From a student in Malawi… Many thanks to you my Parents in Christ. I know I am what I am today spiritually because of you people. May the Lord grant you what you desire in your life.
Will advise you upon receipt of these wonderful materials.
"When you go on the internet, please pray for the Hoffman Family – your missionaries to Cyberspace."
Volume 30 Issue 3 (3rd Quarter 2017)
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
The Latest News:
Maureen and I attended the 20th Annual East Texas Baptist Camp Meeting. We had our display set up all five nights and made some wonderful new friends, and were able to discuss our ministry with many people.
I had the privilege ministering at Osage Baptist Church in Amarillo Texas. I was able to do our power point presentation during the Sunday school hour, and was given the opportunity to preach the morning message.
Church Website Ministry:
I was contacted by a gentleman I had worked with back in 2012 to help set up a website for Countrywide Prison Ministries. The new ministry is now Mountain State Ministries, and he was in need of a Contact Resource Management Tool (CRM) to keep track of inmates. He was currently using a tool called SugarCRM, but is at end of life and was evolving into something called SuiteCRM. I was able to set up a subdomain on one of my servers, and install SuiteCRM for him to manage his contacts.
I met with Pastor Robert Moreland of Sandy Lane Baptist Church (Fort Worth Texas) and spent a couple of hours with him at the church. We have been hosting their web page (sandylane.org) since 2009. I made some minor changes to the website that allowed him to start a blog. We installed the WordPress app on his smartphone. He was able to start posting on the website through his phone. We went through the basics of pages and how to build menus. I installed a photo gallery plugin for him. I gave Pastor Moreland an overview of themes, and made a minor change in the themes to allow his Blog to show up on the website. We discussed our ministry and Pastor Moreland said he would look at the possibility of scheduling our coming out and presenting our ministry to Sandy Lane Baptist Church.
I received a phone call Pastor Jeremy Allen of Calvary’s Grace Baptist Church in Eastman Georgia.Calvary’s Grace Baptist Church had a website in the past and had a lot of literature with their website on it, but the fellow that had set up the website had left their church and their domain had expired. Calvary’s Grace Baptist Church’s domain (cgbceastman.com) was available so I registered it and set up a WordPress website for Pastor Allen. He provided me with several pictures. I built a basic website, and provided Brother Jeremy with several websites of churches we host so he could get a feel for what is available out there. Pastor Jeremy will look things over and get back to me at some future point and we will work on refining (or rebuilding Calvary’s Grace Baptist Church’s website.
I was contacted by brother Edward Elizondo of Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Fredericksburg Texas. Fredericksburg Baptist Church’s pastor retired and they have a new pastor.. They wanted to get a web presence back up in part so tourists can find their website, and so home bound members can listen to sermons. After some discussion about a domain name the church settled on the available domain name fredericksburgbaptist.org. Edward and I discussed what the church wanted to accomplish with the website and he picked out a template. I setup a WordPress installation for him with a SSL certificate. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with Edward and we set up the Fredericksburg Baptist Church website. He has been able to make some updates, and has a person in church that will be able to spend some time with him and give him some more one on one training.
On Sunday, July 16, I had the privilege of ministering at Osage Baptist Church in Amarillo Texas. We have been hosting their website (osage-baptist.org) for 10 years now. I have spoken to Pastor David Speed many times over the last several years, and it was a blessing to meet him and the members of this friendly, small church. Pastor Speed requested that I convert their website over to WordPress, as he had been maintaining it with an Apple Mac and was running out of options.
At the East Texas Baptist Camp Meeting it was my pleasure to meet Pastor Billy Barho, Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Salado Texas. Victory Baptist Church did not have a web page. I had an “unofficial” web page up for them for a while using a “spare” domain I had (victory-baptist.com). Neither he, nor anyone in his church had any expertise in creating or maintaining a website. We had a brief discussion about what our ministry offered. I told him I could create (and maintain if he needed me to) a website for them. After some discussion Pastor Barho and his secretary decided they would like a website. I have since talked with Pastor Barho's daughter who will provide me with additional content for their website.
At the East Texas Baptist Camp Meeting I had the pleasure of meeting Dr.. Paul Carlin (D. Min) (The Therapon Institute). We sat down and had a discussion. Dr. Carlin wanted to get a website for his home church (Calvary Baptist Church in Crockett Texas). Calvary Baptist Church in Crockett Texas is a small church, and they are trying to rebuild after several problems. I registered cbccrockett.com for them. Dr. Paul has been sending me information to update the website for them as he has time.
I received a call from Lampasas Baptist Church in Lampasas Texas. I had “rescued” their domain (lampasasbaptistchurch.com) last year when it had expired and they wanted to know what they needed to do to take control of the domain again. We talked for a little while and Pastor Stall decided that he would like to keep their domain on our hosting, and that his son would update the website using WordPress. I installed a WordPress Website for them with an SSL certificate, and gave them the login credentials. They were able to get a basic website up and running in a short amount of time.
