Due to a minor budgetary change and additional supporters, we are now at 77% of our support need.  We have 35 churches and 7 individuals committed to supporting our ministry.  It would only take a few more churches and individuals to reach our goal.  Our plan is to leave for Uruguay in late May or early June.  It is so exciting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Pleas pray that God would continue to bring in our support.

         We just added another supporting church.  This church had us in on Sunday night and voted to add us on Wednesday, bringing our percentage to approximately 71%.  What a blessing the service was to us.  More than 30 came forward to make decisions, and in spite of my long-winded sermon, we fellowshipped around our table for more than an hour afterward.  It is a thrill to see God’s people excited about His work.  I ask all of y0u to continue is steadfast prayers on our behalf that God might quickly get us to our field.

         I know I haven’t posted faithfully to our updates section lately.  Perhaps, I feel like there is so little to update, but that certainly isn’t the truth.  Sure, we are still on the deputation trail and meetings are getting more difficult to schedule, but God is good.  We have added supporters and seen our needs met in abundance.  We are still hovering just shy of 70% due to an increase in our health insurance costs.  Our plan is still to leave for Uruguay in the late Spring of 2010.  Please contact me at any time that you want up to the minute information.  In the mean time, our prayer letters are sent out regularly, even when our website looks untouched for a while.

          My posts here are increasingly rare these days.  It isn’t for lack of interest, so much as the busyness of life and deputation.  I have a new prayer letter coming out this week, so look for that update soon.  It would have been out sooner, but we had a death in the family that postponed a lot of other work.  My neice was killed in a car accident in Pensacola on May 26.  She was saved, and we are comforted somewhat by that fact.  Still, we will miss Malarie.  Her mother (Mary’s sister), Debi McLamb was diagnosed with a rare kidney disorder a few days later.  She had surgery yesterday and is recovering.  Although this is not particularly deputation related, I would appreciate your prayers for this family.  They are a good family and it has been a difficult time for all of them.   They need strength and comfort through these tough times.  We know that God is good, and trust that His plan is best.

          Okay, so maybe I am not that quick to listen, but as anyone who swings by here often can attest, I am very slow to post.  I apologize to everyone looking for up to the minute information on our deputation.  The last few months have had its share of ups and downs.  We have had a number of good missions conferences and meetings and have added some new support, bringing us to 66% of our need. 

          This past Sunday (Easter), we had the opportunity to visit with our ministry partners in Uruguay via Skype.  This free internet service allowed us to address the church in Las Piedras via video teleconference and to share our testimonies with them.  There was a palpable excitement among the nationals as they were able to hear why we desire so strongly to come to Uruguay.  We were greatly encouraged by this virtual meeting.  I had intended to record it and post it here, but couldn’t get it to record while we were setting up, so I am sorry it will not be posted.

          We have had some success lately scheduling new meetings and the Lord is continuing to bless our latest push to do so.  I had noticed that since October or so, it has been more difficult to schedule meetings.  Still, with a little added effort, we are finding churches who still want to hear what God is doing in Uruguay and why our family so desperately wants to go there.

Until next time,
Scott Clark

Just a quick post to let everyone know that our latest prayer letter is available under the “Prayer Letters” tab above.  All is well in the Clark household and we are grateful to everyone who has had a part in our ministry.

In Christ,
Scott Clark

          Merry Christmas to all.  This has been an exciting year in the Clark household.  We have seen so many blessing rain down on us from His hand that I hardly know where to start.  In any case, we have seen our support level nearly double in the last year, and in spite of a changing economy, added yet another new supporter last night, bringing us to 55% of our required amount.  Our prayer is to reach 80% by August, so that we might begin language school at that point.  This appears to be a reasonable goal, though it will take much prayer and hard work. 

          Barry has informed us that the two nationals that were severely burned in the auto accident in Uruguay are improving.  Pablo has been released from the hospital while Julia still has a long road ahead.  We praise God for the continued improvement in their condition.  Please continue to pray for them, the Secrests, and the work in Uruguay.  The need is great and the laborers are ever slower in getting to the field.  It seems certain that the return of the Lord is close, yet until He comes, we must make His Great Comission our great focus.  Please pray that God would provide the supporters we need as we head to the field.

