Hi Everyone,
The summer months are almost over and we wanted to update you with all the exciting things we’ve been doing this year. Although many of our friends keep in touch with us on Facebook, there are many other things we don’t share on there. Over the last 7 months, we have continued to set our focus on the things that God has called to do, that are making a difference in peoples lives. Even though our plans don’t always excel as fast as we would like, we are confident in His promises and continue to be faithful to move forward. We are reminded and comforted from the scripture from Habakkuk 2:3 that says, “For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.” I hope that this report will encourage you as well to pursue all the things God is calling each of you to do.
BURNING HEARTS ON THE ROAD
Since the early 80’s we have traveled many, many miles throughout the US and in other countries. From those first beginnings over 35 years ago, we have never lost the passion and enthusiasm to hit the road, whether it is a short weekend of engagements or an extended ministry trip. Since Debi and I were first married back in 1980, we have always felt called to travel and minister wherever God may lead us. In our early years traveling with small children, we would spend many weeks away from our home traveling as far as the west coast, and making multiple trips up the east coast ministering in Christian coffee houses, churches, and Teen Challenge Centers. After spending over two years working on staff as Youth Pastors in the late 80’s, we began another long phase of traveling in the early 90’s, which included multiple mission trips over to the UK with our entire family. Though their were other seasons through the years when we were off the road serving our home church, or starting a mission school, we never stopped pursuing opportunities to go out and share our ministry. One of our favorite scriptures that explains this deep calling within us from Luke 24:32, says, “They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us ON THE ROAD, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” We still travel out consistently, which comes in busy spurts and then slows down for a while, but we are believing God to open brand new doors in the coming days. If you think your home church would like to invite us to come and minister, please let us know, we still have many dates available in the fall months.
“THE WAITING ROOM” - THE COMMUNITY WATER HOLE
In the fall of 2014, we began a new outreach to our surrounding area called, “The Waiting Room”. The vision that God laid on our hearts was to open the doors of our ministry facility, and invite people who want to break away from their busy lives, and just come to a place where they can just chill in God’s presence. In the desperate times that we are living in, people’s lives can get so clogged up with so many distracting things that can steal the passion and excitement of serving Jesus. Even the Psalmist David cried out in Psalm 63: 1 to say, “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.” At The Waiting Room, we purpose to provide an atmosphere with worship, soaking, and prayer, where those who are tired and weary, parched and thirsty, can find a place of refuge away from all their life situations and circumstances that have weakened and made them ineffective as Christians. Over the last 20 months, we have been able to minister to so many people who have come to our gatherings. Some have only visited us one time, but others continue to come back to drink and participate each time we meet. The Waiting Room has definitely become a refuge place where God refreshes the weary and faint hearted, feeds the hungry and thirsty, and revives the dying. One of the cool things about our location, is that we are located just a few miles from the Fort Bragg training grounds, which is positioned directly in the middle of five counties. Presently, we meet every other week on a Friday evening, but as the Lord leads, we are making plans to gather every weekend.
COME AS A CHILD KIDS SHOWS
Several years ago, the Lord led us to began producing Kids TV shows and gave us a vision to establish a family TV network called, “Come As A Child Family Network”. Our vision is to produce and provide exciting TV shows that will teach and disciple children, but also capture the hearts of all ages. Since our first pilot show was introduced over three years ago called, “Time For The Word”, we have also produced two other short kids shows in a series called, “God Is Bigger”. One of them is about The Earth & The Sun, and the other one is about The Wonders of Snow. We are presently in production of the second “Time For The Word” show, which will hopefully be available by the fall. Debi has also written and illustrated a children’s book called, “My Summer Friend”, which she hopes to have published very soon. We are praying that God will divinely connect us with the right (Godly) business people who will join with this vision to see these kids videos, and Debi’s children’s book, marketed effectively. We would appreciate you joining us in prayer for God’s clear direction in the coming days for “Come As A Child Family Network” kids videos, and “Come As A Child Creations”, which is Debi’s art products and children’s books.
IMPORTANT MINISTRY & PRAYER NEEDS
We appreciate all those who have partnered with us over the years and helped us financially to purchase the many things we have needed for our ministry. We only ask that you pray and respond to this list of needs as the Lord leads you. Thank You!
(1) Replacing our old PA Speakers with a NEW Updated EV Speaker PA System
Because our traveling ministry is our first priority, we are posting this need as the most important one right now. Our present PA speakers that we currently use on the road are over 16 years old and have been repaired many times. We need to replace them with a newer and smaller (less bulky) speaker system that has a higher quality sound. Our existing (larger) JBL EON speakers will become the main PA speakers at our Waiting Room gathering and won’t have to be used on the road anymore. Because of the business connections we have with a large audio company, we can purchase all the items we need for a discounted price of $1500.00, which would normally sell for over $1800.00. We hope to purchase this new EV Speaker PA system by the end of September.
(2) Replacing our (high mileage) 2002 full-size Ford Van with a NEW Traveling Vehicle
For some time now we have been praying about a new traveling vehicle that would not only transport us and our equipment to our ministry engagements, but would also be a home on wheels. There are many times when we are on extended trips, that we need a traveling vehicle that we can park and stay in on our off nights. It would also make it so much more convenient to pull up to a church, ministry venue, unload, and then just park/sleep there for the night. The small motor home vehicle we have been researching the most, and will meet all our ministry and personal needs, is called a Dodge Sprinter and has a Mercedes diesel engine. Presently, we are looking at several used Winnebago models that are built on the Dodge Sprinter frames, which include the diesel engine. (Rated at 18 to 21 MPG) Please be in prayer with us for this need to be provided debt free.
(3) NEW Worship Album Recording
Over the last few years, I have written many new worship songs that people have inquired about. Unfortunately, I have not had an opportunity or the resources to record these songs, or to make them available on a professional recording. Besides a few home studio/church recordings I have made available as digital downloads, it has been over eight years since I have been able to go into a studio and capture all my new songs in a Live worship recording. In the coming months, we are trusting God to provide all the necessary funds to start planning a new album recording. We would ask each of you to pray with us for this important need to be met.
(4) NEW Partners/Monthly Supporters
In the almost 35 years we have been in full-time ministry, we have had multiple seasons of people and churches, who made commitments to support and fund our ministry. Because our traveling worship/speaking ministry does not cover all the expenses to maintain our ministry home base and all the projects we are currently involved with, we need a base of financial support from those who believe in our vision, and want to help us consistently. We are asking God to raise up new people who will join with us and make commitments to help support us every month.
DONATION INFORMATION
If you would like to help with any of these important needs, specifically the "NEW EV Speaker PA System Project", please mail your gifts to:
D&D Ministries
P.O. Box 126
Vass, NC 28394
Note: For those who would rather give a gift online, please click here:
* Please note, that our host website will charge us 3% of each donation we receive through our on-line service.
* D&D Ministries is a 501c3 organization and all gifts are tax deductible.
D&D GATLYN WEBSITE INFO
If you haven’t had an opportunity to check out our website at www.dondebigatlyn.com, there is more information available about our ministry, including worship music, worship and teaching videos, and much, much more.
THANK YOU!
We want to thank everyone again, who has in some way, supported our ministry either with financial gifts, or has sent encouraging words to us. We are so blessed to have many friends that we’ve connected with through the years, who still continue to support and follow our ministry journeys. We don't take it lightly and we appreciate each of you who have helped us fulfill all that God has called us to do, thank you!
Love & blessings,
Don & Debi Gatlyn