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Name: The Crawfords


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Member Since: 5/25/2006

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Monday, September 08, 2008

Just a few pic's to share. We had an awesome summer. Heather was able to come an be apart and help with work for her summer vacation. It was such a blessing to have her, she just jumped right in, and did whatever needed to be done. These few photos can't even come close to all the Lord has been doing here in Dresden. Yes, lives are being changed, and God is moving. Our job at this point and time is to obey, be faithful, and be patient. Our work may not take off like we would like. But..we are confident that the Lord knows what is best, and we trust and believe He will always be faithful and give us what we need in His time.

During our summer months, we had our first real evangelistic out reach, we had a great turn out, 53 total with 23 first time visitors. It was a  great day, with music drama, food, and clear and simple presentation of the gospel. It was a glorious day with memories that will not be soon forgotten. Below, congregation, 100_6874

Heather and Diana doing a music drama

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These are our neighbors, Frank and Christine, They have no belief in God but came anyway, we were just thankful they came to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

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This is Uli and Jonathan helping with the serving of the food.

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JULY

During the month of July we had pastor Lewis McClendon, and his wife Karen from Ventura Baptist in CA. Their visit was a great encouragement to us.  We are  able to share and give them a first hand look as to how dark and lost this area of the world is. We took them to Berlin to see  "Check Point Charlie" this is where the Berlin wall was constructed to divide, East and West Germany.

below- this is a officer that showed us, how difficult it was to get a pass just to go from East Berlin to West Berlin, One had to get at least 6 stamps at different checkpoints to be permitted to cross the borders.

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It was a rainy day...not unusual for Germany, but that didn't stop us, we just put on some rain gear and hopped aboard our bus, and kept right on going.

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This is a portion of the Wall,

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We also took a trip to a concentration camp, where thousands were tortured and killed, this took place just 2 hours from where we live. The concentration camp was named Buchenwald, near Weimar.

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We love our precious new little one, Benjamin, and we still chuckle when he gets upset, this is his face he makes everytime he is getting ready to really let everyone know he is upset.

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Also in July we had the priveledge of having another baptism in the Elbe. To see souls saved, and then follow the Lord in baptism is the very reason we are here, and everytime we are able to go and baptize in the Elbe, is just another way we are letting our corner of the world in which we live, kow that we are followers of Jesus Christ, and we want to shine for Him. Praise Be To the Lord!!

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Along with all the hard work we did this summer, we always found time to play and make some great memories.

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This is Pete, (left) Dimitry (background) and Michael coming back after passing out some flyers

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We spent some great evening in Bible study and prayer, had lots of fellowship.

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Heather, Romy and Diana, decided, enough work in the kitchen for one day...Let's play!! They were washing dishes and decided to have soap slinging contest.

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We often go to this farm to get our eggs, and I had no idea the cows were on their way back from the field, so much to my surprise when I turned around...there was this cow coming in the gate. Bill saw the cow, and snapped the picture

Be watching for more fun photos in the weeks to come. 100_7317

Love you all,

Bill and Debbie


Friday, January 25, 2008

Hello everyone,
Here we are in a brand new year, and we have lots to share with you,
In Nov. We had a great Thanksgiving celebration with over 30 people and 13 first time visitors
























In December we had another celebration, our Christmas Around the World Dinner.
It was great, with once again over 30 people and many first time visitors.


At the end of December after Christmas we had Tiffany and her husband John and Heather all come home for a few weeks.
It was a wonderful time of laughter and we made some great memories.
They all 3 just jumped right in, and helped out in anyway they could.
John gave a short testimony each Sunday they were here and the girls helped out with the praise team.
They also were able to help with a building project of building a part of our kitchen.
 





                                                                         
We also started our Kids Bible Club and Kids Tae-Kwon-Do class.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                






















  






We have 3 and we are all enjoying this beginning of this brand new year.   

We are looking forward to bring you some more great things that are going on here, be watching.
Bill and Debbie
                                                                                                                       
  


Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Many New Faces

 

When starting this new work, we just didn't know what to expect, we haven't had the resources to go out and pass to out flyers to often, or even get a web site up till just yesterday, but oh, how we must go back to the Bible and believe God when He says, "My ways are not your ways, or my thoughts your thoughts"  Isiah 55:9,

The Lord has brought people to us in ways we could have never imagined, for example just walking by and learning we have our services in English, or finding out that our church is on a "city list" we didn't know about. God is so good!!

Bill getting some help from our team setting out our "Welcome Sign"

Every Sunday we have had new people come, ranging from 2 to as many as 6 first time visitors on any given Sunday. And our attendance is climbing again , with the this last Sunday having a high of 32.

Dieter and Angela, (in the back ground) getting acquainted with a family that found us on a "city list"

We will be getting ready to leave in just 2 weeks to take Heather to college in Springfield MO. where she will be attending Baptist Bible College. But coming in our stead are Missionaries Ken and Carrie Liles, who will be ministering, through Pastor Ken's preaching, and also through weekly Bible studies taught by both Ken and Carrie. Our folks are a little nervous about us leaving, but we have every confidence that our team will do a great job taking care of things while we are gone.

Heather with her best buddies, Diana, Romy, and Anne.
 When Heather leaves for college, her adventuresome personality, laughter, and her giving spirit will be missed very much, and will leave their "laps" empty too!

Although we are "officially" in our building, there is still much that has to be done, which one of our priorities is to raise the funds for our Kitchen, office equipment, and some things for our sound system.

at this moment we have had $6000 USD dollars come in, but still in need of $24,000

Here are some photos of our Sundays, Bible Studies and just being together as a church family. 



Bridget, (left) Mia, (middle) and Gerry, Bridget was a first time visitor and said, "I have known about your church, and I don't why I didn't come before." I feel so welcome, and I would like to more about having a personal relationship with Jesus.



