Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell

Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location.

June 2022

Consistency is a concept that is in rare form today. There always seems to be interruptions to Bible studies with folks. The truth is our society is losing the character traits of priorities and dependability. It seems to be happening everywhere. In secular world and business world. Unfortunately it seems to be affecting fellow saints as well. As we seek the seekers of Christ one thing we must always be prepared for are those interruptions. While the new contacts have not yet discovered the eternal importance of their quest, it is almost like pushing a rope to maintain some continuity. I try to never forget that the first characteristic of love is patient. 1Cor. 13:4

Victor and Nancy are two very intelligent souls. Their jobs are both demanding and thus often interferes with the planned times to study the Bible with them. In our studies together they have reached the point where their eyes are opening to see what God has done for us in the gospel message. Our next class will center on what God wants us to do in response. Please pray for them that that seed will germanate to victory.

Brand has been a long time friend of Tammy. He is one of the quickest thinking people I have had the opportunity to teach. He’s in law enforcment and literally hangs his head out of a helicopter about everyday of the summer looking for pot growing farms. He only has less than 24 hours a week off to enable a turn around and the Bible study. Both of these studies are difficult to get to happen. Yet each look promising.

We have had more visitors to assemble lately and now some are seeking to join with the flock. Some have non saints in the mix of their family and we seek to have them in studies soon. I believe there are 2 or 3 we may rejoice over before long.
The young people are still VERY excited about their growing in the God’s word and Janice’s class is overflowing. Adjustments are underway to make more room for the number. One family drives an hour each way to help their great granddaugher to come with us. The monthly gatherings at our home seems to be a highlight for them.

Summertime has long daylight which would enable more time to study with seekers. But vacations and trips do tend to interfere to keep that from happening. The UNG students have seemed to disappear but I will keep trying to develop more as the students return in August. Thank you for your continued encouragements and prayers. The local flock is still at peace and encouraged.

All glory to God for His abiding care, Ricky

MAY/ JUNE 2022 REPORT ON
THE WORK IN CORRIGAN, TEXAS [email protected]

Greetings Brethren,

281-756-7957

ROBERT RAIF
171 CALDWELL ST.

LIVINGSTON, TX 77351

I hope and pray you all are well. We are doing about the same. Except, around the middle of June I was able to put my full weight on my injured leg, so that really excited me that I would be able to go into the prison again - - when they let me. I went on a 2-week vacation in June to Philly to see my two oldest granddaughters graduate. I am sorry, this report should have been done on the first of July, and here it is on the first of August.

I spend about 3 days on the work in Corrigan - - getting my classes and sermons ready and then presenting them and going about visiting. I plan to start door knocking now that my hip is better. In the Bible study, we’ve been discussing lessons called “The Whole Man” which basically teaches us that we are to be committed to God 24/7. It has been a good study. I’m preaching through 1 and 2 Timothy now on Sunday nights.

I spend another 2 days in the prison work, grading lessons and teaching the 40 men who have questions. I send a “bulletin” out at the end of the month whether they send any lessons in or not, and that has helped influence two men to stay the course. Sam baptized one man in a laundry cart and another wants to know more about baptism because he has been fed the doctrine of “faith alone” by so many for so long and wants to be sure.

I’ve always taken off Monday and Tuesday for my “weekend.” But because of my wife’s health, we never go anywhere. So my “weekend” is now spent being a messenger and sending funds that individuals give to me for the poor saints in the Philippines, countries in Africa, and some in Nicaragua. The priority is for brethren without food, some to help people get their medical needs supplied, and some to supply preachers with food and petrol to do their work. Most of these preachers have little or no support. Some of the young preachers ask questions on a certain topic or want the material to present truth in a Bible study with a J.W. or something like that. So many people are being converted in these foreign countries due to poverty, sicknesses, and also because of oppressive governments. Of the 15 preachers I deal with, there are at least 15 baptisms a week as they go about almost every day teaching in homes. Sometimes 30 people gather at a home that they have gone to on their motorbike, and often 1 or 2 will want to become Christians. Since the members have no transportation, the preachers have to do a lot of traveling each day, and on Sunday working with 2 or 3 and sometimes 4 different churches! A big concern of theirs is “petrol” so they can go and teach others. Glenn Fiesta goes to pick up individuals with his only mode of transportation - - a motorbike with a sidecar. He arrives with 3 people on the bike and 4 inside the sidecar! But this is how he brings some of the older people who have to walk miles to get to the meeting house. And they have one Bible for every three people, so we buy Bibles for them.

I so much appreciate all those who have fellowship me in the work in Corrigan and the prisons. Please pray that the Chaplain at Estelle will allow me back in. I visited there this last week, but that will be in my July/August report.

Love in Jesus who saves, Robert Raif

(Read on for more information on the benevolent work to those overseas.)

Here is the aid sent out. Total $5800 for May and in the next column what was spent in June. They send pictures of the bills to verify their needs.

May June

Zimbabwe

700 700 Kudakwashe (200 for his food and petrol, 500 for 3 churches for food) for the month 400 450 Brighton Tapiwanashe Makurudza. Food , rent, petrol, and helping the poor.

