Dear Friends,

Jeneen and I are preparing for ministry in AZ. We leave next week and will be at Victory Baptist Church in Casa Grande on Sunday the 28^th. It will be good to see many friends and family while we are in AZ. I am planning on attending the Gospel Proclaimed conference at Tri-City Baptist Church the 7^th – 9^th of March. I will have a table in the hall sharing our ministry and making Peter’s and my books available. If you are there, please stop by.

From there, Jeneen and I head to WA to be at Galilee Baptist Church in Kent. I will be speaking there and for the NW FBFI conference, March 13-16. We really look forward to the time with friends and the meeting of new ones while there.

In May, we have meetings with Chewelah Baptist Church in WA with Pastor Dan Cleghorn. We have a busy summer with June being in Alaska through the first part of July. I will be speaking for the BMM field council meetings and for Immanuel Baptist Church, Pioneer Bible Church, Pioneer Peak Baptist Church, and Senior High Camp at Higher Ground Baptist Camp. We also have a week of men’s backpacking camp scheduled in July, 23^rd-29^th.

God has been working in and through us in these last days. Jeneen has been helping her mom deal with some skin cancer. Jeneen took her to many appointments. Praise the Lord; they were able to get all the cancer. We were glad Jeneen was home to help. I have been studying Revelation and doing more writing. I have been preparing messages for the meetings ahead. We have been quite busy.

Please continue to pray for us and all our family. We are experiencing God’s grace and comfort. God has been showing Himself mighty. Please pray for the ministry opportunities God sets before us. We want Him to work in us and through us. Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

November 19, 2015

Dear Friends and Family,

God paints a bigger picture than we can ever imagine. It is helpful to meditate on more than we see. The Lord is working His plan in light of eternity. Many events of our lives are difficult. There is suffering and sorrow. We experience joy and pain. Our emotions can go from joyous laughter to excessive weeping in minutes. Stepping back to get a bigger view of our lives, I realize the Lord is painting His masterpiece. I am part of His work. The suffering and sorrow has its place in the picture.

We are working through the thoughts and emotions that our son Chris’s death has brought to our family. I have read books on sorrow and grief in the past weeks. We are not alone in our grief. Many people have lost loved ones. Some even went through difficult circumstances as Chris experienced with melanoma. It is hard to watch your 37 year old son pass from mortality to life, leaving behind his parents, wife, children, brothers, and the rest of his family. We are happy for Chris but his death has left a huge hole in our hearts.

I have found great comfort in the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I do not agree with all his theology, but he sure nailed it about grief.

“There is nothing that can replace the absence of someone dear to us, and one should not even attempt to do so. One must simply hold out and endure it. At first that sounds very hard, but at the same time it is also a great comfort. For to the extent the emptiness truly remains unfilled one remains connected to the other person through it. It is wrong to say that God fills the emptiness. God in no way fills it but much more leaves it precisely unfilled and thus helps us preserve even in pain, the authentic relationship. Further more, the more beautiful and full the remembrances, the more difficult the separation. But gratitude transforms the torment of memory into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as a thorn but as a precious gift deep within, a hidden treasure of which one can always be certain.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Another author put it this way – “the greater the love, the greater the grief.” We are finding these things true. Many of you know how deeply I experience life. My love for my family is deep. My love for God’s family is deep. My care for the churches is deep. With such depth of love comes depth of sorrow and pain in loss. This is where we are in the grieving process. We are missing Chris.

THANK YOU – We want to give a huge thank you to all who have prayed for Chris as he dealt with the cancer. Also, thank you for the many cards, letters, emails, visits and phone calls. Several friends were able to be here for the funeral of Chris. Thank you for coming. There were some who sent monetary gifts for Michelle and the family. Your care and support has been an encouragement to us. Thank you for the expressions of love.

MINISTRY – I will be speaking at Faith Baptist Church in Nyssa OR on the 29^th of November. We are looking forward to being there but will miss Pastor Sondergaard and his family as they will be away.

We are starting to schedule next year with meetings. We want to personally thank some of the churches who ministered to us through these past few months. It would also be nice to report to our supporting churches in this next year. Please pray for God to lead in the scheduling of this next year.

HOME CHURCH – While we are home, we minister in our home church. I am teaching and speaking as the Lord gives opportunity. We have started the construction of our building. Since the church began 13 years ago, we have been meeting in a rented facility. It will be nice to have our own building and to not be limited as to usage of it. We will be able to minister more effectively once we are in our building. We thank God for our home church, Fellowship Baptist Church.

