Author Archives: netwrkltd

Nigeria in 2013

April 20-May 10

Regarding my pending trip to Nigeria, I want to borrow from the Apostle Paul – “the time of my departure is at hand.” By the time you read this letter it will be less than three weeks until I fly.

I cannot remember being this excited about preparing for a trip in quite a while. I am sure that it has to do with the fact that I love Nigeria like my “first-born” since it is where I received my call to missions ministry. And, add the fact that I could not go in 2012 because of the instability of the social climate and the cancellation of the leadership conference. While the potential for violent behavior among the Muslim portion of the population is still quite real, I am confident that I am to go for several reasons.

Firstly, I received by visa from the Nigerian Consulate in Atlanta in a record four days! My passport was returned with visa in such short time that when I was notified that a certified letter awaited me at the post office, I was concerned that my application had been rejected on some technicality. Normally, two weeks is a fast turnaround for a visa application. Hallelujah! God is great and greatly to be praised!

Secondly, in conversation with Alex Abiola, the Church of God National Overseer of Nigeria, he extended an invitation to meet him in Nigeria and conduct leadership conferences in “the south,” in Lokoja and Lagos, an area of the country where I have not previously ministered. This enabled me to apply for the visa without reference to Jos and the more troubling area of central and northern Nigeria, even though I still intend to participate in the conference in Jos and minister at the Springfield Bible Training Centre.

And, thirdly, I was able to find and purchase a ticket to Abuja for just over $1,400.00 and there was money in my travel account to cover the cost. I had raised some funds in preparation for the 2012 trip (which did not happen) and what was on hand was enough to buy the ticket! Praise God for his abundant provision!

Prayer ministry during the 2011 Pastors and Ministers Conference in Jos, Nigeria.

While there is still a deficit of $1,600.00 needed to fund the entire trip, I am confident that the Lord will provide that as well. I simply ask that as you pray and, if the Father speaks to you about sharing a portion of this amount, that you will be quick to respond. Thank you in advance for your obedience to His voice and your partnership with us in this exciting ministry opportunity! Also, your prayers for me as I travel and for Diane as she maintains at home are also greatly appreciated.

2013 Honduras Outreach

June 22-29, 2013

The preparations for the June 22 – 29 Honduras outreach are coming together. Our team, currently consists of eleven members from Ocala and nearby Fort McCoy and Belleview, FL as well as three from Maryland. We will be purchasing tickets for this trip next week. God has provided us with several bi-lingual team members which will greatly enhance our ministry potential. Again, God proves that He knows our need, even before we ask! We will have opportunity to share God’s love with hundreds of children, the elderly and families as well as helping provide housing for a family in a local village.

Thank You

We want to thank Pastors Mike and Sunnie Bland of Gloryhill Cowboy Church, Valdosta, GA; Pastor Jeff Kubala of Full Gospel Outreach, Chiefland, FL and Pastor Jim Waldron of Belleview Church of God, Belleview, FL for allowing us to share their pulpits in March.

Gloryhill Cowboy Church has been a faithful partner with NWL since 2006 and Full Gospel Outreach has been a monthly supporter since 2001. We praise God for these and all our friends who have shared in the ministry of Net Work Limited over the years. God never intended for any one of us to be able to do His work alone. He always intended for us to do it together as a body. Your partnership with us in this ministry is an example of how His plan is fulfilled in the earth today. Thank you for working alongside us through your financial support and through your prayers on our behalf. We love you, we appreciate you, and we thank God for you.

Family News

Our daughter, Erin, and her husband, Joel, and their children, Emma and Ethan, have begun their deputation for their ministry with Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). They will depart Ocala on June 6 for their seven-week New Staff Training in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Joel, Erin, Emma and Ethan Jones

Cru is a ministry focusing on the evangelism and discipleship of college students across the US and abroad. Their stated purpose is to “win, build, and send Christ-centered multiplying disciples who launch spiritual movements.” Since being established in 1951 at UCLA in California, Cru has become a presence on 1,140 campuses. We thank God that Erin and Joel have decided to minister with this fine organization.

2013 Nigeria Leadership Conference

April 20 – May 10
Cost: $3,000

Plans are moving ahead for David to return to Nigeria in April. He has been in communication with Rev. Alex Abiola, the national overseer for the Church of God, about doing leadership conferences in “the south.” They have agreed on two meetings in Lokoja and Lagos where groups of church leaders have expressed a desire for this type of ministry. The turbulent environment in “the north” makes this a viable option. The general topic he has been asked to address is “integrity in ministry.”

