January 31, 2023

Dear Brethren,

Greetings from frigid Lexington, Kentucky (26 degrees). Yes, I am in the States and will tell you why a little later. For now though, some nice warm news from down home.

Our Christmas musical was back almost to pre-Covid levels. We averaged over 1,000 in attendance. The last night we had 1,217. There were at least 9 people saved the first 4 nights, but do not know how many after that. This was the first time that we were able to serve the deaf community. That is the next big news of the past few weeks.

Tatiana was saved as a girl right here at First Baptist Church. She married one of our young men and has 2 great kids. She served for several years as our nursery leader. She is very efficient and made that ministry what it is today – great. Just over 3 years ago, she came to me and said that she had already trained another team to take over her ministry. Then she said she was called to start a ministry for the deaf. That was music to my ears. She recruited some 20 people to start training. It was a 3-year program at 3 levels. We made sure she had all the support and resources she needed. I was with them for each graduation ceremony along the way and a few other occasions.

On the last Sunday of November, we had the first official service, which was geared to the deaf community and to get the church fully on board. There were over 15 deaf present. In the following weeks they have been back in almost every service and a few more continue to show up. Andriu was the first to be saved. Since then, 5 more have made professions of faith. In my last time in the pulpit this month one more young mother was saved. Bev and I had prayed for over 30 years that God would raise somebody up that would take this challenge. Our prayers have been answered.

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I have 2 things that I really need you to pray about. The first thing will be couched in somewhat veiled language because this newsletter will be on the internet and I must choose my words wisely. Pray for the country that I serve in. It has taken a sharp turn to the left. On the last Sunday before the general election, I took 15 minutes to implore people to not stay home or abstain, but get out and vote. No party name or candidate name was mentioned. On a Friday night, just before the big day, our church was gathered in prayer in groups throughout the 2 buildings. We had been praying every morning from 5:00 AM, too. That night I was pulled from my group and handed a 3-page threat from a federal prosecutor. If I continued to “campaign” I could be jailed and fined. In the document I was directly forbidden to teach or preach about God or family. The incident was all over the news across the state before the night was even over. A few days ago, I learned that it was also reported in the third largest newspaper (also oldest) in the country. That is down south. In the largest city in the country. If it got that far it may be somewhere in the workings of the people who run the country. I pray that it is over and forgotten, but I don’t know, so please pray for me and the work of His kingdom down there. We really need you to pray for the land and people that I love so dearly. We are in deep trouble and desperate times like I have never seen in these 62 years that I have lived and served there.

Also pray for me as I have some health issues that I could not get taken care of down home. Although I did many tests as required by my doctors and gave them all the results, they did not act upon them and did not even respond to my contacts. Beverly, the family, the church, and the pastors told me to get moving. Four days later I was in the States. Just to not leave you too in the dark, the matter concerns my ongoing fuss with skin cancer. Two recent surgeries and biopsies showed positive for squamous cell and melanoma. The doctors here are acting quickly. They have seen all my testing from down there. I have also had another CT scan here. Last week I was seen by 3 different doctors. There are to be 2 more surgeries. One is scheduled for March 6 and waiting for the date of the other one. Hopefully this is not more info than you need or want to know. Just really need your prayers.

Thanks for all of your prayers and support. God bless you as much as He has us.

In Christ,
Mike Creiglow

CONTACT INFO

Mike & Beverly Creiglow
Caixa Postal 24
69980 Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre
Brasil, SA
mdcreig@hotmail.com

For ministry donations:
Pastor George Sledd, Treasurer of BFM
P.O. Box 471280 | Lake Monroe, FL 32747-1280
or click here to donate to BFM online.