Today was our only sightseeing day.  We had a great time of sharing this morning.  Several told of how God had worked through our music to bless others.  We traveled to the Bunker Hill Monument in downtown Boston.  Several of us got the very silly idea that it would be good to climb to the top, all 294 steps.  Only four of us made it up there, Tim, Fred, Martin, and me (Devin).  My legs were jelly by the time I made it to the top!  The way down was pretty tough as my legs just wouldn’t work right.  The other guys were pretty much the same.  (Boy, we are getting old!)

Then we went to the USS Constitution Museum.  We couldn’t get on the ship because it was closed on Mondays.  We did get to tour the USS Cassin Young and see the museum.  Then it was off to the Old North Church.  No place to park there so we had to circle in the vans.  Then lunch at Quincy Market downtown.  Then around by the statehouse and the Boston Commons.  A quick stop by the bar used for the TV show Cheers (just looking!) and then it was time to head back to the hotel.  We had time for a few minutes of rest before we were off to dinner.

Dinner was at Longfellow’s Wayside Inn.  This was the place where Longfellow did some of his writing.  We had a great time of sharing as many of us shared experiences that God had pointed out during the project.  It was really nice.  Back to the hotel and now it’s time to get all packed to head home tomorrow.

Thanks for coming along with us on this project.  We appreciate your prayers and support.  It is only because of you that we were able to accomplish anything for the Lord.  You have a part in all that was done in His name.

May God bless you as you seek to serve Him!

Keep The Son in Your Eyes,

Devin

Sunday was great.  We divided up into three groups and went to three different churches to lead in worship this morning.  It is really amazing to see how much the people here appreciate our singing and leading in their worship services.  Each of our three groups did the music and sermon in each of the three churches.  David Vernon, Jerry Barker, and I (Devin Butts) are the Pastors in our group and so we got to do the sermons.  Mike Bender is a recent addition to the Singing Men and is also a pastor.  (To bad we didn’t have four churches!)  We took our Pastor and his wife to lunch, but the other two churches fed our guys lunch.

Then we traveled to the Iglesia Cassa De Oracion (House of Prayer) for our afternoon concert.  We rehearsed a while and then had our concert at 4pm.  It went pretty well.  There were about seventy five people there for the concert.

After the service, one man came up to me and said that his church is planning a mission project to El Salvador, but he hadn’t even thought about going.  But after our concert, and especially the song “Any Road, at Any Cost,” he was going to seriously consider being a part of that mission project.

We ate at the Longhorn restaurant for dinner.  We had first gone to the Boston Market, but they were out of food.  Then at the Longhorn, we sang our prayer, as usual.  The servers went crazy over our song.  We were able to give the CDs to people who really wanted them!!!

Thanks for the prayers!

Devin

Today was the last day of the convention.  The people have just continued to complement and thank us for being here.  It’s really been a great opportunity to encourage the workers of the Lord in this place.  We also had the opportunity to explain to them how SMOST and groups like ours can help them, such as teaching someone how to plan a worship service or lead a song.  

We spent the evening planning worship services for tomorrow.  Many of us are still hard at work, and will be late tonight, putting together powerpoint slides and sermons.  Pray for us as we our group splits three ways to lead in three different churches in the morning.  Please keep those prayers coming.

The attached picture is of us singing at the convention meeting today...

Keep those prayers coming!

Devin

During the last session on Friday evening, we sang the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”  As we sang, I began to look at the faces of the people in the congregation.  Here were men and women serving in churches running 10, 14, 7, or less people in church on a good day.  Yet, they were singing with all their hearts, some seemed to be weeping with conviction, “Great is Thy faithfulness…morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hand hath provided….”  I began to weep to the point where I could no longer sing.  In that short span of time I realized that these people were totally dependent upon and totally thankful to God

I realized it’s not about us.  It’s not about having 200 in our worship services.  It’s not about singing beautifully so that others can applaud us.  It’s about GOD!  These people seemed to know the true faithfulness of God.  Some were relying totally on God who provides their next meal.  Many of our churches back home have food (physical and spiritual) running out our ears.  We came to bless the people of New England; however, the people of New England have ended up blessing and ministering to us.  WHAT A CONVICTION! 

It was a great day of worship.  The convention is going well and all are very appreciative of our leading in worship here.  Person after person have expressed their thanks and their appreciation for our being here to uplift and encourage them.  It is great to see the Spirit in their faces.  Thank you Jesus for using us in your work!

Many of you have given to the Singing Men.  Because of your gifts, we are able to give to the people here on the mission field.  Everywhere we go, we leave a recording of God’s music.  This morning, Tommy gave a CD to the waitress at the hotel restaurant and she said, “thanks, I don’t have that one yet.”  This morning, we had breakfast at a restaurant where Jim Jackson gave a Singing Men CD to one of the workers.  As he did, a customer began asking about what was going on.  Jim had the opportunity to tell him about us and our work for the Lord.  Jim gave him a CD as well. 

