The Sampsons

Missionary for the Missionary

December 2008

www.BillySampsonMinistries.com

Merry Christmas!

 

Greetings in the name of our Saviour! How thankful we should be that he came into this world born of a virgin, to save lost humanity! What a Gift God has given to us!

We have been so incredibly busy since our last letter. We are going to give you an update on our happenings, and also a separate letter on our Grenada trip from August.

Since the end of July we have traveled close to 30,000 miles and have either sang or preached in over 100 services. God has been very faithful with the missionary’s we have been with as well. Here are the highlights;

 

SEPTEMBER

In September we had a bit of a break after a very busy summer. We actually were able to be in our home church, and attend our church revival and do the music for it. Before September we had been on the road the entire summer, and we also knew we would be away from home from October 4-December 1^st. So the rest was needed. We actually were going to Wales but Bro Darren Rogers felt led to post-pone the meeting. We are excited though because everything is coming together for the September 2009 trip. My brother David and I will be preaching and The Mike Speck Trio will be heading up the music with an 80 voice choir for this missionary. It will be awesome! I also had a homecoming cancel because of flooding in the church, and a mission’s conference in Atlanta cancelled because of church issues. God just knew we needed the break, and rest. It was the 1^st time in 6 years we have been home for most of September.

 

OCTOBER

We left out on Oct 4, and knew we would be gone through Dec 1. We left 70 degree weather, and returned to snow on the ground and 20 degree weather. What a Blessing! I could talk about so many things but let me tell you a couple. Our family has been doing a tent meeting for Carolina Baptist in Spartanburg, S.C. now for 4 years now. We have seen many saved. This year 2 were saved. One in particular was a man who has been going to church for a long time. The night he was there I was led of the LORD to preach on the story of the Ethiopian eunuch. I began to hammer the point home of even though he was a respectable, wealthy, religious man we was still a lost man. As I preached that particular point the man began to be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. The invitation was given and the man received Christ. He realized that he was only, “religious,” and that being religious couldn’t save you! You must believe that Jesus came to this world to save you! He was saved that night! Praise God!

 

 

Also in October while preaching for Pastor Bill Hicks in Ridgeway, Va. for revival I met a man in a little restaurant that we ate and fellowshipped in each night after church. His name was Charlie. I was in the restroom changing my shirt and Charlie was cleaning the floors. I talked with him for about 20 minutes. He asked me if I thought God had a real purpose for his life. After talking with him and answering his questions I invited him to the revival.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He said, “Preacher will you sing Amazing Grace for me if I come?” I said, “I’ll sing it twice for you is you’ll come!” I got to the church and Charlie was the 1^st person there that night. He beat the preacher there! When I got there I gave him a big hug and thanked him for coming. We sang Amazing Grace for Charlie and he cried the entire time. I then opened my Bible to Romans 1:14-16 and preached on the three “I am’s” that Paul mentioned. He said I am debtor in v14 I am ready in v 15 and I am not ashamed in v 16. The precious Holy Spirit used that sermon that night! Charlie came down the aisle that night and I was able to lead him from God’s Word on how to be Saved! Charlie found his purpose that night.

 

Another lady from missionary Jay Noland’s church was saved as well in the jubilee we were in. We have also been helping Bro Jay for the last 4 years as well. This women was saved after Michelle Noland brother Jay’s wife, led her to the LORD. She has been on crack cocaine. Her sisters have been praying for her. We sang some songs that night she told us that helped her, but the preaching that night by Dr. Ed Moore made her realize she needed Jesus. I am just glad God let us be a part of seeing these people come to know Jesus.

 

NOVEMBER

After being on the road for a month we were getting a bit tired, but we got a little rest the 1^st week in November. We were in Tennessee with some of our family. God knew where we needed to be. On November 1^st we visited my uncle Sonny Gentry who had been very sick, and on the verge of going home to be with the LORD. We sang some songs for him in the hospital and was blessed by Uncle Sonny’s testimony of how he was saved, and also the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit. It was the last time I saw him alive. On Monday evening November 3, 2008 he went home to be with the LORD. My brother David and I were asked by the family to do the funeral services. It was a Holy Spirit filled time and celebration of his life. Please pray for the Gentry family.

