Prayer Letter July 2023
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a joy it is to come to you as Spring is ending and Summer is beginning. The Lord has been so good to us over the past months. Earlier in the year, I was still having trouble with my heart staying out of rhythm and needed another ablation in January. All is well now and we give God the glory for grace, guidance and knowledge of the doctor who
performed the surgery.
On April 27th, I le for my tenth mission trip to Nigeria and returned home on May 18th.
This was a twenty-two-day trip which was the longest that I had ever taken. During this trip, we were able to visit three different cities. After arriving in Lagos, Nigeria, I was met by Pastor Thomas Adesoye and we then flew to his home city of Uyo in Akwa Ibom State where I stayed the next seven days. On Saturday, we traveled to the town of Oron where we helped to establish the Amazing
Grace Baptist Church while there in 2021. Please pray for this church as they are currently renting space for services. They need $4,500.00 to purchase a piece of land on which to build their own church. On Saturday evening, we spent time on the street with a team from the church, witnessing and inviting others to attend the services on Sunday morning. A number of people accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior there on the street. On Sunday, I preached twice; once during the Sunday School hour and then in the Worship service. To God be the glory as others gave their hearts to the Lord. On Wednesday night, I preached at the Mission Baptist Church in the Nigerian bush where Brother Sikiru Okunola is the pastor. Brother Okunola is a convert from Islam who was led to the Lord by Bro. Thomas Adesoye. We did some more street witnessing at the Plaza in Uyo along with Pastor Adesoye and other volunteers.
Despite opposition from hecklers, a number of people gave their hears to the Lord.
On Friday, we met Pastor Godstime Evbota in Benin City. Pastor Evbota is the one who first invited me to come to Nigeria in 2005. He is the director of Spread the Word Ministries and also the Pastor of the Liberty Baptist Church in the bush village of Ayen outside of Benin City. On Sunday, I preached in two churches and then on Monday, we moved to Spread the Word Mission House located in the bush village of Egba. There, in Egba, we preached at outdoor crusade services on
Monday and Tuesday evening where a great number of people made professions of faith to the Lord. On Tuesday morning, I preached at a school in the village. On Wednesday morning, I started a three-day class on the “Life of Moses”
at Spread the Word Bible College. It was so good to be able to teach again. On Friday evening, I spoke at one of the local churches that Pastor Evbota planted in Benin City.
On Saturday morning, I flew up the Abuja which is the capital of Nigeria to visit with Missionary Mark Holmes and his family. He has been in Nigeria since 2005 and has four other American missionary couples working with him. The work that Brother Holmes has done in this area is great. In 2018, he invited me to visit and our schedules finally came together; it was such a blessing to be there. Brother Holmes receives a container from the U.S. once a year. We can send Bibles to Nigeria via this container. If you have bibles that you would like to send to Nigeria, you can send them to us and we will get them to the container. If you would prefer, you may make a contribution for us to purchase cases of King James Version bibles. We would greatly appreciate your contributions.
In the twenty days that I was in Nigeria, I spoke a total of 25 times and saw a total of approximately 496 people profess the Lord Jesus Chris as their personal Lord and Savior. To God we give the glory!
Each time that I have returned from Nigeria, I have been eager to return home. This me was no different. However, since returning home, I have found that my heart is still in Nigeria. I would love to return soon. There is so much more to do with the pastors that I work with there. Please keep the following prayer requests when you pray:
Each time that I have returned from Nigeria, I have been eager to return home. This time was no different. However, since returning home, I have found that my heart is still in Nigeria. I would love to return soon. There is so much more to do with the pastors that I work with there. Please keep the following prayer requests when you pray:
>$4,500.00 to purchase land for the Amazing Grace Baptist Church of Oron;
>more doors to open to share our burden for Nigeria (we have a slide presentation of our last mission trip).
>more supporting churches;
>our health so that we are able to make these return trips;
>funds to able to another trip within the next year; and
>King James Version Bibles.
God Bless
Doug and Sharon Neary
Ma. 9:36-38
PRAYER LETTER
SPRING -SUMMER 2022
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a joy is to come to you as we enter the mid-point of 2022. As I look back over this first half of the year, I must say surely God is good. I continue to get my strength back and heal from the Open-Heart Surgery that I had back in August 2021. To this we give God the glory.
