Hello, Y'all!

Can you believe it has been two years already? We want to thank all of you for the tremendous love, care, support, and kindness you have showered our family with. 

The Gospel message has been and will continue to be the backbone of our ministry here in Western New York. We are excited to share some of our stories from the field over these past two years, along with some incredible opportunities to get the Gospel message out to both our community and beyond.

Gospel-Centered Stats:

Total YouTube Views on Church Channel: 5,671 views (as of June 19, 2024)

Total Facebook Page Followers on Church Channel: 593 (as of June 19, 2024)

Total Facebook Page Likes on Church Channel: 189 (as of June 19, 2024)

Many visitors to our church have mentioned that seeing our social media account led them to visit our church.

Gospel-Centered Debates & Interviews:

Interview with Doreen Virtue YouTube Views: 19,636 views (as of 6/19/2024)

In the first 15 minutes of this hour-and-a-half interview, I share the full Gospel message. This video was posted on 5/27/2024 and has already led to another interview in the works with Doreen Virtue and two more podcasts that would like me to share my testimony and the Gospel message. Many people have called the church after viewing the interview, and I was blessed to help lead one of those people to a saving knowledge of Jesus.



This video is now available to stream on American Gospel TV (AGTV). Two more Interviews have already been recorded and will be released soon (a second with Doreen Virtue and one with Method Ministries). Another interview (with Don Veinot) is scheduled in July.

Debate on Icons and Conflicts with Gospel YouTube Views: 6,736 views (as of 6/19/2024)

Debate on Mary and Conflicts with Gospel YouTube Views: 7,109 views (as of 6/19/2024)

The Gospel message was shared throughout the debates that I had with an Eastern Orthodox Priest.

Gospel-Centered Stories from the Field:

- I was able to share the Good News with a man who was working on our parsonage. We talked about all kinds of beliefs and doctrines and what the difference is between a false conversion and a genuine conversion. We talked about what it means to be saved and how going to church is not a man-made mandate but commanded in Scripture, as there is no such thing as a “lone wolf Christian.” I was able to give him a printed-out manuscript of my first sermon at the church in Gorham. That sermon contained my personal testimony, what God did in my life, and a clear Gospel presentation. He was very engaged in our conversation and said he would consider what we had talked about.

- We had a conversation with an individual about the doctrine of salvation. We presented the Gospel and brought attention to the fact that genuine belief means that someone repents of their sins. They must turn away from their life of sin and surrender to Jesus as Lord of their life. Being truly born again means others will see a life that grows more Christ-like over time through the process of sanctification.

- We shared the Gospel with a woman who was visiting us. We had her watch the documentary, “American Gospel.” This film is wonderful in that it clearly presents the Gospel and what the Gospel is not. We talked about the film together afterward.

- I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with two Mormon missionaries who came to the parsonage, and I shared the true Gospel and how their version of the gospel contradicted Scripture. I balanced love and firmness. Overall, our talk was fruitful and very respectful.

- On October 31, 2022 (Reformation Day), as trick-or-treaters came to our door, we had the opportunity to distribute nearly 50 Gospel-centered packets. The packets included The Gospel of John, Gospel tracks by John MacArthur and John Piper, a short write-up on the 1517 Protestant Reformation, and the Million Dollar Bill track by Living Waters. On Reformation Day in 2023, Madison and I created more of these packets and had a table set up outside the church. Maddie and I had the opportunity to distribute 200 of these packets, sharing the sweet Good News of the Gospel with our community.

- During my Sleep Study appointment, I had an opportunity to share the Gospel with the Tech who was assigned to help me. We talked about what genuine faith looks like and what makes the Bible reliable.

- A woman reached out to Mercy and asked, “How can God allow evil in the world?” Mercy thoughtfully responded using sound doctrine and shared the Good News of Jesus Christ. She and Mercy have continued to have a dialogue and we pray that this person will surrender to our Lord.

- Mercy boldly shared the Gospel message during a conversation with a young lady who recently publicly embraced the LGBTQ+ lifestyle. Additionally, Mercy also shared the Gospel with this young lady’s mother who is encouraging her daughter to follow this new lifestyle.

- I was blessed with an opportunity to share the Gospel with a Costco deliveryman, who was delivering a new freezer for us. I had a chance to tell him about Jesus and what true faith looks like. He was very interested, as he had been asking a lot of questions about Jesus. He grew up Buddhist but became interested in Jesus when somebody gave him a Bible. I figured a Study Bible may be helpful for him and gave him a copy of the ESV Study Bible. That really meant a lot to him. I invited him to church and gave him my contact information.

- On my way home from the Shepherds Conference 2023, I had the opportunity to share the Gospel on the plane with the passenger sitting next to me. She is a single mom who is currently living a worldly life and never really was concerned with religion or Jesus until just recently. Due to wanting to raise her daughter right, she is starting to read the Bible and explore the person of Jesus. We had a great conversation and I also invited her and her daughter to church.

- Mercy was a guest speaker at a Ladies’ Tea event at the Church of Blodgett Mills in Cortland, NY. She shared the Gospel and her testimony with 30 women from the church, as well as several ladies from the community. Some were believers and others were not. All heard the Good News of Jesus Christ.

- I officiated a funeral and burial for a beloved church member who recently passed away. There were over two hundred people in attendance and many of the visitors told me that they don’t hear the Gospel preached with such conviction at their own churches on Sundays and encouraged me to keep boldly preaching God’s true word. To God be all the glory!

- We hosted a Ladies’ Luncheon in May 2024 and several visiting women from near and far heard a strong Gospel message.

Closing Thoughts:

Please keep our family in your prayers as we continue to serve at Bethel Baptist Church and reach those in our community seeking true hope that can only be found in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much to our faithful ministry partners for allowing us to serve our Lord! We are blessed to keep the light of the Lord shining in this precious rural community.

To God be all the Glory!!

Watch the latest message in the sermon series on the Gospel of Luke,

"The Paradox of Genuine Discipleship" (Luke 9:24–25), by Pastor Sam.

For an archive of past sermons please click here.

Listen to "Expositing the Word with Samuel Farag" on your favorite podcast provider:

https://expositingtheword.buzzsprout.com/

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." - 1 John 5:14

Send us your prayer requests here:

samuelfarag@expositingtheword.org

To learn more about Village Missions and how they are helping country churches thrive all across North America please visit: https://villagemissions.org/