Burgess Road Baptist Church

June 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, another month has come and gone. Thank you so much for faithfully praying for our family.

God continues to provide grace for these unusual times. In response to the pandemic the government here is still issuing strong measures to limit the spread. We are starting to hear talk of a stepped approach for reopening the country. But there has been nothing official yet so our plans are to continue with our online ministries, but we are hopeful to have our first in person service soon. There will be many adjustments, but we trust the Lord will supply the wisdom and grace needed in the days ahead.

The first week of May our family began recording a Saturday morning children’s class for the church Facebook page. This has been both fun and challenging. We miss the interaction with the kids, but are thankful to be able to interact virtually and help them receive Bible teaching that is on their level. Had it not been for the pandemic I am sure that we would not be even attempting this. Even speaking English, recording yourself is not an easy task. Add the challenge of speaking in a second language and we have had some very funny bloopers, and occasionally some “Spanglish” slips in. Please pray that as we continue the Lord would use our efforts to help these children grow in their faith.

Daily life is feeling a little less crazy, and it seems strange to say this, but we are getting more experienced at living with all of these new regulations. When the quarantine started everything was so new and every week it seemed things changed making it more challenging to even get simple things like groceries. God has continually supplied grace and we praise Him for His provision and blessing. God has continued to also supply financially above our normal support enabling us to continue meeting physical needs within the church family. Thank you again for your faithful prayers for our family.

PRAYER REQUEST

• For God to give us understanding of the Spanish language and that He would help us to be clear as we minister in Spanish.
• For the Lord’s provision for many of our church family who are being affected economically by the quarantine.
• For the Lord to continue to guide us in creative ways to present the gospel.
• For wisdom as we begin in person services again.

From Honduras,
Nate and Cori, with Mykenzie, Grant, Blake and Savanna.

June 2020

Praises

• Jeep out of Customs
• Monthly support is steady
• Raised additional funds for school construction
• God using us in many ways while “stuck” in U.S.
• Loaner Truck

Prayer Requests

• Jon’s salvation
• Leave for Costa Rica soon

 
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.
 

So where is the good in pandemic, looting and riots, being stuck in the United States? For those who know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior there is plenty of good. Fear and uncertainty in these times have softened the hearts of many and have trusted Christ. People are helping people again, neighbors getting to know neighbors. Everywhere you look there is a physical need that can be used as an opportunity to share the gospel for the even greater spiritual need, to be saved.

Our target date to leave for Costa Rica was March 26th. With the border closing to non-residents we have been stuck in Florida. We have been allowed to stay in the same temporary home and have a truck on loan from a brother in Christ. We have enough shoes and clothes to get by. We keep a close watch on the health ministry in Costa Rica. The border closure keeps getting extended and now June 30th is the date. Many new cases of COVID 19 there this week so no telling if that date will stand or get extended again. In the mean time we have plenty to keep us busy. We keep working on our Spanish. We’ve been able to visit a few of our supporting churches in parking lot services and give updates and preach. There have been many times to help some local churches with projects and even got to help our Pastor a few days. On Memorial Day our family got to cook for a small group of veterans and share the gospel with a couple of them.

Jon turned 7 on May 13th. He was so excited to have church friends over for nerf war, fishing, food and fellowship. Please continue to pray for his salvation. All the beauty shops in Florida were closed but my mom came by the house and cut the girls’ hair.

Our jeep has made it out of customs, passed inspection, and is in the registration process. None of this being stuck in the states has been easy but God is faithful and has provided above and beyond and has used many if not all of you to meet the needs we have plus many surprises. We are grateful for your continued prayers and financial support. We will not get to Costa Rica or have ministry there without your partnership.

In Christ,
Kevin and Sonya McCoy

May 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you all for faithfully praying for our family. God is so good, and He continues to prove himself faithful, especially with all of the new situations we are facing. Because of the government mandated restrictions trying to minimize the spread of infection, we are still having online services only. This has presented many new learning experiences. I would say that almost every pastorand missionary is doing a lot of on the job technical training. And that the phrase “technical difficulties” is becoming part of normal vocabulary. Yet God’s Word continues to go out, and in many respects we really don’t know the impact or scope of how far the Lord is taking the message of the Gospel.

When the quarantine started so many things just had to be placed on hold. During this past month we have begun to do some of our more normal ministry activities but this time through the virtual platform. Please pray for grace, especially as we are speaking Spanish via technology which sometimes makes it harder to understand. Please also pray for grace because in a video format our deficiencies are exaggerated.

As I mentioned last month, this crisis has presented new economic struggles for many who were already struggling financially. God has been providing for these unusual needs through some very specific gifts from supporters in the States but also through several members of the church here. It should not surprise us at God’s provision, but sometimes it does. In reality it should encourage and challenge us to trust more fully in the Lord because of the example of others who are similarly experiencing pressure, yet trusting the Lord and giving by faith. Just like Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:2 about the believers in Macedonia. It is very humbling and joyful to simply be a conduit of God’s provision for others.

With the restrictions we are all experiencing throughout the world I am sure everyone would heartily agree with the desire for things to get back to normal. But many have asked, so I wanted to share a glimpse of what our current normal looks like here. We are restricted from going to the grocery stores except on our assigned day (based on the last digit of our ID number), and vehicle occupants are limited to 2 per vehicle. We have also been able to use delivery services to have some items from the grocery store delivered to our home. All restaurants and most other businesses are closed completely. With these restrictions, Cori and the kids have not left our neighborhood since the quarantine started (6 weeks ago) and as you can imagine one of our daily struggles for the kids is fighting boredom. That being said God is good and we are so blessed. One thing we have been focusing on as a family is daily saying something for which we are thankful. When we stop and think, the list of His blessings can very easily grow long. And a thankful heart does produce a joyful heart. Thank you again for your faithful prayers for our family.

Prayer Requests

• For God to give us understanding of the Spanish language and that He would help us be clear as we minister in Spanish.
• For the Lord’s provision for many of our church family who are being affected economically by the quarantine.
• For the Lord to continue to guide us in creative ways to present the gospel.

From Honduras,

Nate and Cori, with Mykenzie, Grant, Blake and Savanna.