I had planned on going back to Nigeria in April, but I decided that I should wait until at least a year after my surgery before I took a trip of that type. The flights over and back are very long and the travel and ministering that I do while I am there is also very tiring. We are now planning on going some time in either October or November. So please pray for us that our health will continue to improve and that the necessary funds needed for the trip will be on hand. This will be our tenth trip to Nigeria and God had met the financial need for each and everyone of the other nine trips.
Please continue to pray for the ministry of Pastor Godstime Evbota in Benin City Nigeria. This is the first Pastor that we started working with in 2005. He had some problems with AFIB a few weeks ago and we were able to send him some extra funds to purchase the medication that he needed. Pastor Thomas Adesoye in Uyo Nigeria continues to travel to different areas carrying the Gospel Message. Please pray for his wife as she is fighting cancer. Our ministry continues to help with her medicine. Pastor Sikiru Okunola with some financial help from our ministry was finally able to move into his residence that he built onto his church. But recently he and his family had to move out for a few days as in-fighting among the villages broke out. This is typical in the Nigerian Bush. The last two times that we have been to Nigeria we have not been able to visit Egba Village because of in-fighting. This is the village outside of Benin City where the Mission house is located and where we have had so many open-air evangelistic meetings in the past where many professions of faith have been made.
God has been so good to continue opening up doors for us to preach. Also we have had to fill in for our Pastor Edsel Caviness at our home church Solid Rock Baptist Church in Burlington, NC.
He has had many health problems and also is still mourning the loss of his wife who went to be with Lord back in June 2021. Please keep him in your prayers.
Please include the following in your prayer time:
More open doors to share our ministry with; The upcoming Missions trip to Nigeria in the fall; the Look at the Book Radio Broadcasts; and that many souls will continue to hear the gospel through this ministry and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.
Doug and Sharon Neary
Matthew 9:36-38Dear Friends in Christ,
What s to come to you to pray for the ministry of Pastor Godstime Evbota in Benin Ci
PRAYER LETTER
END OF YEAR 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a joy it is to come to you once again in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The year 2020 has been one for the ages. We have rejoiced in victories, but also there has been times of sorrow, that includes setbacks, trials, and tribulations. Whether it was joy or sorrow, God has been faithful through it all.
I suppose the biggest disappointment that we had in the past year was that our planned Missions trip to Nigeria had to be cancelled because of the Covaid 19. We had planned on leaving in mid-April for a three-week trip. Because of the Covaid situation Nigeria closed their airports to all incoming flights. I had already purchased my airline ticket, which has now been put in a credit by Delta Airlines. It is our plan to make the trip in late April 2021 if the Lord wills.
As things open back up in Nigeria, we have been getting good reports from the churches there that the Lord is blessing them. Pastor Godstime Evbota reports that the Liberty Baptist Church in the Bush Village of Ayen is doing well. Pastor Thomas Adesoye of the Grace Independent Baptist Church in Uyo as been able to get back out in the Plaza with his street ministry and reports that people are being led to the Lord. Continue to pray for these churches. Pastor Mark Holmes is in the process of going back to Nigeria in March. Our Radio Ministry finished another year, and we can report that all radio bills were paid in full at beginning of each month. God has been good in providing for this. In fact all expenses of the ministry including the support that we send to the Pastors, Churches, and Workers in Nigeria was met.
I reported in our last prayer letter that I was not getting many opportunities to preach but in the last few months I have had the privilege to preach in a number of churches, including another one that had no Pastor. That makes four churches that I have helped in the past year-and-and a half that were without Pastors. Also we are blessed to report to you that in the latter part of 2020 four more churches began to support our ministry. To God be the Glory for this.
My health continues to be okay overall; I was in the hospital for three days in September to get my heart rate back in rhythm and have had no problems with it since then.
In closing please continue to pray for our ministry in the coming year. With a change in leadership for our country we don’t know how things will turn out. But one thing we do know is that God is in charge.
Doug and Sharon Neary
PRAYER LETTER
July 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
What it a joy it is to come to you at this mid-point of the year. This year has gotten off in a completely different way than 2019 did. But through all that has happened God has still blessed our ministry by allowing us to continue to support the work in Nigeria and also keep our Radio Ministry going. To this we give God the Glory and say thank you to the churches and individuals that have helped with the financial needs of the ministry.