 

CHRIS’S VIDEOS – I want to post the video addresses again for the last message Chris preached before his death. Also I am posting the video shared at the funeral. It has special meaning to those who are suffering but is meaningful to all anyway. Also, I will post the address for the Gofundme account for Michelle and family if some would still like to help them. They are doing ok financially for right now but how much is enough for a wife and three children? If God lays it upon your heart to help, please do. Here are the addresses:

Chris’s last message – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g4erm3CXH5U

Chris’s video about joy when you have no strength – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUltuj2S_y0

Gofundme account – https://www.gofundme.com/q63cde9k

I know this is a longer letter than normal. Thank you for reading it through and letting me share my heart. God is good and we are comforted by Him. His hand is upholding us. Keep praying for us all. May God give you a good Thanksgiving with family and friends. Thanks again for your love and support.

Monte & Jeneen Leavell

Dear Friends,

God is good and every good and perfect thing in our lives has come from Him. He has worked through many of you to be a great blessing to us also. We thank you for your prayers and support over the past 20 plus years we have been in itinerant ministry. Some have asked how it is being on the road for that long. A fairly close comparison is the deputation ministry of missionaries. One difference is that we have a home and are able to go there to rest after each trip. It is hard to imagine how ministry would be without the home base.

Where we have been –

As we have said in previous letters, we are busy in our home church when we are home. In December, I started going through our discipleship book, “Steadfast and Stable” on Sunday nights. Last Sunday, May 3^rd, we finished the last session. Since there are only seven sessions, this shows how little we are home. We continue to work with the college career group. I am also on the land and building committee. We hope to start building sometime this summer. Needless to say, we are busy at home too.

We have ministered with Rocky Mountain Baptist Church in Ennis MT while they are without a pastor. I have been there four Sundays so far. The Lord is working in this church. Please pray for them as they seek God’s man to lead them.

In March, Jeneen and I were in Pasco WA at First Baptist Church, where Dave Dillsworth is pastor. We had a Sunday through Sunday meeting where I focused on the goodness of God. It was such a joy to see how the Lord worked. God is definitely good!

We had great fellowship with the pastor and people at First Baptist.

From there, we went to the FBF northwest meetings in Wenatchee WA. It was nice to meet new pastors and to see old friends too. I was allowed to promote the discipleship book too.

In April, we went to Grace Baptist Church in Pendleton OR where Alan Chapman is the pastor. The Lord is working in this church. It was great to have one of their members come to Boise on business. Jeneen and I were able to have dinner with him and his coworker. We thank the Lord for the many friends God has given us through ministry in the churches.

Where we are –

Right now, we are in the LA area for our son Joe’s graduation with his master’s degree in Biblical counseling. He has been working on it for the past few years. It is nice to see him finished and ready to move in a new direction as the Lord leads. We hope to see a few friends in the area before we leave.

Next Tuesday, we will be in Phoenix and will attend a pastors’ meeting there. It will be good to see old friends and to make some new ones.

Future Schedule –

In June, I will be speaking at Camp Tishamingo in AZ. I look forward to working with this group again. In July we have a couple of backpacking opportunities in the Sawtooths and Boulder White Cloud mountains of central Idaho. I really enjoy the men’s backpacking camps. They are “soul refreshing.” Let me know if you are interested. August has two weeks in WY for men’s backpacking camps. One week will be with Redcliff Bible Camp Summit trails. We are scheduled to be in MT in September and in ID in October. The Lord has opened the doors for various ministries in the coming months. We also hope to be back in Ennis with Rocky Mountain Baptist Church. Busy times for us but we love it.

Books –

We continue to hear how the Lord is using the discipleship book, “Steadfast and Stable.” The testimonials are such a blessing. I continue to work on other studies along with a fiction book.

Peter’s latest book, “West for the Black Hills,” has been doing well in reviews and sales. It is the story line of God and Gun but from a new publisher with new scenes. His book “Gideon’s Call,” is still available and continues to get good reviews. It will be a solid book for years to come. Peter has two other books in the works. His greatest wish is for more time to write. He balances his day job, writing, being a husband, father, church member and other obligations as best he can. He loves doing and being it all. And I thought I was busy.

