Category Archives: Updates

Update on Baby Grace Bassham

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Many prayers were answered this past week when little Grace Bassham checked out of NICU and the hospital in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday morning.  The Bassham family are grateful for all that sent financial support, but they are even more grateful for the many prayers that were prayed for the new little baby.

The infection didn’t get to the blood stream, and the seemingly bad situation has passed.

Below is the latest update from the Bassham’s:

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone for your prayers and support this past week with the complications of the birth of Grace and her time in the NICU.

Today, after 7 days in the NICU, she was finally released, and we were able to bring her home!

This past week, we were able to see the Lord answer prayers from all of the world for little Grace. There was a whirlwind of change that happened over here in the 24 hours following the update out asking for prayer for her.”

Click here for full article

 

 

Possible building…..not so much

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Yesterday, I was able to contact the owner of a building we were interested in renting for the new church plant.  It was a run down looking building that didn’t look like it was being used at all.  We went by earlier in the week, and the young son said his dad was interested in renting out the building.  What we found out yesterday was that he was only interested in renting out a small room in the front part of the building.  He was still using most of the building for a tavern and pool hall.

So, I guess that’t not going to work.  The look continues.

Pray and Give for Baby Grace in Thailand

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Yesterday, I wrote about our good missionary friend’s Philip and Lori Bassham new little baby Grace.  She was born on Monday and everything looked good for a little while until she started having problems breathing.  The Doctors feared she may have the Step B Infection.  They moved her to NICU and put in an incubator and told Philip and Lori she would be there from 3 to 7 days.

 

I found out a few minutes ago that the doctors have confirmed she does have the Step B Infection and will now be in the NICU at least 10-14 days.

With Philip and Lori being really close friends of our, it’s tough being so far away during a time like this.  I know it has to be even more tough for their families.

Since we can’t be there with them, we would like to help raise the $7500 in Medical expenses they are facing right now.  Amy and I have already given and are willing to give more if the needs aren’t raised.

Would you consider giving a small gift to help with these medical expenses?  You can send your gift to: Vision Baptist Missions P.O. Box 442 Alpharetta, GA  30009 or give online at visionbaptistmissions.com.  

I would also asking you to please be praying.  There are some pretty scary scenarios for babies that get it early on like little Grace.  Prayer is needed.  Please pray.  

July 2014 Coffey Family Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • For our two college interns that will be here until August.
  • That we find the right piece of land for Wells Estates Baptist Church
  • For Amy and I to learn the Xhosa language
  • Bible studies to go well for Pastor Sipho at Kwadwesi (location of the new church plant) – Over 20 professions of faith so far

Highlights

  • Many were saved during the youth conferences and children’s crusades this past month
  • Missionaries Stephen & Ashley Underwood came for their survey trip.
  • My son Tyler preached his 1st message

Needs  

  • $500-$1000 for Gospel Tracts
  • Approx. $8-10,000 needed to build the first building for New Life Baptist Church
  • Still looking for land for Wells Estates Baptist.  We have $5500 for this need but will probably need $6000 more.
  • Around the same amount of $8-10,000 is needed for Wells Estate’s building.

June 23rd marked the one year anniversary of my family arriving here in Port Elizabeth.  It’s been a terrific year of learning a new culture, city, and part of the language.  This year has flown by, but we’re even more excited about what’s ahead.  

We just finished up hosting two groups and from the states.  Pastor Tony Howeth and his gang from Newton Baptist Church in Covington, GA were a great blessing during the Youth Conferences in June.  His preaching and teaching were a great help to the young people.  

The group from Calvary Baptist Church in Hiawassee, GA  and our two college interns worked tirelessly during our children crusades.  There were over 30 professions of faith with over 600 different children in attendance between the 2 day meetings at each of the churches.  

As much as all of our guest have been a blessing to us, we do pray there time here on the mission field will make a life long impact in their lives.  Our heart and desire it to help people find their place in getting the Gospel to the world.  The need for labourers, not only here but around the world, is still great.  We pray the Lord will use this ministry to help raise up more of those labourers. 

Coffey Family May 2014 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • That we find the right piece of land for Wells Estates Baptist Church
  • For Amy and I to learn the language
  • For two of the pastors we are helping go full time:  Pastor Thami & Pastor Ntobeko
  • For our missions teams coming in June and July

Highlights

  • All travel expenses of our trip back to the states were covered.  It was exciting seeing how God provided.
  • Land found and purchased for New Life Baptist Church in Kwadwesi.  Hoping to begin construction on the building this month.
  • Back to language school- It’s amazing  how much Xhosa a person can forget in month.

Needs

  • Approx. $8,000 needed to build the first building for New Life Baptist Church
  • Still looking for land for Wells Estates Baptist.  We have $5500 for this need but will probably need $6000 more.
  • Around the same amount of $8000 will be needed for Wells Estates Baptist Church.

