Global New Beginnings arrived in Somerset County in 2009, to serve the communities of Marion Station and Crisfield. We moved into the area at the leading of the Lord, to begin renovating a home base for future youth ministry, and interceding for an "awakening" of God's love to take place in this part of the Eastern Shore. The Lord told us to begin with "the people" and began building relationships with neighbors, and the local people. We have been able to bless others with furniture, clothing, and household items since we arrived, and to encourage, pray with, and comfort those going through trials. In 2011, we actually took up residence in Marion Station, and have fellowshipped locally at the Marion Baptist Church, which is really a "loving family" that cares about each other. In January 2014 we became members there. When a parent needed nursing care in 2012, we chose the beautiful Alice B. Tawes Nursing & Rehab Center in Crisfield. They loved the facility until they went home to be with the Lord, and our circle of friends grew larger, as we met staff who lived in the area, and residents and their family members. In 2013, we began to meet other Pastors in the area. We know as time goes by, our networking will continue to grow, in preparation for the building of The Barn Youth Ministry. In June 2014, Donna's first book, To Know Him Is To Love Him, was released. To learn more about the book, go to our Book Store page. In July 2014, Bob made a return trip to Nicaragua where he ministered for two weeks from morning to night. By October, the Lord relocated us back to Hebron. We took a little time to unpack, in between Bob's trips for the rest of that year, and ended 2014 with beautiful time together with our family over the holidays.
2017 flew by too! There was much ministry to youth and worship leaders in Washington, DC, who are so hungry for more of God in their lives! Return trips were made to New Jersey, and Kentucky, along with another Supernatural Conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In May, it was time for celebrating 45 years of marriage! Our girls blessed us with a trip to St. Michael's which we took later in the year where we relaxed and enjoyed each other's presence as we reflected on our life together! Late summer brought a return trip to Dallas, Texas, and Bob's third trip to Nicaragua kept him on the go in August. Donna worked on completing her Intercessory Prayer class during the year using Dutch Sheets' materials, with Pastor Minnie Brooks of Abiding in Christ Through Prayer, where Bob and Donna were Spiritual Advisors for her Facebook Group by the same name. There were more health challenges for both of us but God's grace continued to be sufficient! Due to the heat, Bob travel schedule, and some health limitations, we did not have a garden for the first time in many years. We received an invitation to travel to Pakistan and are waiting on the Lord to know if this year is His time to make the journey. Another invitation came for a trip to Italy in 2018. We can't wait to see how that works out! Donna's work on her second book, "Thy Guiding Light" was slow, and she is still working on gathering the background information and searching her journals for specific words from the Lord through the years that will become chapter material. Precious time was spent with family from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We finished the year strong in the Lord after much local ministry too, and were excited at all 2018 would bring our way!
2018 began with a ministry trip for Bob and Donna to Washington, DC, to bring the New Year in with youth at the Ethiopian Church, two trips for Bob to Dallas, Texas in January and February, Florida in August, Nashville and Kentucky in September, a trip to Lancaster, PA, for an Apostolic Conference for Bob and Donna in October, and ending with a trip to Kentucky in November. There was much local ministry here on the Eastern Shore all year long as well! We looked forward with great anticipation and expectations to seeing the Glory of God revealed in greater power, in, and through, our lives in 2019 and beyond!
2019 arried and Bob stayed local until he traveled to Kentucky in April for Ministry, towing a vehicle to give to a family. He was dealing with a health issue but felt strong enough to make the journey and got there and back safely. He came home exhausted though and this led to a rapid fire string of hospital admissions through June. He ministered from morning to night during each hospital visit, to nursing staff, housekeeping staff, the Chaplains who'd come in to visit him, all his doctors, the Cafeteria staff, the transporters who took him for tests, etc. We'd go home briefly only to return to the hospital days later. At the end of that month, he made the decision to not have any more treatment and we moved to Hospice on June 26th. There was a steady stream of friends, family, doctors, and nurses, and he ministered to all no matter how he felt on the 27th. We never gave up hope that the tide would turn and his health would improve. God didn't give us any indication that he'd be "going home" and Bob was a trooper up until the last day which was the 28th. On that day he stopped talking in the morning and all day long. We kept his worship music playing and gathered around him during the day, loving on him. His breaths slowed towards supper time. We told him he was "surrounded by love" and going "home" to the One who IS love, and that it was okay if he wanted to go home. He took his last breath and went through the veil into the glory of God. There have been dreams by many who share what they've seen and heard about Bob that has truly blessed the family. A significant encounter by the Spirit for John, their son-in-law, two hours before Bob "went home" turned into 5 1/2 pages written down, that was extremely helpful to Donna and others in the two years since. Will share about that a little more later on...
Thank you for your prayers and intercession for Donna and her family as they transition into all the new things God has for them! It has taken a Team Effort for things to happen in God's Kingdom all these years! When everyone moved together in "unity" then God's glory is revealed! There were those who prayed, those who prophesied or confirmed what the Lord wanted to do, those who covered the finances or bought the tickets to make the trips or ministry possible, those who encouraged, those who made the travel arrangements, and those who went with their feet on the ground, whether it was Bob, Donna, or others who traveled with us. God BLESS all who have partnered with us in any special way through the years to help us be obedient to Holy Spirit's leading! We love and appreciate you all so very much and look forward to all the wondrous things God's got planned in the years to come! We know God has MORE for Global New Beginnings and will be walking by faith as He leads and guides!
There will be other local projects in the years to come, and we invite you to partner with Global New Beginnings, as we reach out with God's love to impact our county, "the Shore", and all the places God directs us to go in the months and years ahead, to share the Gospel of His Kingdom around the globe!