Bible Correspondence Courses: We want to thank Katherine Feguer, Lydia Henrici, Lorraine Meier, J.L. & Florence Smith for helping on the Bible Correspondence courses over the last quarter.
2nd Quarter 2017 Stats:
Lessons mailed 1030, Certificates 19, Students 166 (Nigerian 100 and Prisoners 9) Australia, Brunei, Cameroon, Nigeria, Tanzania and USA.
Here are some comments we received from people that are taking the correspondence courses:
From a 75 year old student in Australia: Talking about the Practical Christian Living course, he says, A very brilliant, comprehensive, inspiring course which has taught me much. Thank you and Bless you!
From a 71 year old student in Arkansas… I really enjoyed the Light from the Old Testament course. I learned so very much. I had never realized that the sanctuary was all about Jesus. Thank you so much for letting me take these courses.
From a Pastor in AL… In this booklet I learned what was inside the Ark and how the whole courtyard speaks of Christ. I loved this lesson. Very informative.
From a prisoner in MS..Thank you for sending me the Bible study lessons to work on and for allowing me to continue in studying God’s word with FamilyNet. I learn things that I never knew before with each lesson that I complete with FamilyNet. I trust you can send the replacement certificates for the Bible study courses that I completed thank you. I said a prayer for you that you can find someone to help you with your Bible correspondence program. Keep me in your prayers as I continue to rebuild my life and live fully for the service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Tract Ministry: We have "given out" over 84,000 Bible Tracts online. This last quarter we saw two get saved in Cameroon (husband, then wife) from the "New Birth" Bible Tract. They have enrolled in our Bible Correspondence Courses and want to evangelize Cameroon for Jesus!
Social Networking Outreach:I get new requests on my evangelistic Facebook account regularly. I now have 2603 "friends" in my evangelistic Facebook account. This is a valuable tool to reach the unsaved.
Support: We are currently at 67% of support for our ministry expenses.
Prayer Needs:
Miscellaneous health needs – lots of minor stuff. Bob is going in for a stress test, and has a follow up prostate test next week. Prayers appreciated!
Would you consider praying for us when special needs arise? If so, please subscribe to our prayer warrior's mailing list. :http://eepurl.com/SYbI9.
Annual Specific Ministry Financial Needs:
Server Costs $565 Dollars
Security Costs $250
Postage to Nigeria $925 (90 salvation decisions)
Postage to Kenya (increasing) $250 (15 Salvation)
Postage to India $40
Miscellaneous Office Expenses $1000
Nigeria Project – Two Nigerian Churches (Non Baptist ) want to use our Courses to teach their members and children including Sunday School, Pastor Training, Public Schools). This is an opportunity to get God's Word and good doctrine into places that would not otherwise be able to receive it. We have had over 200 students from these churches in the last several years , so we know these people, and have a history with them and trust them. $650
Additionally – our personal finances are tight – we have the following ongoing needs that can become critical at any time:
Reliable transportation – we have two old vehicles. They are costly to repair on a regular basis.We can't trust either vehicle to make trips of any distance.
We have two A/C units that are living on borrowed time. Both units are 18 years old using Freon. Loss of coolant or failure of any major parts will require replacement. We have a 2 1/2 ton unit in the back of the house where the Computer/Office Space is and a 3 1/2 ton unit where the living are is.
Please consider a donation. FamilyNet is a 501 (C)(3) charity. Donations are tax deductible in the US – You can donate via PayPal (Donate button is on http://www.cyber-missions.com) or mail a check: FamilyNet International Inc P.O. Box 451951 Garland, TX 75045 (214) 257-0229
Thank you for sending me the Bible study lessons to work on and for allowing me to continue in studying God’s word with FamilyNet. I learn things that I never knew before with each lesson that I complete with FamilyNet. I trust you can send the replacement certificates for the Bible study courses that I completed thank you. I said a prayer for you that you can find someone to help you with your Bible correspondence program. Keep me in your prayers as I continue to rebuild my life and live fully for the service of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I received a call from Lampasas Baptist Church in Lampasas Texas. I had “rescued” their domain (lampasasbaptistchurch.com) last year when it had expired and they wanted to know what they needed to do to take control of the domain again.
Let me take time to briefly explain the domain “rescue” mission we have here. The Baptist Ministry Database (baptist-ministries.org) is a link based database. A domain with many links into it has value, no matter what is on it. People will hit links to a website causing hits to that website. A domain that takes hits is worth money, and as such can and will be registered by someone looking to collect on a minimal investment (a .com domain can be registered for a year for about $10).
As I was going through and checking links out I found ministry websites that had expired had been re-registered and now contained advertising content (not optimal) and even pornography. You can imagine how I felt, having a Baptist Ministries Database no linked to a pornography website!
The domain for Lampasas Baptist Church had just been released and I found it was in several Fundamental Baptist Directories and I rescued it.
