NEWEST PRAYER LETTER - June - September, 2013

Here is our latest prayer letter...

JUNE—SEPTEMBER, 2013

Dear Friends,

I would like to divide the letter this time around into two parts to give you a perspective on what is happening with the Cobb’s. 

FIRST—MEETINGS & MINISTRY

The Lord has given us a busy schedule these last few months.  From June thru September we have been in the  following churches preaching meetings:

• First Mount Pleasant Baptist Church—Franklin, Indiana (Revival)
• Cornerstone Bible Baptist Church—Sanborn, New York (Tent Meeting)
• Chili Bible Baptist Church—Chili, New York (Anniversary Service)
• Liberty Baptist Church—Miamisburg, Ohio (Camp Meeting)
• Amazing Grace Baptist Church—Columbus, Ohio (Tent Meeting)
• 4-H Grounds—Harrisville, West Virginia (Revival)
• First Bible Baptist Church—Plainville, Connecticut (Sunday)
• Frenchville & Madawasca, Maine—Open-air gospel meetings
• New Life Baptist Church—Dover Foxcroft, Maine (Camp Meeting)
• Bible Baptist Church—Bangor, Maine (Sunday)
• Old Time Baptist Church—Hamburg, New York (Camp Meeting)
• Central Baptist Church—Lanett, Alabama (Tent Meeting)
• Lees Chapel Baptist Church—Sweetwater, Tennessee (Revival)

The Lord blessed greatly in these meetings and what a blessing it is to see God moving not only in the services but in other areas as well.  We also saw a few precious souls get saved and we thank the Lord for it.

SECOND—LIFE!

James 1:5 says  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  I really had to claim and live this verse these last few months as it has been a very     challenging time in our lives.  I was informed in June that at some point in the near future we would no longer have a place to live due to the town zoning board.  Suffice it to say I was taken off guard by the news and honestly had no plans and no direction.  It is a very long story and if you follow our blog you are aware of a lot of the details.  After much prayer and seeking God’s will, the Lord has blessed us with the opportunity to purchase a very nice motor home.  As of the writing of this letter we are very close to buying it.  Some churches who were aware of the need have taken up offerings and we have saved some money also.  We currently need the balance of $5,000 for the asking price of the motorhome plus about $3,500 for taxes, insurance and registration.  The Lord has blessed exceeding abundantly above anything we could have asked or thought and we are so thankful.  Please continue to pray for God’s will and timing as we near getting in our new home!

The rest of the year we will be in meetings in New York, Nova Scotia and Michigan.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support for us.  We love you all dearly!

In HIS service,

Craig A. Cobb

LEE'S CHAPEL BAPTIST CHURCH - Stillwater, Tennessee

After Lanett, Alabama - September 22-25 found us at Lee's Chapel Baptist Church in Sweetwater, Tennessee where Dennis Hicks is the pastor.  I first met Bro. Hicks up in Michigan about 12 or 13 years ago.  I have preached a couple of meetings with him over the years but this is the first time we have been to his church.  It was good to meet these friendly folks and we enjoyed their fellowship before and after the services.

This church does something I have never seen before - and I must say that we really enjoyed it! There was no congregational singing.  At the beginning of the service the choir got up - which was about half the church and consisted of young children to the elderly - and sang several songs.  Then after the choir, Bro. Hicks just called up folks to sing a few specials.  It really added a good spirit of worship to the services and we got a blessing out of it.

The Lord blessed in the preaching and it seems like some people got some real help.  This church loves preaching and as they say down south - "they'll go to meetin' with ya"!  There were several area pastors and some of their church members who came out and supported the meetings on Monday and Tuesday.  It is always a blessing to see when area churches can support another church's meeting - something that used to be commonplace but is quickly becoming a rarity these days.

Lee's Chapel Baptist Church - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Lee's Chapel Baptist Church - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Lee's Chapel Baptist Church - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Lee's Chapel Baptist Church - Sweetwater, Tennessee

Pastor Dennis Hicks and Evangelist Craig Cobb

Welcome to the south, y'all! This is the painting above the church baptistry

A PERSONAL MILESTONE - 20 Years!

Stacie and I are celebrating our

20th Wedding Anniversary!!!

 

I am so thankful that the Lord gave me such a wonderful lady to spend my life with.

 

Evangelist Craig and Mrs. Stacie Cobb

 

CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH TENT MEETING - Lanett, Alabama

SEPTEMBER 15-20, 2013

It was our privilege to be back in Lanett, Alabama for the annual tent meeting at Central Baptist Church where Bro. Jeff Thorn is the pastor.  This is Evangelist David Evans home church and he and I were the preachers for the week.  The Lord gave us good services each day and many visitors were there from the area.  On Monday night the choir from Emmanuel Baptist Church (Valley, Alabama) came and blessed us with some great special music.  The teen choir from Central, the Evans family and my wife, Stacie, provided the special music for the rest of the week.

On Friday night the church surprised us and took up a special offering to go towards the purchase of the bus we are looking at and we are so very thankful for their generosity! Praise the Lord!

Evangelist David Evans and Family

Greg Thorn leading the congregational music

Pastor Jeff Thorn - Central Baptist Church (Lanett, Alabama)

The Teen Choir of Central Baptist Church

Evangelist David Evans preaching

Evangelist Craig Cobb preaching

 

BUS UPDATE

I appreciate everyone who has been praying for the opportunity we have to purchase a motor home.  Many have called, emailed or texted and asked how things have been going.

Let me say first that we went and looked at the bus in early September and it is absolutely beautiful.  The pictures we received beforehand did NOT do it justice.  The owner has kept the unit in great condition and doing all the necessary preventative maintenance.  He and his wife are such dear people.  They were in evangelism for over forty years and due to his health he is no longer able to travel.

As we looked through the bus inside and out it took no time at all to realize the hand of God in the whole situation.  It is exactly what we need at this point and will be a great blessing.  "Ecstatic" doesn't even begin to describe how Stacie feels about it.  She is happy about finally having a "home" after several years of staying in motels and prophets chambers.

HOW WE ARE ASKING PEOPLE TO PRAY:
The gentleman came down to an asking price of $28,000.  Our church and another church has put up some money already.  A church we were at recently took up a special offering for the bus.  Then the Lord gave us some unexpected cash and we have set that aside.  All total so far we have $18,000 to put on it.  A gentleman came up to me last night and said he wants to give another $1,000 - bringing the total to $19,000 leaving $9,000 to go.  However, I am praying for more money to come in to help for registration, insurance, taxes and a few odds and ends that will be needed to actually get it on the road - a total amount somewhere in the neighborhood of $12-13,000 more.