Uganda

220 450 KULE EZRA BISATHU. 250 to feed the whole church for a month

Kenya

400 450 John Ositu. Medical needs and support (his only support for his family)

Philippines

250
300 300 500 500 400 600 400 400 200 250 150 100 90 80

Nicaragua

200 200 180 0

Manny Pader support and medical.
Simeon Vargas. Medicine for his 30–year-old daughter to enable her to walk again. Jimmy Domingo. Food, petrol, and medical bills.
Rosendo Gumpad support for him and his family
Andy M Dappas. Food and petrol for the work.
Felipe Jr Tan Tula. food and medical
Fe Apatan Baliog. Food and medicine

Jose Ruiz family food and medicine. Paulita Lopez. Medical needs.

In Him who saves, Robert Raif

Glen Fiesta’s son
with 7 passengers. Especially good on
cold rainy Sundays.---->

Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell

Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location

August 2021

Dear Brethren,

I have not heard back from the radio station about allowing a program. So I am pushing ahead with preparations for the mule camp festival. Since it is very hard to type with my right hand (will explain later) I am thankful I have about five weeks to get ready. There are massive amounts of literature to prepare and print. We are also piggybacking on the festival with an evangelistic gospel meeting one week later so things have to be done for that as well. This meeting is where each saint of the local flock will be engaged by inviting 10+ of their family & friends to come. Stats show when done face to face, 10% will come. Please pray for our success in these efforts.

I am continuing to study with Joshua, between his problems and mine we have been slower than usual. A heavy break out of Covid has continued here. The family with 10 children have had it along with others.

The new converts are still growing and doing well. Tammy lost her dad and has been dealing with that. Brian is doing well. He even made a job change this week because he had to work with a man who would not quit cursing at him. Once he decided he would not allow that kind of influence he immediately found a new job. I was very proud of him. Please continue to pray for Cara Ann and Sergey. She called to check on me and we had a good talk with promise that they still are seeking. We had a young man call Wednesday evening who was searching for a church that follows God’s plan instead of man. He had listened to someone from a church of Christ preach on the internet and thought I need to check them out. So keep me in your prayers that our study will go well.

On a personal note, my eye disease has not gotten noticeably worse lately, thank the Lord. Never the less I still have tunnel vision, (retinitis pigmenetosa). So going into a dark area is not recommended. Since my last report, it was well overtime to change the air filter in the attic HVAC. Yelp, I fail from the attic to my kitchen floor again when I made the wrong step. So, this has slowed me down this month. I dislocated my shoulder many muscles injured in my right arm. My son is coming soon to put flooring down to prevent this from happening again. As I recover, I squeeze as much work in as possible. Other than my fall we are doing well, the Lord sure looks after us.

Thank you for all your prayers and encouragements, Ricky

Report from “Ricky” William Shanks in Gainesville GA
4565 Persian Trail; Gainesville, GA 30507; Phones: 843-569-8729-Home; 843-725-9283-Cell

Website: AnswersFromTheBible.ORG - Dial A Bible Study: 770-835-4000 (Ext. 3 for Spanish.) Gainesville church of Christ (GCOC.org) 2815 Wallace Rd. Gainesville GA 30507 meeting location

October 2020

We hope this report finds you doing well and less stresses from the traumas inflicting the world. Read Psalm 37 for perspective as well as James 4:1-12. No matter what happens in the world around us, our hope is in heaven. Christ is the only one whom we should be trusting in to obey. We should not let the world overwhelm our obedience to God. However painful it may be, sometimes we need such reminders that this world is not our home!

The work with the new converts is very encouraging and they continue to grow in knowledge and excitement. At present I’m teaching them how to teach what they have learned already. Tammy is overwhelmed with having to take care of her dad. He was a hoarder and she is trying to clear out his house which has been a major undertaking. Pray for him that he obeys the gospel. He and Iare studying together. Nevertheless Tammy continues to grow in the Lord. It was so encouraging that about half of the flock showed up to help her clean out her dads place and assist her with liquidating it all. We have individual studies with Sergey and CaraAnn weekly and they are growing much. The new in Christ who come out of the world have a lot of strings attached to them from this dark world. One by one they must recognize these attachments and keep on cutting those ties that might try to pull them back into the ways of the world. It doesn’t help the matter when our nation chooses to promote oppression of religion and to plunge deeper into darkness. However it may be an opportunity for us to shine brighter with God’s light as our world’s darkness deepens.

From the hurricane coming through here we had banners down and needing repair. Providentially Sergey has worked in tree services and was equipped to climb the trees to raise the banners even higher than they were before. I will be replacing some and putting up more. Some ads will also be placed telling of the service.

With that in mind I have decided to expand the DABS to include a service of texting Bible questions. This is where they can TXT their question in to the same number and I will respond with where to find the answer directly in their Bible. I will promote it with headline “Answers From The Bible” with banners, cards and ads. Plus will include it with the college “free speech area” efforts. I pray the free speech area will not be taken away with the new government. We are still studying with a couple of young women at the campus student center on Thursdays.

Brethren, just about everyone in U.S. agrees this year things has been insane. What we may not have noticed is, the OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO TURN THIS “MESS - AGE” WITH THE MESSAGE OF HOPE FROM GOD. We need to LET GOD’S WORD SHINE and bring back the sanity. If we have not been shining His light as we should, God has given us a way to shine even brighter His salvation good news. Let’s not miss this opportunity! We need to get the word out that God’s way makes sense! God has the answers!

I pray for you often and thank God for you. Without your encouragement none of these things would happen. Thank you so much for holding up our hands in this most important work of shining His light to those in darkness.

To God’s glory both now and forever, Ricky Shanks