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March – April 2013 Update

Deputation Ends

The month of March was a great month for us as we were able to wrap up deputation. It’s amazing to look back over the many months of travel and meetings and reminisce about who we were when we started… and then compare it to who God has made us to be today. As it’s been said many times, there are many things many people wish could be done to improve deputation. (Safety, being the biggest thing for us, obviously.) But, there are still some benefits. God has grown us immensely throughout all this. We are more focused now than ever. We are more determined now than ever. And we have much more to accomplish the will of God with.

But back to what I was saying… March wrapped up with our schedule closing out with meetings in Michigan, Illinois, and Nevada. We then finalized plans to travel to the Dominican and actually arrived on April 5th in Santiago at approximately 3AM.

 

“Project One” Begins

We’ve now been here for a few days and have begun the process of setting everything up – house, relationships, ministry, etc. We’ve already met with three missionary families while here in order to begin collaborating for our initial project, known as “Project One.” All missionaries we spoke with have been extremely supportive, helpful, and have expressed their desire to assist in our work as needed.

If you’re wondering what “Project One” is then here it is – it’s the name we’ve given to our plan to build a multi-purpose training facility here in the Dominican Republic. We began, continued, and finished deputation with this overriding goal: to


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January-February 2013 update

Here’s a picture I took of one of many children and young people we are trying to reach in the Caribbean.

Ministry Highlights (Jan-Feb 2013) 

The previous two months were both extremely busy and extremely profitable. As many of you know we had been planning on a trip to the East (in speaking of the world, not America!) with my brother (Andrew Cretzman), our dear friends Pastor Jack Cox and his son Joshua Cox, and film maker and friend Andrew Garcia. If you haven’t seen the video update about this trip, I highly recommend viewing it by clicking here. 


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2012 Year-End Review (Nov. + Dec. Update)

Staying Connected

As I write this I hold in my hand a card that was given to me on my college graduation day. It’s from my pastor (who is now in Heaven with Azlynn!) and his wife. The personal note at the bottom of the card reads, “We are so proud of you and looking forward to seeing how God is going to use you and Lana (& Otis)!”

Family pic at DisneyAt the time our daughter had not been born, and we did not even know the gender of our baby-to-come. So we joked about naming him after my pastor’s middle name, Otis, should the baby be a boy! To this day, when I step onto an elevator, look down, and see the name “Otis” I think about him and the fond memories we share. Then I think about what Paul said in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

A work was started in our lives many, many years ago…before the world began, actually, by an almighty, all-knowing God. And I think He too echoed the words on the card, “I am looking forward to seeing how I am going to use you.” The only reason for this is because we’ve always tried to stay connected to The Source (God). You see, the Bible says, “He 


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Sept-Oct 2012 Update

Recent Events

> Over the past two months we’ve been in missions conferences and meetings with churches in San Leandro, Morgan Hill, Santa Clara (for the National Pastors and Workers Conference), in Simcoe, Ontario (for the Canadian National Conference), in Fort Collins, CO, in La Verne, CA, in Phoenix, in Newport Beach, in Lacey, WA, in Rosemount, MN, and just recently in Durham, NC. Overall, at one point, I drove 5,000 miles in just 18 days. I went from sunny coasts, to the cold north, to a snow storm, to clear skies, to another snow storm, more clear skies, another snow storm, then into the moderate temperatures of the south… Needless to say, your prayers for safety are never taken likely.

> We would personally like to thank each and every pastor, staff member, church member in each of these churches who made each meeting a complete success. It has been a very difficult past two months just for the sheer amount of miles I’ve driven (most of them on my own) but you’ve all been an encouragement all along the way. I’ve laughed, cried, shared goals and dreams with many of you. I’ve preached in Sunday School classes, youth groups,  main services, shared testimony after testimony, and even topped my all time high by speaking seven times to seven different groups of people in just one Sunday! Yeehaw! But you’ve all provided the kind of support we need to continue down this incredible journey in missions. And for that, again, we say, “Thank you!!”


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JULY + AUGUST 2012 UPDATE

Azlynn and Maddi Kate earlier last year in AR

FOR A PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION OF THIS UPDATE, CLICK HERE.

The months of July and August were ones in which we quickly got ready for the fall schedule and then jumped right back into our busy routine. We would, however, like to thank Liberty Baptist Church, Pastor and Mrs.Cox, and all who attended the Ladies Conference for allowing us to take a family vacation. They so kindly provided the funds, and we enjoyed the precious family time we shared. Thank you very much!!

 

It has been a long and sometimes difficult journey the past two years of deputation, as many of you know. We would like to thank every supporting church/pastor for being patient with us as the Lord prepares us for the field. And we would ask that you continue to do so. We are going to finish out the meetings we had previoulsy scheduled, and then, Lord willing, we’ll leave for the field in March 2013. Further in that regard, Lana and Maddi have stayed back while I finish out our last meetings. But instead of traveling alone, the Lord allowed Ralph Caballero to travel with me. He is a teenager whose family and my wife’s family have been close for many, many years. He believes God has called him to preach and, so, he is learning first-hand what his life as a preacher one day might look like! I’m thankful for the oppor- tunity to help Ralph grow and be strengthened in the faith. He will be traveling with me until Oct. 8th, 2012. Please pray with me about God’s working in his life.