By the time you receive this David will have submitted his request for a travel visa for the trip. With the “trouble” in the north, many are finding it difficult to obtain a visa. Please join us in prayer that because David is stating he will travel to the south that he will receive favor with the Nigerian embassy – and a visa.

The proposed dates for this trip are April 20 – May 10. Your prayerful, financial support of this outreach is greatly appreciated. The projected cost for this trip is $3,000. Thank you in advance for your partnership in this most important opportunity to help encourage our brethren in this embattled country.

2013 Honduras Outreach

June 22 – 29, 2013
Cost: $1,350

The dates for our Honduras Outreach are June 22 – 29. We will be assisting our friends, Allan and Vicky Skelton of White Fields Missions. Their ministry center is located in La Ceiba. White Fields ministers in a variety of ways: construction, children’s programs, elderly care, and children and adult education. What the team will actually do will depend on the giftings of the team members – but we certainly will participate in children’s ministry and construction. If this type of ministry speaks to your spirit, please contact us as soon as possible for more information. The cost is $1,350.

Thank You

We wish to thank Pastor David Martin of Manna Ministries International, Mableton GA and Pastor Garry Lentz of Open Arms Church of God, Citra, FL for allowing us to share their pulpits in January and February. We pray that the seeds planted in those congregations for missions will grow and bring forth a great harvest for the Kingdom.

A Reminder

After 18 years serving as Missions Pastor at Wings of Faith Fellowship, our home church, and building a strong local missions program, David is available to help your church and others who are seeking to do the same. So, if your church has the vision to expand their impact in the Master’s vineyard, please contact us. If you know of another congregation seeking the same, again, put them in contact with us or point them toward the NWL website. Thank You!

Changes in the Wind

In 1994, David was asked to start a World Missions program at Wings of Faith Fellowship in Ocala, FL. He subsequently became the Missions Pastor, as well as serving as the Treasurer of Wings of Faith. One of his stated goals was “to make Wings of Faith a sending center the likes of Antioch and Ephesus.” Over the past eighteen years more than 230 Wings of Faith attendees have gone “somewhere” overseas because of the World Missions Program. Many of these people have made multiple trips, bringing the total number of times WOFF members have been on short-term mission trips to over 900! Mission accomplished!

For some time, we have felt a stirring in our spirits as if some change would be coming our way. After discussion with our Senior Pastor, we discovered he had been sensing a change, too. So, the WOFF missions program has been restructured as the result of this change in vision for missions. The program has become the “Global Outreach Ministry” led by a “GO Team” of Wings of Faith lay-persons. The GO Ministry will include foreign missions and the local outreaches of the church: jail ministry, bus ministry, evangelism, Operation Compassion (feeding program), and such like.

This change eliminates the need for a Missions Pastor, which frees David up to take what has been successful at WOFF to other congregations who wish to start, grow or enhance their own local missions programs. He has been in communication with the Church of God World Missions Department, making himself available on a consulting basis and their response has been positive. He will be meeting with them in February to further work out the details of the relationship. Please pray that these discussions will produce “good fruit” that is beneficial to both NWL and the congregations of the denomination.

We are still attached to the GO Ministry of WOFF. Diane is a member of the GO Team and Net Work Limited will be facilitating at least 2 mission trips each year: a summer outreach (Honduras in 2013) and the annual December trip to Romania.

The same offer to help extends beyond the Church of God to any and all churches seeking to build a strong local missions program. So, if your church has the vision to expand their impact in the Master’s vineyard, please contact us. If you know of another congregation seeking the same, again, put them in contact with us or point them toward the NWL website. Thank You!

Nigeria in 2013

As you know Nigeria is like his “first-born” to David because that was where he received his “call” to missions. He has been working there since 1991. In 2012 he was “asked not to come” because of the turbulence, caused by the militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, in “the north” where the annual Pastors and Ministers Conference has been conducted. It is his intention to return April 20 – May 10 of this year.

He has been in communication with Rev. Alex Abiola, the national overseer for the Church of God, about doing leadership conferences in “the south.” They have agreed on two meetings in Lokoja and Lagos where groups of church leaders have expressed a desire for this type of ministry. Your prayerful, financial support of this outreach is greatly appreciated. The projected cost for this trip is $3,000. Thank you in advance for your partnership!