men will be meeting with me sometime soon in order to be able to make a recommendation to the Council of Presidents at their September meeting.  I ask for your prayers.  Please pray for this committee and the process we will soon be going through.  I so much appreciate all your loving support.

One more thing.  Firmly Rooted Ministries sent several pallets of supplies to Haiti four months ago.  Please pray that the container gets through customs at the port very soon.  I would love for it to clear customs by the time I get there next Thursday (8/11/11).  Also, I sent the container through Orphan Grain Train, who has been sending containers to Haiti ever since the earthquake.  They can no longer send containers there and bear the full financial burden.  Firmly Rooted Ministries has been invoiced just under $900.00 for shipping costs.  If you feel moved to help with this financial burden I would greatly appreciate it.  Any money raised over the $900.00 will go into our continued work in Haiti.  You can make your tax deductible contribution by sending a check to Firmly Rooted Ministries P.O. Box 751, Oxford, MI 48371, or go the the support tab on this website and make your contribution via PayPal.

Again, I thank you for your ongoing support!

Peace!

Tom

I haven’t had a Firmly Rooted Thursday or Friday the last few weeks due to work and such, so I thought it would be a good idea to send you a bit of an update.  There is so much going on.  It is very exciting.

1. Classes are still being taught on Sunday morning at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Lake Orion.  All are welcome to come.  The class runs from 9:40 am to 10:40 am.  Classes are also being taught on Sunday and Tuesday nights.  Both of the evening classes are being held at Lifetime Wellness in Oxford.  The Sunday evening class is at 6:00pm and the Tuesday night class is at 7:00pm.
2. Kimberly and I started “Date Night” a couple months ago.  It is on the 3rd Saturday of every month.  It is held at Casa Real in Oxford.  They supply a buffet for $12 per person.  Each month we provide education and exercises in marriage enrichment.  Please come and bring friends.  We are averaging around 15 couples at each event.  Spread the word.  We are working on changing the location once a quarter for some variety.
3. Much is happening in Haiti.
   1. Firmly Rooted is supporting Adrianne and Julie’s summer trip (coming very soon).  Adrianne leaves in 2 weeks and Julie about a month after that.  I will be going down to Haiti in about a month with a team of people.  For most of the team this will be their first trip.
   2. The Orphanage is near completing a cafeteria and its first cabin.  Your donations helped provide the foundation for the first cabin and the driveway on the property.  Funds are still needed to complete the remaining 7 cabins.
   3. 6 crates of supplies (clothes, generators, sound equipment, school supplies, medical supplies, etc.) will be shipping to Haiti next week.  Your donations have made this possible.  Praise the Lord!
   4. 2 motorcycles have been purchased down in Haiti.  One was given to the CIO for general use.  The other was given to the pastor of Good Shepherd, Carre Four Declous, Haiti.  Pictures below.
      1.                                  
4. Daily Devotions continue to be posted in the website (firmlyrooted.org).  If your not getting the devotions sent to your email every day, there is a simple way to register on the site.  Also, if these devotions are blessing your life, would you please think about sharing them with someone else.  It is exciting to know that people are reading them all over the world.
5. Weekly audio Bible studies are being posted on the website.  An amazing fact:  This last month, China downloaded my studies more than the United States.  That is the first time that has happened.  Again, if you are blessed by the studies, please be bold enough to share with someone you think might like/need them as well.
6. I also want to ask for your prayers.  For months I have been educating myself in the apologetic defense of our Christian worldview.  I very much would like to do some talks/seminars/retreats on the worldview topic.  Please pray that the Lord opens the doors necessary to begin this important work.

That’s it for know!  Thank you for your love, prayers and financial support.  They all mean so much to us, and to the work of Gods’ kingdom.

Peace!

Tom

I had the opportunity to preach in Carrefour DeClos 3 times this weekend.  We had a couple revival services and a Sunday worship service.  Somehow I failed to properly record Friday night’s sermon, but here are the ones from Saturday night and Sunday morning.  Israelson Isidor did the translating for me.  He did a great job!

Saturday Night Revival Service in Carrefour DeClos.MP3

Sunday Morning Sermon in Carrefour DeClos.MP3

Peace!

Tom

Kimberly and I got the opportunity to go with Pastor Kessa’s wife, Sidney and distribute sandals, rice, beans and peas to several tent cities in Jacmel.  Attached is a video from one of them.  Please pray for the young families in the tent cities.  There is still a tremendous amount of basic needs that need to be met.

Video

Peace!

Tom

Attached is the audio file of the sermon I preached in Jacmel this last Sunday.  It was really exciting.  Two women came to Christ that morning!  Praise God!

2nd Sermon in Jacmel 080810.MP3

Peace!

Tom

All,

I can’t tell you how much your prayers mean to us here.  We can sense them and we daily experience God’s answers to them.  Thank you for faithfully taken us before the Lord in prayer.  My daughters Amanda and Megan and their two friends Ashley and Kelly are having a great time and doing a great job.  As I type they are at the Les Cayes hospital handing out Onesies to new moms in the maternity ward.  I put a picture of one of the Onesies on facebook.

Also, God is working a miracle in one of the girls on the team.  God is tugging at her heart very strongly and she is in the process of coming to Christ.  I had the opportunity to share the gospel with her last night and again this morning.  I hope and pray that this ends up being my first Haiti baptism.  What a blessing that would be.

Here is a video from yesterday’s time with the orphans in Torbeck.

Jesus Loves the Little Children.

Love and miss you all very much!

Peace!

Tom

I know it is too close.  It is the best I could do with my phone! 

Video

Peace!

Tom

Good Saturday morning to all of you.  Here is a video update on the wall.

Video

Peace!

Tom

It is amazing to see how much has gotten done.  Especially, because everything down here is done by hand.

3rd wall update video

Peace!

Tom