Dear Friends and Family,
As Spring arrives in the mountains, we are reminded of the hope of resurrection, of new life in Christ and are so thankful for the various ways we have been given by the Lord to tell that old story that is ever new and to celebrate its effects in the lives of those who believe! It has been a season full of life!
In May, we travelled to Newton, Illinois to be with the kind folks of First Baptist Church. Ronni and I shared in music and I had the privilege of speaking for revival services there. The pastor, his wife, and all of the folks there were such a blessing to us! It was great to see old friends and make new ones! John Stankus, who has been a camper and a member of Jr. Staff, attends church there. John played drums with us (and so did his father, David, in one service) and Pastor Steve Willis played bass! We got to see a dear friend of ours, Fern, and catch up with some former campers and Junior Staff members as they happened to be coming through the area. It was a mini camp reunion that night! The Lord greatly blessed the week of ministry in Newton, doing what only He can do. Ronni and I were incredibly refreshed by the sweet fellowship and encouragement of folks there.
It is retreat season at Youth Haven Bible Camp! For the first retreat, we had a little over 100 campers! Speaking of camp, we have a new family, the Dodges, who have come to work with KMM! We are thrilled to have Ron and Katie and their three children, Ryan, Breslyn, and Grayson here! Please pray for them as they adjust and have hit the ground running! Ronni and I got to take Ron with us to visit the Owsley County schools as we announced the second Spring retreat. It was fun getting to show him some of the area!
The sweet folks of New Prospect Baptist Church are a continual blessing. I am so blessed to be able to preach to folks who love the Lord and His Word, and Ronni and I are thankful to lead the music there as well. A couple of times now, when we have needed to be on the road doing ministry, our dear brother, Kwike Kauga, has filled in for us doing the music and the preaching! Kwike and I have been friends for years! He is from Papua, New Guinea and is currently interning with KMM. We are so thankful for him and his heart for the Lord and people! The Lord continues to bless the youth group of Idamay Bible Church. We are so thankful for these teens and we love getting to hang with them and talk about the Lord! We greatly look forward to Wednesday nights with them!
As I write, we just returned from Toccoa Falls, Georgia, where I had the honor of officiating the wedding of our dear friends, Nathan and Olivia! Nathan and his brothers, David and Michael, grew up coming to camp and are from Franklin, TN, where I lived prior to moving to Kentucky to work with KMM. Their family is like family to Ronni and me. It is a joy to see the men they have grown to be and to know their sweet wives (and children, in David’s case) as well! Ronni and I had the privilege of doing premarital counseling with Nathan and Olivia and are so thankful for this couple and the ways they are living out their faith in the ways they serve others!
We would appreciate your prayers for the album and book that are in the works. We hope to do some more recording a little later this year, Lord willing, and there is still some work to do on the accompanying devotional book as well.
As always, thank you! Please know that Ronni and I are so grateful for each of you who pray, each of you who give to make this ministry possible! Thanks for being co-laborers with us in the Lord!
In Christ,
Sam and Ronni Judd
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