Chris & Elizabeth Baran

After our return from Bible Baptist Church, my wife and I were able to spend time with a few of our friends at Niagara Falls. Bro. Nate St. Pierre along with his mom, brother, nephews, niece and sister-in-law were able to stop by at Pastor Seth’s house this Labor Day weekend.  So we decided to meet together at the American side of the falls. It was so nice to enjoy Labor Day with great friends and their families. Bro. Nate Saint Pierre was one of my teachers at Bible College. We became good friends at college and we share many wonderful memories. It was also neat to see Pastor Seth and Nate St. Pierre react  to each other. My worlds were again colliding. I am glad God has given me some God loving friends. Praise the Lord for them.

We were very thankful the Lord made it possible for us to return to Niagara Falls, Canada.  This has become a very special place to my wife and I for many reasons. We not only enjoyed our honeymoon there but also the services and friendship of Bible Baptist Church. During our honeymoon, we were just going to slip in and enjoy the services and then slip out.  But Pastor Kiper recognized me from our prayer letter and asked if I could present our work that Sunday night.  This was the first time ever I was able to introduce Elizabeth as my wife in a meeting. This dear church provided us the funds to buy our new prayer cards and also gave us a generous love offering. So when Pastor Kiper asked if I could fill in for him this past Sunday I was quick to say yes.  We had a great time!  I preached all three services and also showed our new updated presentation.  It was wonderful to return after almost a year and see the church folks.

It was wonderful to go back to Open Door Baptist Church!  Pastor Aabye has been a friend for many years. The last time I was with them I was still single and I had just put together a temporary display board.  I didn’t even have prayer cards at the time.  I remember saying something like this, “Yes I am not currently married.  The problem isn’t me, SHE needs to get right with God and marry me.” Little did I ever imagine that I’d be married at the end of that same year.  God is good. It was great to return to Open Door with my display board, prayers cards, and my wonderful wife.

We were asked to join a missions conference in Upper Sandusky with Pastor Bucklew and Heritage Baptist Church. We stayed with the pastor and his dear family during the meeting.  We had a great time, Pastor Bucklew and his wife had recently taken a missions trip to Israel and shared their experience with us.  Just looking at the pictures and seeing the different sites where Jesus walked was amazing.  I pray that someday, if the Lord wills, my wife and I will be able to go ourselves.

We went to the Erie County Fair and worked again in the Amazing Grace Booth.  Many tracts were passed out and a great number of people stopped by to talk about salvation.  My wife and I were able to lead three people to Christ! Many others listened, obviously under conviction but still they weren’t ready to accept Jesus as their personal Savior. The Lord can still work in the hearts of these people!  We pray the Lord will bring others into their path who will continue to plant the gospel in their hearts.

What a blessing to be a part of Old Time Baptist’s Camp Meeting this year!  It was wonderful to see the Lord move throughout the hearts of the people.  This was especially true on Thursday night.  The first preacher got up to speak and stopped. Believing he would just get in God’s way, he opened up the invitation and let the Holy Spirit do His work. People came to the altar, weeping and getting right with God. Many others went forward to be saved. This was the fruit of hearts that had already heard the Word and had God’s seeds planted within their souls.  God was taking that time to convict people of their sin.  After the services were over one lady commented, “God preached tonight.” It was a special night, something that is rare to see.  The Lord isn’t done with us yet! He’s still moving His people and drawing sinners to Himself!

If you read the previous post, you will remember that we currently have four little ones with us in our travels.  Pastor Loranger graciously asked us to come and visit Conewango Baptist Church for both their Sunday morning and Sunday evening services.  I was able to preach and give a testimony of how the Lord has been blessing us throughout deputation. It was good to see Pastor Loranger and his church folks again.  We’ve been able to go soul winning with them in a couple different festivals this summer.

Pastor Seth and his wife left to go on a missions trip to Peru, and placed their children in our care until their return.  As they pulled out of the driveway my wife turned to me and smiled, saying, “Congratulations, you’re a father!”    Ever since Pastor Seth had asked us to watch their four children, my wife and I had been anticipating becoming “temporary parents”.    We’ve already been able to take our “new family” to a church for Sunday services. The church was a little surprised, the last time I was with them I wasn’t even married yet, now I was there with my new wife and four kids.  We had a lot of fun.  Please keep us and the Garland children in your prayers.  Charity is the youngest at two years old, and sometimes she doesn’t understand why her temporary parents haven’t left so mommy and daddy can come back.

The Lord provided another conference for us to attend.  We saw many familiar faces and enjoyed the fellowship.  Through this conference we were able to schedule more meetings!  It is exciting to see the Lord fill our calendar.  Please continue to pray for us in this matter! 

We were in a missions conference in Akron, New York with Pastor LaCapruccia and Fellowship Baptist Church this past week. Throughout our time there I gave our testimony, presented our burden, and taught Jr. Church and Children’s Sunday School.  We were also part of a missionary quartet in one service.  It was a blessing to meet the people and serve with them in just a short weekend.  It makes it difficult to leave when you meet new friends and see how they lovingly serve in their church. I look forward to the day when we shall no longer say goodbye.  Oh, what a day that will be!