First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
P.O. Box 170, Eagle Butte, SD 57625
(605) 891-1704
Dear Friends,
Since the last time I wrote you, there have been many happenings here in Eagle Butte, and at First Baptist Church. A massive display of the Aurora Borealis jumped right out of the sky. All the ministries of First Baptist Church have continued at full pace, and there’s even a new one that I can’t wait to tell you about.
As I write this, winter is still holding on by a thread. A large snowstorm fell on Good Friday, but it was mostly melted by Easter. The trees are budding, and the prairie is just on the verge of turning green. I am eager to jump into the busiest and most beautiful time of the year!
Jewels of Our Church Family
Jerry and Britnee Longbrake have been attending our church for some time. They and their children have been a great blessing to our church family. Last Fall, I had the great pleasure of officiating the renewal of their wedding vows. And not long after, our church cooperated to help them move into a new house! Moving day was a lot of fun. Several people from the church turned out to help, and we got everything done by sunset. One of their roosters got loose in the process, and we all had to chase it down. I had the honor of being the one to catch him! We look forward to many happy years with this family.
A New Ministry Among the Elders
The Medicine Wheel Village is a nursing home on the outskirts of Eagle Butte. It is a beautiful place, and well-staffed. It houses the elder tribal members who most need regular care. Recently, I have come under conviction to start doing chapel services at the Medicine Wheel, so I asked their permission. They happily agreed! Now, every Friday, we have a full church service together. There are hymns, preaching, and prayers. It is a good ministry, since the residents cannot normally leave the facility to attend church. I’m so blessed to have this wonderful opportunity!
Weathering the Lean Times
During the most recent government shutdown, food stamp money ran out. This left many on the reservation without a reliable source of groceries. Fortunately, our tribal council was wise in its preparation for this crisis, and used some of its savings to purchase a large quantity of food for anyone who needed it. Meat, vegetables, honey and more was arrayed on pallets, next to the homeless shelter. I had played no part in gathering this food, but I still wanted to help. So I went to the distribution site and helped elders and families carry food to their cars. The shutdown ended some time later, and the tribe had succeeded in avoiding a serious crisis.
A Visit from Old Friends
Last Fall, Trinity Bible College sent a group of young people to Windswept Academy, our local Christian School. They used First Baptist Church for a place to stay, and went to Windswept during school hours. They assisted the teachers as volunteers and put on a delightful presentation for the children about the Full Armor of God. At every point during their stay, they showed themselves to be gracious and considerate guests. The children loved having them come for a visit, and I look forward to seeing them again!
Giving to Those in Need
Periodically, generous-hearted people from around the country send me items of clothing to distribute among people who need them. Sometimes they send me other things: pots, pans, plates, toys, shoes, books, or a hundred other things. Whenever I get enough of these, I host a giveaway at the church and give these items to anyone who has need of them. Most recently, we hosted a giveaway that was attended by dozens of people, and made their lives just a little bit better. Thank you to all the wonderful ministry partners who donated clothes and other items, making this giveaway possible!
A Grand Thanksgiving Feast
In a longtime Thanksgiving tradition, the good people of Hamilton Baptist Church partnered with us to bring a Thanksgiving dinner to the entire community. Our church served as a venue, and we provided them access to our kitchens. They provided all the food and supplies, and labored for days to get everything just right. On the day of the event, we fed nearly three hundred people; that’s ten percent of our entire population! Everyone had lots of fun, and enjoyed the delicious feast. Praise God for this wonderful partnership, and for the happy memories made this Thanksgiving.
The Way of Wisdom
Recently, the ladies of our church finished a women’s Bible study. It was called “The Way of Wisdom”, and it was led by my wife, Tiffany. Over a period of weeks, the ladies of First Baptist Church met to fellowship and share what they had learned from the scripture. And, as a modern development, they met entirely over Zoom! The internet has been a great boon to our church, since cold temperatures and harsh weather are common here. In addition, the ladies of our church live a great distance apart, and gathering together more than once a week can be difficult. But with the help of Zoom calls, those difficulties melt away. Whether we are snowed in, or hours apart, we can always join with one another through the internet. This has been extremely helpful to our Wednesday night attendance, as well!
Bidding Farewell to a Longtime Friend
November marked the passing of a longtime friend of First Baptist Church, Randy Slides Off. He was the leader of Red Warrior Ministries, together with his brother, Jerome. Together, they spread the Gospel throughout this community. They did so fervently, faithfully, and clearly.
Randy was a model of what it means to be a faithful Christian for as long as I knew him. And when his body finally gave up his spirit, and he went on to be with the Lord, His funeral was a living testimony to the great work that God had done in his life. Those who gathered there were sad to lose him, but encouraged to follow in his footsteps. Praise be to God.
Happy Easter!
This past Sunday, we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus with a huge celebration. Our Sunday music was dedicated to triumphant praise. My sermon first looked upon the overwhelming power of death, then turned to show its power being shattered by Jesus Christ. We celebrate OUR resurrection, as we celebrate His.
Following the service, we had a delicious potluck lunch. Then we had a “candy scramble”, which is like an Easter egg hunt with fewer steps. We put candy all over the sanctuary, gave the children grocery bags, and let them scramble for it. They all wound up with full sacks and smiles on their faces. What a joyous Easter Sunday!
So perhaps you are wondering how you can become a partner with us in our ministry here in Eagle Butte? If so, we welcome your help, since we treasure any assistance from the body of Christ. Here is what we need the most:
Prayer. It may be true that our church is getting along well at the moment, and that God is doing great things here. But it is precisely when a church is being used by God that Satan does all in his power to destroy it. So please pray, my brothers and sisters. Pray that our leadership will keep their hearts pure and humble, and that we will live at peace with each other. Pray that we will be protected from the power of the enemy, and that God’s Holy Spirit will shine through in our lives. Pray that the Lakotas in the community will come to know the Lord, and that the commitment they make will be real and lasting.
E-mail addresses. For those of you who have e-mail addresses, please send them to me. That way, these newsletters can be forwarded to everyone in your church who wants one! Just send your name and email address to me at benfarrar777@hotmail.com, and I’ll make sure you receive this newsletter as often as it comes out.
Financial Assistance. Our church is fortunate to have members who are generous in their giving. But some of our most generous members still have very little that they can give. We have long been blessed with assistance from outside churches and individuals, and we work hard to use those gifts wisely and well.
If any one of you wishes to bless the church with a financial gift, you may send it to:
First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
P.O. Box 170
Eagle Butte, SD 57625
If you wish to give a donation in memory of another person, or in that person’s honor, we will recognize the person you designate in our newsletter.
May God bless you all, and draw you closer to Himself each and every day.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Ben Farrar
Pastor
First Baptist Church of Eagle Butte