 

IMPORTANT UPDATES AND PRAYER REQUESTS

 

  • We had four churches decide to take us on for support in the past two months.
  • I had some medical testing done as a precautionary measure prior to leaving the field; the results were good. We are very thankful to the Dunford family for helping us immensely with all that! We love you guys!
  • We were able to lead two individuals to the Lord, had others come to Christ after services we held, and countless people contact us about decisions they’ve made for God through our testimony of the Lord’s strength amidst trials.
  • Pray for me as I will be preaching at the Canadian National Pastor’s Conference on Wed., Sept. 19.
  • Pray with us about a date to leave for the field. We’re specifically considering March 2013 as a good time to leave.
  • A book Lana and I were contributors in that was compiled by Mrs. Trieber and NVBC Publications is being released on Monday, September 10 at a conference at North Valley Baptist. It is specifically geared towards parents whose children have passed away. I believe it can be a great encouragement to many. Go to http://nvpublications.org/ for more info or contact us about it if you are interested. We’re thankful again for everyone at this church for the immense help they’ve been.
  • Things are moving forward with our full colour, hard back children’s book. We should be able to provide a timeline shortly for its release. We’re continually amazed at the great ministry opportunities God keeps giving us!
  • Continued healing for our family and divine strength to carry on.
Thank you ALL again for your love, support, prayers, encouragement, and the incredible blessing you’ve been to our family and in support of our ministry. I could never take time to name everyone (although I wish I could!), but you and I both know that the thanks you’d receive from me is nothing compared to thanks you’ll receive one day from Almighty God. We’re so convinced that we are exactly where God wants us to be. And we fully intend to make the most of what time we have left here on earth, with all of you walking this journey with us.
I can’t help but relate more and more to what Paul said in Acts 20:19-24, “Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me…And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in ever city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. (and here’s my favorite part) But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” Our greatest desire is to finish our course…and finish it with joy. I trust that’s your desire as well, wherever God has put you.

Reaching the unreached with the gospel,

 

Matt Cretzman & family


Second Quarter Update

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS

  • Held two very successful Spirit Nights at two Chick-fil-A locations in NC
  • Are now back on the road traveling full time
  • Held 10 meetings with prospective supporting churches in May/June
  • Have seen God answer some very special prayer concerning some things we are planning in ministry
  • “Dream” tracts and wristbands now available online! Just contact orders@rooftopmissions.com

WHAT’S NEW

Chick-fil-A Spirit Nights

RTM Chick-fil-A Spirit NightThe last two months have continued our trend of being very busy. The month of May saw us involved in some more meetings with churches, coordinate and execute two very successful Spirit Nights with Chick-fil-A, wrap up our stay at Gospel Light Baptist Church in Walkertown, and hit the road full time again. We have been going to some meetings over the past three months since our accident, but we had been traveling to and from the meetings and the house we were staying at on Gospel Light’s property. So it was difficult, once again, to completely pack up the house, load our vehicle, and put the remaining stuff back in storage. It was a difficult hurtle to jump over but the Lord has carried us through.


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March-April 2012 update

“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

 

Never before in my life did I ever dream those words would hit so close to home. And yet they have become our reality. Not a single day goes by when we do not think about Azlynn or are touched deeply by something that reminds us that she is no longer here. It’s a tough pill to swallow! I know, for the most part, it’s difficult for many people to even understand what it must be like to be in our shoes.. I certainly couldn’t relate to Job very well when he made that statement. But I sure can now. And yet in the midst of all the turmoil and disruptive events of the past sixty-five days there’s a calm. A certain tranquility that breaks through and pushes aside all clouds of doubt. It’s a peace and trust that feels so real, it has become our reality. Not the doubt, not the worry, or anger… But peace! Faith! Hope! And a love from a God Who knows what it’s like to lose a child. Oh how glad I am that we do not walk this road alone; for He is there!


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New Video Update!

New video update for our family and ministry taken today from Liberty Baptist Church – Durham, NC at the end of their Ladies Conference. I finally convinced Lana to come on screen so show her some love! And even though she’s using crutches she insists on wearing high heels… Love that woman!


Welcome to our ministry website!

Thank you for taking the time to visit our website. We are the Cretzman family missionaries spearheading Rooftop Missions. Our vision and desire is to “open closed countries with the gospel.” God has burdened us and called us to implement an aggressive, fresh approach to reaching difficult places with the truth of the Word of God. We strive to stay connected as much as possible so be sure to check out our Facebook and Twitter page or even stay in touch from your cell phone by texting “ROOFTOP” to 313131!