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Monthly Report for March 2005
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Al & Charlotte Sandlin

207 Shabbona Drive, Minooka, IL 60447-9102

(815) 467-6081

March 31, 2005

Dear brethren,

March was another very busy month.  Our evangelism program has at least 27 students in enrolled in the John M. Hurt Bible Correspondence Course. As of this week two gentlemen have completed the 8-lesson course. Though they did not indicate an interest in further study, I plan to contact them tomorrow (April 1) to feel them out for further study. We’re still getting new enrollees weekly and we’re much encouraged by that.

During March the collective efforts of the congregation touched between 400 and 500 homes. March 13^th was the Channahon-Minooka Community Showcase where we had a booth and visited with passersby as we handed out our “Let’s Get Acquainted” brochure. Additionally, 8 of the Lesson #1 of the Bible Correspondence Course were picked up which are not included in the 27 figure stated above.  We have yet to receive any of the 8 back in the mail.

I received a phone call last Friday night about 9:00PM from a gentleman who had received one of the “Let’s Get Acquainted” at his door. I visited with him last Saturday afternoon and offered a regular Bible study with him in his home. However, he elected to take the Bible Correspondence Course — I immediately gave him the first 2 lessons.

The Morris Daily Herald is a newspaper circulated in the Channahon-Minooka area. They run a “Religion” page on Friday and have solicited articles for that page. I have offered to write articles for publication and the associate editor is trying to work out scheduling so that all churches who wish to contribute will have the “equal opportunity.” Hopefully, during April, she will get a schedule confirmed and we can use that medium as an outlet for the gospel.

The first week of March I delivered info cards to a dozen motels at the exits on I-55 and I-80 nearest us. The motel managers were very cordial and receptive to placing the cards in a prominent place for the convenience of their guests. I also visited the sales offices of the various residential construction sites asking them to place the cards in their “Welcome Kit” which is given to new residents in the subdivisions.

Charlotte and I attended a Channahon-Minooka Chamber of Commerce luncheon on March 3^rd in order to become acquainted with more people in the community. This week Charlotte has volunteered to help out at the Chamber office. Interestingly, their new administrative assistant is Susan Rich, from the State Farm Insurance office here in Minooka. You’ll recall that Susan attended services at our invitation the first Sunday of January. I’ll have more to say about how we’re planning to use the Chamber’s “Greeter Program” to intensify our evangelism effort in next month’s report.

We were blessed with more visitors from Minooka during the month. Unfortunately, their ears are not “tickled” with the truth of the gospel. One dad was looking for a “children’s church” where he and his wife could place their “rowdy 4-year-old” while they worshipped! Sadly, he will find such accommodations in this community.

We thank you for your public and private prayers for the work we’re engaged in here in Minooka. We’re doing everything we can think of to make a difference here.  Your financial support enables us to be here and do what we do. We thank you and we thank “the Father of lights” (James 1:17) for your fellowship with us in this work.

Until next month, I remain,

Yours in His Service,

Al Sandlin