October, 2002

Greetings, Everyone!

I suppose that the first item for business is to explain to you why my own mother locked Heidi, the kids and me out of the house, forcing us to choose between spending the night in the yard in a tent, or staying at Howard Johnson’s. The truth is . . . well, actually, I don’t recall exactly how it happened. Mom claims that I told her to expect us on a different night— a dubious explanation at best. Personally, I believe that it was a payback for the ride that I gave her on my motorcycle back in 1982. (You’ve not lived until you’ve tried to ride a motorcycle with someone pounding on your back with both fists, screaming, “Slow down!!!” in your ear— ah, those fond memories!)

We want to thank the churches and individuals who have picked up our support. We currently have three supporting churches and one family who have joined the team: First Baptist Church of Newfield, New Jersey; Faith Baptist Church of Erial, New Jersey; Faith Independent Baptist Church of Frostburg, Maryland; and the Wroble family of Dysart, Iowa. Right now, our support level is at 16%. Five other churches have indicated, however, that they intend to support the ministry, and we are anticipating a significant boost after annual meetings, etc. Please pray with us that the Lord accomplishes His will in each situation. We believe that the Lord is going to move us onto the field very quickly, and we appreciate your prayers to that end.

Please pray for us as we present our ministry in a number of churches over the next several months. While one of our goals is to raise support, we truly want to minister to the folks that we meet. Please pray for me that the Lord will use me, and speak through me to His people. Please pray that Heidi, the kids and I will stay close to the Lord. It is amazing (and more than a little distressing) how easy it is to stray away from the Lord— even when you are busy trying to do His work!

Another matter for prayer is that God will lead us to our future fellow workers. We realized several months ago that planting churches while building and operating a youth camp (even a small one) is too big a task for one family. We are going to need help. We have been thrilled to see the Lord’s leading in this area, even in the early stages of the work. Four families and one individual have already told us that they believe that the Lord may be leading them to join us permanently. Three or four other families have offered their services during vacations, etc. It is beginning to look like the Lord intends for this ministry to be a lot bigger than I had pictured! That is very exciting (and also kind of scary!). I frequently have to remind myself that though I may be inadequate for the task, humanly speaking, God is infinitely capable of handling accomplishing His purpose.

Continue praying that the Lord will provide an airplane and property for the ministry. If the Lord lays it on your heart to help us in either of these areas, please send your gift to EBM with a note designating it as “Craigs’ airplane fund,” or “Craigs’ AK property fund,” or words to that effect.

Finally, please pray that the Lord will be preparing the hearts of the people in Alaska to whom we will minister. We have already seen evidence that this is happening (remember the radio station in AK that has been broadcasting the gospel into our target area?). We believe that the field in Alaska is “white unto harvest,” and, perhaps, white with snow, but that’s another matter. Seriously, please pray for these people that they will be ready to respond to the good news of salvation through faith in the shed blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

We love you all, and we are praying for you.

Yours in the Lord,



The Craig Family