Saturday, 14 December 2024 19:07

December 13, 2024 Update

Dear friends,

Jim took 32 steps (staircase steps) using one hand on the railing. He might be released before Christmas.

Jim in Hospital 11 2024

Jim and Phyllis

Sunday, 08 December 2024 07:41

December 7, 2024 Update

Dear friends,

Jim was transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility late Tuesday evening. Wednesday I wheeled him into a Bible study. One of the other patients became ill, so Jim was asked to teach the class. Everyone enjoyed the lesson and asked Jim to teach again next week. Jim is getting better. He is walking with a walker and doing physical therapy, but still in a lot of pain. Thank you for your prayers.

Jim in Hospital 11 2024

Jim and Phyllis

Thursday, 28 November 2024 05:37

November 28, 2024 Update

Dear friends,

Happy Thanksgiving! We are celebrating with hospital Turkey dinner. Jim is doing better and was able to stand up and took a couple baby steps. We are hoping he can be transferred to rehab tomorrow. We are truly thankful for your prayers.

Jim in Hospital 11 2024

Jim and Phyllis

Wednesday, 27 November 2024 07:43

November 27, 2024 Update

Dear friends,

Update for many people who prayed, called and are waiting for information. Yes, Jim took a fall on Saturday afternoon. He tripped on a speed bump in a parking lot. Jim couldn't move but witnesses called 911 and Jim was taken to ER by ambulance. He was in a great deal of pain but had to be moved for x rays and scans. I went to the ER and was with him until he was settled into a room. Sunday morning surgery, he had an 8" rod inserted into his femur and slept most the the day. He still couldn't move because of the pain, although he was on Oxymorphone. Monday, the surgeon visited and said the surgery went very well. The physical therapist started to work on him. Jim was able to slide to the edge of the bed, sit up and dangle his legs, but the he got dizzy and had to lay down again. The second time they tried to get him up, actually, did stand up, but then he passed out, so, they had to catch him and wrestle him back into the bed. The nurse said the dizziness is not uncommon after surgery, but they think that he well need to go to rehab when he is released from the hospital.

Phyllis

 

Sunday, 24 November 2024 18:27

November 23, 2024 Update

Dear friends,

On Saturday, Nov, 23, Jim fell and fractured his femur. He was hospitalized for a few days of evaluation and treatment. (Jim and Phyllis are in Houston where Jim was providing pulpit ministry for Robby Dean, who continues to regain stamina following a recent heart surgery.)

Please take him (and Phyllis) to the throne of grace for a quick healing without complications and return to his ministerial duties.

Wednesday, 13 November 2024 20:05

November 13, 2024 News Update

Dear friends,

As we approach the end of another year, I have been thinking of the plan of God and His marvelous grace for those who are in it. The year has been rife with disasters, warfare, political madness, growing antisemitism, invasion of illegals into the country, and economic uncertainty. But in the midst of it all there is that wonderful inner peace that comes from knowing that our sovereign God is in control, that everything is moving toward the culmination of His plan.

It is a marvelous time to be alive. Many people look at their circumstances and despair, but we who believe the Word of God should not be despondent for God has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. God has not called us to comfort and ease, to success and prosperity; He has called us to be faithful to Him. We are here to fulfill His purposes, not our own. Whatever God has called us to do, what is required is faithfulness.

Reviewing this past year has been humbling as we consider all the grace that has been given to us, having traveled to six different countries to preach the gospel and to teach the Word of God. We were able to spend some time in the war-torn country of Ukraine, where we rejoiced to see people we trained for ministry faithfully presenting a free grace gospel and teaching sound doctrine, even under adverse conditions. We also went into Poland and Romania to teach in churches hungry for the Word. As we have done for many years, we also did many hours of teaching in Zambia and Brazil.

 Jim Countries Flags

The photo is a display of flags from all of the countries where I have had the privilege or preaching the Word of God.

In addition, we went to Tahiti where we joined Mark and Rene Perkins for a few weeks of teaching. People seem to have the idea that Tahiti is a tropical paradise, and that doing ministry there would just be like working in the garden of Eden. I assure you that such is not the case. It is a small island with mixture of indigenous Tahitians and French, and the number of evangelical Christians is quite small. Most of the indigenous people are still steeped in their animistic religion, cults from America are proliferating, and Catholicism is also strong. The Perkins are working intently to establish a grace gospel and sound Bible teaching there.

While in the US we have also been able to do a lot of teaching in several churches around Texas and in a few other states. Our desire is to be able to return to Ukraine, but apparently the Lord has other plans for us at the present time, and He has given us many opportunities to teach in other places. Our calendar is already full through June of next year.

The Lord has blessed us so greatly, and it is our privilege to serve Him. We are most thankful for the mental and physical health we enjoy, making it possible for us to maintain this very active schedule. We are grateful for all of you who have a part in this ministry through your intercessory prayers and your support.