This is "baby Nora" as we call her, and yes, she has everyone wrapped around her little finger.

Debbie working with Anne and Dieter as we get our own "Church web site" up and running, http://www.ic-dresden.org  check us out.


Put your feet up and stay awhile! Bill, with Pete and Dieter in the middle of their discipleship time and enjoying the fellowship of each other.



This is a picture of some of our folks enjoying a meal together before Bible study.


Just treasuring the "little moments" together just playing around outside with Heather after Bible study.


This is Pete and Anne, going home from Bible study. Because it stays light out for so long we forget just how late it can be, this time of day you are seeing it was already close to 10:00.

 

Coming up

On Sunday July 22nd, we will be having a baptismal down on our river "the Elbe" It is going to be a great day of celebration with songs, drama and of course FOOD.  But also a great testimony to all those that will be walking by and witnessing as 3 of our believers will be taking their first step of obedience and telling the whole world, "I am a follower of Jesus Christ" 

So check us out next week about this same time and see what happened.  

 

 

 


Monday, June 18, 2007

Work In Progress

We had a great week last week! We had lots of help and we were able to have things set up enough to have our Worship Service.

Here are just a few of the memories we made this past week.

There was a lot of repair work needed, and Dieter worked all week spackling and sanding walls.


Dieter enjoying his work!

Heather taking a short break from scrubbing floors.



Romy worked all day making these very old curtain rods look new again.



Diana working on the small details.

We never want to overlook those who do the "behind the scenes" jobs.  Angela, has been such a blessing to all of us, and we all look forward to seeing what great dish she will show up with.



Progress in the making.



Progress in the making.(continued)


This is Anne, she has been coming up and helping, and she always brings her sweet smile.



This is Michael, who has been coming up every change he gets.

Heather and Romy helping out using their "Heads".



Bill and Debbie after a long days work.

We had a great FIRST Sunday in our building, with 30 in attendance, and everyone kept saying how good and comfortable they felt.



Part of our folks, just saying Hellooo!



Anne (middle) brought her 2 friends, she was so excited to be in her new church, and wanted her friends to share in the excitement with her.



Michael (left) and Pete (right) enjoying some fellowship after church.



Hope and Bridget both are from Africa, Bridget was a first time visitor, and we pray the Lord will bring her back.




Zaw, from Burma, being greeted by Bill.  Zaw fled his country from religious persecution, and we recently learned that if he were to ever return he would be arrested and put into prison, because he is a Christian.  He has left his family and everything he knows, and is now trying to start a new life.



Like our kitchen sink?  Not having the proper equipment can make things a bit challenging, but we make do with what we have.  One of our greatest needs are lights, and a kitchen.



Our folks have commented on how wonderful it is to be in our own building.  We are so thankful for all that God has given us.  We give the Lord all the honor and glory for what He has done for us.



Watch for more pictures on the progress that has been made in this past week!


Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Hello everyone,

While in the process of getting our building ready, we have been blessed to be able to meet at a restaurant. We  have been regular costumers at this particular restaura nt for over 4 years now,  and when the manger learned we needed a place for a few weeks or so to have our services, he offered their restaurant to us, at no cost. What a blessing it is to see God provide in such a time of need.

This last Sunday, we had 34 people, over 11 countries represented, and 3 first time visitors. What a great day it was, to have people from around the world come and worship. What an honor and privilege it is that the Lord is allowing us to be a part of His work.


Everyone from "The International Baptist Church of Dresden", says Helloooo America!

  In this photo, are people from, Kazakhstan, Burma, America, enjoying fellowship with one another.

"It Has Begun" 

Well, we started working on our building this week. It was an exciting time for all of us!

This building we are now renting has been empty for over 3 years. It was a restaurant, and was very dirty. It will take a little time to get it in order, but our folks are coming out everyday and spending anywhere from an hour, and for others, they are coming and staying with us the whole day. Right now, we are just in the process of prepping everything, and painting, painting painting!!!


Eating and auditorium area(far end) during the painting process


Romy and Heather scrubbing the kitchen walls.


So, how many men does it take to help put in a pony tail?  One to hold the hair, and one to "try" and pull the hair through.


Us girls taking time for a photo op. after cleaning the kitchen.


There is always time for a break to talk and enjoy fellowship together, with food of course!!



This will be our "fellowship" area.  The fellowship area will have couches, tables and book cases that have been donated, as you can see, we have lots to do.


Even our little ones are getting in on the "painting."

Diana in the kitchen, scrubbing walls.

Heather, writes mom and dad a sweet note!

Painting, painting, painting.

Anyone wanna scrape some walls?

Bill encouraging Diana not to be scared, as she paints the ceiling.



Michael, Debbie and Bill, taking a little break in the sunshine.





Romy, Diana, and Heather also enjoying a break.  Painting can be hard work!




Bill teaching how to mix paints.



Michael working on some detail work around the windows, an doing it with a smile.



Dieter, spackeling and filling holes, and boy does he have his work cut out for him.




Diana and Romy cleaning brushes, and getting things ready for the next day's work.

 We never quite know what the day will bring forth, but what we do know is that we will end it with lasting memories that make each day a day to remember.  And we also see our folks learning to work as a team, and exemplifying a heart of giving of their time, and always with a smile!!

AND....We are all very thankful that Bill has had the experience to be able to teach us the "How To's" of all the things that are needed to be done to be able to accomplish this big of a task.

 

Watch for next weeks post, and see how much more we will have accomplished.

Plus all the details in the how much everything will cost to get us going.

Your Servants,

Bill, Debbie and Heather and all of our church folks at the International Baptist Church of Dresden




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