First, I would like to thank you all for supporting my ministry these last four years that my ministry has been 100% reliant on financial contributions from people like yourself. God has used people like you to provide for my ministry, and more and more opportunities for sharing the gospel are presenting themselves all the time. However in recent months many have  become unable to continue contributing for understandable reasons. Monthly contributions have been consistently lower lately while opportunities to share the gospel still flourish. I pray those who are giving can continue, and God will provide new contributors so that my ministry will not need to break stride. Again, thank you for your prayers and support! Contributions can be sent to the Plant City SDA Church, P.O. Box 5379 Plant City Fl 33563. Please mark checks “Bible Worker Fund.”

Below is a special appeal letter from Pastor Mark Swaisgood. Thank you for taking the time to pray and consider this ministry.

Plant City Seventh-day Day Adventist Church

P.O. Box 5379, Plant City, FL  33563(813) 752-4694

April 12, 2019

Dear Ministry Supporters and Future Supporters,

Nearly every day I hear a news report that makes me think that the second coming of Christ is very near.  With this feeling of His nearness in my heart, I also think of our need to get the invitation out for all people on earth to have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit.  I believe God’s will is that all would be saved and live eternally with Him (even though we know many will not) when He makes “a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1).People everywhere need what Jesus offers, they need to know God’s great love for them, and they need the hope, comfort, and strength that only God’s Holy Spirit can provide us.  You and I need to maintain a living relationship with God, through Jesus Christ, and share His love and words of hope with our family, friends, and neighbors, inviting as many others as we can to have a living, loving, and saving relationship with God because Jesus IS coming again, and it could be very soon, even today.  So, I want to begin this letter by saying thank you to all the people who have so faithfully supported evangelism efforts through their financial contributions to conference pastors (through tithing) and to other gospel workers like Elder Earnhardt (in this case, through his Bible Worker Fund).  If you are, or have been, a financial supporter, THANK YOU.

I also want to share with you a “last days” vision for evangelism(when the laity will finish the work) in the Plant City and Tampa Bay area, as well as around the world.Not long ago the Florida Conference added the Plant City SDA Church to my ministry district, in addition tothe Lakeland SDA Church which I already had. This has brought me into a closer relationship with Elder William Earnhardt, who is currently serving as Plant City SDA Church’s Head Elder andas a Bible Worker in Plant City, Homosassa, and the Tampa Bayarea.Since my time is divided between two churches, I am very thankful to God for Elder Earnhardt’s calling and ministry to the Plant City SDA Church and beyond.  He is providing solid spiritual leadership. With his inspiring, Biblical, Christ-honoring sermons, worship service attendance has increased from just over 20 to almost 50.Our weekly prayer meeting is thriving for both young and old.  I am leading out in our youth studies and William is leading out in our adult studies. The former Plant City pastor letme knowthat Elder Earnhardt baptized 9 people, and he brought 3 more into church membership by profession of faith,in the Plant City SDA Church during the previous 4 years.  In the eight months since I have been the senior pastor at Plant City William has brought growth to God’s kingdom by preaching, facilitating Bible studies and seminars,and conducting baptisms at both Plant City and Homosassa SDA Churches.  This is one way the laity will be used to finish the work of Christ on the earth before He returns.  If you are already a donor, “Thank you.”  If you are not a donor yet, you too can be a partner as you support Elder Earnhardt’s Bible Worker Fund.

Elder Earnhardt has a unique ministry which is fully supported by contributions from people like you around the country.While Plant City members are among his ministry contributors, the Plant City SDA Church does not have the resources within itself to provide for his level of ministry to the area. Everything Elder Earnhardt receives for his Bible Worker ministry is from a Bible Worker Fund, which is maintained by faithful contributors, ordinary people with a vision to reach people for Jesus, people like you.

Elder Earnhardt’s Bible Worker Fund is currently being held for him by the Plant City SDA Church and his contributors are from near and far, as his ministry extends around the country. Elder Earnhardt is currently conducting Bible studies, seminars and evangelism training all over Florida, and even in other states through the power of the internet.  You can follow William’s ministry on Facebook, or check out his website at www.inlightofthecross.com.Recently, the Homosassa SDA Church had Elder Earnhardt in their church to baptize 6 precious souls he had been working with.  He also had a recent Week of Prayer in the New Port Richey SDA School, which lead to 15 baptisms.William recalls that over the years hehas performed countless baptisms in Tampa First SDA Church, Tampa Adventist Academy,and other parts of Florida.

Beyond our state’s boarders, Elder Earnhardt has also traveled to Peru, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas to hold evangelism meetings, revivals, and training seminars, which have led to even more baptisms.  Even while he is in Florida, William reaches around the globe with his personal blog ministry, as well as writing for Sabbath School Net. E-mails have come in from as far away as Australia, Peru, Chile, Africa, Canada, etc., sharing how William’s articles and “In Light of the Cross” Study Guides have led people to Jesus.

I first became acquainted with William at Camp Kulaqua, our beautiful Florida Conference summer camp and church retreat facilities, where I have worked for several years with our academy young people, as the guest pastor for Outdoor Education. Elder Earnhardt has mentoreda number of young people over the years, at Tampa Adventist Academy and Gulf Coast SDA School, who he brought to Camp Kulaqua for Outdoor Ed. That is how we got acquainted.  When I recently began pastoring in Plant City, I learned that William’s Bible Worker Fund had been supporting him four years so far.  William relies on monthly supporters and one-time contributors alike. William has also sought part-time employment in other types of work to supplement his income.However, it has come to my attention that in recent months the funds received for each month are not enough to cover his hours of work for each month and the Bible Worker Fund is being depleted faster than it is being replenished. Meanwhile,William‘s ministry is flourishing, with opportunities for even more and more Bible studies, revivals and seminars.  With so many people in our area and around the globe coming to Christ, and growing in Christ, throughhis ministry, and with the time of Christ’s coming getting closer every day, it would be sad to see his Bible Worker Fund become unable to continue to support his ministry in the months ahead.

You Can Help.  First, I ask you to pray for Elder Earnhardt and his ministry, that God will continue to direct his path and provide for him and his ministry’s needs.Second,I ask you to either keep supporting William, or consider supporting his ministry with either a one-time donation, or, even more importantly, on-going monthly contributions.Third, please share this letter and invitation to become a supporter of the work of the laity, like William, who we are told will finish the work in the last days before Christ’s return.As the Holy Spirit leads, please send your tax-deductible contributions payable to Plant City SDA Church, P.O. Box 5379, Plant City, FL 33563.  Indicate on your check that this is for the “Bible Worker Fund.” I thank you, I know William thanks you, and, most of all, the many people William consistently reaches for Jesus will thank you in heaven.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Mark Swaisgood