Sola Gratia (by grace alone),

Jim

Friday, 04 October 2024 02:28

FYI - September – November 2024

Dear Friends,

In case you're wondering what Jim has been up to as of late, he's has been providing pulpit supply for Dr. Dean at West Houston Bible Church since September 19.

Jim's been teaching through Psalm 119. You can view these wonderful lessons here. And, don't forget to do your homework!

Sunday, 11 August 2024 04:42

August 10, 2024 News Update

Dear Friends,

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”

We can’t change the world; we can’t change the political climate; we can’t control circumstances. We are not responsible to do so, but we are called to be faithful. It is so easy to be distracted by all of the chaos in the world and to forget why we are here in the world. It is not to be comfortable or successful, but to glorify the Lord in all circumstances. The question to be answered is not how can I change the world, but how can I glorify the Lord in my circumstances right now. As the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:9, “We make it our aim … to be well pleasing to Him.”

In the spring we spent several weeks in Europe. Along with Dr. Robby Dean we taught conferences in a variety of churches in Poland and Romania. Some of these churches have not been exposed to the categorical and exegetical type of teaching from Scripture such as we do. The response was amazingly enthusiastic. Even before we finished they were already asking us to come back. In fact, they asked if we could come back in the next month. We plan to go back, but it will have to wait until after the first of the year.

After the conferences in Romania, Phyllis and I went back to Ukraine. We faced no imminent danger in the places where we visited, but we did hear warning sirens almost every night. In many places we saw devastation as a result of the drone and missile attacks. Three-fourths of the power-generating stations in Ukraine have been destroyed by the Russians. The result is black-outs for hours every day. Walking down the street in Kyiv almost requires ear plugs because almost every business has a gasoline generator roaring in front of their building to provide lights inside.

Next week we will go all the way to French Polynesia in the South Pacific to work with missionary Mark Perkins and his wife Rene. In October we will go to the Philippines for several weeks of teaching in different places. And we already have conferences planned for four different countries in 2025. Please remember to pray for us as we travel and take the Word of God to these far-flung places.

I know this sounds like a vigorous schedule—and it is—but it is what the Lord has given us to do, so we just get up in the morning and go to work. We praise the Lord for His abundant provision that enables us. And we thank you for the huge role you play in making it possible for us to carry on. We are grateful for your prayers. We do not take that lightly, but recognize that the Lord hears and answers prayers. We also give thanks for all you who have supported us through giving. We give thanks to the Father who has so abundantly supplied our needs through you.

Please remember also to pray for Ukraine. The war is still raging there, even though it doesn’t get much coverage in our American media. Below is a list of names of men from our church and our Bible college who are serving in the military. They are fighting for their families, their homeland, their freedom.

  • Maxim Goryachkin
  • Yura Chugai
  • Sergei Chepara
  • Oleg Gatsenko
  • Sasha Tymoshenko
  • Ivan
  • Vova Lozinski
  • Vasya Andreev
  • Vlad Khyzhnyak
  • Sasha Kudlaev

Also, there are some stalwart pastors who are faithfully ministering under difficult circumstances. Some of them are also taking opportunities to minister to soldiers on the front lines. The chaplain corps in the Ukrainian military is almost non-existent, and there is opposition to evangelical chaplains coming from the Orthodox Church. These pastors keep on in spite of the difficulties. They are heroes in my estimation. Please keep them on your prayer list.

  • Oleg Lozinski
  • Sasha Petrenko
  • Vasily Munko
  • Viktor Munko
  • Genady Sinkovka
  • Andrei Chikilov
  • Roman Ovcherenko

By grace alone,

Jim

Saturday, 04 May 2024 07:05

May 2, 2024 News Update

Dear Friends,

It is so good to be back, even if it is just for a few days. I have been in Africa for the past two weeks, and such a rewarding and exciting trip. We taught in four different venues in Zambia, teaching six hours per day, starting at 9:00 in the morning and going until 4:00 in the afternoon. So we were able to log about 60 hours of teaching in 11 days. The topic was “Aspects of Christology: The death of Christ, His Resurrection, Ascension, and Session.” For many it was the first time for them to hear biblical teaching about these doctrines. The response was enthusiastic, to say the least. They begged us to come back as soon as possible so we could teach them more.

In each of the first three cities we averaged well over 100 pastors and church leaders every day. They came from various denominations and backgrounds, but we had no opposition to what we were teaching. One man said that you couldn’t argue with what was being taught, for then you would be arguing with the Word of God.

