Over 460 Salvations in the Dominican Republic

All the Mission Team Members & Bus Driver
having Lunch in the Dominican

We've returned from the Dominican and there are so many stories to tell. I'd like each member of our mission team to share some memories here. There were over 460 salvations during the 10 days we were there. We all have pictures to share  and even a video so those will be forthcoming.

Today I'll start with one of my more memorable one-on-one moments when we were on the street evangelizing.

A middle-aged man in Santo Domingo told me he knew he needed to be saved, but was not ready for it.  I looked the man in the eye, put my hand on his chest over his heart and told him, "The Lord has sent me all the way from Detroit, Michigan, USA,  to tell you about Jesus and what you need to do to be saved."

As I spoke these words and the translator translated,  I could actually feel his heart begin to speed up, and I said to him, "Do you not think Jesus wants you to be saved today?"  He lowered his head and simply said, "Si," and accepted Jesus as his savior.

Rev. Tom Miller Preaching at the school
at Iglesia Bautista Cristian

Praise God for his working through our hands and hearts!

Just also want to thank all the team members.  Sorry, I don't have some of the last names, but our mission team consisted of 5 pastors, Bob Hollis (Holly, Mi) and Tom Miller (Waterford, Mi) Tom Berg (Maryland), Richard Stimson (S. Carolina), and Richard Blue (Fenton, Mi); 3 lay people: Dana Babka (Waterford, MI)  Skip (Waterford, Mi), and Mark (Mt. Pleasant, Mi); and 3 Midwestern Baptist students:  James, Susannah and Ruthie.  The devotion and diligence and sacrifice of this team allowed us to see miracles happen in the souls of the Dominicans.

More stories to come, I'm going to spend some time now with 'mi esposa.'

Dios bendiga!  (God bless you)
Pastor Tom Miller

Getting Ready To Leave the Dominican

The people are hungry for the Word.

One more church service tonight.  Packing and getting up about 3 am to be to the airport by 4 am.  Our group is leaving in two different time frames.  College students will not leave until afternoon tomorrow.

Stories and events from this week are almost overwhelming the emotions we have so many to tell.    The hospitality has been wonderful.  It is obvious that the Lord needs workers here.  Yesterday with only 30 people we had 158 saved.  If we had 120 like the time of Pentecost we could have seen 3000 saved.  The fields are white to harvest. They are plentiful. Lord send more workers.

Pray for our group as we  travel home.

Two Hours - 158 Salvations

Dominican Update:   These are only highlights and snippets of the events.  When the team returns we will be asking them  to share more of the actual stories with you.

Day 5 & 6 (Tuesday & Wednesday)  ministering and showing the box at the Christian schools.  The majority of the students are not Christians, however.   There were over 140 students who accepted the Lord in two days.

Day 7:  (Thursday) A little time for sightseeing and then on to another church in San Cristobal. (Long bumpy ride)

Day 8:  (Friday) A slower day trying to get translators, sitting on bus waiting for a long time.  15 salvations.  The churches visited are in some of the poorest, crime ridden areas.  (While they were speaking there was a rat that ran across one of the wires.)

According to one of the pastors this area is hungry for the Lord, their hearts are ready.  He said it is like the time of Pentecost.  These are a religious people - but they don't have the whole story....they are ripe and ready for the saving truth of God's word.

Today-Day 9 (Saturday)  the mission team did a video presentation and a question and answer period following. While the presentation was going on a mom whose child was saved the day before at the school came in.  One of the local men went up to her and asked her to look in the box and they were able to lead her to the Lord.

Apx. 30 people went down with the mission team to the ocean side.  The mission team members were partnered with a translator and a local.  At one time there were 15 people waiting to look in the box.  The team was running up and down the area, answering questions  and then sending the translator out with a local to be a new team.  In only 2 hours, 158 salvations took place.   PRAISE God for his presence and faithfulness.

Tomorrow is Sunday.  We will be speaking  3 times at churches again.

Salvations Update: Over 6000 in 4 Years

The Question Boxes

We just finished the Wooly Worm Festival in Kentucky with 230 salvations.  We want to be sure to acknowledge the folks at Sugar Camp Baptist and thank them for their hospitality.

The salvations at these events, festivals, and fairs could not have happened without the faithfulness of the workers from the various churches, their prayers and the LOVE OF GOD for his children.

