My Father - My Provider
Josh Baulding served as an intern at Christian Assembly while attending Holmes Bible College.  He is now completing his junior year at Columbia University. 

As I was making plans to attend seminary, I felt like God was telling me to trust him to provide for me. He certainly has!  Tuition this year has been just over $11,000, and I received scholarships and grants of $11,000. 

To help with next year's tuition, I will be doing more at the church during the summer which will provide a little more financially, and as an extra benefit, I'll get an opportunity to learn more from my pastor.  And the most recent blessing is that I have been given a HUGE honor!  I already had five thousand dollars in scholarships for next year: a $2000 Deans Scholarship and a $3000 Cassel Family Scholarship (M.Div).  I've gotten those all three years.

Each year the seminary faculty chooses "one student that shows outstanding promise as a preacher" to receive a special scholarship. I just learned that I have been chosen as the 2008-2009 Vance Havner Scholarship Preaching Recipient.  So with that $4000 scholarship, I now have $9000 for next year.  That means I will graduate debt free!!!  God is good.

God's word says that our God will provide for all our needs according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.  He has been faithful to keep His promise.

Transformed
Our family first came to Christian Assembly to attend Kid's Quest '06.  Our two children had a blast on the free rides and we made some new friends that day.  We began attending the Sunday services and it was hard for me to understand why these people cared so much about us.  At the time, I didn't know where my life was headed.  I had no job, no transporation, and because of my former lifestyle it was difficult to find a job.  But the people of Christian Assembly welcomed us with open arms.

One young man took a particular interest in me.  I believe the Lord put him in my life to be my friend, my mentor and my brother.  He encouraged me to be more aggresive in getting my life back on track and helped me set up several job interviews.  He persistently followed up to see how I was doing.  Because of his concern and God's goodness I now have a vehicle and my wife and I are working full-time.  The Lord gave me a job working for a Christian couple where I am putting my culinary training to work.

I'm so thankful for my church family and for my friend.  I don't know what my life would be like if I didn't have their love and support.  One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Psalm 25.  "To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God.  Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.  No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame."

In Loving Memory
Dad Strickland went home to be with Jesus Thursday morning at 10:15. He fought a valiant fight against cancer. He won. The grave has no victory and death no sting, for his last breath here was his first in Heaven.

We rejoiced together as we celebrated his homegoing on Monday, April 30 at his home church, Faith Assembly of God in Summerville, SC.  Friends and family gathered to remember his faithful love and friendship on Sunday evening at James Dyal Funeral Home. A memorial fund has been set up for Aged Ministers Assistance and gifts can be sent to Faith Assembly of God, 337 Farmington Road, Summerville, SC 29483.

Thank you for your love and concern for the family during Dad's days of warfare. Pray that we can follow in his footsteps and can emulate his faithful life of prayer and ministry.

- Pastor Mark and Glenda White