ISSUE XXV

March 2019
Quarterly Update: Doug &
Mesi
Last Call Ministries

Looking Back, Looking Forward

As the title and the photo
suggest, holidays are some-
thing special for our family
to such a degree that the
most recent one deserves a
look in retrospect as well as
an eager anticipation of the
next. For us, Christmas-time
avails a huge opportunity to
be a blessing in Christ to
many people. Not only do
we celebrate it beginning at
the First of December and
up to the 25th, but through
the New Year and on up to
the Ethiopian Christmas
celebration on January 7th.
This past season’s celebra-
tion gave us opportunity to
spend more time with some
of the other children in our fellowship, cooking, decorating, singing Christmas carols and contemplating the
birth of the Son of God. We also spent each Lord’s Day preaching and considering the wonder of the holy
event. The 2018 season focused on “The Significance of Christmas,” as we studied the significance of the
stars in the Christmas story the first Sunday, the significance of the angels the second, the significance of
man the third, the significance of the magi’s gifts the fourth and finally the significance of the incarnation
(coming in the flesh) of the Son of God on the fifth Sunday. There was much great feedback from those at-
tending the services. Our final celebration was at Mesi’s parents’ house, where we celebrated the Ethiopian
Christmas by spending time with her family, eating Ethiopian cuisine and discussing the significance of
Christ’s birth. This coming Fasika/Passover (April 28/Miyazya 20 on the Ethiopian Calendar), when we cele-
brate the resurrection of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, there is a glimmering prospect for us to enjoy and
share the wonder of God’s life-giving power and renewal. Looking back, we are thankful for the privilege of
sharing the joy of that event. It was magnificent for us! Noah loves the holidays (especially Christmas) and
constantly reminds us of them. Looking forward, it’s easy to have elevated feelings toward the prospective
works of God surrounding the next holiday season. God did so much for us and through us this past season.
Our anticipation of getting to muse over the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead is gauged by our
looking back and looking forward. We pray your holy day season may be a blessed opportunity for you, too. DM
Page 2 Quarterly Update: Doug & Mesi

Enjoying the Fellowship of Ministry Partners

We had the extremely delightful pleasure of hosting friends and ministry partners, Jonathan Bucklew, his wife
Feven, their daughter Maraki Hope and Feven’s mother, Abeba, this past December, and celebrated the Western
Christmas celebration with them in our fellowship programs. Jonathan and Feven originally met here in Mekele
and were a part of our fellowship here some years back while working with the Deaf in the Tigray region. Since
that time they moved to the US. Jonathan now serves the Lord as President of Deaf Bible Society, ministering to
the deaf in over 55 countries around the globe, producing the Bible in the many various sign languages of the
world in a digital video format that can be easily accessed on smart phones. His wife Feven is a great helper to
him, managing his home and raising their 1 year old daughter (the sweetest girl you ever met), Maraki Hope.
She’s also actively in pursuit of becoming an LPN. These Christian friends are so dear to our hearts and we were
just thrilled to pieces when they decided to take their vacation in our little, remote part of the world. It was like
old times when they were here, and the joy and fellowship in the Spirit were sweet and savored. We had a fast
track for spending our time together which was meant to holistically and mutually edify our families, and I am
confident through the grace of God that such was effectively accomplished. Praise the Lord! They made our
Christmas so much more festive and resonant of heaven’s joys in the Savior! Above are photos of Jonathan, Fe-
ven, Maraki and Feven’s mom, Abeba, enjoying their time while they were here with us and our friends. DM
ISSUE XXV Page 3