I know you may be asking has the Covaid 19 at effect on our ministry and the answer is yes it has. Because churches have not been able to have their regular services there has not been as many open doors to present the ministry and to fill pulpits like there was last year. We did have the privilege to be with Pastor Jason McNeese and the Emmorton Baptist Church of Bel Air, MD and to preach and show a slide presentation on March 8, 2020. But a scheduled presentation of our ministry that was scheduled on the next Sunday evening, March 15th with Pastor Jesse Hursey and the Bynum Baptist Church of Pittsboro, NC was cancelled due to the Covaid 19. Since then we have only had four other opportunities to speak in three different churches.
In our last letter we shared about our upcoming missions trip to Nigeria with a scheduled departure date of April 16, 2020. We did receive another two-year Visa from the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC and had already purchased our Airline ticket but about two weeks before departure Delta Airlines cancelled our flight because Nigeria has stopped all international arriving flights into their airports. The country has been in a lock-down mode since then and at the present time we are just having to wait for the things to get better to do the trip. Our Airline ticket is in an open mode for the next two years. In fact Missionary Mark Holmes whom we were scheduled to visit on this trip has came back to the states for a furlough until things open back up again, so please pray for him, his family, and his ministry.
My health continues to be okay, but I did have to go in for another stop and start procedure on my heart in June. The heart rate had gotten high again, but the Cardiologist only had to hit the switch once and it jumped back into rhythm and has been steady ever since. Also a few days before my procedure Sharon had to have her Gall Bladder removed and has recovered well. To God be the glory for the good recovery.
Please continue to pray for the Pastors that we work with in Nigeria as the lockdown has been hard on them. Pastor Sikiru got the roof completed on the Missions Baptist Church building, our ministry was able to send another $700.00 gift to help on this. Pastors Adesoye is now able to get back out on the street again and witness and Pastor Godstime has been able to continue services in the Liberty Baptist Church though they are only allowed to have 20-40 in attendance at any one time.
Please continue to pray for this ministry as it continues to get the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ out to a lost a dying world.
Doug and Sharon Neary
Psalms 126:5-6
April 2, 2020
Update:
Dear Friends in Christ,
As I mentioned in the the last prayer letter we were planning another Missions Trip to Nigeria this month. Our Nigerian Visa was granted for another two years and we have purchased our Airline ticket and scheduled a departure from the United States on April 16, 2020. But due to the Corona Virus pandemic we have had to move this trip back until it is over with. Please pray that God will soon move it away, but more than that pray that people would turn to God and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as many are dying and many of them not prepared to meet the Lord.
At the present time the U.S. State Department has issued a Level Four Travel Alert which means no international travel for U.S. Citizens unless absolutely necessary. Plus the Nigerian government has closed entry to Nigeria from countries that are having problems with the Corona Virus such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Please pray for the people in Nigeria where many areas are under a lock down and only food stores and pharmacies are open. It has been reported that prices have gone up 300% during this time and many do not have food and are not able to get out and work. Only groups of 10 or less are allowed to meet in the churches.
God Bless
Brother Doug Neary
Romans 8:28
March 15. 2020
END OF YEAR PRAYER LETTER
DECEMBER 2019
Dear Friends in Christ,
What a joy is to come to you again at the close of another year. The past year has been one of the busiest that I have had in
a long time. Our ministry was involved in two Missions Conferences and also had the privilege to speak a total of 53 times
which included filling the pulpit in three churches that did not have a Pastor. All of those churches now have Pastors. Our
Radio Ministry continues to do well, and this edition has just completed its 22nd year.
For some time now we have wanted to get the Pastors in Nigeria a Van to carry people to church. Last March we shared
this burden with the two Mission Conferences that we were a part of and with other churches that we presented our ministry
too. And God answered prayer by providing through these churches and friends over $8000.00 to purchase two vans, one
for Pastor Evbota in Benin City and one for Pastor Adesoye in Uyo. To God be the Glory for the Great Things that He has
done. Pictures of the Vans are posted on our picture page.
When I was in Nigeria in 2017, I met a young Pastor by the name of Ubong Sikiru Okunola. This man was led to the Lord
by Pastor Thomas Adesoye. Pastor Sikiru was converted from Islam and has founded the Mission Baptist Church in the
Bush outside of Uyo. His church consisted of an open arbor with just a straw roof and some plastic wrapping around the
lower sides. This past year he has begun to construct a building around the arbor and our ministry has had a hand in
helping him with this financially. At this time we have been able to send him a total of $1200.00 for this project. He is
now needing another $600.00 to complete the roof. By the way he is doing most of the labor himself including making the
cement blocks to save on the cost. Please pray that we he will be able to complete this building.
