I am so forgetful.  I got on here to mention the fact that we not only have this blog to keep you informed but we have have a Southland Alumni page on Facebook where you can join in the conversation.  Look it up, make you request to join and then bring us up to date on what God is doing in your life.  Give us pictures also.

Larry Spencer

Well, I have not kept up with this blog very well.  At our church we have been planning events for 2011, putting a new ten thousand dollar audio/video system, getting our youth meetings and events going and working with all the plans for a $150.000 addition to the church.  Just a little busy.

However, I thought you might like to know that Joan (Fox) Fields will soon become Joan (Fox) (Fields) Bowers.  She and Dick Bowers will be getting married on February 19th.  As you will recall Dick has been involved in the ministry of Scripture Memory Mountain Mission and Camp Nathaniel for many years.  He is a highly talented musician.  We congratulate both of them as we know they are getting a godly spouse.

We will soon be coming out with a newsletter so watch for it coming soon to a mail box near you!

Larry Spencer

I got a short note from Ray and Janice LaCourse.  She did not say a lot but she thanked me for the Alumni Newsletter.  She said they enjoy keeping up with what the other alumni are doing and where they are today.  Knowing the dates of the conference so far in advance is helpful.  They said they could not promise to come but it is on their schedule. 

I just love hearing from old friends and I "sincerely" hope they will be able to come to the conference.  And that many will plan to be there. 

Don't forget, October 20 and 21.  It will be here before you can turn around.  I will bring you up to date soon on all the preparations for the conference.

Larry Spencer

Just a Christmas greeting from Raul & Jane (Prohaska) Villalba.

December 17, 2010             GOSPEL MISSION OF SOUTH AMERICA 

Dear Praying Friends,

The Lord has done wonderful things and we praise Him for it.  Recently, our church (Plantation Baptist Church) decided to donate to us and the ministry here a used truck.   We are enjoying it and thanking the Lord for His provisions and for the love of friends at church.

Our daughter Deborah is doing very well with her pregnancy, continue to pray for the three little ones to be born in His timing and without complications. They are two girls and a boy.   Even now, we pray for their salvation and well being.  Again the love of friends has been shown as two ladies in our church would like to do a baby shower for our daughter and they don’t even know her.  Our Sunday school lesson the other Sunday was on friendship.  How important the church body is to each other.  As I hang up the Christmas cards we receive, I am reminded of all the friends we have made at church and elsewhere, what an encouragement to be a part of a loving church.

Pray as Terry and Carol Thompson will be leaving for Chile January 1^st and returning the middle of February.   We have much to do here at the office and on the properties with an added responsibility of caring for an 88 year old retired missionary lady who is staying here until she can find other arrangements.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas and blessed New Year.  We love you and appreciate your gifts and prayers.  Be a friend to someone new this coming year.

Jesus was the friend of sinners.    Love, Raul & Jane Villalba

I just received a nice letter from Sylvia (Patrick) Pollard.  I confess that I do not know Sylvia so I gather from the listing of her name in the alumni list and not her husband's, Herb, that she is an alumni but he is not.  Although, I often feel that when someone has been married to an alumnus that long they qualify. 

Since her letter came in standard mail I will include several thoughts to bring you up to date on their ministry.

They served the Lord for 35 years in Kenya, West Africa.  When they re--tired (note the spelling is the way most missionaries re--tire, they just gear up for another ministry) they became a part of Source of Light Ministries some 13 years ago. 

They work with the Madison Discipleship School, primarily in correspondance to prisons.  Sylvia has some 50 students, mostly in Zambia but with some in Thailand and Indonesia.  The whole school has over 26,000 students.  She shared in her prayer letter some testimonies of these prisoners.  Let me share one that moved me to tears.  This is from Ricardo.

" I would like to take this opportunity to say that as a convicted-armed robber who was state raised since the age of three due to the fact that my father killed my mother while in a drunken stupor.  This Bible study course has answered many of my questions.  Definitely it has taught me a great deal about Christianity, and also helped me to free myself of the hatred I had for my father by praying for his soul and fogiving him.  I now have released a long held anger I carried for almost forty years.  Today, I have God in my life and I have peace in my heart and not ashamed of whom I was and am proud of who I've become today: A blood bought, Spirit-filled, born again Christian-AMEN!"


Now, that is a great testimony and a great letter.

I hope to hear and share more reports of what God is doing through our alumni just like this one.

Larry Spencer

PERHAPS SOME ARE NOT AWARE---BUT WE CAN POST PICTURES ON THIS SIGHT.

I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE PICTURES OF YOU AND YOUR MINISTRIES WITH EVERY ONE.

LARRY

I received a couple of e-mails from John and Ruth Madsen.  It was really nice to hear from them.  John had the dubious joy of being my roomate for a while when we were students and Ruth, who was on staff, as was my wife, was her roomate.  They have worked in camping ministry for many years.  I thought you would enjoy reading this update from them.

Larry Spencer

We keep following the Shepherd one step at a time. We are working on Social Security applications now.... :):):) We are running a year round camping program in northern Michigan.  We are praying for God's provision of a replacement for us now. We are wearing out!!
PLEASANT VALLEY BIBLE CAMP, EAST JORDAN, MICHIGAN
God led us to this ministry 4 years ago. It had been closed for 2 years but had been a very viable ministry for over 35 years before closing. John is the executive director and in the 4 years at Pleasant Valley Bible Camp we have seen God grow the ministry from 109 campers to 332 campers plus many men, ladies and youth retreats year round.
(Snow camps begin in January!). There are five full time workers with MANY volunteers with hearts for the ministry with great facilities. We are getting very tired, though, and are asking God to provide a new director with sound spiritual vision, God directed planning for the future, and younger physical energy. Any knowledge of such a leader - send them our way. Web site is www.pleasantvalleybiblecamp.com and our email is pjrmadsen@gmail.com.

Hi again,

It is Sunday afternoon.  I taught Sunday School on the arguments for the "universal flood" as opposed to a local flood.  I preached a message from John 1:14 called, "A God's Eye View of the Incarnation."  I am tired and trying to relax before tonight's service.  I am taking this opportunity to add a few names to the "LOST ALUMNI" list.  Should you have an up-to-date address or e-mail for any of these please let me know.

Our mailing list is so out of date that some of these may be with the Lord already.  We are, however, making good progress on bringing this up to date and eliminating bad addresses.

Larry Spencer

Mr. and Mrs.	Randall & Phyllis	Fleming
Mr.	Truymond	Haddix
Mr. and Mrs.	James	Rogers
Mr.	Charles	Gautier
Ms.	Sonya	Baer
Mr. and Mrs.	Dennis & Thelma	Beshada
Ms.	Cynthia	Mansell

Just received this note from Jan (Stambough) Gilreath.  Jan graduated back around the early seventies and then served on staff for several years.  She went on to Piedmont and married Steve, who she met at Piedmont. 

Here is our current address, for now.  Steve has been ordained and is putting out resumes for a pastorate.

We are managing a thrift store in King, NC called ABBA Family Thrift Store and are members of First Baptist Church in King.  We sleep in Kernersville and do the rest of our living in King. LOL

2211 Gateway Place Lane

Kernersville, NC 27284