What We Do

The Latham's Retreat Center. We have 22 beds and six bathrooms. The soccer field and volleyball court are visible. The trampoline is at the back of the house. We can accept groups of teens or mixed teens and adults up to22. If you want to bring down a group, contact us. June – August is the best time as it is our winter and the public schools are still in session.

We were able to raise funds to build this playground and bathrooms. Now the public schools can come with more activities available to them. We have had as many as 150 come for the day. They make bar-b-que for lunch. I usually take their picture and give them my life story, along with a Chick tract.

Church Building. We have been using our new building for four years. A lot of work was done by our members. We still need to put a front on the building. We will need help to do this project. If you can help us, please contact the Mission. We also always need Chick tracts.

Baptist World Mission,
PO Box 2149,
Decatur, AL 35602.

"Tom, Making Shish-ka-bobs for an Evangelist Party"

"Wrestling Outreach Public School Demonstration"

Wrestling. I have always had a deep passion for the sport of wrestling. As a teenager, I was no good in basketball or baseball. When I went to Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, I was the 130 pound wrestler on a regular conference championship team. Even though I have been a missionary for 36 years, I have never lost my desire to still be involved in this wonderful sport.

The idea of a wrestling ministry was born a few years ago but the lack of a mat was the serious problem. The team started out with two juniors unassociated with our church; we were using a small area in a local gym. With help from friends in the States, I was able to purchase a mat, some shoes and other necessary equipment. When I invited my church kids to participate, the idea developed into a grand ministry. Now we have 16 wrestlers on my church team. I was able to form four teams from wrestlers at public schools. This sport is fairly new in our state. I was elected the vice president of the state wrestling federation. I am also on the city committee for education of special children.

So, here I am at 64 years old and finding myself a wrestling coach. I can only say that it appears God parked his Eph. 3:20 truck at my house again. We have a tournament once a month and the state championship in December. All the tournaments are in our church building. I have won the state title twice.

Gilson was attending a public night school when I talked to them about our wrestling. He came as a wrestler and is now training to also be a coach. He and Priscilla were both saved and married in our church. Now Priscilla´s sister is saved and my girl´s coach. One-third of our congregation is from the wrestling work. This is the type of result we are working for in our wrestling ministry.

"I love to baptize people"

"Summer Youth Ministries"
This is a picture of the teens from Calvary Baptist Church of San Francisco, where I was saved in 1964.

 

"Public School Ministries"
This picture of a group of kids
from a local public school who had
a sports day at our house

Most public schools have no sports facilities. We invite the teens from one school to use our grounds. We limit it to 160 teens.

They usually bring their lunch. I provide transportation and give my testimony and one Chick tract to each kid.