Monthly Missionary Update 

Brett & Monica Garner
Indiana

A LOVE STORY TO REMEMBER

We had one day off and it was Sunday.  We skipped church to go get our laundry done because we worked 6-16 hour days in a row and we needed clean clothes.  We were exhausted and I (Monica) had my day all planned out.  Do laundry and go lay by the pool with my giant ice tea and take a very long nap!!  No intentions of talking to anyone.  I was on a mission!  But, God had another plan!!  We normally did our laundry at our host home but we wanted to hurry and do it all at once so we could go sleep.  Thus the laundry mat.

Little did we know that God was orchestrating a divine appointment for two couples, and one of those couples was us!

We were almost finished when Brett saw a young couple put a load of laundry in and go outside for a smoke. He felt God nudge him to go talk to them.   It wasn’t long until Brett came in and asked me to go get a couple of Bible’s and wrist bands and meet him outside.  My first thought was oh, Lord, please give me love for these people because I have nothing today!  And please give me the words you want me to say.

This couple, Zach & Mercedes had been trying to do their laundry for three days and ended up at the same laundry mat we were at.  They had prayed and asked God to help them and give them a sign or something.

We talked with them for a while, they had just come from Mississippi.  They said that they felt like God wanted them to come to Texas and get a fresh start. They sold everything they had except their car and clothes and were living in a tent at a campground until they could get settled.  We shared the wrist bands and went through the Bible verses with them.  They had both made that decision in the past but were far from the Lord at that time. They both had been down a long tough road.  We all prayed together, it truly was a sweet time with them.  Mercedes and I connected right away.  Our journey together was just beginning.  Brett invited them to come to our host church, where there were meals available, praise and prayer time and going out in the community to pray and share the Gospel with people .  When we parted ways we felt like they probably wouldn’t come to the church the next morning.

But to our surprise they were there at 7 a.m. the next morning for worship and prayer time and we ate breakfast with them. The body of Christ welcomed them with open arms and we witnessed the love of Christ being poured out on them.  They continued to come, they even went out in the streets to share the love of Jesus with others like they had experienced on the Sunday before at the laundry mat.  and by Wednesday they both recommitted their lives to Christ and asked Brett and I to baptize them on Wednesday night. 

The next Monday I was sitting at my computer and Brett calls me and sings to me…..”Your going to a wedding and their gonna get married”  I said, “who is getting married?”  and he sings it again!  Zach & Mercedes!  So this is what happened…………

Brett introduced them to Kyle Martin at lunch and he sat down with them and as they talked he asked if they were married and they said no they were planning on it but it hadn’t worked out yet.  They had been engaged for several months.   Kyle asked if they would like to get married at an evening service that week?  The answer was a tearful YES!  Kyle had a couple of women come over to talk with them and the wedding plans were in motion.

Tuesday morning we went wedding dress shopping.  Brett took Zach shopping, the cake was ordered, someone offered to do the flowers & photography and the reception planning was in motion.  Wednesday after noon at 4 p.m. we had rehearsal and at 8:45 p.m. there was a Beautiful wedding!!


                                               A DAY TO REMEMBER

May 31, 2017 Pastor Paul Kerr married Zach & Mercedes.  Brett and I were honored  to stand by their sides as they said, “I do.”
God’s love was poured out on this couple in a way like we have never experienced before!  We were witnesses to a divine appointment orchestrated by God.  He pursues us, draws us to him, offers his love and forgiveness and gives us a new life in Chirst!
Zach and Mercedes not only started a new life together, but a new life together in Christ!  This truly is a love story to remember!

Psalm 107:8-9
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

“So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.”

– Ephesians 1:6-7

Ministry Update
-It was an amazing 50 days and we were blessed to have been able to experience all that God had for us.  It is also great to be back home.
– We are going to Terra Haute on Friday to train a church on  revivehub and on discipleship.
-We will be going to  Wausau Wisconsin August 13-19 for an outreach. 

This is Josh the owner of Chic-fil-a.  One day Brett & I went there to pray with his employees.  We prayed with this young man Luis. Several days later he gave his life to the Lord.  Josh baptized him in the baptism truck out in the church parking lot and is now discipling him.

                    Texas BBQ
When our Family came down to see us!!
Brett, Gage, Evan, Monica, Jaimene, Lee,
Briggs, & Paxton

Prayer Requests

  • Guidance and wisdom on some decisions we have to make.
  • Prayer for God’s protection over Zach & Mercedes and to continue to lead and supply for their need.

Praise Report

  • Our son Evan was baptized on the 4th of July, and so was our nephew Brock.
  • It was a huge blessing when our kids and grandkids came to Texas to visit.
  • Safety while traveling home from Texas.
  • the Lord supplied the stamina we needed to get through the 50 days.