Thank you –

Thanks to all for your support in prayer and encouragement of what God is doing in and through Jeneen and me. We look forward to what is ahead and thank God for His goodness to us. May God’s goodness be seen by each of us every day.

Dear Friends,

The last couple of months have been very busy. I was thinking we would have some time to get some special projects done. It has not been the case. But with the Lord guiding our paths, we rest in His peace and grace. Sometimes events that come in a new day will surprise and test us. God allows them to stretch us in ways we would not go otherwise. The trials of life will either keep us dependent upon Him or lead us to despair away from Him. Faith in the Lord is necessary to stay close to Him. He knows what He is doing. If we believe that, we will stay close to Him and Him close to us.

During the past month, Jeneen and I have both caught and worked through the colds that have been going around. Jeneen’s is the most recent. She is gaining strength every day. I am pretty much through it. We thank the Lord that we were able to do the ministry the Lord set before us.

Where we have been –

In January, Jeneen and I were able to go to Arizona for a conference and ministry there. It was good to see old friends and to make some new ones. We were able to see many pastors and to share the discipleship book with several. February 1^st, we were at Friendship Baptist Church in Thayne WY. Pastor Jay Sprecher and his wife, Pam, are doing a great job there. They were celebrating the church’s ninth anniversary. It was a privilege to be with the church in their celebration.

We received a call from Rocky Mountain Baptist Church in Ennis MT. Their pastor resigned the end of January after 18 years of ministry. I was there for Sunday services as well as speaking at their Valentine Banquet on the 8^th of February. It was a full day at the church. We will be going back for Sunday the 22^nd. Please pray for this church as they seek God’s man to be their pastor.

Looking forward –

As already mentioned, we will be working with Rocky Mountain Baptist Church in Ennis MT. We plan to be there the 22^nd with the possibility of other days in the future. I really enjoyed being with them and look forward to what is ahead.

In March, we will be at First Baptist Church in Pasco WA on the 8^th through the 15^th. It will be good to see Pastor Dillsworth and the folks there. We are doing a Sunday through Sunday meeting there.

In April, we will be with Grace Baptist Church in Pendleton OR where Alan Chapman is the pastor. It will be good to be with them again.

The weekends we are home, I am teaching the college career class and teaching through the discipleship book on Sunday nights. Our home church is seeking to build this summer. We are working through the processes of getting to that point. It is nice to be active in our home church.

Steadfast and Stable –

The discipleship book is continuing to sell. We hope many are growing through this study. I personally know of four churches that are using it either in Sunday school or in their evening service. Our church is doing it in the evening service. I also know of a prison ministry in Alaska using it. The book is available through BJU press, Journeyforth Publishing, Amazon and CBD. We pray God will continue to use it for His glory. I am also working on a couple of more studies and hope to get them published.

Backpacking Camps –

I already have two weeks planned this summer. The first full week of August, we are planning on a trip to the Beartooths in WY. The second week of August, I will with Redcliff Bible Summit Trails Camp. I look forward to being on this trip. There are other weeks available for trips. Please contact me for information.

Personal –

Jeneen and I have been doing well. Her mom is doing so much better being in assisted living. Her house sold a couple of days after being on the market. The closing was less than two weeks after listing it. It has been exciting to see how God worked through all the sorting, moving, and everything else involved with this change.

Thanks –

Thank you all for your prayers and continued encouragement. We really appreciate all of you. We pray for you too.  May God work in and through all of us as we walk with Him. Keep up the good work.

Monte & Jeneen Leavell

What is the greatest gift Jesus brought to humanity?  Many would say the gift of salvation.  I would too but I believe there is a bigger picture to consider.  With many hard issues in life, despair is a natural result.  Mankind needs to look forward to a better day.  Jesus brought hope for good.  He brings help to the helpless.  He can make good come out of bad.  He saves us from our sins.  He promises a home for eternity where there is no more sin and pain.  In that place, righteousness dwells.  We look forward to a better place and life in Christ.

Hope.  We have hope for a better day.  Jesus brought hope to mankind.  Even as we live this life on earth, we continue to hope for better days.  We work through the hard issues of life and even with death, knowing good things can still come to us.  We hope so.  We are thankful for the Blessed Hope, Jesus Christ.

