Update from Pastor Virgil

Moving Christians from the pew to the harvest.”  Matthew 9:36-38

April 17, 2025

He is Risen!

“The Son of man came to seek and save the lost.” Luke 19:10 GNB

Greetings! I trust this finds you well and blessed in the service of the Lord. Thanks to you and people like you, Judy and I are able to say we are well and doing good.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about “vision” as we usually understand it in the church world. Whether you call it vision or mission or something else, it’s important. It helps us avoid going down rabbit trails and wasting time and resources. It’s a unifying core for our group efforts. It gives us a sense of purpose, a necessary part of any life worth living.

I recently read the story of Zacchaeus in Luke 19 and was again struck by the succinct statement of purpose that Jesus made at the end of the conversation. “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost ” He knew why He was here. He knew the purpose of His earthly mission, and He also knew that the vision of seeking and saving the lost would continue after His departure. In fact, this departure would unleash a force on the earth that would multiply his mission and spread it throughout the world. The “lost” he sought and saved while he was here would soon become the agents of seeking and saving for the entire world.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

The heavenly mission is ongoing. Jesus knew this, and the knowledge of what was to come as a result of His imminent suffering kept Him going all the way to Calvary. He knew that you and I would one day be part of the plan.

As we prepare to celebrate the special day when the world recognizes the success of his mission (if you don’t believe He’s alive, give back the chocolate bunny. It’s not a holiday without Jesus), let’s remember that if we don’t do our part, that mission is a failure. His mission is our mission. It will do for us what it did for Him: It gives us joy and meaning. It keeps us going when the going gets tough. Happy Resurrection Day.

Good Book: Several years ago I published a book on water baptism. In teaching the subject in our Bible classes, I had never found a book that I thought did justice to the subject without getting bogged down in theological mumbo-jumbo. When I read the New Testament, it was obvious that it was supposed to be a big deal, but too often it seemed more like a ritual or an afterthought. It’s so much more than that. Thus the book, “Water Baptism…believes and is baptized.“

Thanks to Pastors John and Valarie Smith, the book is now updated and available on Amazon Kindle as well as in a beautiful new paperback edition. Over the years I have received many questions about what we should say when we baptize. Some claim that it must be “in the Name of Jesus only.” If you wonder about it, this might be worth the price of the book. Check it out. It’s a great tool for preparing people to get the most out their baptism, as well as instructing those who got wet but not much else. You can still add knowledge to your faith. Check it out.

Mexico update: God continues to move in Mexico. In the last update I asked you to pray for us as we continue to prepare shepherds to shepherd the sheep coming into the Kingdom. I stated that revival was underway and that there would be spiritual opposition. Both things are true.

The March 13th and 14th we began our course on Bible interpretation, “Panning for Gold,” using the Sermon on the Mount as an example text. It is significantly more intensive than any of our other courses. I typically expect an enrollment of between 30 and 40 each evening. We had 80. I had optimistically had 50 outlines, 29 pages each, printed. We ran out the first night. The atmosphere was supercharged, and the Holy Spirit touched lives in profound ways. Now that’s bible school!

The battle was also intense. My flight to Hermosillo on the 12th was canceled and could not be rebooked. After standing in line for several hours, I got my bags back and returned home. Thanks to several willing helpers, I got a ride on Thursday, first to Nogales, then from Nogales to Hermosillo in time for class. It was a very long day, but the result was great. Kudos to Pastor John Smith, Eduardo and Rosa Andrade, Debi Garrett, and Joshua Taylor for transporting me. Special thanks to Becky Drozdowski for interceding with American Airlines!

Please continue to pray for this work. I return to Hermosillo on May 14th for 6 days of class and ministry. Currently the transportation situation is unsettled. Pray for us to hear God about how this needs to work. Several other situations have arisen that threaten to hinder the precious unity of the team. Some other of our team members have been attacked with sickness. Please stay steady in praying. God always shows up when somebody prays.

New Thing: As a result of the discussions at the Pastors’ Breakfast, we have scheduled a Leadership Training for July12thin Hermosillo. Our goal is to make what we do available to many who are outside of our usual circle. We wanted a nice place that was neutral – not a church – and air conditioned (it’s summer in the desert). Our planning team there has located a good facility for the event, and we have put down a deposit. Now to get a sound system and a pulpit, and we are  in business!

If you’re in the area, join us for three presence-filled days of worship, teaching, and training. Seats are limited so registration is required – No walk-Ins, please.

Conference Times: Thursday: 7PM–8PM | Friday: 7PM–9 PM | Saturday: 9AM–3PM (Lunch Provided)

New York: I will be in New York June 1st through June 15th. Sunday the first will be at Higher Ground Christian Church, 96 E, Main St, Afton, with Pastors Paul and Joanne Hauptmann. Sunday, June 8th and Tuesday June 10th, I am with Pastor Anne Bethany at Mountaintop Christian Fellowship, 7687 County Highway 33, Bloomville. Then on Father’s Day, June 15th I will join with Dianne Elston and the pastoral team at Believers Church at Glenville, 304 Swaggertown Road, Glenville. God will do miracles at every stop.

The week between the 1st and the 8th, I will be in the Oneonta area. If I can serve you during that time, let me know.

Thank you: Thanks for making it possible for us to keep going. He told us to Move believers form the pew into the harvest, and we are working to do that. God uses every prayer and every gift to fulfill His mission.

Financial support can be sent to Faith Christian Fellowship of Tucson  at the address below or given online at www.fcftucson.org. Make checks payable to FCFT and designate missions or pastorvirgil and it will get where it needs to go.

Here are some things you can do to help:

Keep doing your part, I’ll keep doing mine, and together we will get a lot done.

Virgil and Judy Stokes

3141 W. Ironwood Hill Dr.

Tucson AZ, 85745

520-792-3238

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