19th birthday

We had a wonderful day celebrating David's 19th birthday. We started the day with pancakes with sausage and ended the day with pizza, of course, cake, ice cream, and an18 years of life photo book were on the main menu.  Happy Birthday, David   We love you!!!

21st birthday

This post is to my son, James, who turned 21 on the 18th of November.  James, I love you so very much. The photos are just a reminder of how fast time is going for both of us.  To God be the glory and praise.

  James and me 1999                                                                 James and Caity 2019

Back to school

Classes start back this week for David.  He is in his second year. He is looking forward to a very busy semester, but also a rewarding semester.  He will be taking several cooking classes necessary for his culinary arts degree, as well as, a history and math class. David will be working in the bakery at the Keeter Center restaurant.  Only a few more work stations then he will have worked all areas of the kitchen.  David is thinking about applying for a student manager position at the end of this semester.

James and Caity

James Allison and his beautiful bride, Caity graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri on May 12th and have been married since May 18, 2019. They now live in Kansas City where James has started his new career as a software developer at American Century. They are very excited to be starting their new life together. God has blessed them immensely.

James's Graduation Announcement

We have begun to settle in here in Springfield, Missouri.

April 11, 2019

Dear friends, supporters, and prayer partners,

We have begun to settle in here in Springfield, Missouri. The loving arms of our heavenly Father wrap around us and keep us encouraged and strengthened. Debra is assisting the mission secretary in processing the hundreds of checks which come in to support Grace’s missionary endeavors. She is also transitioning to church secretary. Helping Pastor Norwood with the myriad of paperwork that needs to be addressed daily. Besides all of that, she is taking on the project of organizing the archived church records, organizing and cleaning out storage areas, and bringing a new younger eye to decorating the church grounds and interior.

Together, she and I have been preparing visitor packages with invitations and distributing them around the Northern part of Springfield. I have taken over the Sunday School teaching and preaching in Pastor’s place when he is away. I have also been working to update many of the church’s mechanical systems. Presently, I am updating the electrical system to meet current safety requirements.

Our oldest son, James, is preparing to graduate in May from The College of the Ozarks. He has achieved highest honors and will graduate Summa cum Laude. He was recently honored as the only student graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA. While completing his final semester, he is also preparing for his wedding, which will be just one week after graduation. To say we are pleased with what the Lord is doing in his life would be a gross understatement.

David, our youngest is completing his first year at the same school. David is not his brother, but made the dean’s list his first semester studying culinary arts. The Lord has given him favor in the eyes of the Executive Chef, under which David works in the kitchen of their four-star restaurant.

We cannot express our gratefulness deeply enough for all of the love and support we have received from all of you, the Lord’s faithful churches. We are doubly grateful for those sticking with us until the Lord provides some steady means of support here. May God richly bless you all in your service of Him.  

  

For souls,

Jeffrey and Debra Allison

We thank the Lord upon every remembrance of you!

We thank the Lord upon every remembrance of you! What a blessing it was to spend the holidays with our children and grandchildren. It was the first time in many years that we were all together in one place.

Debra and I have been working to evangelize the North side of Springfield. We’ve been handing out newspapers, flyers, and invitations. Jeff is teaching the adult Sunday school class and preaching as the opportunity provides itself. Debra is busy working in the office. She helps with the receiving, documenting, and processing of over 200 checks per week. The ten mission works sponsored by Grace Baptist are the life blood of this ministry. The sun literally never sets on the work done by the men sent from this small church in Springfield, Missouri. Besides these ten sponsored missionaries, the church also provides monthly support to more than 25 like-minded missionaries all around the world. Even here, the laborers are few.

These reasons and more support our decision to stay here for now and do all that we can to help the Word of God prosper, and to spread the gospel where Jesus has not been named. We are more than grateful to the churches which have sent special offerings to help us get situated here. Please keep in mind that after 16 years on the foreign field, we have nothing of our own. No furniture, no beds, bedding, kitchen supplies, and so on. We must begin again entirely from scratch. We trust that the Lord will supply and is already supplying these needs.

Our children and grandchildren are truly a blessing to us.  Gina and her husband, Daniel and our oldest granddaughter, Lydia live in Kentucky. They are in the middle of moving, seeking the Lord for the place where he would have them serve. Gina has finished writing her second book with a spring release date. Donna and our other three grandchildren. Lilibeth, Eliana, and Elijah live here in Springfield, just minutes away, but we still do not get to see them as often as we would like. They are busy with work and school. Donna is doing some painting in the house that she rents – looks great.  James started his last semester of college. It is hard to believe he is almost finished. He has been able to keep his 4.0 GPA and remains on the president’s list. Graduation will be in May than the week afterwards James and Caitlyn will be married. Last but not least is David. He started his second semester of his freshman year. He made it to the dean’s list with a 3.8 GPA. He works for the restaurant in the small hotel on campus. He is now an official driver with a car of his own. This car will not join him at school until this spring.  We want him to focus on school than we will add the car and another job for extra money.