Abaco Update from Justin and LeAnne

ReEngage has been a true joy! With topics like love, grace, humility, and communication, you can imagine the weight of what God is doing in marriages. We know He is definitely at work in our own marriage and we are so grateful to get to learn to love each other more like Christ and especially thankful to be learning alongside such a sweet group of friends. God is at work and we are grateful to be a small part of what He is doing. When Silverdale brought reEngage to Abaco in the summer, I felt a lot like the 12 disciples would have when Jesus told them to feed the 5,000. “With what? What are 5 loaves and 2 fish for so many?” basically the disciples response to Jesus was “Who are we and what do we have to offer?” It was a declaration of their insufficiency to do what Jesus was asking them to do. Justin and I are the youngest couple in the group and very much feel our inability to transform marriages for the glory of God. But in Matthew 14:18 Jesus’ response to the disciples was the key to the “abundantly more” that was about to take place. Jesus said, “bring them to me.” and they did. He blessed what they had and it was more than enough to meet the needs of the people in front of them. We are called to bring ourselves and the work God calls us to before Jesus. Offer what we have. He does the rest. I pray that our “5 loaves and 2 fish” that we bring to the Lord multiplies into marriages being satisfied in Jesus and each other and that this work God has started multiplies across Abaco for the glory of God.

Melvin and Shelly came this summer with Silverdale Baptist and equipped people on how to start the ReEngage ministry in their communities. These two are incredibly precious souls that we love dearly and have brought so much hope to Abaco! They returned and poured their hearts and souls into people while they were here. Shelly joined my small group at G2; they both led the ReEngage group, Melvin spoke at Celebrate Recovery, and he preached at Assemblies of God Cherokee. We know we were so blessed by their visit, and so were many others. I can not wait to be in heaven one day to know the eternal fruit of the joys of ministry we get to walk in and witness in the here and now. Melvin and Shelly have hearts of gold and love everybody. It is so evident that Christ is living through them and using them as partners in the gospel wherever they are!

This month’s Bible training course was our largest attended course yet. With 18 students, Ben and Ken Shoening took the class through the Old Testament. It was a great reminder to all in the class that God is always faithful to keep His promises! Our next course (New Testament Survey) is shaping up to happen in January