Doug and Lila Groth
ECMI
Summer 2014
“making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Eph.5:16)
Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continual support. We are grateful to the Lord for His goodness to us. Much has happened in the past few months and we are excited about all that the Lord has planned for us in the next year.
One of the most exciting things ahead of us is the baptism/wedding planned for Aug. 30 in Rabka (pictures to follow). Four people (two married couples) from the Rabka church will be baptized. One couple, Narcyz and Lucyna, came to know Christ not long ago. Their 10 year old daughter, Laura, and their 8 year old son, Jurek, also gave their lives to Christ. They only had a civil wedding when they were married. Now that they have given their lives to Christ they want to have a “church wedding” to be right in the sight of God and man and to give testimony of God’s goodness to them. Our good friend Werner Oder plans to be in Rabka that week and we have planned several meetings focused on evangelism and reconciliation. We are anticipating a week full of God’s blessing and working. Please pray together with us.
Lila and I are trying to get used to just the two of us being together again. Those of you who have experienced the “empty nest” situation know what it is like. We praise the Lord that Natalia has successfully completed her pharmacy studies. She will begin a 6 month internship at a drug store in Krakow this fall. Philip is in the States, working at a YMCA camp until he begins his studies at George Fox University in September. We thank the Lord that both of our kids know and love and are following Him. Please pray that they will follow His leading in their lives and fully live for Him.
Lila’s ministries include; the Christian grade school in Krakow, involvement in CEF, ministry in the Rabka church (teaching children, parents, women and seniors). She enjoyed her ministry trip with Natalia to Uganda last winter and feels that God used them in a significant way. She is open to more trips to Uganda in the future as the Lord leads. Please pray.
I (Doug) keep busy leading the Rabka church (preaching and teaching, heading up the church leadership team, visitation and evangelism). Last year I began teaching English regularly to teenagers in Nowy Sacz. This year I plan to focus more on church planting there. I want to travel to N.S. more often and am asking God to bring together a church planting team. Please pray that God would lead and bless in the work in N.S. and that He would give us leaders for the Rabka church.
We are grateful to the Lord that we were able to have a 2 week vacation in July at the Polish seaside – total relax.
One thing that most missionaries have in common is that from time to time we need to work on raising support for life and ministry. For several reasons we need to focus again on support raising. One of our main supporting churches is no longer able to support us. Some long time supporters have retired or for other reasons can no longer help with our support. There are extra expenses for our kid’s education, our medical needs and new ministry initiatives. I (Doug) am planning a trip to the US from Oct.22 to Nov.19 for this reason. I’ll be on the east coast this time (Atlanta, Georgia and Columbia, S.Carolina). If you know of people in this area who might be interested in our ministry please let me know. Pray that God would bless this trip and give good ministry opportunities and a significant increase in our support.
“Only one life, will soon be past, only what’s done for Christ will last”
God bless and thanks,
Doug and Lila
Doug and Lila Groth ECMI-USA
32-434 Skomielna Biala P.O. Box 2217
Nr. 623 Monument, CO
POLAND 80132
douggroth@poczta.onet.pl george.brown@ecmi.org
