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Monthly Report for April 2005
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Al & Charlotte Sandlin

207 Shabbona Drive - Minooka, IL 60447-9102

(815) 467-6081

April 30, 2005

Dear brethren,

April is somewhat of a blur for us.  We have had four students complete the 8-lesson John M. Hurt Bible Correspondence Course. One man was not available for further Bible study during April so I asked and received permission to contact him on May 2 to arrange a further study; that I plan to do. A second man agreed for me to visit with him as long as I understood he was NOT interested in “changing churches.” I did visit with him for 1½ hours on Thursday, April 14. I let him do most of the talking so I could learn the position(s) to be dealt with. He is very versed in Premillenialism. He has agreed for me to visit with him again, which I plan to do during May after I organize some material to present to him. A third man sent back Lesson 8 indicating, (1) He wanted further study; (2) He wanted to be baptized. I contacted him the very morning I received his lesson in the mail. After an hour visit, he too, became disinterested in baptism once he realized he would have to denounce his ties to the Baptist church. He said he was “born again” and so we studied what Jesus said in John 3:3-5 and the commitment one must make to the doctrine of Christ and that alone. He said he would call me back but has not. I will be contacting him, once again, in May. A fourth student indicated an interest in further study. I have her enrolled in the 5-lesson Jule Miller Visualized Bible Study series. I received lesson one back today. Her comment at the end of Lesson 8 was, "I belong to a church family & our teaching is what you print." I will keep working with her.

Our advertising efforts continue to elicit telephone calls for information about our services and some visitors are coming…once. When the callers/visitors find out we do not have “child care services” during worship, they are no longer interested. That is a sad commentary on their perception of Christianity.

I was contacted by Illinois State Representative Careen Gordon’s office on Monday, April 11^th, asking if I would travel to Springfield (the capitol) to speak the prayer at the opening of the Illinois General Assembly on Wednesday, April 13^th. I consented and found the experience very enriching.

Last Sunday afternoon Charlotte and I both were assaulted by a vicious virus, which left us in a very weakened and dehydrated state. Both of us went to the Morris Hospital ER at 10:30PM Sunday where we received 3 liters of fluids for rehydration. We felt better Monday but I returned on Wednesday night for another 3 liters. We have turned the corner in our recovery as of today.  That is why our report is a little delayed and we do not have attendance figures for Sunday/Wednesday nights.

I am scheduled to preach a Fri/Sat/Sun meeting (May 6/7/8) in Ames, Iowa. We have known those brethren from the beginning of their work in Ames. They are making good progress there and we pray our meeting will help in some small way.

We thank you for your public and private prayers for the work we’re engaged in here. 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 for your fellowship with us in this work.

Until next month, I remain,

Yours in His Service,

Al Sandlin

 al.sandlin@sbcglobal.net