At this time we are planning a return trip to Nigeria in late April 2020. Please pray that we will have no trouble getting our
Nigerian Visa renewed. On this trip we have been invited to visit Missionary Mark Holmes who serves in the Nigerian
Capital of Abuja. We have never been to this area of Nigeria and will spend a weekend with him before continuing on to
Benin City to be with Pastor Godstime Evbota and then to Uyo to be with Pastor Thomas Adesoye. Pray that all expenses
will be met for this trip and that we will have no health problems.
As we look forward to year 2020, we are looking forward to being in more Missions Conferences and other invitations to
go to Churches and share our ministry burden. Please pray that many doors will be opened unto us. Our health seems to be
doing well as we have been able to keep our weight under control since having the Bariatric Surgery in December 2018.
Thanks again for your prayers and support throughout the year 2019
Doug and Sharon Neary
Psalms 126:5-6
December 5, 2018
Update
On November 20, 2018 I returned from a two week missions trip to Nigeria. This was my eighth trip to Nigeria since I started going there in November 2005. First of all let me report that I came back in good health this time and to that we give God the glory. I spent one week in the city of Uyo with Pastor Thomas Adesoye of the Grace Independent Baptist Church. I was allowed to speak in three schools where many of the students made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Also I spoke in five services in the Grace Independent Baptist Church and also worked with Pastor Adesoye and other witnessing on the Plaza in Uyo were there is a lot of vendors for two days and approximately twenty-five people made professions of faith each day.
The second week I was with Dr. Godstime Evbota in Benin City. He is the man that invited me to Nigeria in 2005 and this is the seventh time that I have been with him. I spoke in three different schools and then lectured in the Spread the Word Bible College four days on Christian Education in the Local Church. I also spoke in three different churches which included the Liberty Baptist Church in Ayen Village. This is the church that the Lord allowed me to raise the money to build it a few years ago. Also we had a part in planting a church in another village. Please pray that this church will be breaking ground it the near future.
April 7, 2018
WINTER PRAYER LETTER 2018
Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings in the name of our wonderful Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In addressing the church at Corinth the apostle Paul stated “For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ, and him crucified” (1 Cor. 2:2). This is our message as we go forth preaching each time that the Lord opens a door for us.
As the first quarter of the 2018 ends we have so much to be thankful for. It is a joy to be in our 29th year teaching at the Greensboro Bible Institute and what a privilege it has been to have had a part in so many Christian lives down through the years. Our Radio Broadcast “A Look at the Book” completed its 20th consecutive year on the air and in April we will produce the 1,000th Broadcast plus our ministry continues to support the Cuban Shortwave Broadcast. We are appreciative of the Pastors that have allowed us to share their pulpits the past three months and for the many opportunities that we had to preach in some Pastor’s Fellowships. Please pray that many doors will be open for us throughout the year.
At the beginning of 2018 another church began supporting our ministry and we have others that are considering taking us on. Please pray that they will so that we can increase the support that we send to the Pastors in Nigeria and that we can make trips there to check on them. We are planning on a Missions Trip to Nigeria in October 2018.
Both churches that our ministry works with in Nigeria seemed to be doing well. I recently asked them what their biggest need was at the present time and Pastor Godstime Evbota of the Liberty Baptist Church said they needed to complete the ceiling in the church and that the cost would be $1250.00. I shared this burden with the Alamance County Baptist Missionary Conference recently and on couple gave us $500.00 toward the needed amount. Pastor Thomas Adesoye said that Grace Independent Baptist Church needs a van to carry people to church and to take workers out to witness. The cost of this van is estimated at around $3500.00. If you would like to have a part in either of these projects, please write on the memo section of your check which project that you want to help with. Recently Pastor Evbota said that 87 students that enrolled for this semester at the Spread the Word Baptist College in Benin City, Nigeria did not have a study Bible. Our Ministry was able to send him $500.00 to purchase 100 Bibles for the College. For that we give God the Glory for providing us with the needed funds,
So far this year we have had not had to be in the Hospital which we give God the Glory. Last year I spent a total of fourteen days in the Hospital. Please continue to pray for our health. In closing please pray for the following needs of our ministry:
More supporting churches.
More open doors to share our ministry.
