Newsletter Sept/Oct/Nov 2025

Merry Christmas!

These past three months have flown by as we have travelled, visited supporting churches, and cherished time with family. We began September at a missions' conference with Bethel Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia, where we were overwhelmed by their love and sense of community throughout the week. The following Sunday, we reported to Calvary Baptist Church in Glen Burnie, Maryland, and enjoyed sweet fellowship with their congregation. Shortly after, we visited our daughter, Alyssa, at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, where we were able to see her campus life firsthand and how she is serving the Lord during her studies.

From there, we headed north to report to Open Door Baptist Church in upstate New York, who graciously hosted us for several days, providing time for rest and refreshment — corn hole, bonfires, nature hikes, and even a couple rounds of golf. Autumn is Michele’s favorite season, and God allowed us to enjoy a longer season as we continued to the “Thumb” of Michigan to visit both Vassar Baptist Church and Deckerville Bible Church. Our host treated us to their local pumpkin roll event and a walk among the changing leaves with the children — a simple but memorable joy.

A Sudden Loss, and God’s Timing

During our stay in Michigan, we received unexpected and heartbreaking news: our colleague Joanne Tompkins passed away suddenly in her home in The Gambia. Plans shifted quickly as we made arrangements to return for the funeral alongside our teammate Alison Dominguez and Joanne’s sister, Ruth Wood. Our children remained in the States with dear friends who graciously cared for them while we traveled.

The trip was brief, but God used it. Though bittersweet, it was encouraging to reconnect with many we have ministered alongside over the years. Heidi and Chris Johnson, who had arrived just 2 weeks before us to run the guesthouse, told us that God brought us back at just the right moment, and it truly felt as though we slipped seamlessly back into ministry as if we had never left.

The funeral service was held at our property in Ndungu Kebbeh, where Joanne was also laid to rest. The gathering was filled with testimonies and a clear presentation of the Gospel. We are rejoicing — even through grief — as we now know of three individuals who have expressed a desire to hear more about Christ. One of them, who has worked with ABWE for more than five years, has watched firsthand what Christ can do. Even greater still, we later received news that this dear friend was baptized last Sunday. We believe Joanne would be rejoicing right alongside us. Please continue to pray for him as he grows in his new walk with the Lord.

Back to the U.S. — and Back on the Road

Upon returning stateside, we picked up our schedule again, reporting next to Faith Community Church, which has generously hosted us these past months at their hospitality house near Dover, Delaware — a blessing we do not take for granted. The following week, we visited God’s Way Fellowship in Secretary, Maryland, our home community for many years. After that, we traveled to Center Hill Baptist Church in North Carolina, a faithful congregation currently uniting with another body of believers — yet continuing to stand behind us as their missionaries.

Next, we headed back to New York, where the Baptist Church of Northville welcomed us warmly and listened with great eagerness to what God is doing in The Gambia. We closed out November with a Zoom meeting with Amazing Grace Church, our newest supporting congregation, with whom we are thankful to have partnering with us in ministry.

As you can see, the past three months have been full — miles covered, hands shaken, stories shared, and God’s goodness evident in every stop. In December, we look forward to settling briefly into routine, being with family, and preparing for the months ahead.

Prayers & Praises

~Pray for Patrick’s father Bruce’s cancer treatments.   ~Pray for Alison's continued recovery as she returns to full-time ministry in January.

~Pray for Alyssa and her first semester at Liberty University.

~ Pray for how God will raise the needed 9% to return to the field

~Pray for Joan Schmitz, who continues with guesthouse & NGO responsibilities.

In Christ,

The Reeds

Patrick, Michele, Alyssa, Danielle, and Luke