Recent ministry visits brought David Strope, GARBC interim national representative, to Florida and South Carolina. “The reception was a warm as the weather,” David says.
David visited Maranatha Village and Maranatha Baptist Church, Sebring, Florida, February 19–23. At the church, he preached at its Bible conference on “Walking by Faith in a Faithless World” (from Hebrews 10 and 11) and presented a comprehensive ministry report. “His ministry was timely and helpful,” the church says. David says Pastor Darryl Jeffers, along with the staff and congregation of Maranatha Baptist, were gracious hosts.
David’s wife, Debbie, accompanied him on this ministry trip. While in Sebring, both enjoyed renewing friendships with many residents of Maranatha Village and making new friends there. They even wandered through Maranatha Village’s annual yard sale. “Lots of items and lots of people,” this retirement community says.
On February 26 David preached and presented an RBM update at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Lakeland, Florida, pastored by Larry Lindow.
From Lakeland he traveled to Bob Jones University in South Carolina. He preached in the chapel service February 28, speaking from John 12 on “Don’t Waste Your Life.” The next day he preached in the seminary’s chapel on “The Calling and Care for Elders” from his assigned Scripture passage, 1 Timothy 5:17–27. While on campus David met with Steve Pettit, president of Bob Jones University, and with several seminary administrators.
Returning to his home state of Iowa, David visited Fellowship Baptist Church in Des Moines, just 13 miles from his home in Ankeny, March 5. Pastor Daniel Vance and the congregation welcomed David’s report of Regular Baptist Ministries.
