From The
Mission Field

In Romans 10:14 the apostle Paul declared, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Indeed if souls are to be saved with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then there must of necessity be preachers to carry out the great commission that the Lord gave to preach the Word.

Unfortunately, not everyone who preaches is a Gospel preacher and very little preaching constitutes Gospel preaching. We stand in need of faithful men who will boldly, lovingly, and without compromise proclaim the power of God unto salvation; the Gospel (Romans 1:16).

Understanding such a need, the men of the Vacaville church of Christ have committed the resources at our disposal to the training of men to preach the Word of God. To date, this congregation has supported several men to that end, and we are now supporting two men who are studying full time in preparation to engage in the greatest work known to man. This issue of the Fruit Of The Spirit, as well as the next, will feature those students currently being supported by this church.

In August 1999, the congregation started support for Ernest Maiwald. Ernest, his wife Melissa, and their children are from Winnsboro, Texas, where Ernest was working as a Lieutenant of Corrections with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Both Ernest and Melissa come from families that are faithful Christians, and are grounded in the faith. Emest's father is a deacon in the church at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Melissa's father has recently graduated from the Southwest School of Bible Studies.

Ernest, originally from San Leandro, California, is 30 years old.

Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature.
Mark 16:15

Because his father was a career Marine, Ernest grew up in various states throughout the U.S.. After graduating high school on Whidbey Island, Washington, he attended Lubbock Christian University and then served in the U.S.Army.

Melissa, originally from Beeville, Texas, was also raised in a military family and upon graduation from high school in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, she attended Lubbock Christian University. Additionally, Melissa worked for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as the Countroom Supervisor.

Ernest and Melissa were married in 1989 and they have been blessed with three beautiful children. Trenda is 9 years old and in the fourth grade. Shannon, at five, is in kindergarten. Finally, Marshal Dillon is two years old and is in whatever he can get away with.

Ernest and Melissa are both devoted Christians and will no doubt bring glory and honor to the Lord as they continue to labor in His kingdom. The brethren of the Vacaville church of Christ are pleased to be able to share in the labors of the Maiwalds and we ever look forward to continued fellowship with them, wherever they may be in teaching the Gospel of Christ.

Furthermore, this congregation appreciates all the work that is currently being conducted by the various schools of preaching throughout the brotherhood. It is our prayer that the Lord will continue to bless those works and keep them faithful to the Holy Word of God as they prepare men to carry out that Word to a lost and dying world.     FS