We arrived back to South Africa on May 21st after a month of funerals in the states.  Please continue to pray for my family as we are still dealing with the losses.  

It is great to be home and back in the middle of everything. 

In the first week back, Pastor Sipho found a nice piece of land for the new church, and we were able to buy that within a few days.

Our next land search is for Wells Estates Baptist.  They’ve been asked to find a new location and could be told to vacate the premises any day.  We have some options but need your prayers for wisdom and the remaining finances. (Continue reading below)

With the purchase of permanent property comes the need for a permanent building.  We are having building plans drawn up that we are hoping to use for all the new churches.  This will help us better know the cost for future building projects and save us from having to pay for new building plans each time.  The layout includes a small prophet’s chamber for the pastor’s family, an Auditorium that will hold about 80 people, bathrooms, and 3 Sunday school rooms.  Above is our rough draft we believe will cost around $8000.  

Land!

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We arrived home yesterday after a long month of being in the states.  Actually, I was the only one in the states for a month, but my family joined me for the last 2 weeks.  The Lord blessed in an incredible way during our time.  Individuals and churches went above and beyond helping our family during the difficult time of losing our grandparents.

As I started language school again today, I was definitely regretting being away so long.  My brain was locking up, and it was difficult remembering some of the basics of Xhosa.  No worries though! I believe we will be back to normal in a few days.

After about 8 months of planning, working, and searching, I was surprised today by news from one of the pastors.  Pastor Sipho Bonga located a piece of property for the new church, and was able to get the papers signed for the purchase.  He secured the property price which after lawyer fees will be around $8700.  It was great welcoming news to say the least.

We were hoping to start this church back in February, but because of the difficulty to find property, or even a place to rent, we kept moving the startup date.  Lord willing, after this week, we will be able to make a more educated guess to when that will be.

The money has come in for the purchase of this property, but we are still in need of money to build.  The first building which will include a small auditorium and a prophet’s chamber for the pastor and his family will be around $6000.  Pray this comes in soon.  We have enough to get started, but won’t be able to advance without more assistance.

Coffey Family April 2014 Prayer Letter

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Prayer Request

  • Our family, as we are dealing with the loss of 3 close loved ones in the past 9 days
  • Safety for our family as we travel to and from South Africa
  • New Life Baptist Church- We were hoping to have an Easter service, but still haven’t obtained a place to start.
  • Extra unexpected expenses for traveling

Highlights

  • My grandmother went to be with the Lord on Easter morning.  I was on a plane to the US 6 hours after hearing the news.
  • Allison Clapp, a close family friend, went to be with the Lord on April 28th.
  • Amy’s grandfather went to be with the Lord on April 29th,  Amy is flying from South Africa with the kids this week.
  • Missionaries Brent & Selina Bergey arrived in PE for their survey trip.  They plan to start an orphanage in the next few years.

On Easter morning I received a phone call from my mom from the states, and immediately knew my grandmother had passed away.  She had suffered a brain aneurism a week earlier and we were told it was just a matter of time.  My cousin Kevin Hall and I caught a plane and flew back to the states for the service.  

A week later, we received very unexpected news of a dear lady from our home church passing away, Mrs. Allison Clapp.  Mrs. Allison was like a second mom to my two older boys, Tyler & Chase, especially since the loss of their mother a little over a year ago.  

Thinking the hardest of the news was over, yesterday as I was walking into Hamilton Medical Center to see my wife’s grandfather before his surgery, my father-in-law let me know that “Pappy” was already gone.   

As I spoke with my wife, who was still in South Africa, we weren’t sure what to do.  With neither of us wanting to leave the kids in South Africa without a parent, we decided to have them all fly back to the states to attend the funeral.  They will arrive on May 2nd, and we are all set to fly back to South Africa on May 19th.  

Today, Chase, our second to the oldest, is having wires removed from his ankle from his break last month, and tomorrow, May 1st , Amy and the kids jump on a plane to head this way.  Please pray all goes well, and please continue to pray for our family during this time.

In the States

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On Sunday morning I was getting ready for to celebrate Resurrection Sunday at Madiba Bay Baptist Church in Port Elizabeth.  After a phone call from my mom, everything I had planned for the week changed a bit.  My grandmother had passed away, and I began looking for flights back to the states.  Our family was able to make it to the morning service and at 2:45pm South Africa time I was on a plane with my cousin Kevin headed for Johannesburg.  By 6:45am Monday morning (est), we were in the Atlanta airport.

On Tuesday, Kevin and I were privileged to conduct the funeral service for my grandmother Sue Webb.  We both had the opportunity to share the Gospel with many lost family members.  Please continue to pray that the seed of the Gospel will take root in their hearts and they come to Christ.

We will be in the states until May 6th.  We are staying a couple of weeks so we could schedule some meetings and try to recuperate some of the expenses of the trip.  The Lord has blessed and about half of our expenses have been covered so far.

Please continue to pray for my family who are still dealing with the loss of my grandmother.