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In 1971, Ralph and Sandy Cheatwood were called to the mission field out of Calvary Baptist Church, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. After graduating from Baptist Bible College, Springfield, Missouri, in 1975, they began their ministry in Turkey. For most of the next 15 years they lived in Turkey where Ralph mastered the language and the culture of the people. Ralph made a trip into Bulgaria and found there were thousands of Turkish speaking people. Rev. Fred Potter, pastor of Brookside Baptist Church in Bristol, Tennessee, and founder of Charity Baptist Mission, asked Ralph to oversee a work in Bulgaria which the Lord had put on his heart. Ralph began evangelizing Turkish speaking people in hundreds of villages in Bulgaria. Armed with his fluent language skill as a 'door opener' and the truth of the Gospel as the power unto salvation, Ralph has seen thousands come to Christ under his preaching in the last seven years. January of 1994, Ralph was overseeing five other missionary families, 10 national pastors and 30 churches. The Bulgarian government then made it impossible for missionaries working openly to receive residence visas. Ralph, Sandy and the missionary families working with them moved across the border into Romania where they live today. They are able to go into Bulgaria a month at a time and continue to oversee the work now led by the national pastors as well as starting new churches in Romania. The Lord has rewarded Ralph's faithfulness for the years spent in Turkey when he saw so little fruit for his labors. Ralph's prayer has always been to establish a work with the Word of God and a spirit of worship. This is what the Lord is allowing him to do. |
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The Cheatwoods |
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Note From Charity Baptist Mission Inc.: |
October
2001
Dear Friends In Christ,
As the end of the year draws to a close, we look back
and praise the Lord for all He has done. We thank Him for remaining
faithful, especially during these times.
This past month, we were able to
baptize 80 Turkish and converts in Romania and 370 in Bulgaria., for a total of
450. The churches are growing. All the believers are excited about
what the Lord is doing for and with them.
Besides the more than 1,200 children we feed daily
through these local churches, we are now opening a new children's home to take
in unwanted babies. We feel led of the Lord to do this. By His grace
we plan to raise them up for His glory.
We appreciate your prayers and support. May the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
In His Service,
The Cheatwoods
"And this is life eternal, that they
might know thee the only true God,
and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John
17:3