          As for 2009, we look forward to many new meetings.  We pray that God would use us to serve in whatever capacity He desires.  Our prayer is for the millions dying without a knowledge of the Gospel.  May this be the year that many are called and sent to foreign lands, but also the year that many professing Christians here in the U.S. would beginning sharing the Gospel with those around them who are lost and dying.  We pray often for our supporters and friends, and ask that you pray for us, as well.  God bless. . . The Clarks

          I needed to post a quick update to the Secrest’s accident in Uruguay.  The picture here is of the van they were driving.  The fire was the result of gasoline pouring out of the vehicle and pooling along the doors you see in the picture.  To exit the rear of the vehicle, all of the occupants had to pass through the fire.  Barry’s statement to the police was confirmed by forensic investigators, and that is a blessing.  It removes some of the legal worries from the situation.  Two of the three nationals are on the road to recovery and will be fine, though they will have much pain to deal with during the healing process.  However, Julia, who was burned the most severely, remains in critical condition and needs our prayers desparately. 

           As for needs in this situation, Barry will need to replace his van and laptop computer which was burned in the fire.  He also has seen an increase in travel expenses as he make daily trips to the hospital with Julia’s family members, who are unable to afford to travel so much.  Other expenses are mounting up on them, as well, though Barry didn’t go into detail.  If you want to help, Baptist World Mission has set up a special account for them.  You can send any gifts to them with a note explaining that you want it to go to the “Secrest Van Fund”. 

          Now, all of this has made me think of the verse in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10  ”Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.“  How much help we could have been in this circumstance, but God has not seen fit to prepare the way, yet.  We trust God that one day soon, He will send us to the shores of Uruguay.  In the mean time, we will try to faithfully follow His plan.  Please pray that God would provide our support soon. 

          I just received word this morning that Barry Secrest and his family and three nationals from his church were in a vehicle accident last night.  Their brakes failed as their VW van was approaching a “T” intersection.  Barry attempted to make the turn, but the van rolled over and caught on fire.  His youngest son was burned on his ear and the three nationals were more seriously burned (one is in critical condition).  Please take this time to pray for these people.  Barry and Barbara received cuts and bruises, but were not burned.  Pray for healing for all involved.  Pray that they will be able to replace their vehicle.  Pray for them to receive encouragement during what must be a discouraging event.  If you want to send a quick email letting them know that you are praying please do so.  Their email is ibgracia@hotmail.com.  Thank you.

          So, it is time for another post on ye ol’ website.  Considering the events of this week, I would be remiss if I failed to make mention of the elections.  I spent nearly 4 hours in line to vote, and most of the candidates I voted for were elected with one major exception.  I do not know why God has chosen at this time to give us our new leader, but I do know that this outcome did not surprise Him.  Long ago, Uruguay abandoned it’s core values, and the resulting oppressive government and economic disruptions have been the impetus for revival.  It’s government is far more socialistic than the U.S. will likely be after these next four years are over and it’s people are far poorer today than they were 30 years ago.  The good side of all this pain, is that people began searching for REAL answers to life’s problems.  The spiritual state of today’s Uruguay is far different than in previous decades.  Oh sure, they are still in darkness, but, in general, they are more open to spiritual things.  The need for laborers is greater than it has ever been in that country.  In the 8 months since beginning his new work in Las Piedras, Barry Secrest (our future partners in ministry) has seen his small group of 40 grow to an average Sunday attendance of between 200-250.  Souls are saved weekly and baptisms occur with astonishing regularity.  He told me that he could start 3 more churches today, if only he had workers to help.  Instead of the social and politcal unrest bringing about the apocalypse, the “negative” events in Uruguay have brought about revival among God’s people.  May that be the case here in the U.S. as well.

          The church in America today is a much different place from the church of its forefathers.  While a desire to be holy and to live for God characterized churches of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, today’s churches are rife with materialism and an ungodly timidity of faith.  Yesterday’s cry was “to know Him”, but today’s cry has become “to be relavent and not to offend”.  Yesterday’s church sought for ways to serve, but in many cases, today’s churches are filled with those who seek for ways to be served.  Perhaps, God needs to get the attention of His people, so that His work may again become our focus.  The laborers are too few, yet the harvest remains greater than ever.  Can God financially support missionaries in the down times?  Yes, of course.  In fact, as Christians begin to realize which things are truly important, giving may increase, but those times are still in the future.  For now, fear of a declining economy is the rule both inside and outside the church.  It will not be until God’s people begin to trust Him to provide that any such increases will occur.  I suspect it will take a bit more pain for that to occur.  As for me, I do not fear any political leader or party, since the heart of the king is in the Hand of God.  May we all with one accord seek after God and trust Him in spite of all that may appear to be against us.  For “if God be for us, who can be against us?”