January 26, 2004

 11 months later:  the end of the story.  Many of you have heard the story of my experience sharing Christ with Tim before we headed out to begin full time deputation.  I had only seconds to decide to get out of the way and lay my plans aside in order to share the gospel with Tim.  In December I came in contact with Tim again on a Wednesday during the youth club time.  I had been praying for his salvation for months, and thought that surely someone else had already been able to “harvest the fruit” of the seed I had planted in January.  However when I asked him, he told me that he had not yet made a decision to accept Christ.  The next Wednesday night I had the joy of seeing God move as Tim, his brother, and a friend all three accepted the greatest gift to all mankind- salvation through Jesus Christ!

 More fruit to your account. . .Also in December I was able to help lead 4 other teenagers to accept Christ during public high school chapels.  In January I had the privilege of being able to lead a college student to Christ during church visitation in Tennessee.

 Health issues arise for our son Josiah and also for my father Mike Rose.  We have received news that Josiah, our 6 month old has a cyst in his stomach that needs to be removed.  It seems to be God ordained that the consultation and the possible time for surgery have fallen on our two cancellations.  God’s hand has been in the arrangements to help us get this taken care of before we head to Spain.  I am still claiming Mark 9:23-24 for my father even though it seems that his health situation is getting more complicated.  In December it was revealed through pain and a CAT scan that my father, Pastor Mike Rose had a tumor larger than a football in his stomach.  Through prayer and chemotherapy the size of the tumor has decreased immensely.  However, the doctor is concerned by the rapid growth and is sending Dad to a specialist in Indianapolis to investigate a bone marrow transplant.  I will be tested to see if I am a match.  We don’t have a lot of details at this point but he will be unable to fulfill responsibilities at church for quite some time if he does have the transplant done.  Our church is searching for another full-time minister.  Would you please pray with us that they will find God’s man for the job at Temple Baptist? 

 After much prayer and evaluation of circumstances it looks as if we will be leaving for Spain in September when our co-workers, David and Florence McDonald return to the field.  We have been in touch with the Consulate of Spain and are beginning paperwork.  Please pray for us as we begin to apply for our visas that everything will go smoothly and we will understand and comply with all the requirements in order that we might receive our permanent residence visas.  We also ask that you would pray for our finances, that God would bring the final 20% that we need to be fully supported.  We appreciate your partnership in our ministry through your prayers and support more than words can express.

Striving together,


Bill & Dena Rose with Brianna, Kelsey, Jordan, Joshua, and Josiah