The funds to cover the planned trip to Nigeria in October.
That many souls will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour
God Bless
Doug and Sharon Neary
Matt. 9:36-38
December 12, 2017
FALL PRAYER LETTER 2017
Dear Friends in Christ,
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28. Many times we do not understand why things happen in our lives but we who are born again know that God has a hand in it. On Sept. 2, 2017 Sharon and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary and the next day we left for something we always had wanted to do, go on an Alaskan Cruise. But on Wednesday of the Cruise I became very Ill with sharp pains to my stomach. I did not feel like eating much but I still made the best of it. The day after returning home, I ended up going to the local Emergency Room in Burlington and was told that I had an infected Gall Bladder and it had to come out. The Surgeon told me that I would have to spend two or three days getting the blood thinners out of my system and treating me with antibiotics and on the fourth day they removed the Gall Bladder. I spent a total of 10 days in the Hospital and am now at home recovering.
Because of the surgery I still tire very easily and have to rest about two hours or more each day. I missed the first two weeks of teaching classes at the Greensboro Bible Institute but I am now able to teach again but must do it sitting down to conserve my strength. Also because of the surgery I have had to cancel my scheduled Missions Trip to Cuba October 31st. As we seem to be getting better the Lord has begin to open more doors to preach. I am now scheduled to preach morning and evening services for three Sunday’s and also a Thursday night in November. Pray for me that I will have the strength to preach but more importantly that I will preach as led by the Lord and for His Glory.
I want to share with you a portion of a prayer letter received from Pastor Godstime Evbota:
Dear Big Daddy, Greetings to you in Jesus name, Amen. 2005 We started a Church in Ayen Village Nigeria, now Liberty Baptist Church. A woman named Maltida Osagie that started the Church with me and was a dedicated member of Liberty Baptist Church since 2005 went to be with the Lord yesterday 14 October 2017 at the age of 50 Years.
Good News: I preached today on “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). It was such a wonderful message and 21 precious souls accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour including the husband of the woman (Mr. Osagie) and his son, who was not a Christian, gave their live to Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Praise God!
This dear Sister that passed away was a very faithful member of this church and always showed me kindness when I would be visiting on a Missions Trip. So my heart is very sad but I know that I will see her again someday.
Also please continue to pray for the work of Pastor Thomas Adesoye and the Grace Independent Baptist Church in Uyo, Nigeria. Pastor Adesoye gives good reports of souls being saved as he presents the Gospel at Fairs.
In closing please remember the following prayer request
Our health Our Ministry More supporting churches The work in Nigeria
God Bless
Doug and Sharon Neary Matt. 6:36-38
November 21, 2017
On November 17, 2017 I received a mission report from Brother Thomas Adesoye, Pastor of the Grace Independent Baptist Church located in Uyo, Nigeria. Today I want to share this report with you and hope that it might be blessing to see what this National Pastor is doing that our ministry has a part in supporting.
Dear Friends & Prayer Partners,
Thanks very much for your prayers for us for the just concluded Lagos International Trade Fair. We had 133 profession of faith and wonderful Testimonies from Salvation record and Christians who visited our stand (boots) for one upliftment or another.
We had 2 Pastors visiting us who came to the Fair some two hours drive from the Venue. Also we were able to passed hundreds of Gospel Tracts. Among Salvation record were 6 Muslims who understood the plan of Salvation and trusted Christ Jesus. One Mr. Emmanuel after Salvation asked for prayers and thanking God for the Salvation because a day before he had beaten his wife after hearing God Word, promised to go home and apologize and never to do it again.. Below are some Testimonies. 1. Lawrence 33yrs -I whole heartily believe and trust in Jesus Christ with all my heart and soul and mind. Sincerely believe that He's the only door to Salvation. 2. Samuel 27yrs. I believe Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. 3. Victor 18yrs. I believe Jesus Christ because His mercies endureth forever. 4. Bukola 24yrs. Thank God for His Word today. Now I am 100% sure I'm going to Heaven. I promise to trace your Church to worship with you. I am so so, so happy for hearing God's word today. 5. Fikayo 16yrs. I accepted Christ into my life as my personal Lord and Savior. 6. Hope 22yrs. I believe and trust in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. 7. Lawal 20yrs. I am a Muslim but now I believe and trust in Jesus Christ as my Savior. 8. Ade 14. I believe and asked for forgiveness of my sins. 9. Amara 19yrs. I learnt that we don't just make Heaven by doing good deeds but by believing that Jesus Christ has died to clean me from my sins. 10. Mustaph 19yrs. Muslim - I believe Jesus as my Savior. I was so surprised when I saw 3things God cannot do. Now I am very happy to know and understand Jesus is the only way to Heaven. 11. Tony. 38yrs. I received Jesus Christ as my Lord Jesus and Savior. 12. Tunde 53yrs. I believe Jesus as my Savior. 13. David 22yrs. I was surprised to see a board at the fair of Three things God cannot do. The man of God explained to me and I am trusting Jesus Christ for salvation. 14. Ajibade 28yrs. I now believe that I am born again. God I thank you for my salvation. 15. Other Muslims Roland 50yrs, Ishaku 14yrs, Onikoyi 14yrs, Lamidi 14yrs, and Yusuf 14yrs.