The attached photo is of Jim giving the restaurant customer a CD.

Keep those prayers coming!

Devin

We had a good day.  We started this morning with rehearsal and planning for Sunday.  Sunday we’ll be splitting up to go lead in worship at three different churches.  We divided into three teams and each team has been planning the worship for their assigned church.

This afternoon, we sang two different sets during the convention meeting.  Then we went for dinner, and finally sang at the evening meeting.

Dinner was great.  We asked the locals where to get a lobster dinner and they sent us to a good restaurant.  You can see the photos on the website.  (Click on Photo Gallery on the left.)

I had a great reunion tonight at the convention meeting.  Johnnie & Lahoma Loar were at the meeting.  They are missionaries from Texas that have spent many years working here in New England.  I stayed with them in 2002 on a previous mission project to Vermont.  They are getting up in years and are still serving the Lord all they can every day.  They will be spending Christmas in Texas and will be back up in early January as Johnnie is pastoring a church along with his other duties.  I’m hoping to have dinner with them next week when my wife is up here too!

According to the complements we’ve received and the response of the congregation during our singing, it seems that we are being effective at encouraging God’s servants in this place.  Please keep those prayers coming our direction!

The attached photo is a view from Lewis' keyboard at the convention…

Today was quite rough as we met at the airport at 4:30am this morning!  Our flights were fine, except we sat on the ground in Houston for an hour and a half while they worked on the plane.  Nothing like being trapped on a plane…

We had a nice couple of hours in downtown Boston getting a late lunch and getting to walk around a bit.  Then we came on to the hotel and got checked in and began trying to find the equipment we had shipped over last week. 

A quick trip to Quizno’s and then some rehearsal and planning time.  We divided up into our three groups that will be going to three different churches for worship on Sunday morning to plan our services.

Everyone is really tired, but excited at how the Lord will use us.  We have rehearsal in the morning and then the Baptist Convention of New England starts about 1pm.  We are singing at each of their sessions.  We are hoping to encourage and bring hope to them.  Help them to know they aren’t all by themselves and that we are praying for them.

I’ve attached a photo of downtown Boston and have also uploaded several other photos to the gallery. (Click Photo Gallery on right)

Thanks for your prayers, more tomorrow!

Even a small attendance congregation can be a part of what God wants all believers to do - take the Good News to ALL the world. FBC, Falfurrias averages only about 75 total adults and children each Sunday morning, but in 2008 we anticipate sending more than 10 members to Senegal, West Africa to be a part of our mission effort there.

If our small, low income congregation can do it, what in the world is hindering you?

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Governor Dolph Briscoe and John Coleman

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Dolph Briscoe, Jr. Born April 23, 1923 is a Uvalde rancher and businessman who was the Democratic Governor of Texas between 1973 and 1979.  The 41st governor of Texas.  He was the last governor to serve a two-year term and the first to serve a four-year term, when the state doubled the length of gubernatorial terms, effective in 1975.  He is the largest individual landowner in the state of Texas.

The President (of the Singing Men of South Texas), Devin Butts greeting former Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe.

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April 19 Combined concert with all chapters in Canyon, Texas at Canyon Baptist Church (near Amarillo)

May 3 6:00 p.m. Salem Sayers Baptist Church, near LaVernia

www.singingwomenofsouthtexas.com 

The Singing Men's latest CD is now available.  It is entitled "Order My Steps" and has twelve songs.  The cover depicts a young man seeking the guidance of the Lord as he prepares to lead in worship.  (click on this item for more info...)

See the attached picture of the whole group!  South Texas was represented by: Jerry Barker, Phil Sitton, John Coleman, Devin & Dennis Butts, David Vernon, Gene Chappell, John, George, Ringo, & Gary Covin, Bruce Anderson, Travis Flournoy, Tom Wideman, Martin Cherry (timpani) Larry Danks, Reid Sellers, & Mike Bender.

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Blessings and Answered Prayers

Click the headline to read about what we experienced on Monday. (by Martin Cherry)

Our schedule for Monday, September 17, 2007

Schedule: Sunday , September 16, 2007

We're off to the other side of the world.  Will you please spend some serious time in prayer for us and the people God puts in our path.  And, since we are the 'Singing Men', it would be great if you'd pray that our voices last the whole ten days!  (Click on this item for more info)

Southwest Airlines is currently offering $79 each way to Amarillo. W/tax/title/license it comes out to $184.60.  Rehearsal will most likely start at 1pm.  We sing at 6:45pm at the meeting where Rick Warren will be speaking.