Traveling and teaching with me was Pastor Mark Kvam from Minnesota. I didn’t know him before this trip. A friend of his heard me speak at Austin Bible Church several months ago, and called him to tell him that he might enjoy going on a mission trip with me. So we corresponded a bit and talked on the telephone, and we decided that we could work together. Really, though, we didn’t meet until we joined up at the airport in Atlanta. This was a life-changing experience for him. He had never been to Africa nor had he taught in a foreign culture. Fearful at first, he quickly adapted and just fell in love with the people and the work. He thinks that he would like to continue going on such journeys in the future to take the Gospel to other parts of the world.

Musada Myers Men

Also teaching with us were two Zambia pastors that I have had the joy of teaching and training over the more than 20 years of going there. Charles Musonda is a pastor in Livingstone. He is a truly gifted communicator with a free-grace gospel and a solid theology. He is also a capable administrator who takes care of all the arrangement for our travel, accommodations and teaching. The other man is Benjamin Sakala, pastor in a small village. I met Benjamin in 2001, and he has been a faithful student ever since. Even though he is in a somewhat remote area (no electricity or running water), he has a well-taught congregation. It is truly exciting for me to go there and find people who know the Word of God and who can quote Scripture. It ought to be that way in every church. Both of these men have gained reputations as Bible teachers and are being called upon to go to other places to teach.

On Sunday last I went to Lusaka Bible Church. This is a young church and quite small. It was planted by two men who became oriented to verse-by-verse, exegetical teaching. This approach is almost unknown in that part of the world. When I walked in the pastor was teaching verse-by-verse through the book of Galatians. You can’t imagine how thrilling that was for me.

The Lord has been so gracious and merciful to give me the strength and the means to carry on this work. I am convinced that this is in large part due to your participation through prayer and support. Thank you so much. The Father has been pleased to answer your prayers.

Myers Zambia GPP Distribution ed

Next week Phyllis and I will be traveling again, this time for about six weeks, going to several countries in Europe. Conferences are planned for Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. Later in the year we have plans to teach in French Polynesia and in the Philippines. Please remember us before the throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

All of grace,

Jim

Saturday, 06 April 2024 22:31

April 6, 2024 News Update

Dear Friends,

What a great time to be alive. God has put us in this position in world history for His own purposes. In a time of uncertainty, chaos, immorality, the Lord has entrusted to us the tremendous privilege of representing Him in the devil’s world. While this may be very difficult, it is not impossible for He has provided all things necessary for life and godliness. Don’t give up. Keep on keeping on! And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.(Galatians 6:9).

Phyllis and I have been so blessed to have continuing opportunities to serve the Lord, even though we are in our 80s. People often comment, “We don’t know how you do it.” Or “Where do you get the energy to keep doing so much?” It is all of grace. The Lord has been merciful and has given us the health and the strength to carry out His work. We have heard people say, “I couldn’t do what you do.” My reply is that God didn’t ask you to do what I do. He gives us a task, He gives you a task. He gives grace to both. What is required of stewards is that we be found faithful.

In March we were in Brazil for three weeks, teaching in three different cities, sometimes as much as five hours per day. The response to the Word was enthusiastic and we had a wonderful time, greeting new people and meeting with long-time friends. We already have several invitations to return.

This weekend we will have the joy of watching our granddaughter be baptized as a public profession of her faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. The next day we will watch the total solar eclipse with our whole family – the first time since Covid-19 that we are able to all be together.

The on Wednesday I will leave for Africa on a three-week journey of Bible teaching in Zambia. I love going to Zambia – I have been there more than two dozen times – because the desire for Bible teaching is so great. We often teach 5-6 hours per day and the people are focused on learning. Please pray for protection, health and strength for us as Mark Kvam and I will be traveling and teaching aspects of Christology: crucifixion, death, burial, ascension and session of Christ.

When I return to the US I will have about a week to get ready for the next course. We will be going to Poland and Romania with Dr. Robby Dean and his wife, Pam. Robby and I will be team teaching conferences in those two countries. After that Phyllis and I will be going into Ukraine for a couple of weeks (assuming that the war does not preclude us from doing so). We have plans to be teaching in different places, and it is our hope that we will be able to gather many of our loved ones together for a grand reunion. Many have been scattered because of the war, but it may be possible to bring them together for a few days.

We don’t have anything on the calendar for July, so perhaps we can visit some of our supporting churches in the US at that time. In August we will go all the way to French Polynesia in the South Pacific to work with missionary Mark Perkins and his wife Rene. We had been asked to go to the Philippines after that but we just couldn’t make our schedule fit theirs, so that trip is on hold until later in the year.

I know this sounds like a vigorous schedule, and it is, but it is what the Lord has given us to do, so we just get up in the morning and go to work. We praise the Lord for His abundant provision that enables us. And we thank you for the huge role you play in making it possible for us to carry on, We are grateful for your prayers. We do not take that lightly, but recognize that the Lord hears and answers prayers. We also give thanks for all you who have supported us through giving. We give thanks to the Father who has so abundantly supplied our needs through you.

By grace alone,

Jim

 



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