Dear Friends,
    We thank you again for letting us share our brief ministry newsletter with you. There is nothing like July in Mississippi, and I don’t have to say anything else! We hope you are well and blessed. July was a busy month for our ministry and we thank you for your prayers and interest.
    We started the month on July 4^th at Sebastopol Baptist Church, Sebastopol, Mississippi. The Pastor, Bro. J. Clark was away and asked me to preach for him. I was raised in and around Sebastopol, Mississippi, so it was going home for me. I always look forward to preaching at the "Pool" (if you are from there, you can call it the Pool). We had a good crowd, despite the holiday.
    Song leader, Melody Starling, put together a very nice, patriotic-themed worship service. Every branch of the military was represented by its flag being posted. Both veterans and active duty personnel were recognized and honored ceremoniously. Either I failed to get to Melody's photograph or accidentally deleted it; I have done both. Sorry, Melody, but thanks for a well-planned service. Brenda and I also had the special treat of having lunch with my Aunt Allie Mae Creel. Aunt Allie Mae invited us to come to her house after church for a good country meal. We appreciated her for doing that for us; we had a wonderful Sunday afternoon of reminiscing and good fellowship.
    The second week of July was a Sunday-Friday revival at Oakland Baptist Church, near Decatur, Mississippi. The Pastor, Bro. Victor Bugg invited us for the week of July 11-16. Bro. Victor and Peggy are having a good ministry at the church. Oakland turned out to be a refreshing, old-time revival meeting. The worship services consisted of nothing but plenty of hymn singing and then preaching. Chris Spears lead the singing on Sunday and Bill Herrington led the rest of the week. God moved through in power and blessed us with a great meeting. There were full prayer altars, tears and re-commitments most every night. I was very thankful to be at Oakland Baptist Church again.
    We were closer to home for the third week of July. We had revival at Liberty Baptist Church, in Forest, Mississippi, on July 18-21. This was my first revival meeting at Liberty. Our friend, Bro. Jerry Holmes, asked me to preach for their summer revival this year. Bro. Jerry and Donna have only been at Liberty a short time and are enjoying the new work. Bro. Bill Rigby was invited to lead the revival music. Bro. Bill is Minister of Music at Forest United Methodist Church, Forest, Mississippi. It was refreshing to hear the old hymns every night. Bro. Bill sang specials each night with piano accompaniment only, reminding us all that we really do not have to have our elaborate sound systems, iPods and CD tracks. We were all blessed by the standard, traditional hymns and simplicity of the worship service.
    God moved at Liberty with great conviction. It was very evident each night as people responded to God’s invitation and others stood at their pew and wept openly. It was a special time. As God moved, Bro. Jerry and I heard from some individuals who won personal victories. Attendance was good, with visitors from many area churches. Thanks to Bro. Jerry and all the folks at Liberty Baptist Church.
    For the last Sunday of the month, July 25, we filled in at Hazel Baptist Church, Lake, Mississippi. The Hazel congregation is still seeking a pastor and would appreciate your prayers concerning the search. Thanks to my friend, Larry Leach for leading the worship service music. Tanya Phillips provided special music and did a great job for both services. The Lord blessed me with an unusual liberty to preach. It is so much more enjoyable when the Holy Spirit is flowing it through you, rather than me trying to push it out. I hope you understand my simple way of saying it. But it is kind of like the old country preacher being asked about what "unction" was. He said, "Well I really don’t know what it is, but I sure knows when I ain’t got it!" I am always grateful for God’s unction and anointing. It was a real good day at Hazel Baptist Church.
    Let me thank all of my friends and supporters who continue to encourage and help us go for Jesus. Recently someone asked if I was still satisfied "on the road" or would I consider accepting a church. I am always honored beyond measure that anybody would even think about me, much less ask me. But for now, I am still exactly where God wants me.
    Why? Because my heart is burdened for churches that need revival. I have not seen a church yet that could not stand a good shaking and stirring by the power of God. We ALL, (and I speak to me above all), need revival. Revival is the hope for America. I believe it is revival for survival; revival is not optional.
    Let me say thanks to every one of you who have, and still, invest in our work. Your financial gifts helps meet our needs, and also helps us go to other places of ministry. Your prayers give us hope and encouragement to keep on going. I pray for you all, every day. I ask God to bless and repay you abundantly for what you have done for His servants. Your cups of cold water will not go unnoticed. I appreciate all the pastors who afford me the privilege of standing in their pulpit. That is a scary proposition these days, but I will never hurt, only help your people.
    By the way, pastors, I only have eleven weeks open for the remainder of 2010, and then we are looking at a new year. There are still some excellent dates open for Fall Revivals, (like Oct. and Nov.), and I am always sitting on ready. Some of you like to have your revivals on a certain date each year, which works best for your church. In these cases, if the Lord leads, it is helpful to go ahead a book far in advance. Next year is wide open and now is a great time to get the exact week you want. I am crushed each year when I miss revivals because a date is already filled. When I was a pastor, in order to get the man God wanted, and a suitable date, I would often book up to three years in advance.
    We ask you to continue to pray for Brenda and her mother. Ms. Duncan has been at a hospice facility for about four months. She is due to be moved to a normal nursing home facility soon. She will go to Bedford Care at Newton, Mississippi. Brenda continues to work and drive daily to see her mom, and help her eat what little she will.
    Well I will close for this month with a quick look at where we are scheduled to be next month. The Lord willing, this is where we will be in August 2010 . . .

1-6             Murphy Creek Baptist Church                 Louisville, Mississippi                 Walter Simmons, Pastor

                    8                 Lucern Congregational Methodist          Union, Mississippi                       no pastor