We then went to Jacksonville, Fl. to help Pastor Bob Morro and their new church plant in presenting missions to the church, and to talk about the Grenada trip. This church was a vital help in helping us to get there this year. We want to thank Pastor Morro and the folks there at New Life for being so kind to us, and helping with some of the financial burdens we face with our ministry, and missions work. This church has gone above and beyond, and we are forever grateful for your help to us for 2008, and 2009. We love you all! Stay with that missions program!!

 

We then did a Thanksgiving revival for Pleasant Hill Baptist in Powder Springs, Ga. And pastor Lamar Rackly. We had a time! No one was saved but God sure met with us! I preached 4 sermons on why we should be thankful for the things Jesus has done for us. Boy we had a shoutin’ Hallelujah time!  

 

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with my brother David at his home in Georgia. It was a great day of celebration. We finished up on the 30^th of November in Virginia, and Tennessee, and then home.

 

It has been a blessing these past few months and seeing the hand of God moving. Again, I have written a separate letter about our trip to Grenada in August. I Had TO! We saw 231 people saved. I would have never made it all in this letter. We need you to pray for my Dad. He had a stomach aneurysm removed on Dec 5, 2008, and is currently in the hospital. He is doing well. Also, please visit our website at www.BillySampsonMinistries.com for all the current happenings in our ministry. God Bless you all and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!

 

Your missionaries, Billy, Jane, Emily, Ashley, and Sarah Sampson

 

 

      

Grenada 2008

www.BillySampsonMinistries.com

231 SAVED

The Sampsons Missionary for the Missionary

 

 

 

 

Where do I begin????? This Grenada trip was one of the greatest moments of ministry I have ever had in my life. It was such a joy to work with Michael Jeremiah GPA missionary to Grenada along with several other mission churches, and local pastors. We left our home on August 14 for Philadelphia, Pa. to join the group for this trip to Grenada. We took 41 people on this trip. The total cost for this trip for 41 people to have air flights, room and board, food, transportation, the rental of the Grenada National Stadium, the sound system, 15,000 flyers, Bibles, gifts for the kids for VBS and TV and Radio advertisement was $85,000.00!!! It was just over $10,000.00 for just our family to go. But Praise the Name of Jesus every penny was supplied by God’s people!

 

Our day consisted of 7:30 am breakfast and devotion, long rides in the sweltering heat to work with 9 churches for their Vacation Bible School. Then back to where we stayed for lunch, and Choir Practice for the crusade, clean up, then at the stadium by 5:30 pm to prepare to start at 7 pm. for our meeting. Then back to the place where we stayed for a snack and prayer time. In bed by 11 pm back up at 6 am to start the day over. It was very exhausting but worth every soul!

 

My girls all led their 1^st person to the LORD! Seven all together between the three of them. Our family led a total 14 to the LORD! I preached, we sang, led the choir, worked and ran the sound, and helped any missionary who needed something while we were there. The Grenadians welcomed us with open arms. Many of them were such Godly people seeking some of the same things we seek here in America and that is for our nations to draw closer to God! Family’s were mended back together, drugs and alcohol were forsaken, ungodly life styles, such as the worship of Bob Marley were left to rot as people gave testimony of what God could do, and had done. All the conversions were handled with great care, as the WORD of GOD was presented with old fashion Holy Ghost conviction. There was an average attendance of about 1,000 people each night at the crusade, with 1,200 people being the high night on Tuesday night.

I want to thank all of our supporting churches, and individuals for helping us throughout the year. You have been faithful to help us carry the gospel, and together God is allowing US to do some awesome stuff! Thank you all again, and pray this year for 2009 as we go to NEW MEXICO in June and WALES in September. Please don’t forget to visit our website at www.BillySampsonMinistries.com   We love you all and hope you have a Merry Christmas!

 

Your missionaries, Billy, Jane, Emily, Ashley, and Sarah Sampson