Since writing the Christmas letter, many things have happened in our lives.  We did not go to Arizona this month.  Jeneen’s mom went into the hospital on December 3^rd.  While there, she made the decision to go into assisted living.  Since she left the hospital, she has been living with us.  Jeneen is a good caregiver, having the gift of mercy.  We are now working through the process of moving Jeneen’s mom and getting her home ready to sell.  Needless to say, we are really busy sorting and putting things in storage and moving the rest to the new apartment.

We have not been able to send out cards this year like we want.  We have been slow to response to everyone’s letters and cards.  We hope for better days ahead.  We know God will work out the details as we follow Him.  Thank you all for your love and support.

Here is our Christmas letter.

Merry Christmas 2014

Dear Friends and Family,

Jeneen and I are so thankful for the family and friends God has put into our lives.  We do not take our family for granted.  God gave each of the boys a wonderful wife.  We like watching how each wife fits her husband.  We praise the Lord for their marriages.  We are also thankful for our nine grandchildren.  Of course, we can never see them enough but are happy when we do.  They are growing both physically and spiritually.

We also appreciate the friends God has given to us.  Even though we do not see everyone each year, when we do get together, we pick up again where we left off.  It is always a joy when we see you again.  It would be great to see many of you this next year.  We think of you all and pray for you often.

This year, Jeneen’s health has not been good.  It prevented her from going on several ministry trips.  We are thankful she has some answers and has been doing much better in the last two months.  I found out that I have an allergy to dairy products.  It is inflammatory rather than anaphylactic reaction.  Overall though, we are doing well.  Jeneen’s mom has been struggling with heart, lung, and digestive issues.  Jeneen has been able to care for her while she was home.  My mom is doing well.  We are thankful we both still have our moms.

Ministry is going well.  If we are not busy in our travels, we are busy in our home church.  I really enjoy ministering in the churches wherever God would have us go.  God has been so good to us but then, He is always good.  When we are home, we have the privilege of working with the college career group.  Our home church is proceeding in putting up a building on the 19 acres we bought a few years ago.  I am quite involved in that project too.  So, either at home or on the road, we are busy.

Another project has come to fruition.  My book, Steadfast and Stable was published by Journeyforth Publications this year.  It was released November 18^th.  I will be teaching through it and about it on Sunday nights when we are home in December and January.  We hope to be able to go to Arizona over Christmas and New Years to be with family there.  While there I hope to be able to show the book to several pastors for use in their ministries.

Jeneen has been able to do some oil painting lately.  She really enjoys her art.  I have been doing more writing.  I am working on a couple of Bible studies and a fiction work.  Writing is a lot more work than putting words on a page.  That is just the first step.  There are rewrites, self-editing, editors, submit to a publisher for approval, if approved, signing a contract, more edits, final edits, printing, binding and then release.  It is really quite a process.  Peter is hoping to have two or three new books released this next year.  He is in the process anyway.

In closing, Jeneen and I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We look forward to each day He has for us.  I can’t wait to see what He has ahead.

Leavell’s Prayer Letter Update

December 2014

Dear Friends,

Answers to Prayer –

God is giving more answers to prayer. Ministry in the fall went very well. God allowed Jeneen to be able to go to Alaska. That was an answer to prayer. Also, the book was released on November 18^th; another answer to prayer. Jeneen’s health is much better. God is answering prayer.

Happenings –

The Lord blessed with a good meeting in Burley ID in September. In October, we went to Alaska for a meeting in Anchor Point. It was nice to be with Pastor Jim and Beth Haning. The Lord gave a good time of fellowship with them and the church family.

From there, Jeneen and I went to Palmer to be at Immanuel Baptist Church. We had a Sunday through Sunday meeting. Pastor Ben and Diane Burtch have been there many years and the Lord has used them greatly. It was good to see many good friends from several churches while we were there. Immanuel has a special church family.

After coming home from Alaska, I went to Eureka MT to be at Valley Baptist Church while Pastor and Juanetta Schrepfer reported to a couple of their supporting churches. This mission church is doing well. It is always a blessing to be with them.

Looking Forward –

We hope to be going to Arizona in December. While there we will be meeting with several different pastors and spending time with the boys and their families. While we are home, I will be teaching through Steadfast and Stable on Sunday evenings in our home church.

In January, we hope to be going to a conference in AZ. I look forward to it. We have meetings scheduled in the coming months but we are open for more if the Lord provides.

I also hope to do some ministry trips for getting to know more pastors and for promoting the new book.

Jeneen and I want to thank you all for your prayers and support. We praise the Lord for you all. May you have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year.