Current Ministry Status

I may have said this already,
but to date we have distributed
1,500 sd-cards loaded with
audio Bibles in local languages.
The distribution was done via
training sessions in several lo-
cations throughout the region
of Tigray. Our target groups
span the gamut of the denomi-
national spectrum here. At this
point, we are awaiting a re-
supply of cards due in Septem-
ber. Meanwhile, we are con-
tinuing our international fellow-
ship ministry, leading worship
for and teaching the Bible to a
handful of internationals on the
Lord’s Day services and on
Wednesday night Bible studies.
Friday mornings we are watch-
ing the “Strange Fire” Confer-
ence (2013) video series. We “...the Lord has used us to help reform
are pleased that the Lord has international Christians over the several
used us to help reform interna- years we’ve been laboring in love for
tional Christians over the sev- Him.”
eral years we’ve been laboring
in love for Him. DM

Our Family
Update on our family: Mesi is nearly 7 months pregnant
with our second child, and is quite healthy to date, praise
God. She is energetic, fun and a great cook. Noah is quite
active with his kindergarten classes at a local school and
also a supplementary class that I do with him 3 nights per
week on English reading, handwriting and numbers. Noah
loves books, art, movies, cars, trains, and working out
(believe it or not). As for me, I am training a few guys (one
local, one Nigerian) in fitness for half an hour three times
per week. This gives time for candid spiritual conversation
in a venue unassociated to meetings. Mesi, Noah and I
also love our family times. We’re reading through John Bun-
yan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress” and “The Baptist Catechism”,
presently. Incidentally, it is during our family times that the
baby kicks most actively and frequently, to our delight! DM
 Last Call Ministries About LCM: Last Call Ministries is a 501c3 Organization

which began in 1997. For the last 22 years, LCM has

To Support: PO Box 5457, Bossier City, LA been “proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ, until He re-
71171 USA
turns, in word, letter and deed.” LCM is currently spon-
To Contact: Phone: 318-458-9602
soring Doug & Mesi, who are commissioned by their home
Email: joespell@keptprivate.com (Joe Spell)
church: Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Correspond w/ Doug & Mesi: PO Box 1944,
Mekele, Tigray, Ethiopia All monies received are currently in support of the budg-

Email: dglsmerrick@yahoo.com eted work underway in Tigray. 2019 marks the 22nd year

Proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus of LCM’s ministry of graciously extending the gospel!
Christ until He returns, in word,
letter and deed!!!

We’re on Facebook. Go to: Or go to: Douglas Merrick ‘Add

Partnership-Doug & Mesi Merrick- friend’ & then message me to
Last Call Ministries’ Mission Workers.
..
request the Partnership Page for
Doug & Mesi. . .
LCM

The Trials and Temptations of Ministry

It comes without saying it. It is
rather to be expected. There are
trials and temptations that assail
the gospel minister. Trials can be
in the form of personal attacks,
threats, slander, disappointment,
health issues, loneliness, es-
trangement and even in scraping
for time and energy for all that is
on the minister’s schedule. Temp-
tations also encroaching upon the
minister appear out of nowhere,
with the minister faced with
propositions from foolish females
or concerning finances or to con-
sider brethren in an unbiblical
way or to lose heart or become
cynical or even to unwisely use
“free” time. Trials and tempta-
tions should be expected. Scripture
warns us. But how should these be
viewed by the minister? Well, they
are obviously opportunities to pray
more fervently. Crying out to God
when under attack is smart. They
can also be means by which lessons
may be taught to those under the
minister’s influence, since they are
timely to that effect. They are defi-
nitely moments in which to stand for
the holiness of our God. And they
are as well times in which God is to
be trusted all the more, since these
come upon the minister just as
God’s word foretells it. Trials some-
times provoke temptations, due to
remaining sin. Temptations likewise
have trials attached to them, as they
tend to involve the proof of charac-
ter. Though the temptations are
not from God, the trials they appar-
ently bring with them are abso-
lutely intended by God for the fur-
ther conforming of the minister
into the image of His Son. Patience
develops, prayer is seasoned, faith
in strengthened, Christian affec-
tion is intensified and integrity is
established when, in the face of
trials and temptations, the minis-
ter cleaves to God and His word.
The enemy appears all the more
(as he should) the enemy, and the
minister is made freshly aware of
the nature of ministry and the
great need he has to be vigilant
and near to His Lord. DM