There is still one more Harvest festival coming up in North Carolina the end of October but here are the updated numbers as promised (God is SO GOOD):

2012	Oakland Co 4H (MI)	July 6-15	551
	Farmington Hills Festival (MI)	July 19-21	115
	Isabella Co Fair (MI)	July 24-29	583
	Frederick Co Fair (VA)	July 30-Aug 5	140
	Genesee Co Fair  (MI)	Aug 13-19	367
	Goodrich Festival  (MI)	Aug-12	102
	Faith City Church Event, Fenton (MI)		50
	Ortonville Festival (MI)		100
	Victory World Outreach Teen Event (MI)		10
	North Carolina Fair
	Woolly Worm Festival  (KY)	Oct 19-21	230
	2012 TOTAL (so far)................2248

                  2011                                                      1804
                  2010                                                      1124
                  2009                                                        517
                  2008                                                        527
           GRAND TOTAL  2008-2012                         6220 salvations

Wooly Worm Salvations

21 souls!! and it'a only noon on the first day of the Wooly Worm Festival in Beattyville, KY.  The fellas just called with the update. The festival will run through Sunday so continue to pray.

 Pastors Tom, Jeff and bro. Dana made the trip down earlier this week.  Pastor Tim Charleton of Sugar Camp Baptist Church (Booneville, KY) and its members are being wonderful hosts to our crew.  They also have been giving regular support to this ministry.  

We have had a phenomenal year having over 2000 salvations.  Some number updates have not yet been made on this site and will be forthcoming.  Continue to pray for this important ministry as we are preparing to go to the Dominican Republic in February, God willing.

5000th Salvation

It sneaked up almost without our noticing......the 5000th salvation of Inside the Box!!!  Praise God, Praise God, Praise God!   It happened at about 6:45 p.m. today, July 26th, 2012 at the Isabella County Fair in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.  It all began back in Waterford, Mi in 2008 when Pastor Jeff Walters (Charity Baptist)   told Pastor Tom Miller (First General Baptist) of a job he used to have as an evangelist at County Fairs in Ohio.  He explained the 'box' system  and how they were able to lead people to the Lord.   Pastor Miller was excited about the idea and the two pastors began to plan to set up a tent at the Oakland Co. Fair in Michigan.  That first year saw 527 salvations.  Since then there have been a total of 14 Fairs or Events and at least 8 Churches or ministries involved, countless workers and prayer warriors (Click on Salvations page to see a list of participating churches/ministries.)

      Pastor Jeff & Pastor Tom want to thank and Praise the Lord for all the team effort to build God's Kingdom.

Year	Fair/Event		Tot         Salv		Yr Sub Totals
2008	Oakland County Fair, Mi		527
				527
2009	Oakland County Fair, MI		517
				517
2010	Oakland County Fair, MI		512
	Genesee County Fair, MI		612
				1124
2011	Oakland County Fair, MI		507
	Genesee County Fair, Mi		500
	Fredericks Co. Fair, VA		237
	Farmington Hills, MI		226
	Clothing Outreach, KY		20
	Fenton, MI		25
	Wooly Worm Festival, KY		289
				1804
2012	Oakland Co 4H		551
	Farmington Hills Festival		115
	Isabella Co Fair		362
	Genesee Co Fair
	Frederick Co Fair, VA
	Woolly Worm Festival, KY
				1028
	GRAND TOTAL				5000

Day 2-Isabella Co Fair, MI

Bro. Dana & Pastor Jeff Walters at Oakland Co Fair

141 Salvations!!  God is MORE than GOOD!!  Praise His name!!  After our largest first day of salvations yesterday it almost seemed slow today.  We had an average of about 10 salvations per hour for the first part of the day.  The weather has been good - almost perfect.  We are seeing many families come into the tent wanting to make sure they know the answer to the question.  Workers from Central Baptist are excited about this ministry, we have another church observing hoping to start a box ministry of their own.  Continue to pray - we are all very tired.  It is probably a combination of the not only the labor - but the adrenaline rush when the tent is full of people praying and surrounded by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Pray for Day 3.
    If you have a story about Inside the Box, share it with us on our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Inside-the-Box-Fair-Ministry/223482784336464
    In His Service, Pastor Tom.

Record Breaking Day

167 salvations for the first day at Isabella Co. Fair, in Mt. Pleasant, MI.   Go God!!  Go Team!!   This is the largest number of salvations on the first day of a fair (typically lowest attended day).   This tells us something - PEOPLE ARE PRAYING!!!   Nothing powerful happens unless people are praying.

Rev. Bob Hollis leading a family to the Lord at Oakland Co. Fair.

