Rapid Valley Church of Christ Taking the Gospel to the Lost of South Dakota

What and amazing month September was! It started with Chad Davis obeying the gospel in baptism at 10:30pm on September 5th. Chad is married to Francy and has three young boys (Grady, Garrett, & Gage). Several months ago Ozzy and I met Chad in Cabela’s. Over the last three and half months we have been drinking coffee and studying what it means to be a Christian with Chad and Francy. Our studies have gone well, because this is a very spiritual couple. But like many of us, Chad and Francy came to the studies with some preconceived notions about God, Jesus, Christianity and Salvation. Chad received the message of forgiveness of sins through baptism in the name of Jesus Christ and gladly obeyed His gospel. Unfortunately, Francy has not obeyed the Gospel. Please pray for this household and a softened heart for Francy to submit to the gospel.

Sunday evening September 8th I had the great privilege to baptize Orla Wounded Knee into Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of her sins! We met Orla when the Knott Church of Christ came down to help us do some outreach. She came to a cookout at the park after being invited by Steve and Amy Parker. She told me that night that she had been going to a church but was not pleased with the “pastor” because he just told stories and never talked about the Bible. Orla is a full blood Sioux Indian (Dakota tribe); in her house is a picture of Sioux teepees from the 1800s with the inscription 'Wowacintanka' - To persist, to strive in spite of difficulties." That statement depicts the spirit of Orla. She has not had an easy life by any measure. The day she was baptized she said something that was remarkable that I want to share with you. She said "You know the bible says the world calls Christians fools (1 Cor. 3:18ff), but if that means that I will be with God in heaven and will be saved...I will be a fool." What a remarkable statement of faith! Pray for Orla as we continue to help strengthen her relationship with Christ.

So then, those who had received his word were baptized;

and that day there were added about three thousand souls. Acts 2:41

And They Received the Word with Gladness!

A few months back Ozzy met Tyler Thielson at Denver Mattress where he works. Two Sunday's later Tyler and his wife Christa showed up to services on Sunday morning. Tyler and Christa began studying with Ozzy and about 6 weeks later, on Sept 11th, they were baptized into Christ. Since then, they have begun to bear spiritual fruit and display the qualities of discipleship. They have even set up a study with their friend Will! We see great potential in Tyler and Christa to be powerful and effective workers in God’s kingdom. This sweet couple is a joy to be around and a wonderful addition to the Rapid Valley Church of Christ. Pray for them as they continue to grow in the Lord and for their friend, Will, also.

Chad

Orla

Back in July a group from Will’s Point Church of Christ came to be involved in an Evangelism boot Camp that Ozzy and I developed. The idea is to teach skills used in evangelism and encourage Christians to be more evangelistic. We took the group door knocking and landed at Steven Weintz’s door. Russell Harris and I talked to Steven as he stood at the door dressed in his softball jersey (we would later find out that he had been in a tournament and was in between games and should not have even been home at that time). We set up a study for the following Sunday afternoon. Ozzy and I both met with Steven at his house to get to know him, talk a lot of sports and tell him what we were all about. I went back for the next six weeks and studied the gospel with Steven. Steven once told me, “I thought I was a Christian and that I believed in God but after spending time with you guys and studying the Bible I have realized that I just believed in the idea of God and did not believe in Him.” Needless to say Steven has been discipled and the Lord added Steven to the Body of Christ Sept 13th. Praise God for Steven’s submission to the gospel and desire to grow in his relationship with Christ. After the Will’s Point group left a group up from the Knott Church of Christ (Knott, TX) came to go through the evangelistic boot camp and help us make contacts. While knocking doors with Dillon and Devon, Ozzy met a very sweet young medical student named Laura Swan. While executing a ‘religious survey’ on her door step, she invited them into her home. She must be brave to invite three strange men into her house! Laura grew up going to ‘church’ and had an obvious love for the Lord. However, she did not understand the ways of the Lord accurately. After many weeks of studying with Ozzy she came to realize that she had not been baptized for the remission of sins. She was baptized into Jesus Christ at the same Ramada Inn where the Will’s Point group stayed when they came to visit. Please pray for her as she grows in Christ and for her boyfriend Bryce who has not expressed the same desire and commitment as Laura. As you can see God has blessed us in spite of our frailties and short comings! We are thrilled at the growth and continual blessings we have experienced and humbled by the work ahead of us in maturing these new spiritual babes. Please remember each of these folks as well as us in prayer that we might continue as one family to glorify God in this place. It is because of faithful brothers and sisters like you that we are able to be here and participate with you in this great gospel work!

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because

I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord

Jesus and toward all the saints… Phil 1:4-5

Steven

Laura

Family Fun & Snow!

What a fun filled few months we have had! Not only did we get to welcome 6 new brothers and sisters into Christ we also had several opportunities to spend time with our Christian family from other parts of the state (and country). The end of August we spent a weekend in the Black Hills with members from Sturgis and Faith, SD at a family camp. Terra also had the opportunity to attend a ladies’ retreat organized by the Sturgis church at Ranch A in Wyoming. We were also pleased to have a surprise visit from Dee Carr, a supporter from Hermleigh, Texas. October has greeted us with the first snow of the year. The winter storm, Atlas, moved through the area leaving lots of snow behind. We spent one day without electricity and the next day trying to dig out. The ranchers in the area were severely affected, reporting losses of around half a million head of cattle. Though the blizzard wasn’t the coldest or snowiest one South Dakota has ever seen, it is being called the worst one because of the damage it caused. Kassidy enjoyed playing in and eating the snow. We even made snow cones and played games in the evening by the candlelight. We were fortunate to have a camp stove to cook soup on and make hot chocolate. We are thankful for all of you that prayed for us and checked on us

while we were snowed in!

Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!

There are not words to express how grateful we are for each of our supporters! We depend completely on you all for our every need.It is such a comfort to know that you love us and desire to be a vital part of the work with us! Thank you greatly for your prayers, cards, visits, support, and love. Were it not for you we would not be here and we deeply appreciate all that each of you has done and is doing for us! God bless and keep you all!

Love,

Tim Terra & Kassidy