Arial Baptist Church

Church News:  Sorry this newsletter is late getting out! We have had our hands full with the newest member of the Lawson family.
Yesterday was a wonderful day! Not only did we celebrate Jesus, we also had an awesome service at Valley Drive Baptist Church! A couple of months ago we decided to invite the whole town to our Easter service.  After much planning, preparation, and handing out 3500 invites to every house in Miles City, the day arrived.  We had about 140 people come and here the gospel yesterday – Praise God!!! As most of you already know, Montana is a very lost state and a very hard mission field so this was definitely a GOD-THING.  Thank you for your prayers!
These past few months, Brian and I have been busy with our church duties.  I am still doing most of the secretarial work at church and also redesigned our website.  Check it out – www.vdbc.org.  Brian has sub-preached a few places, helped work on a plan to disciple new members, helped with AWANA, and taught a Sunday night kid’s class along with a few other things.  We love Miles City, Valley Drive Baptist Church, and the work God has called us to do.  In the next few months, I am planning a ladies night out, Sunday school get-togethers, and pre-planning for VBS.  Busy! Busy!

Home News: As you read above, we have added to our family!! Sophie Faith Lawson was born January 13th at 11:08am.  She is a wonderful gift from God.  Many of you may not know just how special she is to us.  When I was younger, I found out that I had a thyroid problem as well as a few other issues.  Three different doctors told me that I probably wouldn’t be able to have children and if I did it would not be easy.  Brian and I prayed that if this was God’s will, we wouldn’t have a desire for children of our own.  That is just what happened! We were content just to teach and work with them.  However, last March as I was doing my quiet time, I came upon the story of Abraham and Sarah (ironic? No, it was just God speaking to me). As I prayed that day, a desire to have children overwhelmed me.  Even as I write, tears come to my eyes.  I cried and prayed to God, knowing and trusting that He had heard me.  Brian and I continued praying.  The second week of April, we decided to start trying to have a child.  I went off the pill that I had been on for 11 years.  A week later I got pregnant! We didn’t find out until May 14^th – as we prayed daily, we had no idea God had already answered our prayer! I tell you our story to let you know that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GOD!!!!! Sophie is proof of that and I praise God every time I hold her! I never understood a parent’s love for their child until I became one. Now I just can’t fathom how much more God loves us!!!! So this has been our home life for the past three months (who knew something so small could have so many dirty diapers).

Financial Support: We thank everyone who has helped us financially, especially when Sophie arrived.  We have two big prayer/requests:  We would like to plan a trip home in June to introduce Sophie to family and friends, however do not have the funds for plane tickets.  Tickets are around $1000.  Any help would be appreciated! The other request is about our vehicle.  As you know, Brian’s job requires him to use his own car.  We only have that one and it is difficult to work around his schedule for appointments.  The hardest thing is that I have been asked to start a Christian preschool in September at our church.  This will not be possible without a second vehicle.  We owe about $1500 on our car now and would like to get it paid off so we can get another one.  I ask that you pray for us about these requests and pass them along to others.  We trust God will provide! If you are led to help, you can send support to us, go through a church (for taxes), or send them to NAMB. When sending it to NAMB, please put our name and account # (8852) in the notes section of your check.  The address is:

Our Purpose: **LOVE GOD ** LOVE OTHERS ** SERVE THE WORLD **

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support.  We are blessed to have such wonderful friends and family.  

LOVE in CHRIST,
Holly and Brian

Sophie Faith