Well, after too many months away, I am going to try to bring back the RP Missions xanga - drop a comment if you're with me!

Where to begin...the last time I blogged, I was just beginning to appreciate the precious girl that God brought into my life, Kinsey.  Now, nine months later, that little girl is crawling little blur around the house and continues to captivate both Heidi and I.  I never could have imagined that a little baby could smile and laugh so much!  If you haven't seen some of her pictures, please check out Heidi's blog at www.xanga.com/MamaSpud .  Each day brings new developments and accomplishments and I marvel at God's handiwork as we see her grow.

The Seminary work has gone well this year, RPTS has enjoyed its highest enrollment levels in nearly 200 years of ministry.  This May we will graduate our largest class yet, some 16 people will be going forth into ministry.  Please continue to pray that God would be raising up others to take their place.  There are a number of vacant pulpits that are in need of a pastor, so join with me in praying that God would lay it on the hearts of many to pursue theological training to pastor those churches and the churches that He would have us undertake as plants.

RP Missions has grown by leaps and bounds.  There are over 100 people signed up for mission trips this summer and about 24 spots left to fill.  If you know of anyone that might like to be part of one (or more) of the following trips, please let me know:

Kaiserslautern, Germany - this trip is open to anyone 18+ and is open to all adults
Inverness, Scotland - this trip is open to anyone 18+ and is open to all adults
Japan Team 2 - this trip is open to anyone 18+
Selma, Alabama - this trip is open to anyone 16+
Southfield, Michigan - this trip is open to anyone 16+
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - this trip is open to anyone 16+
White Lake, New York - this trip is open to anyone 18+

This year RP Missions began sponsoring with RPTS a Sunday night radio program called "Bible Burgh" on our local Christian radio station 101.5 WORD FM.  This has brought a few inquiries and has given the Pittsburgh area a means to familiarize themselves with the work of the RP church.  RP Missions also took out a half-page ad in WORLD magazine on March 8.  Since that ad ran, we have received two more team members for this summer, so it was definitely a useful tool and had the desired result.  Please pray that others will see that ad and perhaps feel led to use their gifts on the mission field this summer.

We are also very pleased to see how God has led the Dan, Natalie, and Samuel Faris family to pursue longterm service in southern Sudan! The Farises left on March 14, spent some time in Kenya getting supplies and we received word yesterday that they arrived safely in Awiel.  Please continue to uphold them all as this is a very very hot time of year.  Pray that God will keep them all, and especially little Samuel, safe from sickness.  Pray also for the intense time of work that is planned to build their house before the rains come.  The FMB will be sending over two delegates in the next couple weeks to help out and they will be accompanied by some other RP Missions veterans who will be laboring with Dan to build the house.

If you would like to learn more about the mission trips planned, please visit our website at www.rpmissions.org .  Also, if you are a veteran of RP Missions and are planning to attend the RP International Conference in Grand Rapids, MI this summer (July 19-25), please let me know.  We are hoping to host a get-together for all those who are attending this year and who have served with RP Missions in previous years. Hope to see you there!

In Christ,

Matt, Heidi, & Kinsey Filbert