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July 25, 2023
Hello to all those who faithfully support us (whether by prayer, finances, love, or all the above!) as we share His Word and spread hope across our world!
It has been an awesome and busy three months for us! We have been away more than we’ve been home, but we’ve got nothing but good news to share. In this update, we will share some of the highlights with you…
Some of you are aware that I (Ben) serve as a “chaplain” at several businesses in the Lynchburg area for a few days each month. These opportunities are both evangelistic and discipleship driven. Recently, one of the local company’s employees started a weekly prayer meeting that has now grown to more than a dozen men. PTL! Another development is I now get the opportunity to go to one of the company’s monthly safety meetings to bring a devotion. Pray for souls to be saved and Christians to continue to be strengthened in both companies. I also get the privilege to speak in several local churches in midweek services when we are in the Lynchburg area.
In May, Wendy was a speaker at a Ladies’ Conference at Lighthouse Baptist in Pennsylvania with Pastor Sterling & Mrs. Janet Walsh. What a productive conference with many churches attending! We then spoke that Sunday for a new church plant in the York area with our good friends, Brian and Katie King. It is exciting to see what God is doing at Refuge Baptist Church.
At the end of May, all our kids met us in Florida for a family vacation. How thankful we are for our children and for other family members and these very important days of making precious memories. It was a highlight of our year, for sure! On the way there, we were blessed to be with good friends, Corbett and Amy Stone, and share God’s goodness at their recovery meeting.
On the first weekend of June, Ben enjoyed returning to Maine with our friends Pastor Dale Chasse & Michelle, along with Tony & Kristen Donachy. Ben was able to help the recovery program and preach a revival on HOPE. We are extremely thankful for this opportunity as it was this revival series that God used to give us clarity in our ministry. Many years ago, God gave us a real burden to help hurting people. We have spent most of our ministry sharing Christ with those who felt as though they were “beyond hope” due to broken relationships, depression, drugs, alcohol, adversity, or simply life’s complicated circumstances. A couple of years ago, God changed our ministry direction, but that burden remains. It was through this meeting that God pointed us to our current mission: sharing “Hope Beyond” to a complicated world. We know that there IS hope beyond any circumstance through the transforming power of Jesus Christ!
That very next weekend, we were able to be at our home church with Pastor Kurt Skelly on the Sunday before we left to host 40 people on a "Land of The Bible Tour" in Israel. It was a “dream-come-true” for us! All 40 people came from different parts of our country and God knit our hearts together through an incredible guide and gospel emphasis during this entire 10-day trip. Go to Wendy's Facebook page and scroll down to June 26 and look at the pictures and summaries written by Wendy. We are already thinking of taking 50 more people in 18 months, so let us know if you want to go with us!
"Wendy's Facebook Page"
We returned home from Israel and before we could re-adjust to this time zone, we were off to Oregon! We were blessed to speak at a family conference for a church in Bend. The whole church travels to the coast for a special week together. God has given us great friends in this church, and we simply enjoy every opportunity we get to attend Victory Baptist. The same thing can be said about the church the following week – Worth Baptist in Fort Worth, Texas. Wendy and I love to visit our dear friends here and be a part of this great work. We absolutely love the Gillett and Sides families and thank God for them! During this week, we were also blessed to be a part of the Blessed Hope Baptist Church with Pastor and Mrs. Steve Lindsey. These precious friends were a BIG part of Wendy’s family as she was growing up and a part of her salvation story as well. She will always have a soft spot in her heart for the Lindsey and Crumpton families.
We concluded this trip by flying to Arkansas so that Wendy could help a friend who is like a sister to her. The daughter of Pastor Dan and Tabatha Allen was getting married, so Wendy and I served them in preparation for this wedding. Tabatha and Wendy have been close friends since high school, and she is beyond thankful for their friendship. I was able to speak both Wednesday and all day Sunday in their church.
This concluded over 40 days of travel with only 4 days at home between Israel and the rest of June and July. Wendy’s mom was glad to see us return home! Many of you ask about her and we are happy to report that she is doing very well. We are thankful that she has a part in our ministry as well. Her faith and her encouragement are a “boost” to us when we are weary!
Thanks to each of you for every prayer and every financial gift as you invest in us as we spread the HOPE of the gospel with others.
Love, Ben & Wendy
Here is our upcoming schedule. We stand amazed at how God continues to fill it with great opportunities. If you or your church would like to schedule the "Burks Fam" and Hope Beyond Ministries for special services, let us know! (708-882-6085) (https://bit.ly/BurksCAL)
"Burks Online Travel Schedule"
August 2-3: First Baptist Church – Bridgeport, MI - The Bridge Conference
August 4-6: Trinity Baptist Church – Flushing, MI
August 13: Fellowship Baptist Church – Roanoke, VA
August 25: God & Country Rally – Richmond, VA
August 26: Central Baptist Church – Lynchburg, VA
September 3: Tabernacle Baptist Church – Wilson, North Carolina
Here are some specific, personal prayer requests for those of you who pray with/for us:
- Pastor Dan Allen – health difficulties
- Zoe Peil – T1D Diagnoses
- Upcoming November Elections in Virginia (Over 2000 seats to be filled)
- Upcoming meetings for us
- More revival opportunities (the need is great in our country and churches)
- For us to continue to raise monthly support
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