The latest news from Pastor Phil Steadman, Capstone Baptist Church, North Bennington, VT

January 10, 2012

 Dear friends,
I was thinking of you all this sunday morning and wanted to take a few minutes to share a blessing. I'm preaching through James chapter 2. First service has about 20 people, Aline plays, I sing, Bob does the offering, Don the announcements. It would be very familiar to you all. Ginnie is there and usually Don Morin,Phil and Eleanor Harvey. During the sunday school hour I counselled a lady whose husband is in prison and then a friend came in with a terrible story of a possible breakup with his wife, he was in a turmoil saturday night and ended up impulsively deciding to ram his car into the loading dock across the street from the church to end it all. He stomped on the gas and closed his eyes and his engine seized up and he rolled to a stop in front of the church. I had turned the porch light on before I left and sat there under the porch lights rejoicing that God had saved him. His situation still warrents prayer but he is profoundly moved that God would reveal his mercy in that way and he desperately wants to save his marriage. I prayed with him and went in to do the second service. Dr. Tim and Judy Christian...my former Pastor and wife were making a surprise visit, the contemporary music went well and God brought in several new familes all seemingly at once...we had 90 in the second service and two of those familes requested membership info before the morning was over. 110 intotal with so many children that our whole children's church team was grinning with enthusiasm. Keep praying for us as G9od is doing marvelous things!

Chacas, Peru - June 10 - 18, 2011

The June 10 Peru Mission Trip was comprised of seven (7) member from First Baptist Athens and one (1) from Friendship Methodist. We met up with Josh and Crystal, our missionaries in San Luis, in Huaraz, which is about seven (7) hours drive from Lima. From there we traveled through the Andes Mountains to Chacas, which is another six (6) hours.

Chacas is and isolated town of about 5,000 population whithin the Andes Mountains . There is a religious presence there; however, there are not many believers of Christ.

Our mission while we were there was to go door-to-door spreading the gospel and locating contacts for Juan Carlos. Juan is one of the loan Christians in the area who has the Spirit living within him and he is eager to plant and grow a local church. His love fot Christ was evident in our first meeting with him.

We spent a total of three (3) days spreading the gospel, collecting contacts, prayer walking, and interacting with the people of Chacas. Most, if not all, welcomed us gladly into their homes at every turn and knock.

It was awesome to see God's work while we were there. Every member of the team left changed and touched by our efforts and we only pray that we were able to make an impression upon the community of Chacas for Christ' mission and for the mission Juan Carlos has ahead of him.

Submitted by Kevin Givens

Cedar Ridge Ministries, Inc., Williamsburg, KY - June 26, 2011

On the week of June 26 – July 1, 2011, three groups of believers joined together to carry the love of Jesus to Corbin, Kentucky by way of Cedar Ridge Ministries, Inc. We had three distinct jobs to do; one group would cook, one group would work construction, and one group would help lead a Backyard Bible Club. 

We all stayed together in the basement and fellowship hall of Corn Creek Baptist Church. Each group had its own mission. There was a wonderful group of ladies who stayed at the church during the day to cook for the whole group each day. We awoke each morning to the sweet aroma of a wonderful breakfast buffet. These women packed lunches for the Backyard Bible Club team, and had lunch ready for the construction team who was working just a short distance from the church. At the end of the day, we were treated to a wide range of delicious meals. These ladies shared Christ with each meal they served by exemplifying an attitude of being willing to serve others in the name of our Savior. This attitude made our home away from home seem a little more welcoming at the end of the day. 

Our construction team worked at a nearby Community Center. They worked on building a wheelchair ramp and finishing an addition to the center. They installed new floors, cabinets, and made other improvements to the facility. The people were so excited about the work these men and women did. The Center is used by the community to provide free clothing and food to anyone who is in need. 

We also had a team that partnered with a group from Northside Baptist Church from North Carolina to organize a Backyard Bible Club at the home of Robin Reeves. This group presented Bible stories and songs to all the kids who came to be part of the BYBC. Along with the group from North Carolina, they presented the word of God and the plan of salvation to an average of twenty-five kids each day. When they were finished with BYBC, they also prayer walked a local church and neighborhood. God also presented this group with an opportunity to provide clothing for a single-parent family who had lost everything in a fire. 

It wasn’t all work and no play. Each night we had time to play games and get to know each other a little better. We laughed, played, and spent some quiet time with the Word each day. We may never know what fruit will be gathered from the seeds we planted in Corbin, KY, but we do know that God was present there, and that was made obvious from various stories told about how God worked in our lives while there.

