Dear Friends and Family:
First off we want to thank everyone who has been supporting us financially and prayerfully. We feel so blessed to have so many friends and family that have poured out your hearts in support of us in the calling that we know God has laid on our hearts.
We wanted to send out a second letter to keep all of our supporters, family, and friends up to date on the happenings so far like how much of our support funds has been raised so far, dates for launch and country changes, and our official team whom we’ll be traveling the world with in our upcoming World Race Mission Trip.
We recently just got back from training camp which was in the mountains of northern Georgia. Where we spent a week preparing ourselves for the cultures, food, and community we’ll be living in around the World. It was an amazing experience which opened our hearts and expectations of what God can and will do through us in the upcoming year. Plus, we now have our team who we will be traveling and doing ministry with. Their names are Olivia Bourgeois, Joshua Duren, Corey Miller, Kirsten Reilly, and Drea Ruddock. Since we know all of you have been praying for us so far we’d ask that you also include our new family in those prayers as well. And if you want to put faces to those names you’ll just have to follow along on our journey through our blog at: darrenandlyndiebateman.theworldrace.org
We also found out at training camp that our launch date will be June 30th in Atlanta, Ga. And we’ll be flying out of the country on July 3rd to Eastern Europe.
Now to the wonderful fundraising. So far we have raised a little over $8,000 through fundraisers and the generous donations from all of our family and friends. Without you guys none of this would really be possible. Now our second deadline is fast approaching on June 17th which is $15,000. We know that $7,000 is a lot of money to raise in 3 weeks but we know that God is much bigger than that and he has put people and resources in ours and your lives to make it happen.
Lastly, our prayer for you is to be BOLD. God laid it on our hearts to be BOLD. To drop everything this year and follow him. In doing so we’ve quit jobs, we’re selling our house and cars, giving up a year with our beautiful dogs maggie and bailey, and have absolutely no idea what to expect around the world OR when we get back home in a year. So all we ask is that you guys be BOLD for us. Be BOLD in your prayers for us and be BOLD in your support of us. If you have or know of a person, business, church, or organization that you think would like to partner with us in our journey we pray that you have the BOLDNESS to step forward on our behalf.
We have 2 verses that we feel God has laid on our hearts to share with everyone:
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Whether you feel led to contribute financially(which you can do through the support me tab on the left hand side of the page, by check, or cash) or through prayer, all of your support is greatly appreciated. Feel free to contact us anytime with any questions.
God Bless,
Darren and Lyndie Bateman
Darren Bateman (321)402-4454 [email protected]
Lyndie Bateman (321)402-3932 [email protected]