Thanks for your prayers and support for our Ministry in Nigeria. Please pray for our remaining Fair this year Akwa Fair and Port-Harcourt international Trade Fair. For provisions and harvest of Souls.
Your for the sake of Souls,
Bro. Thomas & Tari Adesoye.
August 21, 2017
Please keep us in your prayers. Four weeks ago our heart jumped out of rythum and the Doctor can not figure out what is causing it. In January they stopped and restarted it and it seemed to be doing good. Please pray that the Lord will touch me or give the Doctor's the knowledge to get it back in rythum.
July 6, 2017
We desire your prayers as we have been invited back for a third straight year to do another Mission Trip to Cuba. We will be departing the United States on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 and returning on November 7, 2017. I am looking forward to working again with Pastor Anibal Gonzalez and the people of the First Baptist Church of Moa. Please pray for us as we prepare for this trip and that the needed funds to cover the expenses will come in.
March 27, 2017
On February 14th we departed North Carolina for a Mission Trip to Uyo, Nigeria. Our host pastor Rev. Thomas Adesoye met us at the international airport in Lagos and the next day we flew on to Uyo.
On Friday morning, Feb. 17th we spoke at the Community Secondary School where there was 4000 students in attendance; more than 1000 of those students made profession faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That evening we begun a three day revival meeting at the Grace Independent Baptist Church where Brother Adesoye is the Pastor. There were about 95 people in attendance for this meeting and 20 of them made professions of faith.
On Saturday evening there was 104 in attendance and there were many who came to the altar to get things right with the Lord pertaining to their Christian Life.
On Sunday Morning we taught the Adult Sunday School Class teaching on the subject of Missions. In the 11:00 am worship service we preached to 109 people who were in attendance and three made professions of faith. In the evening service many came forward to rededicate their lives to the Lord. This was the third time that I have been with this church and it has been a joy each and every time.
On Monday morning, Feb. 20 we preached at another Community Secondary School that had about 1200 students in attendance with about 200 of them making a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Later in the day we preached at the Brotherhood Secondary School where there was 3000 students in attendance with over 500 of them making a profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
On Tuesday morning, Feb 21 we preached at the Ibeskpo Community School which was well off the main route and the students there had never seen a White Man in person before, it seemed like all of them that could wanted touch me, I wish that time would have permitted each of them to touch or shake hands with me.. There was over 800 students in attendance and over 500 of them made professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
On Wednesday, Feb. 22 we traveled to Ikot-Abali and preached in the Soul Winning Baptist Church to over 50 people. At this church I was only able to speak for about twenty minutes because the day before I had started to become ill and stayed that way until I returned home.
I departed Lagos, Nigeria on Friday evening, Feb. 24, 2017. The whole trip home I was very sick and when I got to Amsterdam I was able to check into a day room at the airport hotel and get some rest for four hours and then take a hot shower, wash my hair, and get a good shave. I had not been able to these things very well while in Nigeria.
From Amsterdam we flew to Detroit, Mich. where we were scheduled to have a four hour layover that ended up being eight hour arriving in Greensboro, NC at 1:15 am on Sunday morning, Feb. 26, 2017. When my wife met me I told her take me to the Emergency Room at the Hospital in Burlington, NC. There I was admitted and diagnosed with E. coli and stayed there for four days. It was another three weeks before I began to get back to full strength and I appreciate all of God's people who lifted me up in prayer during this time.
Though I was sick for 50% of the trip it was still a good trip because of the work that was accomplished for the Lord. To God be the Glory for great things He has done.