     Rev. Bob Hollis made contact a few months ago with Central Baptist Church of Mt. Pleasant (Pastors:  Gordon Rydman and Allen Rydman) and got the ball rolling for Inside the Box to have a tent at the fair.  The church members and pastors have been praying since then and have been excited for the fair to start.

     Unfortunately the tent is in the worst possible location - but God is still working.  We have utilized some business cards (see picture) to invite people down to look 'inside the box.'  Our workers walk the fair and hand out the 'tickets.' They are working to bring folks down to our location.
    Continue to PRAY.  Today (Wednesday) looks like possible rain.  Pray for the harvest and our workers' energy and enthusiasm.  Pray also for those of us who are away from home for the week.  And remember:   God is good ALL the time.
  In His Service,   Pastor Tom

FINAL DAY Oakland Co Fair

Pastor Miller at the Boxes at Oakland Co  4H Fair 2012

 Sunday was the final day at the Oakland Co 4H Fair.  The Grand Total of Salvations for the 10 days was 551.  Praise God for his amazing work of grace.   Thank you to all the workers and those who prayed and donated to the ministry.   The faithfulness of everyone has made a difference in 
the lives of 551 people.  


None of the work done was about promoting any one church or ministry.  It was about Souls-Souls-Souls.     
We do want to thank the participating churches,
Pastor Jeff Walters, Charity Baptist of Oxford, Mi
and
Pastor Tom Miller, First General Baptist of Waterford, Mi. for the workers and support from their respective churches.  The folks from these churches are messengers of the Lord and diligently doing his work.  


We also had Bro. Bob Hollis of BEMA (Baptist Evangelistic Mission Assoc) and Rev. Russ Kidman, missionary to the military.

   We set up for the  Farmington Hills Founder's Festival  on Thursday morning, July 19th.  The fair begins Thursday evening and runs through Saturday.  Pastor Darrin Lee's church, Cornerstone Baptist is hosting the tent.  They had a wonderful first time turnout last year (2011) and saw 226 salvations for only a 2 1/2 day event.  Pray that God will do even more this year.  Pray for great weather and health for the workers. 


Here are some more pictures from this past week at the Oakland Co 4 H Fair. (If you also took pictures we can show please email them to our webmaster at waterfordmiller (at) juno (dot) com.)



                          Bro. Clifford Wade Inside the Tent

Bro. Dana Babka & Pastor Jeff Walters at the boxes

Bro. Bob Hollis leading a family to the Lord.

  Bro. Dana Babka leading a family to the Lord.






Pastor Jeff and 'Paws' who knew the answer to the question!

Day 4 of 10 Oakland Co, MI Fair Update

58 more salvations Sunday and Monday brings the total to 190 salvations for four days.  There have also been many re-dedications.  Several people who were saved previously by our ministry have stopped back by to talk and rededicate.  THAT's EXCITING!  It tells us that the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives and that our ministry IS making a difference for God's kingdom.
     Our traffic has been slower - possibly due to the extreme heat as well as 4 day extension with no large events scheduled until this week. But, God has been faithful.  We have been handing out some 'tickets' (business size card) that say "Good for one FREE look in the box."  This has been very successful when things are slow.  We anticipate more traffic this week, especially on Thurs, Fri, and Saturday.
     Keep PRAYING as Satan has been active with many distractions.  But we know we're doing a good work for the Lord when Satan is busy.  The extreme heat seems to have dissipated, pray that the cooling continues.  We have had a good amount of workers, but can use more as the week continues.  Contact me or Pastor Jeff if you would like to participate at this fair.
     In His Service, Pastor Tom
 

Oakland Co 4H Fair-Day One Report

62 saved and 5 rededications (see Pastor Tom's comments in Facebook Feed at right).  Whooo-hoo!  Go God - Go Team!    It was just 1/2 a day yesterday, but even before the official opening 6 fair employees were saved.  Our group arrived at 1:00 pm - not realizing the start time was 4:00 this year.  But it was a GOD thing - had they not been there 6 people may not have been saved.  AMAZING!  What are your stories about Inside the Box?   If you have participated in this ministry and there is a special story go to facebook and tell it.  The story  will also appear in the Facebook feed on this site.

Late yesterday it was hard going to get people to look Inside the Box - they were just hot and not wanting to bother.  The workers gathered in a circle to pray.  Immediately after prayer they got the idea of handing out cold water if people would look in the box.   They had 40+ salvations after that.  Living water......?   YOU'RE  RIGHT!

Pray today about the extreme heat and protection for the workers.  We could use donations of water and ice. Call the churches or pastors to get in touch.

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