Back to yesterday… we talked for a little while and Pastor Stall decided that he would like to keep their domain (lampasasbaptistchurch.com) on our hosting, and that his son would update the website using WordPress. I installed a WordPress Website for them with an SSL certificate, and gave them the login credentials. They were able to get a basic website up and running in a short amount of time.
I really enjoyed the Light from the Old Testament course. I learned so very much. I had never realized that the sanctuary was all about Jesus. Thank you so much for letting me take these courses.
On Tuesday, July 19, 2017, at the East Texas Baptist Camp meeting Dr. Paul Carlin (D. Min) and I sat down and had a discussion. Dr. Carlin wanted to get a website for his home church (Calvary Baptist Church in Crockett Texas). Dr. Carlin has developed a technique called “Belief Therapy” (you can see his ministry at The Therapon Institute) and is heavily involved in prison ministry as well as the Therapon Theological Seminary & Bible College.
Dr. Paul had a display set up next to us. We had a several discussions during the East Texas Baptist Camp Meeting and the Lord spoke to my heart through Dr. Carlin. Calvary Baptist Church in Crockett Texas is a small church, and they are trying to rebuild after several problems. I suggested a website (cbccrockett.com) to Dr. Paul, and he thought that would be fine. Dr. Carlin had to leave Wednesday night. I told him I would build a basic website for them, and wait for he (and/or a friend of his) to send me some pictures and some additional information on the church.
At the East Texas Baptist Camp Meeting Monday night, it was my pleasure to meet Pastor Billy Barho, Pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Salado Texas.
Victory Baptist Church did not have a web page. I had an “unofficial” web page up for them for a while using a “spare” domain I had (victory-baptist.com). While neither he, nor anyone in his church had any expertise in creating or maintaining a website we had a brief discussion about what our ministry offered. I told him I could create (and maintain if he needed me to) a website for them. He told me he would be returning Tuesday and we could discuss it a bit further.
Pastor Barho was presented with a Doctor of Divinity degree from the Therapon Theological Seminary & Bible College Tuesday night at the East Texas Baptist Camp meeting.
I had a brief discussion with Pastor Barho. He had discussed the website with his secretary and they decided they did want to pursue an official website for Victory Baptist Church in Salado Texas.
I created a basic WordPress website for them. Pastor Barho will contact me after the Camp Meeting ends and we will talk about how I can get more information about the church to update their website for them.
Victory Baptist Church in Salado hosts an annual conference called “Days of Refreshing.” Maureen and I are going to try to get down there next year for at least part of the conference.
On Sunday, July 16, I had the privilege ministering at Osage Baptist Church in Amarillo Texas. We have been hosting their website (osage-baptist.org) for 10 years now.
I have spoken to Pastor David Speed many times over the last several years, and it was a blessing to meet him and the members of this friendly, small church. Pastor Speed has been using his Apple Mac for his website, and is interested using WordPress. I will be converting their website over as time permits.
I was able to do our power point presentation during the Sunday school hour, and was given the opportunity to preach the morning message. Osage Baptist Church was truly a blessing.
Pastor Bostick and Pastor Speed
I was surprised to find out that Pastor Speed had “promoted” himself to “member” status (retired) at the Wednesday night service. The members had a mini Pastor Appreciation award ceremony as well as a dedication ceremony for their fellowship hall.
Osage Fundamental Baptist Church was a blessing with traditional music and a spirit-filled atmosphere. If you are looking for a small friendly church in the Amarillo Texas area, I would consider checking Osage Baptist Church out as a potential church home.
I was contacted by brother Edward Elizondo of Fredericksburg Baptist Church in Fredericksburg Texas over the weekend. Edward is the brother of Rudy Elizondo, Pastor of Marion Baptist Church, one of our supporting churches. Edward contacted Rudy to find out if Rudy knew of anyone that could help FBC get a website online.
Fredericksburg Baptist Church’s pastor retired and they have a new pastor. Fredericksburg Texas is a community of about 10,000 located about 70 miles north of San Antonio. According to Edward, there are many tourists coming through Fredericksburg. They wanted to get a web presence back up in part so tourist can find their website, and so home bound members can listen to sermons. After some discussion about a domain name the church settled on the available domain name fredericksburgbaptist.org (I had no idea how many Fredericksburg Baptist Churches there were out there). Edward and I discussed what the church wanted to accomplish with the website and I he picked out a template. I set up a WordPress installation for him with a SSL certificate. I spent a couple of hours on the phone with Edward and we set up the Fredericksburg Baptist Church website. He has been able to make some updates, and has a person in church that will be able to spend some time with him and give him some more one on one training.
Maureen and I attended the 
Bible Correspondence Courses: We want to thank Katherine Feguer, Lydia Henrici, Lorraine Meier, J.L. & Florence Smith for helping on the Bible Correspondence courses over the last quarter.
From a student in Malawi…
From a student in Malawi…
Many thanks to you my Parents in Christ. I know I am what I am today spiritually because of you people.
May the Lord grant you what you desire in your life.
Will advise you upon receipt of these wonderful materials.