November 7, 2016
From October 25-November 1, 2016 we completed a missions trip to Cuba for the second year in a row. Traveling with me was Dr. Art McGahan and Pastor David Fulp. We arrived in Holguin, Cuba around noon on Oct. 25th and then rode for about two hours to the city of Moa where we had the privilege to again work with Pastor Anibal Gonzalez and the members of the Bethany Baptist Church and Seminary. Tuesday-Friday evenings we taught two classes and on Saturday morning one class in the Seminary. After the Saturday morning class there was a question and answer session between those in attendance and the Professors. The morning was completed with the handing out of certificates and a time of fellowship.
During the mornings on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday we visited Mission Churches in the outlying areas of Moa. Please pray for these churches as they are in small houses or "stick and straw" structures and the Pastors to do not have great incomes. On Wednesday morning it was our privilege to speak in the mid-week prayer service. This service lasts for about two hours and you can feel the presence of God in it. On Sunday evening it was our privilege to speak again in the worship service and to God be the Glory for one precious soul that gave their heart to the Lord Jesus Christ.
QUARTERLY PRAYER LETTER
SUMMER 2016
Dear Friends in Christ,
We greet you in the name of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ and hope that all is well with you as Summer comes to an end and Fall begins. As I think of how one season runs into another and how we are faced with the upcoming Presidential Elections I’m reminded of what the Prophet Daniel told king Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 2:21-22 “And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” Isn’t it good to know that our God, the living God is in charge of all things
As we look back over the months since our last prayer letter we have a lot to be thankful for. We were able to be a part of the Burlington, NC tent revival which started in the New Hope Baptist Church on May 8th for four weeks and then continued for another eight weeks in a large tent. A total of 1249 precious souls professed Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and what a joy it was. On June 1st I was coming down some steps at a local golf course and missed the last step causing me to fall and dislocate my left elbow. Please pray for us as we are still not fully recovered from this accident. But during this time even though for three weeks our arm was in a partial cast and sling we were still able to fill our preaching obligations. During the month of August we had the privilege of presenting our Mission Work at churches in Ohio and West Virginia. Please pray that these churches will be led of the Lord in the future to become supporters of our ministry.
In December 1997 we were able to again be on the Radio with our broadcast “A Look at the Book”, in January 2005 we felt that God gave us an open door to go to the foreign mission field which we continue to do today. During all of this time we have worked out of our local church which stood behind us allowing tax deductions of any gifts given to us. But for some time we had given thought to applying to the IRS to become a 501 c-3 non-profit organization. In July we were able to form a board of directors, apply for incorporation with the state of North Carolina, and receive status as a tax exempt non-profit organization from the IRS. So now any gifts regardless of the amount can come directly to our ministry and does not have to be sent through our local church. Solid Rock Baptist Church is still our home church.
In September I began my 28th year of teaching at the Greensboro Bible Institute in Greensboro, NC and I thank God for the ability to help others in studying His Holy Word. Also during the Summer with the help of my youngest daughter Bethany we were able to redo our Web Site. I don’t know what I would do without my two daughters to help me with various things. My oldest daughter Tricia helps me with the prayer letter by proof reading it and clearing up my mistakes. So I give God the glory for both of them. Please continue to pray for those in Nigeria as the country is in a recession at the present time and the value of the Nigerian Naria has gone down. It is our desire to return to Nigeria in February 2017. Please pray that things will have settled down by this time and that we will have the needed support to make the trip. Also pray for us as I have been invited back to the First Baptist Church of Moa, Cuba to teach in their Bible College again. I am scheduled to leave the United States on October 25th and return on November 1st. I thank Pastor Anibal Gonzalez for inviting me back again.
In closing I just want to thank the Lord for meeting our needs through your prayer and financial gifts over the past year.
May God Bless you richly in the days to come
Doug and Sharon Neary
Matt. 9:36-38
October 4, 2016
Today I would like to share with you a couple of prayer requests pertaining to those that we work with in Nigeria. First of all I would ask that you pray for all in Nigeria as they have been going through a time of recession. The economy in Nigeria depends mainly on the sale of oil and as you know the price of oil has been down so it has affected the Nigerian Naira in a very great way. When I was last in Nigeria in February/March 2014 one US Dollar could purchase 160 Naira. Recently the US Dollar has traded for almost 400 Naira per dollar. This makes it hard on the people. As the Naira drops the cost of things go up so please pray that the economy will level back out.