Submitted by Kevin Pepper

San Luis, Peru - July 11-20, 2011

The Impact Peru trip was absolutely incredible. The traveling was more demanding than any trip I've ever taken. By the time we got to San Luis, we were already tired physically, but spiritually we felt great! We had a prayer walk through the city the first day, and some of the group had a chance to witness and share the Gospel with the people of San Luis. We had a press conference with the mayor, who welcomed us into the city and thanked us for the work we were doing there. While we were there, we did a variety of physical labor and evangelical work. As we repainted a run down basketball and volleyball court, children and adults of the community came out to see what we were doing and were excited to help. This was a wonderful chance to visit and share the reason we were there. Part of the group hiked up one of the mountains one day to help with construction of a building for a Christian radio station. This was an extremely difficult mission, but the benefits of being able to broadcast the gospel 24/7 in the area will be phenomenal! Another mission we participated in was an eyeglasses clinic in a nearby village, Chinlla. This experience was very close to my heart, and the people of Chinlla were so thankful for the care and glasses. One of the precious ladies who helped us coordinate the clinic, Juana, actually accepted Christ a few weeks after we left. The people of San Luis and surrounding villages were so welcoming and so open to hearing the word of God. Josh and Crystal Murphree, our Southern Baptist Missionaries, are doing an amazing work in this part of the world, and they will continue to need our support and prayers. We were all extremely blessed by this trip, and thank God for giving us this opportunity to serve Him.

Submitted by Megan Morris

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, May 9-13,2011

May 9-13, 11 Volunteers were the first team to begin construction on a new church building for North Star Baptist Church in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. As happens sometimes with the initial team, the concrete for the floor had not been poured. However, God is always faithful with those who are obedient. We had people on the team experienced in erecting fences. The first two days we installed a white vinyl fence 340 feet along the back property line. It is doubtful there would have been anyone on the subsequent teams with the “know how” or desire to put up a straight level fence. Since the floor wasn’t ready to erect framing, the remaining three (3) days were spent building 2x6x10 stud walls. They were stacked and labeled so the next team could erect them in proper order. The next week after we returned home, we received a report from the Project Manager that the next team was able to erect all the walls, roof trusses, and deck the building because of the progress made by our team in putting the walls together.

Our team cooks prepared meals in the house/dormitory where we stayed in such fashion that most everyone gained weight while on the trip. We had great food and deserts every day while also enjoying good fellowship. A highlight and probably most enjoyable part of the trip was sharing devotionals and personal testimonies..

Some who drove there and back was able to see sites, part of this great country, and God’s Creation in the process.

Report on God's Love From a Diaper Bag (Mission Trip August 2010)

Thanks to all who prayed and gave, and to God who blessed , our Mission Trip to God’s Love From a Diaper Bag, Jenkins, KY was a great success. Eighteen (18) people from First Baptist and two (2) from Cave Springs Baptist, Priceville went to Jenkins, KY August 2 through 7 to work with Bessie and Lester McPeek at God's Love From a Diaper Bag. The entire area was walked and bathed in prayer. Even Whitesburg, 15 miles away received some prayer walking. One nursing home and two Senior Centers were visited with singing, devotionals, prayer, and conversation.

We carried toothbrushes, encyclopedias, and some diapers and clothes left over from the Association Trip in June.

The new building for stocking and issuing supplies was completely finished! Work on the building included finishing sheetrock, installing light fixtures, trim work, underlayment, vinyl flooring, and painting. What shelving they had was installed and some of the diapers and supplies were stocked. Some work was done on the remodeling of the older building including installing sheet metal, baseboard, lighting, hanging doors, and putting down baseboard.

On the Association Trip we took the Communion Table First Baptist gave to them. This trip we took a Chest of Drawers some of the guys made for Bessie.

At Friday nights Celebration for what God had let us do, thanks to the generosity of First Baptist members, and after paying more than $4000.00 for materials, we gave Bessie and Lester a receipt for a utility bill we paid for $840.25, a $500.00 check for school supplies, $702.16 for the ministry and $165.41 left from team grocery money. (We ate gooood because we had gooood cooks.)

Since our trip a pastor has come to plant the new church. Sunday, August 22, 2010, they had their first service with 20 people present.

I’d say God has blessed our mission in Jenkins, KY this year. Only God can do everything that has been done and we thank Him for allowing us to be part of His work.

Thank you First Baptist Athens for those who prayed, those who gave, and those who went, for having a Heart for Missions.

Report from Capstone Baptist Church in North Bennington, Vermont 8/24/10

We had fun with VBS, lots of Capstone volunteers. Should be able to do our own next year. Moving toward two services this fall...also planing a small group ministry...I believe we'll have 5 studies first time around. We're going to use a semester system...sign up for three mnths of study, one month off, then sign up for a new one...each group to have an assistant leader so that we'll always be training new leaders. We are sponsering a church plant in Arlington...they have been meeting on Thursday nights for a few weeks. Luke Garrett is coming to sing at capstone on the 12th of September...wonderful singer. Also planning an evangelistic block party for september 18th. I'll try to chat with you soon, God bless, Phil