Our ministry supports two National Pastors: Rev. Thomas Adesoye of the Grace Independent Baptist Church of Uyo receives support each month from us. Dr. Godstime Evbota of Spread the Word Ministries receives support each month. The Liberty Baptist Church of Ayen Village outside of Benin City receives support each month (this is the church that our ministry was able to raise the funds to built a few years ago). We also send a small amount of support each month to four of the workers who help us when we our in Benin City. Our prayer is that more churches would take us on in their missions program and we could do more to help these brethren get out the Gospel Message in their respective areas. Please make this a matter of prayer.
Also pray for needs of the two churches mentioned. Grace Ind. Baptist Church needs funds to complete building toilets and some other improvements on the church building. Liberty Baptist Church is in need of two rooms for the Pastor to live in. Please make these needs a part of your prayers.
July 29, 2016
We just received a letter from the IRS stating that we are now a 501 (c)(3) non-profit public charity ministry. All gifts or donations given to this ministry are now tax deductible.
July 23, 2016
What great week it was in the Lord to resume the Burlington Tent Revival this past week with over two hundred souls coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. At last night’s youth service there was one of the largest crowds of the revival and 103 souls came forward for salvation. To God be the Glory. People have come from all over the United States and many are watching it on Facebook. It will begin another week on Monday, July 25th.
July 14, 2016
Just a reminder that the Burlington, NC Tent Revival will resume on Monday, July 18-22, 2016 at 7:30 pm. The tent is located off of I-40/85, Exit 140. Friday, July 22nd has been designated as "Youth Night."
QUARTERLY PRAYER LETTER
SPRING 2016
Dear Friends in Christ
What a joy it is to come to you again in in the name of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we look back over the
first four months of this year, we praise the Lord for all He has done for us.
In January, we had much to be thankful for as the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria granted visas to Dr. Godstime Evbota and
Pastor Thomas Adesoye to visit with us here in North Carolina. In the past, it has been very difficult to obtain visas. This
past summer, I contemplated doing another missions trip to Nigeria. However, the Holy Spirit led me to invite these to
come to America and be a part of our annual Alamance Baptist Missions Conference. I requested the U.S. Embassy grant
both men a 14-day visa. Instead, they were granted a two-year visa. To God be the glory for this.
Once we overcame the obstacle of obtaining the visas, our next challenge was to figure out their transportation and
accommodations for their two-week stay. Dr. Evbota and Pastor Adesoye were not able to afford a plane ticket so I felt
led of the Lord to book the tickets from here in the U.S. since it would be much cheaper than if done in Nigeria and to
trust the Lord to provide the funds to pay for the tickets. Our next concern was their accommodations as my home is not
quite big enough to provide adequate accommodations for both men. The Lord once again provided the funds needed
to supply local hotel rooms. By the end of their two-week stay, the Lord had provided the funds to pay for their airline
tickets, their lodging and their meals plus some additional funds to carry back to Nigeria to be used in their ministry. To
Him we give the glory praise!
Dr. Evbota and Pastor Adesoye were well-received by the Missions Conference and the churches that we visited, some
of which were supporting churches (we were able to visit 4 out of the 6 churches who support us). These men had never
been to the U.S. before so it was quite an experience for them to eat food that they had never eaten, to go in businesses
such as supermarkets and to experience the cooler weather.
Through the past few prayer letters, we have been sharing with you the need for a 125cc motor bike for Pastor Nicholas
Godspower to use while working with the Liberty Baptist Church in the Nigerian bush village of Ayen. When I shared this
need with one of the churches we visited, a lady wrote a check for $650.00 which was the amount that was needed to
purchase this item. This dear lady also provided funds towards the building of the toilets for Pastor Adesoye’s church. He
is now proceeding with the completion of the bathroom facilities and I praise God for answering this need and thank
each of you for your prayers.
Please pray for Pastor Adesoye and the Grace Independent Baptist Church as I received an email from him this morning
that someone in the past week had stolen a 2,000 gallon water tank from his church. This tank was to be used with
another one to supply the water for the toilets when the “bore hole” (well) was completed. Please pray that whomever
took this would return it.
As we close, let me say that the month of April has been one of the busiest I have had in a while. I spoke in churches
located in North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio. To this we give God the glory!
God Bless,
Doug and Sharon Neary